ACT
NSW
Project Manager, Capability Planning & Governance, CentrelinkJoyce Adu has project management experience across a number of
industries including government, construction and education. Joyce has
served in a number of roles in the areas of strategic management,
corporate governance and research. She is currently a Business Manager
in the Capability Planning and Governance Unit in Centrelink. Prior to
this, she managed the development of Centrelink’s Portfolio/Program
Management Framework. She has also worked for a number of years in the
Construction Industry as a Quantity Surveyor (Building Estimator).
Joyce holds a Bachelor of Science (Building Technology), Graduate
Certificate in Personal Management and Master of Project Management.
She has researched on ‘communication in the delivery of projects in
multicultural environments’ for her doctorate in the University of
Technology under the supervision of Professor Lynn Crawford, Assistant
Professor Jacob Oluwoye and Mr Gerard de Valence. This research has
received both the NSW Chapter and National Student Medals from the
Australian Institute for Project Management. Joyce Adu is a winner of the Australian Institute for Project Management (AIPM) Outstanding Student Medal. | | | | |
NT
QLD
SA
Sossy Msomi
is the Tanzania Honorary Consul in charge of the Consulate of Tanzania
in Adelaide. Sossy is one of the prominent Africans helping to build a
positive image for the Community. He actively participates in various
community events, helping to foster African community development and
was conferred an Excellence Award in Diplomatic and Community Services in 2011.
Currently, he is the Cost Manager at Ceiling and Wall Contractors Pty Ltd and an ex-President of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, South Australian Chapter. | | | | |
TAS
VIC
Solomon Kebede is the North /Western Metropolitan Region Multicultural Liaison Officer for the Justice
for Refugees Program (JRP) with the Department of Justice.
Having arrived in Australia as one of the first African resettled
refugees, he has had first hand experience surrounding issues of resettlement for
positive integration within the mainstream Australian communities.
Leaving behind his pride, education and professional work
experience gained back home, he started everything from scratch in Australia. He worked on various labour and mundane jobs
to support his family and himself. He
went back to the university to continue improving his knowledge to better his life
style and to become a role model to the African community in Australia.
Some of his achievements with African community engagements
include:
- Founder of the Ethiopian community
association in Victoria
- Founding member of the Federation of
the Australian and African Community Council
- Founding member of the Ethiopian
Orthodox church in Victoria
- Reference group Committee member
of the African Australians on Human
Rights and Social Inclusion
- Member of the Refugee Brokerage
Program partnership
- Treasurer and project manager for the Ethiopian
community association in Victoria
over two election periods
His current position with the Department of Justice in Victoria entails
engagement in research and development initiatives of policy frameworks
employing his knowledge and interest in social justice, and project management
as defined by the State priorities while responding to regional and global
trends.
Solomon is also highly involved in addressing justice access issues for
people from Refugee backgrounds (Sudanese, Somali, Eritrean, Ethiopian,
Democratic Rep of Congo, Burundian, Iraqi, Afghanistan and Burma)
He has been working with great results on the initiative to minimise the
negative contact between the African refugee communities and the justice
system.
Some of Solomon’s achievements in his position with the Department of
Justice in Victoria include:
- Minimised
the negative contact of the refugee communities with the justice system
- Significantly
increased cultural awareness knowledge and skills of the department’s
staff
- Increased
refugee communities knowledge of Victorian justice and legal system
through Expos, Forums and consultations
- Increased
refugee communities Country Profiles with internal and external
stakeholders
He is a strong advocate, passionate, rational, and strong leader in human
rights and equal opportunities issues affecting the African communities in Australia.
| | Samia Baho
Manager
Justice for Refugees Program (JRP)
Department of Justice
Samia is currently a Manager of Justice for Refugee with the Department
of Justice in Victoria.
She came to Australia
as a refugee 22 years ago. Her early settlement experience helped to shape her
approach to work and life. On arrival, Samia could already speak several
languages and soon developed expertise in English.
Samia has extensive experience and expertise in working with refugee
communities. Over the last 18 years, she has worked in interpreting, children’s
services, family & youth, domestic violence, teaching and research. Samia has constantly looked at ways to support and
assist refugee communities especially young people and women, she initiated and
developed several programs for refugee communities, she set up the first
ethno-specific Playgroup for Horn of African families, the first Home Base
Child Care training and the first Horn of African Home Work Support Club.
Samia uses deferent methods to build refugee communities knowledge and capacity,
to assist refugee communities enjoys
living in Australia.
