Leaders

Her Agenda: Azmeena Hussain

The first muslim woman partner of law firm Maurice Blackburn, Azmeena Hussain, opens up about her love affair with the law, upbringing in Melbourne and the influence of her mother.

By Jamila Rizvi

Leaders

The first muslim woman partner of law firm Maurice Blackburn, Azmeena Hussain, opens up about her love affair with the law, upbringing in Melbourne and the influence of her mother.

By Jamila Rizvi

We’d tell you to write down Azmeena Hussain’s name but hell, who actually uses a pen these days? Suffice to say you can record it in the Notes app on a smart phone or send yourself an email. It’s 2019 and technology means the workplace doesn’t look like it used to. There are other changes too. A fairer and more equal society means that women and people of colour are a growing number of the workforce – and at increasingly higher levels of influence. The first muslim woman partner of law firm Maurice Blackburn, Azmeena Hussain is one of those women – and hers is a name you’ll want to remember.

Born and bred in Melbourne, Azmeena knew the law was her goal from childhood, after watching her mother rely on legal aid to achieve justice. Her relentless pursuit of fairness, combined with a sharp mind and killer wit, has made her a formidable lawyer. She’s one of the younger people to be made partner and while the honour was overwhelming, Azmeena isn’t daunted by the task. Quite the opposite, she’s buoyed by the possibility her new position brings. In fact, Azmeena intends to use her elevated influence to advocate for others not only at the individual level but more broadly as well. She’s fast emerging as an agenda-setting voice on equality in Australia.