Mojdeh Kashani, an Icon of Change in Australia

Icons of Change International Awards 2025

Mojdeh Kashani
Journalist & Producer | SBS Australia
Managing Editor | Talkback Magazine Australia
Managing Editor | What Were You Wearing? Australia

SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Changemaker in Ethical Media, Cultural Dialogue, and Social Advocacy (Australia)

Mojdeh Kashani stands as a distinguished journalist, editor, and storyteller whose work transcends the boundaries of traditional media — transforming storytelling into a strategic instrument for peace, justice, and inclusion. Through her powerful narratives, she gives voice to the silenced, fosters empathy across divides, and mobilizes collective understanding to build stronger and more accountable institutions.

As a Journalist and Producer at SBS Australia, Mojdeh’s work covers some of the most critical issues shaping the social fabric — from human rights and migration to gender equality and community resilience. Her reporting not only informs but empowers, bridging the lived realities of marginalized groups with the national discourse. She has illuminated the experiences of Australian families affected by conflict zones, highlighted the resilience of displaced individuals rebuilding their lives, and celebrated the creative contributions of young leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Beyond the newsroom, Mojdeh serves as Managing Editor of Talkback Magazine — a feminist media platform she helped shape into a sanctuary for underrepresented voices. Through its pages, she elevates the stories of First Nations peoples, refugees, individuals with disabilities, and women navigating systemic barriers. Her editorial approach embodies integrity, empathy, and impact — guiding narratives that challenge prejudice and drive cultural reform.

Her leadership also extends to What Were You Wearing? Australia, an Indigenous and youth-led organization combating sexual violence nationwide. As Managing Editor, she steers strategic communications and advocacy efforts that have achieved tangible systemic change — including amendments to RSA laws mandating drink spiking prevention training for bar and security staff across New South Wales. The organization’s 2024 nationwide rallies, which mobilized over 100,000 participants, underscore her capacity to translate awareness into policy influence and civic action.

Mojdeh’s influence resonates not only through journalism and advocacy but also through the arts. As an actor and theatre performer, she merges performance and activism — crafting narratives of identity, belonging, and transformation that provoke dialogue and inspire reflection. Her performances serve as extensions of her journalism: visceral, human, and truth-driven.