Hayat Akbari is a human rights advocate and a former refugee from Afghanistan living in Australia. As the first of his family to pursue his higher education, he holds a BA in International Law and Global Governance and International Relations. He is the chair of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Youth Working Group. Additionally, he is the Asia Pacific regional focal point at the United Nations Major Group on Children and Youth (UNMGCY).

Hayat advocates for the right of migrants and refugees in immigration detention because of his personal experience. He was held in immigration detention for almost a year.