Eman Sharobeem's life story reads like an inspiring tale of overcoming the odds: forced into an arranged marriage to her first cousin as a teenager, then widowed at 29 with two young sons, having endured a violent 14-year marriage.

After emigrating from Egypt, she gained PhDs in psychology, management and organisational leadership, rising to become chief executive of the Immigrant Women's Health Service and earning a list of community honours for her work giving a voice to the underprivileged.

But now the prominent women's refugee advocate, domestic violence campaigner and Australian of the Year finalist has had her assets frozen by the powerful NSW Crime Commission following an investigation into "serious crime related activity" and her "unexplained wealth".

The Crime Commission has secured a restraining order in the NSW Supreme Court that requires Ms Sharobeem not to dispose of three Sydney properties it believes she owns and to disclose her financial interests.