The Hon Tony Burke
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
The Hon Tony Burke
Tony Burke is the Member for Watson, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for the Arts and Leader of the House of Representatives.
Tony has been a member of the Labor frontbench both in Government and in Opposition since entering Federal Parliament in 2004.
When Tony took over the immigration portfolio in 2013, unauthorised boat arrivals were at an all-time high. The policy changes he oversaw delivered a 90 per cent reduction in the number of people putting their lives at risk on boats. He also ensured that all unaccompanied minors in immigration detention were released.
As Minister for the Arts Tony launched Revive – Australia’s first National Cultural Policy in a decade – reversing ten years of cuts to the arts, properly funding Australia’s cultural institutions and establishing Creative Australia.
Previously as Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Tony introduced 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave, passed the Secure Jobs, Better Pay laws to improve Australia’s bargaining system and passed the Closing Loopholes laws to improve wages, conditions and safety for workers.
Previously as Environment Minister in the Gillard Government, Tony was responsible for resolving 100 years of conflict in the Murray-Darling Basin, placing Tasmania’s forests on the World Heritage list and making the second-largest conservation decision in the history of the planet by protecting our oceans.
Peter Khalil
Special Envoy for Social Cohesion
Peter Khalil
Peter is the son of Egyptian migrant parents and grew up in a housing commission in Melbourne. Peter was elected to federal parliament in 2016 and re-elected by the people of Wills in 2019 and 2022.
He worked the late shift at the local servo, as a cleaner and on building sites whilst studying Law and Arts at Melbourne University, before later attaining a Master of International Laws from ANU.
Peter’s parents instilled in him the importance of giving something back to the country that gave his family so many opportunities. In a career that spanned the public and private sectors, he has worked hard to give back to the country that gave his family a fair go.
Prior to his election, Peter worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, as an Executive Director of SBS and as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, where he worked to promote our cultural diversity.
Peter is passionate about creating good, secure local jobs, taking action on climate change, supporting small business, rebuilding Australian manufacturing, investing in quality education and making Australia a world leader in the promotion of human rights through our foreign policy.
Peter lives with his wife and two young children in Pascoe Vale, practices Sundo, plays tennis in his spare time and is a one-eyed Collingwood supporter.
The Hon. Jihad Dib
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Youth Justice
The Hon. Jihad Dib
Jihad Dib is the Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Youth Justice and the Local Member for Bankstown.
Jihad is a former board member of the Australia Day Council of NSW, the NSW Police Commissioner’s Advisory Panel, and the SBS Community Advisory Committee.
Jihad has campaigned tirelessly for inclusiveness and the celebration of diversity in our society, believing in the notion that “if you can see it, you can be it”.
Prior to being elected to the NSW Parliament in 2015, Jihad was Principal of Punchbowl Boys’ High.
Over a period of 9 years, he transformed the school by developing strong relationships with the community, local organisations and government agencies.
Stephanie Foster PSM
Secretary
Department of Home Affairs
Stephanie Foster PSM
Stephanie joined the Department of Home Affairs in October 2022 as Associate Secretary Immigration. Stephanie led the delivery of Immigration Operations, Immigration Policy, Refugee Policy and Programs, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Legal and Service Design and Delivery Programs.
Prior to this, Stephanie was Deputy Secretary Governance at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in December 2017, where she was responsible for the effective operations of the Executive Branch of Government, management of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees, advancing the government’s legislative program.
In 2021, Stephanie led a review into practices in parliamentary workplaces related to serious incidents and subsequently implemented recommendations, including the establishment of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service. Stephanie also implemented Government recommendations in the Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces aimed at making Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces safer and more respectful.
Stephanie began her journey in the APS in 1987 as a graduate at the Defence Signals Directorate where she went on to spend 16 years working in a range of analytic and management roles. Stephanie spent four years as First Assistant Secretary of Defence’s International Policy Division, providing policy support to overseas operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Solomon Islands and East Timor, and managed the Defence Cooperation Program and the Global Network of Defence Attachés.
Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Monash University. Stephanie was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2008 for her policy support to Australian Defence Force deployments overseas, and the French Officier de l’Ordre National du Merite in 2010 for her work to develop defence relations between France and Australia.
Stan Grant
Journalist and Thought Leader
Stan Grant
Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharrawal man.
A journalist since 1987, he has worked for the ABC, SBS, the Seven Network, and Sky News Australia.
From 2001 to 2012 he worked for CNN as an anchor and senior International Correspondent in Asia and the Middle East.
As a journalist, he has received a string of prestigious international and Australian awards, including the US Peabody and DuPont awards, three time winner of the Walkley Awards, four time winner of the Asia TV Awards, an Australian Logie Award, two Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards and a GQ Man of the Year agenda setter award.
