OH4400/11: Photograph of Rabia Siddique

Summary

An international humanitarian lawyer, professional speaker, mentor and author, Rabia has many awards and much recognition to her name including, most recently, being a finalist for the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards. After starting life as a criminal defence lawyer and the youngest Federal prosecutor in Western Australia, Rabia moved to the UK in 1998 where she was eventually commissioned as a Legal Officer in the British Army in 2001. In a terrifying ordeal that garnered worldwide attention, along with a male colleague, Rabia assisted with the rescue of two Special Forces’ soldiers from Iraqi insurgents in Basra. Her male colleague received a Military Cross for outstanding bravery, while Rabia’s part in the incident was covered up by the British Army and government. In a fight for justice she brought a landmark discrimination case against the UK Ministry of Defence, and won. Rabia has since moved back to Perth with her young family, to share her experience of courageous leadership, resilience and inclusion, with the hope of helping others to thrive and strengthen the social cohesion in Perth. Rabia describes her experience of growing up in Perth as an immigrant in the 1970s and ‘80s. -- from Know Your Nation Shaping Perth project webpage.