Noor Ahmad

From dissecting political injustices with her father to leading regional campaigns for democratic account- ability, Noor Ahmad’s journey has been rooted in activism. By high school, she was writing about a more equitable world. That grew into a passion for mental health, humanitarian work and youth mobilisation. Her activism deepened during the #FeesMustFall movement in 2016. Noor obtained her BA in social science and honours in psychology from the University of KwaZulu- Natal. Financial constraints interrupted her master’s at the University of the Witwatersrand, but it didn’t halt her advocacy. As communications manager at Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), Noor, 27, leads strategy, stakeholder engagement and advocacy around digital rights and media accountability. She’s led campaigns such as the coalition against the SABC Bill and presented the MMA’s research on internet shutdowns at global conferences. Noor also works with the Palestine Solidarity Alliance and the SOS Coalition. In 2021, she was named Amnesty International SA’s Youth Activist of the Year and received the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Leadership Baton in 2023. She is also a youth adviser to the Swedish embassy and a Generation Equity fellow.

• Bachelor of Social Science degree, University of KwaZulu-Natal — majored in psychology and organisational psychology; awarded cum laude with an average of 79% (2016)
• Bachelor of Social Science honours degree in Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal — graduated summa cum laude (2019)
• Master of Arts in Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand  (*in progress)

• Served as Project Coordinator at the Palestine Solidarity Alliance, leading and contributing to multiple campaigns focused on community empowerment and solidarity building.
• Spearheaded the Young Leaders Forum in collaboration with Constitution Hill, Amnesty International South Africa, and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Youth Programme — a full-day workshop that brought together 60 young leaders from diverse communities for training on leadership, activism and community service.
• Held the role of Campaigns and Communications Coordinator at the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition, leading a successful campaign to oppose the SABC Bill, which was widely seen as a threat to the independence of public broadcasting – coordinated the efforts of more than 30 civil society organisations to advocate for a more accountable, transparent broadcasting framework
• Represented Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) at the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) in Lusaka, Zambia, in May 2024, launching a research report on internet shutdowns in Africa during the continent’s 2024 elections super year
• Participated in panel discussions on Ubuntu and AI governance and the accountability of tech platforms in upholding information integrity

I look up to and admire many people in the social justice space. Many have dedicated their entire lives to fighting for a better world. A role model that I look up to is Arundhati Roy, an incredible Indian author and political activist who is fearless in her criticism of the Indian government despite the personal risk it poses for her. Her books explore themes of social inequality, the impact of colonialism and post-colonialism, family dynamics, love and relationships, and the complexities of Indian society, while her activism critiques fascism, social injustice, and globalisation. I want to be like her when I grow up. A mentor I look up to is my current boss, William Bird, the director of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), who has been involved in the media and democracy space for over 30 years, dedicating his life to the betterment of our society. William has been an incredible mentor, passing the mic to me and helping me learn as I took on my new role at MMA in January. His mentoring has helped me foster a love for information integrity, particularly in today’s age of mis- and disinformation.