Social worker, advocate and journalist Izza Izelan has a deep passion for social justice, actively championing causes that protect and empower girls and women—so they may create a better future for themselves.

Prior to dedicating herself to social work and advocacy, Izza had worked as a news anchor, broadcast journalist and producer at Astro AWANI for seven years. Having been part of the Breaking News team, Izza had covered some of the most significant events in history, including the MH370 and MH17 tragedies, the United States Presidential Elections, Nomination Days and Inaugurations (2012 and 2016) and the Malaysian General Elections (2013 and 2018), among many others.

As she progressed in her career, Izza developed a journalistic niche that focuses on education, women and youths. Izza’s work was recognised in 2013 when she won the Best Reportage for the Health Journalism Awards by the Ministry of Health Malaysia covering issues surrounding heart diseases amongst Malaysian youths.

In 2018, she founded Geng Gadis, an online platform for girl empowerment and began hosting and producing podcasts that focuses on discourses on topics that navigate the different seasons of girlhood to womanhood.

Izza is currently the executive director of Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kendiri Wanita dan Gadis (WOMEN:girls), lending her experience in media, activism and non-profit management to the non-governmental organisation that primarily concentrate efforts towards the development and progress of girls and women to become changemakers and role models in their communities.

A strong advocate of making substantial changes in the Malaysian legal system to form social policies to protect women and children, Izza recently contributed towards the push for the passing of the Sexual Harassment Bill together with the collective representatives of women NGOs. She regularly speaks up in the media about issues pertaining to the protection of women and children.