Samiha Olwan

I am a scholar of literary, cultural, and gender studies with a PhD in English and Comparative Literature from Murdoch University and a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from Durham University, UK. I am currently a lecturer in the English and Creative Writing Program at Murdoch University. My research explores the intersections of literature, identity, and power, with a particular interest in how women’s narratives articulate gendered and colonial forms of violence, memory, and resilience. Drawing on postcolonial and feminist theories, my  work engages with a wide range of texts, from traditional literature to digital storytelling platforms such as blogs and social media.

Before relocating to Australia in 2014, I worked with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, where I documented women’s accounts of life under siege and carried out research on its  gendered implications and its violation of International Humanitarian Law . I also taught in the English Department at the Islamic University of Gaza.

In Australia, I have continued my advocacy through academic writing, public speaking, and creative collaborations, including the community art and writing projects such as Palestinian Threads and Stitches (2019- 2020) and We Are Not Numbers Exhibition (2024)