Ayor Makur Chuot is a Member of the Legislative Council of the 41st Parliament of Western Australia. She is Western Australia’s first Member of Parliament of African descent and the first person from a South Sudanese background to occupy a seat in any Parliament in Australia.
Prior to politics, Ayor worked as an international model – when there was minimal representation of black women in fashion. She then became an accountant and ran her own modelling agency and fashion shows to promote cultural diversity and develop opportunities for young people of colour.
As an MP, Ayor regularly champions multiculturalism, supporting CALD communities and youth programs. She is a Member of the Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People and is Co-convenor of three Parliamentary Friends Groups: Refugees, Africa, and Fashion.
Ayor is a sought-after speaker with a remarkable personal story that inspires people from all walks of life and builds bridges of understanding. Born in an Ethiopian refugee camp, she lived ten years in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp following her father’s tragic death, before arriving in Perth at age fifteen.
From refugee camp to the catwalks of New York, London, Johannesburg, Sydney – appearing in Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire. A mother, community activist and parliamentarian, she represents her constituency diligently, chipping away at complex social issues including race, gender, and discrimination.