Akwal Magek is a youth worker, multidisciplinary artist, and community facilitator based in Melbourne’s western suburbs. She is the 2024 RMIT Vocational Education Student of the Year, a recipient of the Ian Angus OAM Prize, and the 2025 RMIT Vocational Education Award winner for Leadership Potential, Initiatives, and Academic Excellence. She is also a finalist in the Victorian Training Awards 2025.

Currently completing her Diploma of Youth Work at RMIT, Akwal has built a strong record of creating inclusive, youth-led spaces through her work with organisations such as Cohealth Arts Generator, the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Western Edge Youth Arts, and the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Her practice focuses on empowering young people, particularly those from migrant and refugee backgrounds to find their voices, challenge systemic barriers, and thrive as leaders in their communities.

Akwal is now moving into the world of event curation to create spaces for emerging young people through The Radical Series: a platform to celebrate artists and young creatives in Melbourne’s west, while fostering a vibrant and inclusive community. Blending music, poetry, and storytelling, The Radical Series brings together dynamic performances and meaningful conversations to build spaces of connection, resilience, and collective healing.

Beyond youth work and event curation, Akwal is a multidisciplinary artist who blends poetry, spoken word, and playwriting to explore themes of identity, belonging, and self-love. Her creative work pushes audiences to question prevailing norms while celebrating authenticity and self-expression.

Akwal’s journey reflects resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to building an Australia that truly supports and includes every young person.