Christina Chia

Multicultural Ambassador

Malaysian born Chinese who resides in Melbourne, Christina has held a number of leadership roles over the past 15 years, including current employment as General Manager & Principal at North Shore Coaching College (VIC), an international education institution. 

She holds an MBA and Bachelor of Business in Marketing and HRM. She has a background in marketing, fundraising, brand strategy, corporate governance, risk and volunteer management in Australia and Asia Pacific regions. 

 A change-maker with entrepreneurial spirit, Christina is passionate about making a difference to community via diversity and aspires to create fair and better opportunities for all living in Australia. 

A passionate community leader and inspiring business woman, Christina is multilingual and a married mother of two teenage daughters. Christina is an advocate for multiculturalism and social change, driving improved outcomes for communities.

Samira Zemaryalai

Multicultural Ambassador

Samira is reliable and dedicated to improving the lives of others through her knowledge and understanding of settlement work, case work and counselling. Her warm people skills and empathy sets her ahead in working with people at large including migrants and refuges in the settlement process. She is sensitive to the needs of new settlers in Australia due to her personal experience of migrating and opportunities of working with migrants both on an individual and group level. She is experienced in working with individuals on highly sensitive issues on all levels.

Currently, she is working in the property development industry Marcopolo Property as a Property Development Manager which has given her an insight into the world of business and finance as well as managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Hyon-Ju Newman

Multicultural Ambassador

Hyon-Ju Newman has deep connections in the arts and is very engaged with Melbourne’s Asian community. She is the President of Korean Society of Victoria.

Currently serving as chairperson and a founding member of Melbourne’s Korea Festival since 2014, Hyon-Ju completed her Bachelor degree in Music and has a great passion for cultural integration and bringing people together through the arts and music. Hyon-Ju also believes in the importance of music education. She is the Board member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Philip Tan

Multicultural Ambassador

Singapore born Philip Tan is the Chief Operations Officer of Auswell Group International, Australia.

Before migrating to Australia, Philip was an active community activist for social enterprise activities, work for Singapore (SCORE) under Singapore correctional system working together with Singapore Prison ,enchancing the employability of offenders and preparing them for intergration into national workforce . He is also active in the service of Jesuit Refugee services in caring for the internally displace people from Burma and Sri Lanka. His last community service was building houses for the  Tsunami‘s  victim of  Banda Aceh , Indonesia.

In Australia, he own and operate a coffee bar restaurant before selling it upon being head hunted for his present appointment by the Auswell and is instrumental in growing the company into a International Group.

A passionate believer in the creed to do one's best in all endeavour entrusted upon, he serves the community through his involvement as Chair of Chisholm Multicultural Group, Vice President of the Chinese Professional & Business Association Victoria, Relationship Executive member of the Multicultural Liberal Business Club, Multicultural Ambassador of Mental Health Foundation Australia, Multicultural Advisory role to the office of the Federal MP for Chisholm.

He is a well known business and sales presenter in Asia , specializing on business consultancy, real estate investments . He is passionate in building extensive social and business networks that strengthen multilateral working relationship for Victoria and Asia.         

Malini Raj

Multicultural Ambassador

 Malini is highly motivated, resilient and authentic professional with over 15 years of experience working across several prestigious domestic and international Financial Services organisations. 

Her experience spans across several disciplines, namely Investment Banking, Corporate Advisory, Accounting, Property, Equity Capital Markets, Merger Implementation, Project Management, Human Resources, Business Strategy and Change Management in both Retail and Institutional Banking.

She is innovative, enthusiastic, with an uncompromising work ethic - always maintaining a positive attitude. She has a strong interest in making a social impact, reflected in her roles as Non-Executive Director and Treasurer of the World Alliance of Pituitary Organisations, Advisory Board Member of FlexCareers, NSW Council of Social Services (CALD) Advisory Panel Member and Women’s Employment Working Group, Australian India Business Council  - Women In Business Committee Member, Women in Finsia Committee member and volunteer at the Starlight Foundation, Ambassador for Opportunity International and previous Non-Executive Director of Finsia and Chair and Non-Executive Director with the Australian Pituitary Foundation (currently Board Advisor).

