Farrah Khan
About Farrah
Farrah Khan, a nationally recognized advocate and educator with two decades of addressing sexual violence, is the Manager of Ryerson’s Consent Comes First, Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education.
It is her responsibility to oversee university-wide activities related to awareness, education, training, support and response to sexual violence in the Ryerson community. She leads and coordinates the design and implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at reinforcing our commitment to fostering a safe, healthy, supportive environment for all students, faculty and staff, and the development and delivery of appropriate supports for sexual violence survivors.
She has spent two decades working diligently to raise awareness of the connection between equity and gender-based violence, through art creation, education, counselling. She joined Ryerson in 2015 as the inaugural coordinator for its Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education.
Farrah is recognized for her leadership in addressing the systemic, community and personal barriers that survivors of sexual violence face. Due to her subject matter knowledge and collaborative approach Farrah has been appointed
- Co-chair of Ontario’s first permanent provincial roundtable on Violence Against Women, external link, opens in new window in 2015
- Member of the Government of Canada's Federal Strategy Against Gender-based Violence Advisory Council, external link, opens in new window in 2016
- Member of the Community Advisory Group for the Ontario Human Rights Commission, external link, opens in new window in 2017.
- Member of the Gender Equality Advisory Council for the G7 , external link, opens in new windowin 2018.
- Co-lead of the National Framework to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence on Post Secondary Institutions. , external link
Farrah has worked with many post-secondary institutions to address rape culture and sexual violence through programs, lectures, workshops, and training. She has a deep understanding of the needs of the Ryerson community having previously worked in partnership with the Ryerson Centre for Student Development and Counselling, guest lecturing in various classes, as well as working closely with the Ryerson Students’ Unions on consent culture programming.
Farrah regularly contributes to national media including the CBC,, external link, opens in new window New York Times, external link, opens in new window and the Globe and Mail, external link, opens in new window for her expertise in addressing gender based violence.
Farrah supports survivors leadership by helping them engage with mainstream media, lobby policymakers and build campaigns. Farrah mentors young feminist groups including We Give Consent, external link, opens in new window, Project Slut and femifesto, external link, opens in new window. With femifesto Farrah researched and created Use the Right Words: Media Reporting on Sexual Violence for journalists.
She uses art to explore inclusion, healing and justice. As an author, Farrah wrote Caring for Yourself is a Radical Act, an illustrative self care guide for youth working in community that explores trauma, institutional betrayal and community care. She also edited Heartbeats: the IZZAT Project, a graphic novella and co-wrote the play based on the book about healing from family violence as South Asian young women. In 2014, the IZZAT Project joined the Tahirih Justice Centre for "Honouring Our Heartbeats: A Tour to End Forced Marriage", external link, opens in new window that went to six cities in the United States.
Farrah’s leadership and commitment have been recognized with several awards from organizations such as the the Canadian Women’s Foundation, the Toronto Community Foundation and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. She received her MSW from the University of Toronto and BA from York University.
Book Farrah
If you would like to invite Farrah to attend your event, or book her as a speaker, contact her at osvse@ryerson.ca, opens in new window.