Marwa Khalaf
Ms Marwa Khalaf
Project CoordinatorThe Islamic Council of Victoria
A two hundred word bio blowing one's own horn may be easy for those with an illustrious resume, but for a person of my humble ilk - it's involved a lot of head scratching. To begin with, I started off on a very traditional footing. I received a Bachelor of Engineering and a Bachelor of Science from The University of Melbourne. My first job entailed working as a Process Engineer and I even commenced a Master of Engineering Science.
Then it happened! I became a volunteer. No biggie you may think, but I didn't just volunteer anywhere; I went to the Islamic Council of Victoria. This is the sort of organisation where it is very easy to do everything you want to do, if you try. Suddenly I found myself thrust into this world of diplomacy and politics. I have always enjoyed discussions on international politics and tried to keep abreast with the news of the day, but now I had the incentive and the means to formalise that somewhat.
I very much enjoy being in a leadership role, since it entails the utilisation of my organisational skills and the art of delegation, which is a role I somewhat relish. These skills I have both drawn and expanded upon to organise a recent Islamic art exhibition. It also offered me a great opportunity to work in a group environment and see, first-hand, the interplay of social dynamics.
Unlike my fellow peers, I am still at the foetal stage in my career, and therefore, not many employers compete to afford me the opportunity to play around with their highly trained and more experienced employees, as well as, their huge budgets.
Apart from the immense satisfaction I derive at bossing people around, my recreational interests include: reading, exercising, travelling and meeting new people. As a Muslim, who adheres to the teachings of Islam, I am encouraged to seek knowledge and that has always been one of my passions. For now however, the thing I enjoy most post-University life is the amount of leisure time I get to indulge in!