He has published six critically acclaimed and best selling books, and wrote the feature documentary, the Australian Dream, on the racist treatment of AFL football star, Adam Goodes. That film has screened around the world and has so far won more than a dozen international film awards.
Stan is the former host of ABC TV’s China Tonight and Q and A, and International Affairs Analyst at the ABC.
He is the Director of the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific, Professor of Journalism at Monash University and Chair of Yindyamarra nguluway at Charles Sturt University.
Stan is also a fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences and a fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
Craig Foster AM
Broadcaster, Author and Human Rights Activist
Craig Foster AM
Following a decorated football career as Australia’s 419th Socceroo and 40th Captain, Craig has become one of Australia’s most respected sportspeople as a broadcaster, social justice advocate and human rights campaigner.
Craig represented Australia in the junior National Team at age 15 in the first FIFA Under 16 World Cup in China, 1985 where he was selected in the FIFA Team of the Tournament. He would later go on to represent Australia at senior level on 29 occasions including as Captain.
Following retirement, he quickly became one of Australia’s most respected sports broadcasters with an 18-year, triple Logie-winning career with Australia’s multicultural broadcaster, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) as part of The World Game (TWG) team which included six male FIFA World Cups and four FIFA Women’s World Cups as well as the UEFA Champions League, English Premier League and domestic competitions. Today, Craig covers the UEFA Champions League, Europa and Conference Leagues for Stan Sport Australia.
A member of the Australian Multicultural Council under the Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship division, Craig works across a vast range of social programs from First Nations rights and self-determination, homelessness and domestic violence, climate action and gender equality and is particularly well known for his refugee advocacy.
Distinguished Professor George Williams AO
Vice-Chancellor
Western Sydney University
Distinguished Professor George Williams AO
Distinguished Professor George Williams AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Western Sydney University. He is proud to lead an institution renowned for providing broad access to higher education and for achieving real-world impact through positive social, environmental and economic change in Western Sydney and globally.
Professor Williams commenced as Western Sydney University’s fifth Vice-Chancellor in July 2024, bringing decades of experience as a constitutional law scholar and teacher, senior leader in higher education, barrister and as a national thought leader.
He began his academic career at the Australian National University before joining the University of New South Wales as the Anthony Mason Professor and later a Scientia Professor. He was the first legal academic selected as an Australian Laureate Fellow, the nation’s top research award, and has held visiting positions at Columbia University, Durham University, Osgoode Hall Law School and University College London.
Professor Williams has a long and respected record of thought leadership on public policy and constitutional law. For over two decades, he was a regular newspaper columnist for The Australian, The Canberra Times, and The Sydney Morning Herald. In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the law in the fields of anti-terrorism, human rights and constitutional law as an academic, author, adviser and public commentator.
Dr Jennifer Hsu
Senior Visiting Fellow
UNSW
Dr Jennifer Hsu
Dr. Jennifer Hsu is Visiting Senior Fellow at the Social Policy and Research Centre at the University of New South Wales and most recently, Research Fellow and Project Director of the Multiculturalism, Identity and Influence Project at the Lowy Institute. She is the author of the Lowy Institute’s Being Chinese in Australia: Public Opinion in Chinese Communities. After completing her PhD at the University of Cambridge in Development Studies, she researched and taught in development studies, political science and sociology in universities in North America and the UK. Her research expertise broadly covers China’s state-society relations, state-NGO relations, civil society, the internationalisation of Chinese NGOs, Australia-China relations and diaspora studies and she has published widely in these areas. She has made regular contributions to Australian and international media outlets.
Tim Dixon
Co-Founder
More in Common
Tim Dixon
Ahmet Polat
Executive Director
Affinity Intercultural Foundation
Ahmet Polat
Ahmet Orhan Polat has been the Executive Director of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation in Sydney since 2015, following seven years as the Executive Director of the Australian Intercultural Society in Melbourne. With over a decade of dedication to dialogue, Ahmet has deepened his commitment to achieving Universal Human Values for a peaceful world.
Ahmet represents Affinity as an international partner of the SDGs Conference with the Journalists and Writers Foundation in New York. This year, he is co-organising the Interfaith Contributions to the SDGs Roundtable at the conference. His extensive involvement in various organisations reflects his commitment to fostering positive change. He is currently an Executive Council Member at the Sydney Peace Foundation, a former Chairman and now a member of the Abraham Conference Committee in NSW, and an advisory board member for the Study of the Economic Impact of Religion on Society.