She conducted many information expose related to health and currently related
to justice system, provide information sessions through sport and drama. Samia
set up a number of organisations to support and minimize adverse experiences
for humanitarian entrants, particularly young refugees and families with
complex needs. She uses her knowledge and credibility with both world the
system and the refugee communities and tied to open dialogue and create
pathways for refugee communities and the hosting society to interact.
Samia has a Bachelor of Social Work, a Certificate in Cultural Practice
Law and Health from Latrobe University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Health and a
Masters Degree in Women’s Health from the University of Melbourne.
Prior to managing the Justice for Refugee Program Samia spent 8 years as the
state-wide Program Advisor for the Family and Reproductive Rights Education
Program (FARREP)
A tireless, committed and passionate activist and thinker, Samia has
often demonstrated extraordinary leadership on racism and sexism issues. She
has made an outstanding contribution to addressing the various barriers to
ensuring appropriate and equitable services are available to the African
community. Through her work, particularly in the area of settlement and
violence against women, various community groups have undertaken pioneering
work in challenging mainstream perceptions and understanding of refugee
communities. Samia is a steering committee member for the HREOC African
Communities’ Project.
Samia’s contribution was recognized at a state and national level, in
March 2008 being inducted onto the
Victorian Honour Roll of Women and appointed on the flowing committees
1.
"Refugee Resettlement Advisory Committee. Department
of Immigration & Citizenship, Canberra
2008 - 2010
2.
FECCA newly and Emerging Advisory Committees 2008 -
2009
3.
“African Australians: A report on human rights
& social inclusion issues.” Australia
Human Rights Commission (HREOC) 2008 - 2010
4.
"Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria,
Board member 2009- 2010
5.
“Western Health Cultural Diversity Steering
Committee, Western Health Services.2007 - 2008
- FGM Working Party, Office of the Child Safety Commissioner,
Victoria. 2008
- “Multicultural Health & Support Services (HIV, HPC, STIs for
Horn of African 2006
- Victorian Law Reform Commission, Cultural and Linguistically
Diverse Communities 2005
- “Advocacy, Leadership and Community Participation. A training
program for consumers and carers.” North Central Metro PCP (Primary Care
Partnership) 2005
Due to work demand and commitment, Samia currently
seats only on:
- Refugee
Minor Program quarterly Reference Group Meeting
- Australian
Federal Government, Department of Human Services, Victorian Multicultural
Advisory Committee ( MAC )
A success stories
re Samia State and National work with members of
refugee communities is available on request. | |  ABRAHAM MAMER
LEADER,
PIONEER, EDUCATOR, HUMAN- ITARIAN.
Abraham Mamer, a South
Sudanese is the Multicultural Affairs
Manager at the Darebin City Council local government in Victoria State.
Darebin covers a very large area and has the highest proportion of
overseas-born citizens of any council in Australia. Mr Mamer international
reputation in Social Policy has earned him a managerial position to develop settlement
plans and policies for African Australian Community in the Brotherhood of St
Laurence – working for an Australia
free of poverty
Throughout his career, Abraham Mamer has been a leader and a pioneer in
developing personal and organisational policies and programs to the
humanitarian resettlement of refugees.
Because of his generosity and effort, tens of thousands of migrants to New Zealand and
Australia
have been assisted in making a positive adjustment to their new cultures.
The innovative and progressive leadership that is characteristic of him
is shown in the many organisations that he has been a founder or board member
of, including:
- Founding Member: AUT ESOL
Advisory Board
- Founding Member: African Centre for Education –
UNITEC NZ
- Founder and Advisor of National Refugee
Communities Network
- 1999 – 2001 President of the Sudanese Association
Inc. NZ
- 2001 –2002 Executive Member NZ Refugee Council
- 2005 – 2006 Chairman Board of Directors Refugee
As Survivors (RAS)
- Board Member: Centre for Refugee and Migrant
Health, Auckland
University of
Technology
- Board Member and Trustee: African Think Tank, Victoria,
Australia
- Advisor: Sudanese Community Association of Australia
- Member: Asian Network Inc
Abraham has been equally generous at lending his time and experience as
a speaker, participant, and presenter at many seminars and conferences, among
them:
- Co-convenor, UNESCO conference on Diversity in
Education, August 2004. As a result
of his work at this conference, Abraham was presented with a medal from
the King of Thailand.
