About Me
I am a poet, cultural activist, interdisciplinary artist, and electrical engineer based in Toronto. My work explores the intersections of art, literature, and social justice, with a deep commitment to advocating for gender equality and societal change. Since graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 2008, I have worked full-time as an engineer. However, art and culture have always been my second full-time occupation. Literature and creativity are central to my identity, driving my efforts to use art as a vehicle for social transformation.
Books and Publications
I have published several poetry collections in Farsi where feminist poetics, cultural memory, and linguistic texture converge. My debut collection, Lady Gemini (Afra, 2015), marked the beginning of my journey as a poet. In 2017, I collaborated with Reza Rouzbahani on Letters of Lead (Dastan), an experimental project grounded in Hegelian dialectics and the possibilities of co-authorship.
In 2019, I published Bindless Epic and A Head Full of Sounds (Sib-e Sorkh)—works that deepened my engagement with nonlinear form, polyphonic narrative, and the affective weight of silenced histories. Of these, Bindless Epic remains my most significant book: an avant-garde exploration of exile, erasure, and urban collapse, drawing on écriture féminine and postmodern aesthetics to stage a sensory resistance against cultural nihilism.
My later work, especially Yek Sar o Hezar Seda, reflects an ecofeminist turn—centering menstruation, miscarriage, motherhood, and sexuality as embodied acts of refusal and reclamation. In 2022, I joined other Iranian writers in pledging not to publish in Iran until censorship is dismantled, a decision that deepened my commitment to translating my poetry into English and opening new transnational dialogues. In 2024, I completed a Creative Writing Certificate at Humber College to support this evolving trajectory.
In addition to poetry and translation, I write for children. My illustrated book Norooz is Here: The Secrets of the Haft-Seen Table (2024) introduces young readers to the ecological and symbolic dimensions of Persian New Year rituals. Designed for diasporic families, the book celebrates cultural continuity, nature’s rhythms, and cross-cultural connection.
My translation work further bridges linguistic and cultural worlds. I subtitled Aref Mohammadi’s award-winning documentaries A Survivor from Magadan (2012) and Song of God (2018), and translated the forthcoming book version of A Survivor from Magadan. Like my poetry, these works aim to carry layered narratives across languages and geographies with care, complexity, and integrity.
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Cultural Activism
In 2015, I co-founded Kaanoon Toronto, a platform dedicated to promoting Persian literature and cultural dialogue within the diaspora through organizing poetry soirees, book exhibitions, and reading campaigns. My artistic ventures expanded into theater, where I served as assistant director for the production of Khoroos Zari in 2016. That same year, I was honored with Mohammad Ya'ghoubi’s Playwright Prize for my play Love and Other Hormones.
Music has also been a significant part of my artistic journey. Trained in piano from an early age, I acquired the skills to compose music, and these skills became central to my cultural work as a mother. When I had my two sons, I wanted to help them connect with the Persian culture I cherish. This desire inspired the creation of the Roshd Channel in 2021. On this YouTube channel, I compose and produce Persian versions of popular Western nursery rhymes, as well as modernized versions of traditional Persian rhymes, to make learning Farsi both engaging and culturally enriching for children. The channel has allowed me to bridge my musical and cultural passions, creating educational content for my children and other Farsi-speaking families in the diaspora.
Championing Change
My journey into social justice advocacy began with a focus on feminism and LGBTQ+ advocacy, deeply rooted in my lived experiences as an Iranian woman, having witnessed and endured gender apartheid in Iran. This personal connection fueled my early activism and later expanded through my role as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Advisor from 2021 to 2022. This position deepened my understanding of intersectional social justice issues and strengthened my commitment to amplifying marginalized voices.
Since 2022, I have utilized my Instagram platform to raise awareness and advocate for social justice. With a strong following initially built through my poetry, my Instagram became a powerful space for addressing critical issues in Iran and beyond, offering a platform for activism and cultural dialogue. In addition, I joined feminist groups like the Iranian Women in Network (IWIN), where we use art to empower women, especially those from marginalized communities, and the Collective Action of Independent Iranian Women, contributing to the broader fight for gender equality and social justice for Iranian women.
Beyond my feminist and cultural advocacy, I have also been involved in broader social activism within the Iranian diaspora, collaborating with organizations such as the Iranian Diaspora Network to promote progressive change and foster dialogue across Iranian communities worldwide. These efforts enable me to engage in crucial conversations on identity, inclusion, and justice, while encouraging unity and collective action.
Professional Career
Since graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 2008, I have worked in engineering, primarily in the nuclear sector, where collaboration across disciplines is key to finding sustainable solutions. Over time, I developed a strong interest in performance improvement, focusing on mitigating human error—one of the most significant risks in the industry. This shift allowed me to develop multidisciplinary strategies to enhance safety and efficiency, addressing both immediate concerns and long-term risks.
Looking ahead, I plan to apply my experience in problem-solving, root cause analysis, and collaboration to my studies in the MAIS program at Athabasca University. As I deepen my understanding of women’s rights, social movements, and cultural transformations, I aim to explore the crucial role marginalized groups, especially women, have played in advancing social change. Ultimately, I seek to examine how art and culture have helped expand the Women, Life, Freedom movement—not only for Iranians but also among other populations, such as those in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and beyond.
Education
2024-Present
2023-2024
2023-2024
2015-2016
2008-2009
2004-2008
Master of Interdisciplinary Studies, Cultural Studies
Athabasca University
Creative Writing Graduate Certificate
Humber College
Inclusive Leadership Certificate
Catalyst
Theory and Methods in Knowledge Media Design
Human-Centred Design
Leadership and Leading for Groups and Organizations
University of Toronto
PMP Fundamentals
University of Toronto
Electrical Engineering
University of Toronto