Former Australian of the Year finalist Eman Sharobeem​ recently returned to her native Egypt and has been making enquiries in Cairo to renew her national identity card, a prerequisite for seeking work in the country.

Two senior officials at Egypt's National Council of Women confirmed that Ms Sharobeem, who has lived in Australia for 30 years, was at their offices in the upmarket suburb of Nasr City in Cairo about two months ago, requesting a letter that states she had worked for the government body, in order to renew her national identification card.

Eman Sharobeem and Haiman Hammo at an Australian of the Year dinner in 2016. Credit:Fairfax Media

The revelation comes just a day before ICAC is due to begin public hearings into allegations Ms Sharobeem, the former CEO of two publicly funded community health organisations, misused credit cards, submitted false invoices, spent money on personal items and used public money to renovate a property she owned.

With Ms Sharobeem due to give evidence over two days in the second week of hearings, it is unclear if she remains in Egypt or has returned to Australia. Her lawyer Mark Smith did not respond to a request for comment.