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Professor Samina Yasmeen, Director of The University of Western Australia's Centre for Muslim States and Societies, has been named a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

The professor of political science and international relations joins a list of seven leading Australians who have been recognised for their distinguished contribution to Australia's international relations.

Professor Yasmeen migrated to Australia in 1979 from Pakistan and has since achieved a distinguished record of academic achievement in the fields of human rights, Muslim minority affairs and foreign policy in the Indian Ocean region.

A prolific researcher and commentator on Muslim identities, Professor Yasmeen is highly respected and renowned in government and academic circles for her contributions to research on Muslims in Australia since the early 1990s.  She is also recognised as an outstanding teacher and has implemented a string of innovations to the teaching of international relations and the influences of Islam on world politics.

Professor Yasmeen's passion has been to educate and inform the community, raise the level of understanding and build trust, tolerance, confidence, safety, respect and security for all.  To achieve this, she shares her knowledge with students, government, the WA Police, the Australian Defence Force, the media and community at large.

Her achievements have brought her widespread international recognition, with speaking invitations that have included the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington and the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

She is a member of the Australian Multicultural Council, the National Australia Day Council, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and the International Humanitarian Law Committee.  She has served on the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, the Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution.

Professor Yasmeen is the vice-president of the Australian Institute for International Affairs.

The Australian Institute of International Affairs is an independent, non-profit organisation that promotes interest in and understanding of international affairs in Australia.  It was formed in 1924 and previous Fellows include former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and former WA Governor Lieutenant General John Sanderson.

Media references

Professor Samina Yasmeen (UWA Political Science and International Relations; Director, UWA Centre for Muslim States and Societies)  (+61 8)  6488 2278
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783