Majida Abboud-Saab OAM

For 38 years, Majida Abboud-Saab worked her way up the ranks at SBS while simultaneously transforming the broadcaster into what it is today; a home and information source for multilingual Australians.

Ms Abboud-Saab's impactful career began as a radio broadcast journalist before she stepped up as program manager and then TV producer. Her experience and drive led her to then be promoted to executive producer of the Arabic Language section, where she remained for 21 years. 

“Helping the Arabic community and women feel more Australian by understanding their obligations and rights, and evolving cultural beliefs and values to harmonise their belonging and identity as Australians has been the greatest impact of my work,” she says. 

“On the other hand, informing and facilitating the understandings of Australians about the significance of multicultural and multilingual contributions that make us all human.”

Ms Abboud-Saab migrated to Australia from Beirut in 1967 and is the founding member of the Arab Council of Australia. She was also the Chair of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance for 20 years, and volunteered in Marine Rescue NSW for six years.

Since 2016, she has also volunteered for Lifeline Telephone Crisis support and has previously sat as a judge on the NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards and Multicultural Media Awards.

She says being given the opportunities that led her to this recognition was a blessing.

“I feel honoured, humbled, and grateful to be recognised for my services to the media industry, the Arabic language community, multicultural and multilingual broadcasting and most of all, Australia,” she says. 

“I would like to thank my grandmother who was the reason we migrated to Australia. 

“I’d like to thank the Arabic community, and the multicultural and multilingual teams at SBS for their support for me not only to share skills and inspire others but also to learn and have fun along the way.”