She is a tireless advocate of achieving gender equality and cultural inclusion and a strong interest and focus soon understanding and addressing cross cultural issues and fostering a multicultural and socially cohesive society. She is responsible for driving several internal and external initiatives that support women and those from different cultural backgrounds to progress to senior leadership positions.

Subra Ramachandran

Multicultural Ambassador

Subra Ramachandran comes from a strong background in Information Technology with more than 20 years in the Industry He is currently consulting and running a business to provide IT Consulting services to Small to Medium Businesses in Victoria. Subra is active in a number of Community / Not for Profit Organisations (Ex: FIAV, CIAA, FIMO, ABBS etc...) serving under various capacities to benefit wider Australian communities.

Ragu Mantatikar

Multicultural Ambassador

Ragu is a multi-skilled IT service manager/consultant, Program/senior project manager specialist with an extensive history in transition management, Service delivery ITSM/ITIL processes and tools implementation in number of organisations including Internal and Outsourced environments across APAC region over 20 years. Diligent Service / Project manager offering a proven record of success leading in all phases of diverse business/technology projects.

Rowena Ann Hansen

Multicultural Ambassador

Rowena is an experienced registered nurse with 15 years experience in the nursing field. She has a solid background in aged care, intensive care and general acute nursing. She always aim to continually advance her knowledge and skills sets, and provide patients the highest standard of evidence based care that is ethically and culturally sensitive.

Yogen Lakshman

Multicultural Ambassador

Yogen, Vice President of the Australia Indian Innovations Inc (AIII) is a Senior Quality Surveyor and Cost Consultant with a National Builder based in Melbourne.

Yogen’s passion for community has no boundaries. He pioneered several activities across various Associations in the Community. He served on several working committees of the Hindu Society of Victoria Inc (HSV) and was the chairperson of several subcommittees. He was the Hindu Society’s Vice President, representing the Indian Community, whereby he created history as the first Fiji-Indian to be accorded this high office. He is the first Fiji National to be so closely associated with several outstanding, innovative and pioneering activities. He was involved with the Kumbhabhishekam sub-committee of HSV and was part of the Board of Trustees overseeing the HSV Cultural Centre Project.

Yogen is not only a singer and musician in his own right; he has also directed and co-produced two films shot in Fiji.

Cheryl Taylor

Multicultural Ambassador

Cheryl came from a family with five children. Her father was a senior officer with the CFA. They were bought up very involved with the fire services, church and community groups. She is now married with two sons in their early twenties. She has spent most of her professional life Woking in the media/arts sector, creating television programs and films.

Cheryl started working for the ABC in 1983 and is currently a freelancer in sound and producing. She has travelled extensively, with a preference for remote and developing countries. She relates well to all ages, but particularly young people, who I have connected with through RMIT and her own children. She also spend time in Far East Gippsland, where she own a home.

Ronald Perera

Multicultural Ambassador

Ronald has more than 20 years of working experience in the field of Owners Corporation and is well versed in the Owners Corporation legislation.

He has worked for Multi-National Companies such as Colliers International, Jones Lang La Salle and Kodak in Singapore including some of the large Owners Corporation Companies in Melbourne. He is hard working and service orientated and works closely with committees. He is a trained Community Mediator and has accumulated vast experience in people management and conflict resolution.

Ronald has been awarded a Public Service Medal by the President of the Republic of Singapore and bestowed a Title for his exemplary contributions and work to the community.

Sundram Sivamalai

Multicultural Ambassador

Sundram was born in Malaysia but he maintains his language interests in, Tamil (mother tongue), Malay (country of origin), while learning Japanese, Vietnamese and Hindi.

He has been a local & International consultant on community engagements and Cross Cultural Education for health professionals and organisations. He had conducted health education training and facilitation in Japan, Indonesia, China and Malaysia. He has given presentations at international, national and regional conferences upon invitation. He has completed several projects on multicultural aspects, and has published widely in journals, magazines and in books. Sundram was awarded the Centenary Medal from the Commonwealth Government for his work with migrants.

