2015 Queensland Young Australian of the Year, Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a mechanical engineer, social advocate, writer and petrol head.

She advocates for the empowerment of youth, women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Yassmin is also passionate about diversifying public voices, connecting people and catalysing change.

At sixteen, Yassmin Abdel-Magied founded Youth Without Borders, an organisation focused on enabling young people to work for positive change in their communities.

In 2012 she was named Young Leader in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s inaugural 100 Women of Influence Awards. Born in Sudan and moving to with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours), and was a recipient of the University of Queensland’s Dean’s Excellence scholarship. Yassmin has just been recognised in the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards as Youth of the Year.

She serves on various state and federal councils and is currently works as an engineering specialist on oil and gas rigs. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, having a yarn, football (Liverpool FC!), Formula 1, boxing and is saving for her first V8.