Dr Azadeh Motevali Zadeh Ardakani is an Associate Lecturer in Early Childhood Education in the School of Education, Western Sydney University, and a Researcher in the Centre for Educational Research. Her research interests include supporting children and families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, refugee education, creating belonging in early learning environments, language education, and integration.

In her PhD research, Azadeh investigated the role of language education programs on the integration of Middle Eastern refugee mothers in regional Australia. She has extensive experience as a bilingual educator in multicultural Early Childhood settings in Australia where she worked with diverse groups of children and families from CALD communities. Azadeh coordinates both undergraduate and postgraduate subjects in Early Childhood Education within the School of Education. Currently, she teaches 'Diversity and Difference' and 'Play, Health, and Wellbeing' to pre-service teachers. Azadeh is available for supervision of HDR students.