Suryansh Manglik

Multicultural Ambassador

Suryansh is an IT professional and has recently moved to Australia. He has experience working with people of different nationalities having worked in multiple countries over past several years. Having himself moved around to multiple countries has given him an appreciation of the difficulties that immigrants face in a new country. By associating with MHFA he hopes to help other immigrants who need support and care.

Bwe Thay

Multicultural Ambassador

Bwe Thay is a Burmese refugee who arrived in Australia in 2009. He is known both within Australia and internationally as a passionate advocate for the empowerment of fellow refugee migrants and asylum seekers through education. A graduate of the Australian Catholic University, Bwe now works as a Migrant Student and Community Liaison Officer at Swinburne University of Technology. His work at Swinburne has contributed to that university becoming a leader in providing a welcoming environment for refugee migrants and asylum seekers. Since 2010 Bwe has been a member of the Refugee Tertiary Education Committee (RTEC), which encourages universities to open their doors, offer online scholarships and give access to higher education for refugee migrants and asylum seekers in transition or refugee camps across the world.

He is also the co-chair of the newly established Refugee Communities Advocacy Network Victoria and committee member of the Communities Council on Ethnic Issues (Eastern Regions) Inc,  As part of his engagement with these organisations, Bwe builds awareness of migrant and refugee issues among government and policy makers, and in effect acts as the voice of the voiceless.

Elleni Bereded-Samuel

Multicultural Ambassador

Elleni Bereded-Samuel is African Australian from Ethiopian background who has focused her life's work on strengthening education, training and employment for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD) in Australia. She worked for 17 years in the Higher Education sector, and is currently employed as Diversity Capability Development Manager with Australian Unity Independent and Assisted Living.

Elleni was on the board of the Royal Women's Hospital, for six years, was a VMC Commissioner for six years, on the SBS Board and the Australian Social Inclusion Board for five years. Currently Elleni is on the board of Western Health and Brest Screen Victoria. Elleni is also the co-founder of Horn of African Communities Network and the Vice President of Australia Africa Chamber of Commerce.

 In 2012 Elleni was named as Living Legend and one of the hundred most influential African Australians. In 2013 she was inducted into the African Hall of Fame, and in 2014 Elleni was named by Westpac AFR as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence.

Malvin Chimutengo

Multicultural Ambassador

Malvin is  a 33 year old born in Zimbabwe, he  moved to England in 2001 at the age of 16, Where he was trained to be a Mental Health Nurse. After working in various mental health services, he ventured into business until 2013. He founded a community youth project which I ran for 7 years. He was also a public motivational speaker since late 2000. After moving to Australia in 2013 he  took a job as a community welfare officer with On call personnel.

Samina Saeed

Multicultural Ambassador

Samina Saeed has been working as a relationship counsellor and a Reiki Master for many years. She assist people to develop better interpersonal relations, self- confidence, the ability to get along with others, social and occupational relations.

Through counselling Samina support emotional, mental and spiritual human needs like; building better relationship, stress, anxiety, depression, grief. She also deal with the issues related assertiveness, self esteem, communication, resolving conflict, child behaviour management, time management, weight loss management and parenting.

Sanjeewa Rathnayake

Multicultural Ambassador

Sanjeewa practiced as a counsel in the superior courts of Sri Lanka for well over a decade mainly in administrative law and human rights law. He moved to Melbourne in 2014. He runs the Vicbourne Migration Consultants in Melbourne. He lives in Burwood, Victoria.

Jamie Smith

Multicultural Ambassador

Jamie is Director of Crane Bin Solutions Pty ltd, an industrial services company that specialises in proof loading and Non destructive testing of construction bins and lifting equipment. Jamie created CBS after realising there was a lack of transparency in the industry relating to testing standards and inflated costs. 