- Co-organiser and Convenor, The Inaugural International
Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference 2004
- Co-presenter, AUT Conference in Education in
Diverse Cultures
- Keynote Speaker, Children & Young People As
Citizens: Participation Provision and Protection Conference
- Keynote Speaker, Conference on Community
languages and English for Speakers of Other languages, Auckland, 2008
Abraham Mamer has also published and presented numerous papers devoted
to raising awareness and understanding of refugee and migrant issues at
national and international conferences, among which are:
- Making Progress at Last: The Auckland Somali
Community Education Programme (with Karen McDermott, published by Waikato University)
- Barriers challenging education provision for new
emigrant students in New
Zealand schools
- Six papers at CLESOL (Conference on Community
Languages and ESOL in New Zealand)
conferences over seven years:
- Experience of Sudanese refugee Students in NZ
schools
- ESOL students’ English Language Acquisition and
learning shift
- Proficiency in English and impact on other subjects
- Heart and Mind in teaching students from the
refugee backgrounds
- Does one-size-fits-all?
- Refugee Family Reunification Policy Impact on
Family Resettlement Outcomes (published by Childrenz Issues. Vol. 10, No.
1, 2006)
- Key note speaker on: Minorities and Security - 12th International Metropolis
Conference Melbourne 2007
|
WA
MR. AMON OKEYO OKOKO, who
holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the University of
Texas (USA), is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Engineers of
Australia.
He is a Senior Safety Assessor (Major Hazards Facilties) in the Department of Mines and Petroleum of the Government of Western Australia since
2004. His current responsibilities include regulating safety within
Major Hazard Facilities in WA, assessing the adequacy of the Major
Hazard Facilities Safety Reports to satisfy regulation requirements, and
providing timely feedback and recommendations to MHF Operators on the
adequacy of Risk Assessments and Safety Management Systems.
Prior
to coming to WA, he worked in NZ between 2001 and 2004. He was the
project Engineer for Shell (NZ) in Auckland from 2001 to 2003. Then in
2003 and 2004, he became the Senior Project Engineer at Connell Wagner
Engineering Consultants. One of his major achievements at this firm was
the revamping of bulk fuel storage tanks at Napier and Nelson BP
Terminals. The works involved tank decommissioning, inspection, repair,
internal/external coating, calibration and re-commissioning.
Amon’s
career started in Kenya shortly after his graduation when he became the
Project Engineer at Shell Oil (Kenya) in Nairobi in 1980. By the time
he left Kenya in December 2000, he had risen to the position of
Engineering Services Manager at Shell Oil (Kenya). |
| | Maria Osman is first woman of Somali heritage to be the CEO of two
Western Australian State Government departments, she is presently the
Executive Director of the Office of Multicultural Interests and from
2003 to 2006 was the Executive Director of the Office for Women’s
Policy, she has also held senior positions in universities and the NGO
sector. For over three decades Maria has made a significant national
and state contribution to the empowerment of ethnic and refugee women,
anti-racism and human rights.
In 2007 she was awarded the
Government of Western Australian Multicultural Community Service Award
for excellence and innovation in advancing and promoting
multiculturalism, inclusiveness and participation, and improving access
to services and promoting equity for minority communities.
Maria
was appointed by the Premier to the inaugural Western Australian
Anti-Racism Steering Committee and in 2005 the Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission (HREOC) appointed her to the National Steering
Committee for the ‘Voices of Australia Project’ established to celebrate
30 years of the Racial Discrimination Legislation.
In
recognition of her leadership in creating family friendly workplaces the
Minister for Community Development appointed Maria as an inaugural WA
Family Ambassador and in the Minister for Consumer and Employment
Protection appointed her to the Independent Review of Gender Pay Equity
Gap.
She has served on a number of boards such as Centre for
Human Rights at Curtin University, was the Deputy Chair of the Women’s
Law Centre and the UWA Centre for Muslim States and Societies.
Maria
has been actively involved with the community sector and in a past
Women’s Vice President of the WA Ethnic Communities Council and she is
also a past executive member of the African Community Association of WA
and helped establish the Somali Women’s NGO and is a past Patron of the
West African Women’s Community Organisation.
Maria has
contributed to the development of national and state public policy in
gender equity, human rights, multiculturalism and workplace diversity
and undertaken research and written and presented conferences
extensively on these issues.
Maria is proud of her Aussie-Somali heritage and has recently returned from a visit to Somaliland. |
| | Michael Sutherland,
a Member of the Australian Parliament, was born in Johannesburg, South
Africa in 1954, and lived there until he immigrated to Australia in
1987.
In 1995 Michael was elected as a councillor to the City of Perth council, Western Australia and
became the longest serving councillor in the City’s history. He was
also elected Deputy Lord Mayor and served five years in this capacity.
In South Africa, Michael was active in the United
Party, the then main parliamentary opposition to the ruling National
Party, from the early 1970s. In 1982 he was elected to the Johannesburg
City Council as a member of the Progressive Federal Party, which by then
had become the main parliamentary opposition party. Michael served on
the Johannesburg City Council until he came to Australia. |
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