Khadija Gbla is a multi-hyphenate; high-profile, passionate, and inspiring African-Australian woman.
She is a single mum, carer, black, non-binary, queer, neurodivergent, and disabled award-winning human rights activist, model, inspirational speaker, writer and mentor. She has displayed great courage and determination in achieving her aspirations of giving women, youth and minority groups a voice at a local, state and international level. Khadija utilises her powerful and inspired voice to advocate for structural change and everyday simple actions we can all take to achieve true equality and inclusion for all people.
Khadija Gbla was born in Sierra Leone, spent her youth in Gambia, and, as a teenager, put down roots in Australia. Khadija was just three years old when the war broke out in her country, Sierra Leone and ten years later they attained refugee status and resettled in Adelaide. Khadija provides advocacy, training, coaching, mentoring, and speaking on domestic and family violence, sexual health, racism, FGM, human rights, gender equality, intersectionality, inclusion and diversity, bias, mental health, disability, NDIS, migrants and refugees and cultural diversity and so much more through her cultural consultancy, Khadija Gbla Cultural Consultancy.
Khadija is the lead voice and campaigner on Female Genital Mutilation in Australia. She runs a not-for-profit organisation, Ending Female Genital Mutilation Australia, which protects Australian girls from FGM and supports survivors of FGM. Khadija provides training for professionals, advocacy and community education for practising communities in Australia. Khadija is also a TEDx speaker with nearly 3 Million views on her talk, "My Mother’s Strange Definition of Empowerment".
Talking Points
Women's Issues
Women's Issues
Making a Change
Making a Change
Leadership
Leadership
Management
Management
Overcoming Barriers: Disability, Racism, Sexism, and Ageism
Overcoming Barriers: Disability, Racism, Sexism, and Ageism
Advocacy
Advocacy
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism
The Battle Against Depression
The Battle Against Depression
Video
Khadija Gbla: My mother’s strange definition of empowerment
Khadija Gbla grew up caught between two definitions of what it means to be an “empowered woman.” While her Sierra Leonean mother thought that circumsizing her — and thus stifling her sexual urges — was the ultimate form of empowerment, her culture as a teenager in Australia told her that she deserved pleasure and that what happened to her was called “female genital mutilation.” In a candid and funny talk, she shares what it was like to make her way in a “clitoris-centric society,” and how she works to make sure other women don’t have to figure this out. (Warning: This talk contains hard-to-hear details.)Khadija was the guest of honour at our 2011 Annual Speech Day and Awards Ceremony and gave the Occasional Address. In an extremely confident manner she engaged the diverse audience who were ... keep reading Trinity College
Khalifa had so much wisdom to share. Many of their gems required patience to discover, which made them even more precious. We laughed, we connected and we followed on the journey Khadija was generous to share with us. Thank you to Khadija for her vulnerability, she made us feel seen, and empowered. Her presence is infectious and so genuine. She enlightened us about how little I was unaware of the challenges of living with ADHD, she is a very engaging and inspiring speaker.
We were incredibly fortunate to have Khadija Gbla as the emcee for NDS's National Disability Awards 2024. Khadija's infectious energy and humour immediately set the tone for an unforgettable celebration. Khadija created an atmosphere that was both engaging and joyful for everyone in the room.
Khadija spoke for a group of 25 young women at the SHE Leads Forum in March 2012. Khadija has a vibrant way of telling her life story and applying it to the context of the event. She talked about how she finds her strength to face challenges, with the voice of her Mum in her mind saying 'Khadija, you have dodged bullets, you can face life's other challenges'. This has inspired me to develop my own mantra when things get hard. She is also a strong advocate for community volunteerism and demonstrates how you get more out of it than you put in. I would recommend Khadija as a speaker to your event around women in leadership and community volunteerism.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your presentation at the Volunteering SA&NT's International Women's Day Networking Event a couple of weeks ago. You are an inspiration to everyone, always speaking from the heart with such passion and enthusiasm. The audience is always captivated by what you have to say and I am sure you have encouraged many young people from all cultures to volunteer.
Khadija Gbla truly is an inspirational speaker. Her high energy and passion is obvious from the moment she walks into a room, and when she starts talking it is captivating! Her troubled past has given her the strength and determination to make a mark in society and I wish her the best of luck for her future plans with Chocolate Magazine.
Australia Awards for Africa Students and African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific Members enjoyed a lively presentation from Khadija Gbla at the inaugural welcome event for African Students to Adelaide, South Australia. Of her presentation, many students declared that they were inspired to succeed by her dynamic enthusiasm for education, culture and community in Adelaide. The sponsors of the event were thrilled to have Khadija Gbla talk to the students and were equally inspired by her passionate approach to education and community development.
