Nurjehan Mawani
Lawyer, Public Servant, Diplomat
About Nurjehan Mawani
Nurjehan Mawani, C.M, LL.D. (hon) is a distinguished Canadian lawyer, public servant, and diplomat.
Her extensive career in the Public Service of Canada includes serving as Chairperson and CEO of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, where in 1993, she issued groundbreaking Guidelines on Gender-Related Persecution, making Canada an international leader in recognizing gender-related violence. She later served as Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada and Advisor on Diversity to the Clerk of the Privy Council.
From 2005 to 2019, she was the Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to the Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan, leading AKDN's engagement during periods of significant transition.
Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Order of Canada, the Public Service of Canada Outstanding Achievement Award, and the UNIFEM Canada Award (2007) for her impact on refugee women and girls. She holds several honorary doctorates and is a founding member of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges. Currently, she is a Senior Fellow and Inaugural Chair in Global Engagement at Massey College.
References & Credits
Image Credits
- Photo 1: Photo from linkedin
- Photo 2: Photo courtesy of IDRC
Key Achievements
Issued groundbreaking Guidelines on Gender-Related Persecution (1993), Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (2005-2019).
Awards and Honors
Order of Canada, Public Service of Canada Outstanding Achievement Award, UNIFEM Canada Award (2007), several honorary doctorates.