Jamie strongly believes that those who are more fortunate have the means to help the less fortunate. Something Jamie practices religiously is stopping to help someone in need, whether it be to change a tyre, start a car, offer a lift etc, in his words "I have the knowledge and ability, they have the need so it is only fair I offer it (knowledge) even if it is just to reassure someone in a time of stress before road side assistance arrives. It is amazing how many people say I am the only person who has stopped and offered assistance"

He prides himself on his selfless attitude towards people from all walks of life. He believes that all people, regardless of race, creed or colour are one and the same and should be treated as such.

Maniskandan Jayraman

Multicultural Ambassador

Maniskandan, a Senior Concultant is the winner of AD&T Business Services award for “Excellence in Delivery” for two consecutive Quarters and 1 annual award. he was also awarded  by Head of AD&T Delivery and Release Services for consistent delivery excellence. He was awarded for delivering successful delivery in Telstra’s Assets depreciation forecasting project and simplifying and improving the process in a complex forecast engine and thereby reducing the manpower,human processing time and error free calculations by innovative methods.

Lora Love

Multicultural Ambassador

Lora is a Philippines Recording Artist dubbed as RnB Jewel (with self-titled album Lora Love. Music available in Spotify, Pandora Music, Youtube Music and all other music platforms)

She is the Ambassador and face of "Senyor Juan" Suman Latik, Philippines' newest growing food chain from 2016 

Lora is the Philippines' Grammy "Awit Awards" Nominee for Best New Female Artist 2010

Modeled for Guess by Marciano Intl (Asia) 

She performs regularly with a main corporate band in Australia- Chunky Jam under Instinct Music International (one of the band's huge highlights yet was to be a support act for Mariah Carey when she performed in Crown's 2015 NYE, alongside of being the preferred band for Australian Open Major Sponsor KIA's Gala Ball and the list goes on...). Also performs with XFactor's Andrew Wishart band.

Santi Whiteside

Multicultural Ambassador

A family is very important to Santi. She is a wife and mother in a multicultural family. Her husband and son were born in Melbourne and her two daughters were born in Jakarta. She has a very large family in Jakarta and Sumatra and a sister, brother-in-law and nephews who live in France close to the border with Switzerland.

She spent a significant time in Australia prior to migrating permanently as her Australian husband worked in Indonesia for most of the 1990s and returned home on various occasions while on leave.

She enjoys community based activities and have participated in a wide range of such activities since migrating to Australia, including but not limited to, multicultural parades, multi-cultural radio broadcasting, Indonesian Consulate events (including Festival Indonesia), contribution to various community publications and roles in Indonesian produced or related movies.

Sashi Sanmugathas

Multicultural Ambassador

Born in Sri Lanka, Sashi Sanmugathas travelled to Australia as an international student in 1999. After he got settled in Australia he looked forward to involving himself in community work and helping others, so at the end of 2012 he was looking for ways to do this and found Freemasons Victoria which has helped him to achieve his desires.

Initiated in 2013, Sashi was first drawn to the Craft due to his passionate interest in philanthropy and charitable works. After doing a great deal of research, both online and in person, Sashi decided to join and soon set about involving himself in the local community, volunteering his time and contributing any way he could to various charities. Through these avenues Sashi felt he was able to meet and connect with a multitude of individuals, and has experienced a litany of rewarding encounters with grateful people.  Sashi is a very active within Freemasonry, he is a member of the Freemasons Taskforce, Monash Gully District panel,  state treasurer of the Blue Lounge Social Club as well as district liaison. Through these roles Sashi has plenty of opportunities to get involved with local community activities and charities. “Because of this and the way we help the local communities,” Sashi says, “my colleagues and friends always tell me that they are inspired by what we Freemasons do for others. After seeing my masonic journey, one of my colleagues joined the Craft and two more friends are thinking of joining.”

David He

Multicultural Ambassador

Dawei was born at the end of the era of Chinese Cultural Revolution in Shanghai China. Accepted by the Shanghai Opera House as a junior student at the age of 9, two years later started full-time professional dancing and performing arts training at the Shanghai Academy of Drama & Dance. Became the first Chinese student admitted to the Australian Ballet School (Melbourne). Follow the graduation, he danced as a principal dancer in many international dance events and became the principal dancer in Canada and the Hong Kong Ballet at the age of 19. He enjoys all kind of community events and helping others to achieve their dream in Australia.