Before his leadership roles, Ahmet’s passion for social justice and global harmony was nurtured through nearly twenty years of experience in secondary teaching and administration, spanning Australia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis
World Federation of United Nations Associations Youth Council
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis is a global social equality and youth affairs leader, social and public health researcher and educator, recognised as one of the United Nations’s 23 Young People Leading Resilient Recovery in the Decade of Action. She served as the 2022 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations and is the current Oceania Representative for the World Federation of United Nations Associations Youth Council. Angelica’s work is deeply rooted in action on marginalisation and intersectionality, communicating the impacts of inequality, participatory and emancipatory research, and co-creating meaningful opportunities for participation at all levels.
Her advocacy includes being a Founding Member of the African Australian Youth Suicide Prevention Committee, organising research-driven campaigns and education with Plan International Australia on online harassment and just futures, and advising the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and VicHealth on youth health. Angelica is also the host of a new podcast series called Sink or Swim, produced by Impact Studios UTS, exploring the themes of climate, swimming, social and structural determinants of health, and community resilience in Western Sydney.
Annette Schneider
Chief Executive Officer
Together for Humanity
Annette Schneider
Anny Druett
Open the Space
Anny Druett
Anny understands the challenges faced by many non-Aboriginal organisations in the not-for-profit, government and corporate sectors seeking to meaningfully connect and engage with First Nation peoples and their communities to increase their access to much needed services and programs.
Anny invites you to take a look under the bonnet of both traditional and modern cultures to appreciate both the differences and similarities to “Open the Space” to understand how to connect, communicate and collaborate even more.
Anthea Hancocks
Chief Executive Officer
Scanlon Foundation
Anthea Hancocks
Augusta Supple
Arts and Cultural Strategist
Augusta Supple
Augusta Supple is a Sydney-based creative producer and theatre director specializing in new work and multi-playwright productions. As a member of The Women’s Club, Augusta has led conversations on women and history and co-convened the Women in Music Program in 2021. She was the producer and host of TWC Meets the Artist, featuring 40 interviews over four months.
Augusta’s extensive experience includes roles with local, state, and federal government agencies, advising on arts and cultural policy, public art programs, and strategies to support communities through crises.
Dr Cassandra Goldie AO
Chief Executive Officer
ACOSS
Dr Cassandra Goldie AO
Cassandra has a PhD from UNSW Sydney and a Masters of Law from University College London. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and serves on the UNSW Law Advisory Committee and the Australian Climate Roundtable. Cassandra is Co-Chair of the ACOSS and UNSW Sydney Poverty and Inequality Partnership and a member of Chief Executive Women.
Cassandra was recognised as one of the Inaugural Westpac Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence, has been recognised as one of Australia’s top 50 Outstanding LGBTI Executives by Deloitte, and has twice been voted one of the Impact 25 Most Influential People in the Social Economy. In 2021, Cassandra received the UNSW Alumni Award for Social Impact and Service, and, in 2023, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to social justice through leadership and advocacy, promoting the rights of marginalised and disadvantaged people.
Cliff Eberly
Program Director – Resilient People and Places
Centre for Policy Development
Cliff Eberly
Clifford (Cliff) Eberly is a thoughtful and reflective people and culture leader who works across community organisations, business and government to help communities create a sense of place through community-led action.
With experience in community development, public policy and organisational leadership, he has spent the last 18 years developing and delivering community projects in the United States, South Africa, and Australia. An engaging facilitator and community development practitioner, Clifford uses these skills to foster active citizenship and grow partnerships between community and government.
Clifford holds a Masters in Organisational Development from Monash University that builds on a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from studies in the United States. He is an advocate for place-based, strengths-focused and community-led approaches to engagement, development and service delivery.
Darren Bark
Co-Chair
Faith NSW
Darren Bark
Darren Bark is passionate about empowering communities and ensuring NSW is a safe and secure place for all. Having worked as a senior executive in public, private and not-for-profit organisations, Darren is a respected and accomplished leader and has championed several historic outcomes for the broader community, including landmark legislation banning the public display of Nazi symbols and tackling hate crimes. He has promoted respect, understanding and acceptance in our society and unified and increased engagement within faith groups. Darren holds numerous roles including Co-Chair of Faith NSW and Director at the NSW Police Force and serves as a member of the NSW Government’s Faith Advisory Council. He is Deputy Chairman of the Biometrics Institute, which promotes the responsible and ethical use of technology internationally and was a Director of a mental health charity serving children and youth. Darren also worked for the NSW Government for over 10 years, including as Executive Director of the NSW Police Force, Director at the NSW Department of Justice and Chair of the NSW Identity Security Council.
