Diana Lin
Diana Lin is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a Lending Executive at one of Australia’s major banks. She serves as a Director on the Box Hill Hawks Football Club Board and as a Community Ambassador for VicHealth. Diana is also the Committee Director at the Chinese Community Council of Australia and a founding board member of the Australian Asian Business Women Association.
Marian Makkar
Marian Makkar is an Assistant Professor in Marketing at RMIT University. With Egyptian heritage, Marian is deeply involved in her community, volunteering at Coptic Orthodox churches and fundraising for impoverished children in rural Egypt. Her research scrutinises cultural appropriation, particularly how brands exploit marginalised cultures. Her work aims to understand market dynamics while advocating for social change.
Umesh Chandra OAM
Umesh Chandra is the Executive Vice President and the highest-ranking officer in this region for the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International. He is a founding member of the board of trustees of the Queensland Multicultural Council and serves on the Lord Mayor's Multicultural Round Table. In 2020 Umesh was bestowed with the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). His additional community service awards include Brisbane City Council’s Citizen of the Year in 2019 and the Bharat Gaurav Award in 2011.
Sakeasi Tawaketini
Sakeasi Tawaketini has worked across private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, driving organisations to success in governance, policy, quality assurance, compliance, and more. Beyond his professional work, Sakeasi leads a volunteer community in Greater Darwin called Westside Community Care, delivering essential services. He is a versatile and effective leader bringing diverse skills and a keen multicultural perspective to his work.
Khayshie Tilak Ramesh
Khayshie Tilak Ramesh is a lawyer, speaker and trusted advisor who empowers organisations to think inclusively. She has served as the Multicultural Youth Commissioner of Victoria and represented Australia at the United Nations. Khayshie is also an independent consultant and serves on boards including The Iceberg Foundation, YWCA Australia and Gender Equity Victoria. She has been recognised as Young Citizen of the Year, won the Premier’s Volunteer Leadership Award, is a Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence winner and was named in the Top 100 Future Leaders of Australia.
Marta Menendez
Marta Menendez is a certified interpreter and translator holding a Master of Social Policy degree, and a Master of Interpreting and Translation from Western Sydney University.Having worked in government and non-government organisations, Marta has managed multicultural teams and developed and delivered cross-cultural communication and cultural competence education. As a freelance interpreter and translator, she has delivered various interpreting and translation subjects at Western Sydney University and Macquarie University.
Sahema Saberi
Sahema Saberi is a lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid working in the Economic and Social Rights team. In 2018, she represented the Australian Government at the United Nations General Assembly negotiations through the Australian Permanent Mission. Sahema has been recognised as Young Australian of the Year in the City of Greater Dandenong and won the National Youth Award.
Dr Harpreet Kandra
Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra is a Senior Lecturer at Federation University.
He is a community leader, volunteer and a strong advocate for multiculturalism. Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra has run language and culture e-learning for school children and contributed to numerous initiatives to improve health and wellbeing. He has been the Community Ambassador for Sustainability Victoria, the Department of Transport and Planning and on the consultative committee of the Environment Protection Authority Victoria.
Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra has been recognised with the 2019 Australian of the Year Award, Federation University Vice-Chancellor’s Award and inducted to the inaugural Victorian Multicultural Commission Honour Roll.
Naseema Mustapha
Naseema Mustapha is the founder of Global Community Development Initiatives – a social inclusion organisation registered in Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. She serves as the Multicultural Adviser to Mental Health Australia, the National Mental Health Commission, and Suicide Prevention Australia. Naseema is currently completing her Doctorate in Philosophy (Community Tourism). She has been awarded the Queensland Government Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Queensland Government Multicultural Mental Health Advocate Award, and the Griffith University Global Community Service Award.