Cr Heather Marcus

Multicultural Ambassador

Since arriving in Wyndham Heather has been involved in many exciting things and businesses.

1971 - 1976 she was a partner in a successful Building Business building new houses in the City of Wyndham. She stayed in this business for 26 Years. During this time she was a member of the Werribee Chamber of Commerce and held the position of President and Secretary. Worked closely with council on many big issues.  

She has worked on the local Weerama Festival for 26 years and became the Artistic Director and then the Director. Heather also set up the Fashion Awards Australia Awards working with Secondary, TAFE Students and New & Emerging Designers.  

She was elected to The Wyndham City Council in late 2005 and have been the Deputy Mayor twice and have had the honour of being the Mayor on 2 occasions. During her time on council she has had the honour of going to Canberra 3 times to lobby on behalf of the council and the Western Region of Melbourne.

She was  also the Victorian Spokesperson for the National Growth Areas Alliance for three years  - this is an organisation that is working and lobbying on behalf of 23 growth councils around Australia.

Heather was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2003 and I was also awarded the Centenary Medal from Mr Howard 2001.

Sury P Soni

Multicultural Ambassador

Sury is an IT Professional, working on Big Data Analytics technologies. Sury is actively involved in promoting Rajasthani culture and food through Rajasthani Kutumb of Victoria Inc (RAJKOV) and promoting stress reduction and inner peace using Vedic teachings through Arya Prathinidhi Sabha and Arya Samaj of Melbourne (APSASM). Sury is young and dynamic and loves to participate for social welfare activities. 

Sunny Duggal

Multicultural Ambassador

Sunny Duggal, a volunteer In-charge at Sant Nirankari Mission Rowville Melbourne is a Land Developer and Area Manager at Diamond Real Estate Notting Hill. He works with investors worldwide. 

Previously, he worked in Knox Multicultural Harmony festival committee organising events on large scale and volunteer in many other Known organisations. He has received a Knox City Volunteer of the year Award in 2009 and an Indian Sun Person of the year Award 2016.

He is a proud supporter of Mental Health and believes it is close to his heart as he has assisted and supported many domestic family violence issues etc in and around community sector. Currently he looks after many young couples who have ongoing problems and strive to do his best towards community.

Abi Srinivasan

Multicultural Ambassador

Abi Srinivasan worked in the Pharmacy industry in Rural, Regional, and Metropolitan Victoria over the last few years. She has been involved in the Indian Music community through singing and dancing, and has performed on multiple platforms. In 2017 she moderated the Mental Health Foundations Council Forum in Fitzroy, and will Chair the first Youth Forum as a part of Mental Health Month in 2018.

Stephen Yin

Multicultural Ambassador

Malaysian born and UK educated, Stephen brings diverse experiences from his legal and politics training to forthfront in positions he is appointed to.

He was formerly the Group Chief Legal Officer of a bumiputra public company with listing statuses in Malaysia and Singapore.

As group Chief Officer for legal / corporate compliance and administration to the board, he was also the group MD’s special advisory officer for corporate negotiations / business development / joint ventures domestically and within the Asia Pacific region .

In Australia, Stephen is committed to the multi diverse Australia vision and a strong advocate to preserve and protect Australia’s way of life and its founding principles.

A business entrepreneur and consultant, he brands Australian products to overseas markets with his company partner based in Singapore.

He serves the community through his involvements at Mental Health Foundation Australia, member of the Knox Multicultural Advisory Committee, Chinese Professional & Business Association Victoria, Lions Club BlackBurn, Neighborhood Watch scheme, Ethnic Communities Recruitment, Victorian Police, Ethnic Communities Project Coordinator, Eastern Community Legal Centre, Event & Fund raiser member, Multicultural Liberal Business Club and assists on communities engagement affairs to the office of the Federal MP for Deakin.