Davide Schiappapietra
Head of Language Content
SBS
Davide Schiappapietra
As SBS Head of Language Content, Davide is responsible for the content strategy of over 60 language programs across radio, podcasting, websites and social media, uniquely reaching diverse multicultural Australian audiences.
He was previously at Mergermarket formally part of Financial Times Group, as Australia & New Zealand Bureau Chief, and prior to that as Senior Financial Journalist.
Born in Milan and fluent in Italian and English, Davide has a BA in Communication Sciences (University of Bologna) and a MA in Global Media Communication (University of Melbourne).
He is passionate about the role of media in fostering social cohesion and promoting democratic participation. In his spare time, Davide can be found on the water, dragon boat racing with the Sydney Sloths Team and the SBS Dragons.
Fiona Towney
Director of Indigenous Futures
Western Sydney University
Fiona Towney
Fiona Towney is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Central-West NSW.
Fiona is the Director of Indigenous Futures. In this role, she enhances the high-level innovative approach of the Division of the DVCIL in relation to the areas of communication excellence and Indigenous governance. Fiona also provides exceptional influencing skills in relation to engagement with internal and external stakeholders across multiple projects, including the Indigenous Centre of Excellence, a vision she shared with her colleagues as far back as late 2019.
Fiona’s first employment was with the Commonwealth Bank, where she worked for 15 years. At the time of her resignation, Fiona was an Assistant Manager on the Commonwealth Bank IT Helpdesk. Fiona then gained employment with the NSW Department of Education where she worked for 25 years, moving through a variety of project-based and team management roles within the HR space.
Fiona joined WSU in September 2018. In her previous role as Director of the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education, Fiona was responsible for the provision and implementation of education and support services for Western’s Indigenous Australian students. As a member of the University’s senior team, she contributed to policy and strategic organisational direction and provided advice and leadership, always working to increase student outcomes.
Fiona holds tertiary qualifications in Human Resource Management and Project Management.
Jen Guice
Director
CRED Consulting
Jen Guice
Jen loves nothing more than bringing people together. Whether it’s community members who start as strangers but become colleagues and friends, colleagues or stakeholders who need to align, or an auditorium full of delegates looking to be lead through an event. Jen is trusted by her clients and sought after for her creative, warm, strategic, successful, and fun facilitation and approaches to community and stakeholder engagement.
As an IAP2 accredited engagement professional, leading state and national award-winning engagement and research projects each year since she started at Cred in 2020, Jen brings her leadership, insight, creativity, and energy to ensure Cred’s community and stakeholder engagement projects are exemplary.
A passionate advocate for environmental and social justice and participatory research, Jen has forged a reputation in the industry as a leader in designing and delivering research and engagement projects that are building community resilience and social cohesion. Jen is an authentic, empathetic, and caring leader who connects with people across generations, cultures and places. Jen is highly skilled at designing research and engagement processes that elevate the voices of diverse and under-represented communities, especially women and girls, young people and (with our First Nations consultant partners) First Nations communities.
With a background in the sciences, Jen is highly skilled at interpreting and communicating complex information simply and clearly. Jen has over 25 years industry experience in engagement, strategic communications, strategy development and project management working for government, not-for-profits, and the private sector in Australia.
Joanna Quilty
Head, Preparedness & Recovery
NSW Reconstruction Authority
Joanna Quilty
In this role, Joanna is able to draw on her Churchill Fellowship undertaken in 2023 looking at more collaborative and networked models to disaster management. Her travels to New Zealand, many different parts of the United States and to Canada have reinforced that communities that are well connected, with strong social, cultural, faith-based and/or economic ties, are better placed when it comes to survival and accelerated post-disaster recovery. She also brings a strong commitment to strengthening the role of the social service sector in supporting communities – including those in high risk areas or experiencing disproportionate levels of disadvantage – to prepare for and recover from disaster.
Jodie Wrigley
Head of Health and Social Change
Senate SHJ
Jodie Wrigley
Jodie Wrigley is a strategic communication and behaviour change specialist dedicated to addressing some of the most complex health and social issues. With a focus on evidence-based practices, Jodie has collaborated with governments and organisations both locally and internationally to create meaningful change. Their expertise spans areas such as social cohesion and community resilience, countering violent extremism and reintegration communication, health screening and vaccination, and system reform.
During climate crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and misinformation threats, [Name] has provided crisis communication counsel and helped build strategic communication capacity to navigate these challenges and support community recovery.
In addition to their role at SenateSHJ, Jodie is a postgraduate lecturer at the University of Sydney, teaching Crisis Communication, Health Communication, and Behaviour Change. They also serve as a Senior Strategic Communication Advisor to the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.
