Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award

Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla – internationally acclaimed slam poet known as Huda the Goddess – is the winner of the 2025 Australia for UNHCR–SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition.

Named after the late SBS sports broadcaster and former refugee Les Murray AM, the annual award celebrates an outstanding individual from a refugee background who is using their platform to raise awareness of forcibly displaced people.

“What stood out about Huda was her ability to blend artistic expression with a clear commitment to refugee advocacy,” said Trudi Mitchell, CEO of Australia for UNHCR.

“Her innovative way of engaging communities through slam poetry and her unwavering dedication to fostering understanding about refugees make her an outstanding choice for this year’s award,” said Ms Mitchell.

“Congratulations to Huda, a bold storyteller who is connecting and inspiring people from all backgrounds,” said James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS.

“Like the late Les Murray AM, Huda is blazing a path for refugees to stand up, be heard, and make an invaluable contribution to the social and creative fabric of contemporary Australia.”

Fleeing Sudan at the age of five, Ms Fadlelmawla and her mother sought refuge in Cairo, where they endured hardship and poverty before eventually arriving in Australia at age ten.

Now based in Brisbane, Ms Fadlelmawla channels her experiences into poetry that explores themes of equality, identity, and displacement.

Widely recognised for her raw, improvised performances, Ms Fadlelmawla won the Queensland Poetry Slam (2020, 2021) and the Australian Poetry Slam (2021).

“Poetry for me is a deliberate and conscious decision to stay connected to my community,” said Ms Fadlelmawla.

In addition to her success on stage, Ms Fadlelmawla has established initiatives that elevate the voices of others. She founded Black Ink, a Brisbane-based open mic for people of colour, and launched She Is, a mentorship and storytelling platform that helps young women of colour tell their stories.

“I am here for every black girl who does not get to dream out loud,” said Ms Fadlelmawla. “I have to stay in the room so that, when they step through the door, there is another black face waiting for them.”

The Les Murray Award is jointly presented by Australia for UNHCR and SBS, whose longstanding commitment to diverse storytelling continues through the award.

The award was judged by Roza Germian, SBS representative and former refugee; Karen Gulick, UNHCR’s Acting Regional Representative; Om Dhungel, author, consultant and former refugee; and Trudi Mitchell, CEO of Australia for UNHCR.

Huda the Goddess will perform at Australia for UNHCR’s World Refugee Day Lunch in Sydney on Thursday 19 June 2025.

For a pdf copy of this release, click here.