Born in Iran, Effat has spent the last 34 years working in midwifery across delivery units, antenatal clinics, postnatal wards, community health, and Schools of Midwifery, Nursing, and Medicine. Since obtaining her PhD from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW Sydney, Effat’s work over the last 20 years has focused on reproductive and sexual health, and sexual well-being, mainly within Middle Eastern countries. Currently, Effat works as a Professor of Sexology at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and as a Registered Midwife at North Shore Private Hospital.

Effat is passionate about improving reproductive and sexual health outcomes for culturally diverse populations and has a deep awareness of providing a culturally safe space for individuals to engage in care. Her personal, cultural, and professional backgrounds intersect to create a unique understanding of how cultural and social norms impact one’s health-seeking behaviours.