Juana Reinoso
Chief Executive Officer
CORE Community Services
Juana Reinoso
Juana Reinoso joined CORE Community Services in 1994 as a project worker and since then has held various roles in the organisation across a number of services.
Juana became the CEO of CORE in October 2014, after successfully holding the role of Service Manager for the Aged and Disability Care Service for 10 years – seeing great changes and strategic overhauls which financially benefitted the service and its clients.
Juana holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Science and Technology and has vast experience in working with disadvantaged, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in South West Sydney.
She has set up services to support elderly people, been involved in strategic planning, staff management, financial management and risk management.
Juana’s passion to advance the needs and empower the voices of the local community, is the reason she chose to work at CORE Community Services and continues to be a driving force within the organisation.
Julie Charlton
Youth Advocate
Julie Charlton
Julie Charlton (she/they) is a disability, queer and youth advocate, elite para athlete and coach who has been working in the advocacy space for almost 20 years. She is passionate about holding systems accountable to the people that they serve, making sure that all people have a chance to be represented in all spaces of society.
Professor Kate Reynolds
ANU
Professor Kate Reynolds
Kate has received funding from the Australian Research Council and government bodies, with her research featured in top scientific journals and the media. She has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters and co-edited volumes like The Psychology of Change (2015) and Understanding Prejudice, Racism and Social Conflict (2001). She has served on executive committees of professional societies, editorial boards, and as Associate Editor for Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin and Political Psychology. She is the current President of the Society of Australasian Social Psychologists and immediate past-President of the International Society of Political Psychology. At ANU, she has held roles such as Associate Director of the Research School of Psychology and member of various committees, including ANU Council.
Kate is dedicated to making social psychology and behavioural science accessible and useful.
Dr Kathleen Openshaw
Western Sydney University
Dr Kathleen Openshaw
Liz Yeo
Chief of Alliances
Paul Ramsay Foundation
Liz Yeo
Liz Yeo is the Chief of Alliances at the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF). PRF is a philanthropic foundation working for a future where people and places have what they need to thrive, and social cohesion is critical to achieve this.
Liz began her Social Work career in youth homelessness and has worked in a range of large and small Not-for-Profit organisations in health, education and community services over the last 30 years.
Prior to joining PRF Liz was the CEO at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC) for seven and a half years. This role in particular provided important insights into the value of social cohesion within her own diverse community.
Liz has a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a Masters in Adult Education.
Liz believes in the power of connected local communities to improve outcomes for the next generation of Australians.
Dr Malcolm Haddon PSM
Associate Director, Community Resilience
Multicultural NSW
Dr Malcolm Haddon
Dr Malcolm Haddon PSM is Associate Director, Community Resilience, at Multicultural NSW, where he leads policies and programs that aim to inspire people to foster social cohesion, stand united against divisive forces, and come together in times of need. He is the chief architect of the flagship Community Partnership Action (COMPACT) Program, a state-wide program supporting an alliance of over 80 partner organisations who are committed to safeguarding social cohesion against hate and division. COMPACT has been independently evaluated as a ‘first of its kind’ program to build social cohesion and community resilience and has been showcased as good practice in a range international reports and forums, including the United Nations.
Dr Haddon also manages the NSW Community Resilience and Response Plan (COMPLAN), which details a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to identifying, assessing, and addressing risks to community harmony in NSW, including risks to community harmony arising from local and global crises and conflicts. Dr Haddon was awarded the Public Service Medal as part of the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for outstanding public service in the promotion of multiculturalism, social cohesion and community harmony.
Marc Ablong PSM
Visiting Senior Fellow
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Marc Ablong PSM
Marc joined the Department of Defence in 1993 after an earlier career in the finance and banking industry. During his 25 years with Defence, Marc held positions in capital equipment & acquisition policy, international policy, military strategy, maritime capability development, Air Force long-range planning, national support and mobilisation planning, information strategy and futures, strategic reform, and strategic policy. Marc was Chief of Staff of the 2009 Defence White Paper Team, providing strategic advice and support to the Principal Author. He was appointed First Assistant Secretary Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication in 2011.
In 2014, Marc was chosen to lead the development of the 2016 Defence White Paper, Integrated Investment Program and Defence Industry Policy Statement. Following the release of the White Paper, Marc was appointed as the inaugural First Assistant Secretary Contestability, and subsequently held roles as First Assistant Secretary Naval Shipbuilding Taskforce, First Assistant Secretary Defence Industry Policy, and acting Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Intelligence.
