Haseeb Riaz: Sparking conversations and shifting mindsets
Haseeb Riaz is one motivated, passionate individual, so much so that he has not only been nominated for an Australian of the Year Award, but also recognised on a local level as a 2024 Community Citizen of the Year.
Haseeb is the co-founder of MAN UP, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to redefine masculinity through workshops and presentations, which engage young boys in high school to investigate their ideals of masculine culture, mental health and relationships.
With his fellow co-founder Gareth Shanthikumar, Haseeb has been running MAN UP while studying as a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia. Not only does MAN UP align with Haseeb’s professional aspirations within health, it is the result of years of volunteering and engagement with youth advocacy and support.
In 2019, he was Project Coordinator of the Dr YES program, which provides sexual health, mental health, and alcohol/drug related health education to high school students. In 2018, he was a Mitsui Educational Foundation scholar, travelling to Japan for six weeks as a student ambassador for Australia, and he has also volunteered and been involved with committees of organisations such as United Nations Youth Australia, Artists Against Poverty, Teach Learn Grow and Uni Camp for Kids.
In 2024, he was appointed as Chair of the Medical Students’ Council of Western Australia, and is also the medical student member of the Australian Medical Council committee.
Haseeb explains the importance of initiatives such as MAN UP within our local communities. And the impact he hopes to make.
“A big part of any movement to tackle gender inequity is adopting a community attitude. Recognising the importance of men engaging with gender equality, and listening to leading female voices within the space, are vital, and on top of that, advocating and promoting healthier versions of masculinity in young men. Conversations like this are valuable and necessary for boys in high school, and I personally hope that MAN UP causes a ripple effect in mindset shift or behaviour with conversations like this throughout the community.”
If you know someone like Haseeb who is making a positive difference, help to recognise them by nominating them in the Community Citizen of the Year Awards or Australian of the Year Awards. Nominations for both award programs are open all year round.
Find out more about MAN UP at www.manupwa.org.au