Sarifa Alonto Younes

Sarifa Younes is an international speaker with a deeply rooted passion for the empowerment of people through education as a pathway to creating ‘futures with choices’. She works tirelessly to improve the career opportunities especially for women and young people in socio-economically and culturally disadvantaged and developing countries.

For the past two decades, Sarifa Younes has been invited to conferences and seminars to present to heads of states, academic and business leaders, as well as organizations and media addressing social, environmental, cultural and educational issues.

She holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Industrial & organisational Psychology (Malaysia) and a Master’s Degree in Education and Training (Australia) which made her a strong voice on international stages speaking on organizational change, social behaviors and women empowerment.

Sarifa Younes is the President and Founder of the International Academy of Marawi (IAM); Director and Co-Founder of the Training Collage of Australia; Director and Founder of the Arndell Park Early Childhood Learning Centre.

In her first book ‘Love Your Obstacles’, Sarifa writes extensively on empowerment, resilience and how education changes our futures. She is the Chairwoman of the ‘HerStory Women’s global conference’ (Melbourne). She was nominated for the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award and is the winner of the 2018 AusMumpreneur Multicultural Business Excellence Award winner .

Keynote Topic Love Your Obstacles – How to turn challenges into opportunities

Young girl, Sarifa Younes grew up with a family she loved, in a country she loved, doing what she loved — playing games with her friends under the warm shelter of her family home in her hometown of Marawi City in the Philippines.

At age ten, her innocent world was ripped apart forever when tragedy struck and Sarifa’s fate was sealed. She was an orphan, alone in the world armed with nothing but a dream. A dream to end her misery and get an education.

Teaching herself to read and write from her brother’s schoolbooks was the first step, ploughing through a series of obstacles, prejudices and gender inequalities was the next. Purpose-driven and intent on making something of her life, Sarifa found a secret formula that helped end her suffering and transform her thinking and her life forever.

Sarifa’s inspiring story of struggle and triumph will help anyone face and overcome their obstacles in life with a new sense of passion, purpose and grace. Never has there been a better time to learn how to Love Your Obstacles.