Marc Ablong PSM was promoted to Deputy Secretary in the Department of Home Affairs in 2018. To deliver on the Home Affairs vision of a prosperous, secure and united Australia, over the last five years Marc has had responsibility for strategic guidance and capability planning; immigration policy; law enforcement policy; data policy; electronic surveillance reform; regional processing and resettlement; intelligence; critical and emerging technology policy; cyber security; national resilience and strengthening democracy. In May 2023, Marc commenced a senior visiting fellowship with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, to pursue national security related research. He remains a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Home Affairs.
Marc has attended the Joint Services Staff College (1997), the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (2002) and completed the Advanced Management Program 190 (2016) at the Harvard Business School. Marc was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours 2018.
Mariam Veiszadeh
Chief Executive Officer
Media Diversity Australia
Mariam Veiszadeh
Mariam Veiszadeh is an award winning human rights advocate, lawyer, diversity and inclusion practitioner, contributing author and media commentator. Mariam was most recently in a management position at the Diversity Council of Australia, founded the Islamophobia Register Australia, and has held multiple board positions.
She has delivered a TEDxSydney talk advocating for greater cultural diversity, was featured as an Anti-Racism Champion by the Australian Human Rights Commission and currently sits on the Commission’s Expert Advisory Group for the Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool as well their Multicultural Advisory Group. Mariam has worked as radio commentator for the ABC radio and as a columnist for Fairfax media.
With many accolades to her name including the Fairfax Daily Life 2016 Woman of the year, the 2015 Westpac Woman of Influence and Welcoming Australia Life Member Award in 2021, Mariam is renowned for influencing positive change both in the workplace and in society more broadly.
Mariam was born in Afghanistan and came to Australia in 1990 with her family as a refugee.
Associate Professor Melissa Edwards
Centre for Social Impact
UNSW
Associate Professor Melissa Edwards
Associate Professor Melissa Edwards is the Research and Innovation Director at the Centre for Social Impact UNSW (CSI UNSW).
Melissa is an award-winning researcher and educator and has pursued a career of engaged scholarship at the intersection of social impact and sustainability for over 15 years.
Through her applied research, Associate Professor Edwards explores how people and organisations respond to complex sustainability issues through leadership, strategic action, and business model innovation. Her recent research focuses on stakeholder capitalism, the circular economy, ESG disclosures and reporting, and sustainable investment. She collaborates with organisations across sectors and has led research contracts with Surf Life Saving Australia, the Wayside Chapel, Slyp and RACE 2030, and was awarded Commonwealth grants through Business.gov. au, the Office of Learning and Teaching, DIIS and DEEWR. She publishes in a variety of professional and academic journals including Organisation and Environment, Australian Journal of Management, Voluntas, Business Strategy and the Environment, and Environmental Education Research.
Associate Professor Edwards also brings extensive experience in innovative curriculum design, incorporating interdisciplinary experiential and action learning approaches to embed sustainability and social impact in business and leadership development programs. She is passionate about upskilling changemakers to lead through purpose and inclusion while implementing effective and impactful strategies for organisational innovation and system transformation.
Prior to joining UNSW Centre for Social Impact, she was the Executive MBA director and Research Director of the Centre for Business and Sustainable Development at the UTS Business School. She currently serves as the Australian Business Deans Council Inaugural Climate Action Fellow, where she leads a national action plan to raise the collective impact of the 38 member schools across education, research, and operations.
She received a PhD in Management and holds a Bachelor of Business (Hons I) and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.
Associate Professor Neil Hall
Western Sydney University
Associate Professor Neil Hall
Neil Hall is an Associate Professor in Social Work at Western Sydney University and a lead academic in the University’s Centre for Male Health. He has a longstanding commitment to situating his teaching and research in the context of making a positive impact in and for the community of the Greater Western Sydney region. Neil has engaged in research about social isolation as a factor in the mental health and wellbeing of men and boys, older people, diverse cultural groups and Indigenous communities, and the ways that connection and cohesion can be built through social work service delivery and through community-generated activities such as sport, music and art.
Nemat Kharboutli
Manager, Linking Hearts
Muslim Women Australia
Nemat Kharboutli
Professor Philippa Collin
Co-Director
Young and Resilient Research Centre
Professor Phillipa Collin
Professor Philippa Collin is Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University and co-director of Intergener8 Living Lab. She researches the role of the digital in the social, cultural and political lives of young people, with a focus on the implications for health and wellbeing. Her work is also concerned with new forms of political participation, identity and governance as they relate to the dynamics of elitism and exclusion.
She has led more than 30 funded projects with community, government, and industry partners including the Multicultural Youth Action Network (NSW), Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Foundation for Young Australians, Google Australia/NZ, the Office for Youth, and a number of NSW and Federal Government Departments. In 2015 she was awarded the WSU Deputy Vice-Chancellors Award for Research Excellence through Partnership, recognition of her deep commitment to building effective collaborations for engaged research. She is also a member of the scientific and advisory boards of the Raising Children Network and The Smith Family Digital Futures.
