First Muslim Woman in NSW Parliament

Dr Faruqi will replace NSW upper house MP Cate Faehrmann when she resigns from NSW politics in June to run for a seat in the Senate.

Dr Faruqi won the Greens preselection late on Saturday following a postal ballot from among a field of seven women-only candidates, in another first for the party.

The move makes Dr Faruqi the first Muslim woman appointed to any parliament in Australia, the party said.

While she will be advocating for Islamic-sensitive issues such as same-sex marriage in her new role, there would be no potential conflict of ideas, Dr Faruqi said.

"We live in a secular society in Australia and for me (same-sex marriage) is an issue of human rights and quite easily justifiable.

"It's the law of the land that I will be pursuing in parliament and that's how I will be talking to my community as well."

She migrated from Pakistan with her family in 1992. Dr Faruqi describes herself as an "environmental engineer, climate change and education activist, proud union member and feminist".

She said her Islamic faith was only "one element" of her background.

"I am proud of my culture and heritage but I'm also proud of my professional achievements.

"I believe I might be the first environmental engineer in the NSW parliament as well."

Dr Faruqi said her appointment was a "very progressive" move for Australia, and she would seek to build stronger relationships with migrant communities in her new role.

"We do need a spectrum of diverse politicians in Australian parliaments who can represent our communities.

"It shows the world that we really value multiculturalism."