Jihad Dib

Jihad Dib MP
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Lakemba
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 March 2015
Preceded by	Robert Furolo
Personal details
Born	1973 Tripoli, Lebanon
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Erin Dib
Relations	Billy Dib (brother)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Wollongong[1]
Profession	Politician, teacher[2]
Religion	Islam

Jihad Dib (born 1973) is an Australian politician who was elected at the 2015 New South Wales state election to the Legislative Assembly as the member for Lakemba representing the Australian Labor Party. He is the first Muslim MP to represent the Lakemba seat^[3]—which has the highest proportion of Muslims in NSW^[4]—and the first Muslim MP in the NSW lower house.^[5]

Dib was born in Lebanon and migrated to Australia with his family when he was two years old. He began his career as a teacher at Ulladulla High School.^[6] He was principal of Punchbowl Boys High School from 2007 to 2014. Dib is acknowledged for changing a tough school into a respected community facility.^[7] He had previously served on the Australia Day Council of New South Wales, the New South Wales Police Commissioner's Advisory Panel and the SBS Community Advisory Committee, and was awarded a Pride of Australia award in 2013.^[8]

Dib is married to Erin, who graduated as a Japanese teacher in the same year as him,^[9] and with whom he has three children.^[10] His brother is boxing champion Billy Dib.^[11]

References

1. "A matter of principal". Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
2. "Charity is defining trait of Jihad". The Australian. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
3. Georgakopoulos, Chris (31 March 2015). "NSW Election 2015: Working with community on their needs high on the agenda for new Lakemba state Labor MP Jihad Dib". Canterbury-Bankstown Express. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
4. "Jihad Dib hoping to shed "Muslim MP" label". SBS. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
5. Deborah FitzGerald (1 April 2015). "NSW Election 2015: Overlooking ethnic candidates in Sydney's west excludes minorities and leads to extremism". Parramatta Advertiser. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
6. "Punchbowl Credits". SBS. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
7. Tovey, Josephine (16 August 2014). "Principal Jihad Dib of Sydney's Punchbowl Boys High School is a study in success". smh.com.au. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
8. "NSW Election 2015 - Lakemba". ABC News. March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
9. "A matter of principal". Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
10. Georgakopoulos, Chris (31 March 2015). "NSW Election 2015: Working with community on their needs high on the agenda for new Lakemba state Labor MP Jihad Dib". Canterbury-Bankstown Express. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
11. Kieza, Grantlee (13 Nov 2013). "Billy Dib inspired by brother Jihad for title fight against Evgeny Gradovich". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 31 March 2015.