Dr Rhonda Itaoui
Director
Centre for Western Sydney
Dr Rhonda Itaoui
Dr Rhonda Itaoui leads the strategic research and advocacy agenda of the Centre for Western Sydney. Developing collaborative research and engagement initiatives within Western Sydney region, she is committed to amplifying community voices and collaboratively working with various stakeholders, including researchers, industry professionals, and government, to develop policies that meet community needs and foster the success of the region.
Rhonda Itaoui has a PhD and first-class honours in human geography. Her PhD research on the geographies of Islamophobia in Sydney, Australia and the San Francisco Bay Area, USA revealed the need for place-based strategies for cultivating inclusion across public spaces. She has produced anti-racism tools, resources and training in both Australia and the United States of America.
Rhonda is particularly passionate about using research to advocate for communities through consultation, partnership, and meaningful engagement.
Rumbi Mbambe
Executive Director
Chain Reaction Foundation
Rumbi Mbambe
The Learning Ground program a proven program focused on re-engaging youth in education, developed by Chain Reaction Foundation and academically reviewed byWestern Sydney University. The program promotes cognitive, emotional and behavioural change in young people with a focus on student well-being and is now available as an in School program.
Rumbi is the final year of her PhD in Adolescent Social Cohesion with the University of Technology Sydney. She is a people person who conducts her present role with considerable empathy, determination and skills, particularly in organisational strategic planning, corporate governance and stakeholder engagement.
Sarah Reilly
Managing Director
CRED Consulting
Sarah Reilly
Sarah is the Founder and CEO of Cred Consulting and one of Australia’s leading thinkers (and doers!) on all things community led and participatory planning, social infrastructure, and public open space, and designing equitable and beautiful places and services for and with people. With over 25 years industry experience, she is a big ideas generator who is changing the way things work in social policy and practice. Sarah was the winner of the Planning Institute of Australia NSW Helen Proudfoot Award for Women in Planning 2024.
She is known within the industry for her passion, strategic thinking, ethics, and ability to work across diverse sectors and communities to reach mutually beneficial outcomes. With more than 20 years in the industry, she excels at collaborating, facilitating, and advising at all levels from community groups to senior executives, to councillors and ministers. She has worked on major and significant social planning and policy projects to hands-on activations with communities. She brings her emotional intelligence, energy, and extensive subject matter expertise and strong networks to every project.
Sarah leads and mentors her growing national team of experts, and all female executive group with passion, care, and commitment to values. She has built a business and team of values-driven experts, clients, and communities, all striving towards Social Cities and Complete Communities from the site to the city-scale. Sarah is an active member of Parks and Leisure Australia and a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
Professor Simon Angus
Monash University
Professor Simon Angus
Simon pursues a thoroughly multi-disciplinary research agenda as a complexity and data scientist. He uses computational and data science techniques to study socio-economic, biological, or physical phenomena. Simon’s interest in computational and algorithmic thinking started very early with much time spent on the family’s first computer from the age of five. Since then, he has continued to pursue the art of computational and data science, embracing a truly multi-disciplinary program of research and teaching, leveraging his diverse background.
Stijn Denayer
Chief Executive Officer
All Together Now
Stijn Denayer
Stijn Denayer has over 10 years of international experience working in the human rights field as a researcher, advisor and manager. He has developed expertise in a wide range of phenomena and systems that obstruct social justice at the local, national and international level, including racism, discrimination, right-wing extremism, hate speech, hate crime, and violations of minority rights. Before joining All Together Now, Stijn worked for the Indigenous Law Centre (UNSW) and for Unia, the National Human Rights Institution of Belgium. He has also held positions at several local and international human rights organisations in South Asia and the Middle East. Stijn holds degrees in literature, linguistics and international human rights law.
Dr Susan Carland
Monash University
Dr Susan Carland
Dr Susan Carland is a sociologist of religion and the Deputy Director of Research, Impact, and Engagement for the School of Social Sciences at Monash University. She has received a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Fellowship and a Churchill Fellowship
Her first book, “Fighting Hislam: women, faith, and sexism”, was published by Melbourne University Publishing, and she has also published books with Oxford University Press and Brill. She has written numerous academic publications on topics ranging from the religious practices of Australian Muslims during Ramadan, analysis of biased media coverage of the Gaza war, a historical analysis of the relationship between feminism and religion, Muslim women’s countering Islamophobia strategies, and gender and violent extremism.
