Tiara Shafiq

Tiara Shafiq is a young cosmopolitan from a multicultural background, interested in bringing the world together and eliminating the need for borders. She is passionate about the power and potential for young people to make a difference, as well as the vast varieties of ways to learn and be educated. She wants to change the perception of education from being centered on school, grades, and exams towards one of enjoyment, enrichment, and service.

She currently maintains and writes for EducateDeviate (http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com), a Malaysian-focused blog on alternative education and young people. She is also involved in various community, youth, and international programs in Malaysia, Australia, and elsewhere. She is an avid volunteer and takes any opportunity to help out.

Tiara enjoys experimenting with all forms of creativity, particularly those that involve words and the Web. She loves the rush of performing on stage with any medium, and enjoys the process of set-up and planning backstage. Tiara is very versatile and is open to trying out all sorts of different things, no matter how unusual - from shaving her head for cancer research, to writing 50,000-word novels in a month twice.

Employer:	BrainStore
Position:	Researcher
Time period:	January 2008 - Present
Description:	Researched company profiles and background information prior to meetings with BrainStore.

Employer:	EducateDeviate (http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com)
Position:	Owner and Maintainer
Time period:	January 2006 - Present
Description:	Blog about alternative education and youth - regular daily readership internationally and has led to participation in blog events and publications in national press.

Employer:	The Star – BRATS
Position:	Member
Time period:	January 2003 - Present
Description:	Worked on marine environment, social issues, and HIV/AIDS issues with local communities.

Employer:	Freelance
Position:	Web Designer/Developer
Time period:	January 2003 - Present
Description:	Created and maintained various websites (mainly personal and portfolios), e.g. AshaGill.Com and FayKhoo.Com; includes content research, updates, and checking email.

Employer:	The Star - BRATS
Position:	Young journalist
Time period:	January 2003 - Present
Description:	Contributed to monthly pullout Ole Brats, including interviews with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Badawi, Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, and media personality Asha Gill.

Employer:	Brisbane Writers' Festival
Position:	Volunteer
Time period:	August 2006 - October 2007
Description:	Sponsorship Assistant - Assisted with logistics of sponsorship for the Festival. Admin worker, venue manager, Info Booth, and Green Room usher - helped with administration work, managed individual events, took care of guests' needs.

Employer:	Up with People International Alumni Association
Position:	Crew Representative and Era Representative
Time period:	January 2005 - December 2007
Description:	Participated in UWPIAA Board of Governors and discussed issues and alumni needs.

Employer:	Youth Social Enterprise Forum 2007 (GKP 3)
Position:	Media Volunteer
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Assisted GK3 and Perception Management staff with PR and media duties. Wrote and took photographs of YSEF events for the GK3 newsletter.

Employer:	Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium (YES07)
Position:	Delegate
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Discussed and learned about practical information related to entrepreneurship and starting a business. Developed and distributed extensive Resource Kit with links to various youth and entrepreneurship resources online.

Employer:	Asia Pacific Cities Youth Summit
Position:	Delegate
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Convened with other youth delegates in the Asia-Pacific Region to discuss issues related to communities and sustainable cities.

Employer:	ActNow Incubator
Position:	Member
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Researched and examined content for ActNow's website related to youth issues.

Employer:	Queensland Business Icon
Position:	Contestant
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Business and entrepreneurship competition testing skills in marketing, product development, fundraising, and so on. Successfully raised over $3500 through organizing an event for the Oaktree Foundation, and was pivotal in maintaining ethics in the alcohol industry.

Employer:	QUT Student Guild
Position:	International Students Director
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Researched, managed, and provided for needs and representation of QUT international student body.

Employer:	International House BandFest
Position:	Sponsorship Convener
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Motivated college residents to sell and purchase chocolate to raise funds.

Employer:	KaosPilot Stockholm
Position:	TestPilot
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Chosen as one of 29 people to the Admissions workshop for Team 01 Stockholm. One of two non-Scandinavian participants. Developed strategies for encouraging creativity in the Nacka community as part of Nackakommune.

Employer:	4th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations
Position:	Delegate
Time period:	December 2007
Description:	Worked with other international youth delegates in developing community/NGO projects and setting up a Youth Declaration of Peace calling for action in Darfur, Korea, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. Also received thorough knowledge on NGO development and the Millennium Development Goals.

Employer:	Straight out of Brisbane
Position:	Volunteer
Time period:	December 2006
Description:	Front door management (cashiering).

Employer:	Walk In Beauty Sacred Peace Concerts
Position:	Stage Manager
Time period:	December 2006
Description:	Managed running of show, took care of artists' needs, assisted Director in show management. Was able to work professionally with minimal rehearsal time and limited preparation.

Employer:	The Educated Deviants – Levis 501 Day Youth Festival
Position:	Booth Manager
Time period:	December 2006
Description:	Set up and organized booth about alternative education for festival celebrating youth events. Created and distributed zines on the subject and provided reference material.

Employer:	All Women's Action Society (AWAM) Malaysia
Position:	Writers for Women's Rights Workshop
Time period:	December 2006
Description:	Learnt about feminist and media issues in Malaysia, contributed Letters to the Editor and suggestions for articles, coordinated group performance on women's rights as part of International Women's Day.

Employer:	Up with People
Position:	Premiere Cast
Time period:	December 2006
Description:	Performed with Up with People alumni and Denver community arts practitioners for Premiere Launch in Denver, Colorado, and worked on community projects.

Employer:	Channel [V] International
Position:	Production Assistant
Time period:	December 2006
Description:	Coordinated, wrote for, and produced content for various shows including launch of variety magazine show Popparazzi

Employer:	Up with People
Position:	External Relations Intern
Time period:	December 2005
Description:	Coordinated public relations and advertising activities through the Internet, wrote articles.

Employer:	Brick In The Wall
Position:	Initiator
Time period:	December 2005
Description:	Malaysian non-profit aimed at promoting alternative education. Still in pilot stages; under new leadership (taking supervisory role).

Employer:	Up with People
Position:	Crew Member
Time period:	December 2005
Description:	International tour (USA, Japan, Europe) to work on community projects, gain professional development, learn about international and current issues, and produce cultural performances on peace and understanding.

Employer:	Amnesty International (Malaysia)
Position:	Volunteer
Time period:	December 2004
Description:	Coordinated booth management, organized membership, educated public on human rights and women's rights, wrote letters to Heads of State.

Employer:	SAFRA Radio Workshop
Position:	Experience
Time period:	December 2003
Description:	Learnt basics of radio presentation, voice, radio show management.

Articles:

2005 Featured in Seventeen Malaysia Article on "My First Job" (as web designer).

Hobbies:

Writing Fiction, non-fiction, professional/corporate writing, scripts, poetry, journalistic pieces, interviews. Singing, dancing, acting, public speaking, stage management.

Awards:

2006 Student Achievement Award, International House For commitment and enthusiasm towards college activities (DanceFest, Soiree, and so on); still active in college activities such as ChoralFest and food coordination. 2007 Nominee, AYA Dream Malaysia Awards Shortlisted for Most Outstanding Youth award for perseverance, dedication, and inspiration. 2004 Semi-finalist, Hitz.FM Radio Icon Competition for aspiring radio presenters for national pop radio station.