She has spoken about her research and as an expert commentator to the UN in Geneva, Chatham House in London, on multiple Australian television, radio, print, and podcast outlets, and she currently sits on the boards of the Islamophobia Register Australia, the International Sociological Association Sociology of Religion committee, and the Victorian State Government’s Anti-Racism Taskforce.
Susan hosts the multi award-winning podcast What Happens Next, and was host of the television show, Child Genius.
In 2022, she was a national finalist in the Australian Financial Review’s “Emerging Leader” in Higher Education award. She has been named on the “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World” list, and as a “Muslim Leader of Tomorrow” by the UN Alliance of Civilisations, as well as on The Age’s “20 Most Influential Australian Female Voices”.
Susan Moylan-Coombes
Director
The Gaimaragal Group
Susan Moylan Coombes
Susan Moylan-Coombs is the founding director of The Gaimaragal Group. The company was established to create a new story of connection and wellbeing for all Australians, aiming to facilitate the voice for Elders in the contemporary social space, empower youth to realise their full potential, and provide two-way cultural translation to bring individuals and communities together
Susan’s ancestry is Woolwonga and Gurindji from the Northern Territory. She has extensive experience working with First Australian communities nationally and internationally, with specific expertise in community consultation, empowerment and the facilitation of voice and storytelling. Susan previously held the positions of Executive Producer ABC’s Indigenous Programs Unit and Head of Production, NITV a division of SBS.
Today, Susan uses her expertise to work with mainstream organisations and communities in the provision of cultural competency and immersion sessions as well as social planning processes. Susan is part of the group known as the Stolen Generations and has lived experience of the trauma associated with removal, loss, dispossession and disconnection.
Susan contributes her time to a number of boards and committees;
- A Founding Board member of the PTSD Australia New Zealand (Fearless Outreach)
- Founder and current Co-Chair, Guringai Festival Committee
- Member Northern Sydney Aboriginal Women’s Health Check Committee
- Member Northern Sydney Local Health District Aboriginal Advisory Committee
- Member Guringai Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
- Membership of the Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG)
Dr Tanya Notley
Western Sydney University
Dr Tanya Notley
Dr Tanya Notley is Associate Professor in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts and a member of the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University. Tanya is an engaged, practice-based media researcher, recognised for her work in areas of digital inclusion, media literacy, and human rights media. She has worked extensively with a range of organisations to use media to address digital inequalities and has led 10 media literacy research projects since 2017 involving collaboration with more than 20 industry partners. Tanya leads to the Addressing Misinformation Using Media Literacy and is a co-founder and member of the Australian Media Literacy Alliance.
Vikram Murthy
Manager, Policy and Programs
Western Sydney Community Forum
Vikram Murthy
Vikram has worked in the community services and NFP sector for over 13 years both locally and internationally. He arrives at the forum after leading a project to understand the depth and breadth of the digital gap, within western Sydney. Vikram experiences includes community and stakeholder engagement, Policy development, and program design and implementation. Vikram holds a Bachelor of Health Science, as well as Diploma in Leadership and Management.
Yamamah Agha
General Manager, Newcomers, Settlement and Integration
Settlement Services International
Yamamah Agha
Yamamah Agha is an executive leader, humanitarian and advocate dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful change for refugees and newcomers.
Driven by respect and compassion, Yamamah has spent nearly 20 years supporting new arrivals to settle in Australia, with a particular focus on women’s rights and ensuring people with lived experience influence the services they receive.
As General Manager, Newcomers, Settlement and Integration, Yamamah leads all settlement programs at Settlement Servies International (SSI), a national nonprofit organisation that delivers human services to around 50,000 people annually, including 20,000 refugees.
Yamamah has extensive frontline experience in settlement, including complex case support and case management, which – coupled with strong problem-solving skills and strategic thinking – have led to a leadership career traversing migrant resource centres and program management before moving into her current executive role with SSI.
A former Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25 Awards winner, Yamamah brings a global perspective to local service delivery and has undertaken extensive international advocacy, including leading an Australia delegation at the 2018 Annual NGO Consultations, where she acted as Rapporteur.
She holds a degree in Sociology from the Lebanese University Institute of Social Sciences and a Diploma in Management.
Zola Maddison
Director of Events and Training
Australian Libraries and Information Association
Zola Maddison
Zola Maddison is the Director of Training and Events at the Australian Library & Information Association (ALIA). In her role, she works to strengthen capacity for and networks of library and information workers to close the digital divide and ensure libraries remain an essential democratising institution. Prior to joining ALIA, Zola worked on digital access and education programs in international development and humanitarian contexts with Save the Children Australia and the Gates Foundation and has served as a volunteer to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. She holds Master’s in Library and Information Science and Graduate Certificate in International Development Policy and Management from the University of Washington.