With more than 35 years of experience across policy, strategy, program delivery and mentoring and local and state governments in Victoria and Queensland, I work closely, in particular, with local government leaders and elected members to identify intercultural opportunities, navigate competing demands, and resolve complex community issues.

My work is grounded in deep practical and strategic experience across sectors that councils touch every day: youth work, migrant and refugee settlement, homelessness, family support, community development, crime prevention and entrepreneurship. I’ve held frontline, management, executive and board-level roles in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria — giving me a system-wide view of what works on the ground and at scale.

Now, I work almost exclusively with local governments, offering mentoring, reviews, training, policy and plan development, and strategic advice. I help councils:

• Design and implement intercultural policies and practices

• Review and strengthen community plans and strategies through an intercultural lens

• Build staff and leadership capability through practical, real-world mentoring

• Create inclusive programs that reflect and engage the full diversity of their communities

My work with other levels of government focuses on intercultural policy making and strategy development.

At the heart of my work is a belief that local government is uniquely positioned to foster a sense of belonging and opportunity for all residents. I focus on interculturalism not just as a human rights commitment — but as a practical driver of community connection, economic inclusion and long-term intercultural harmony.

In 2024 I built a team of intercultural strategists and practitioners to better respond to the increasingly diverse needs of governments and their constituents.

Our team brings a rich mix of lived experience and professional expertise in the areas of:

· Intercultural strategy development and action plan

· Intercultural policy, practice, program design and reviews

· Intercultural coaching, training and workshops

· Cultural intelligence (CQ)

· Intercultural organisational development and leadership

· Community consultation design and delivery, engagement and engaging hard to reach communities

· Intercultural mediation, peace-building and restorative justice

· Working with young people

· Institutional and corporate liaison

· First Nations health outcomes

· Governance mentoring and training.

For the past 12 years while advocating to all levels of government and community, my goal has been for the Australian government and every state, territory and all of the 537 local governments in Australia to move beyond multicultural thinking to operate interculturally to benefit every person who lives in Australia. It's still the reason I get up every day.

Whether your council is just starting out or deepening its intercultural commitment, the next week, month, year, matters. Now is the time to lead for impact. I and my team are ready with practical tools, guidance and expertise, to help you move from intention to implementation.

Specialities: intercultural coaching, policy, program design and practice; intercultural training design and delivery; project management and client relationships.

Adongwot is an established communications specialist and cultural consultant whose expertise spans multiple sectors including media, government advisory, and organisational development. As a South Sudanese-Australian professional with qualifications in Communication and Journalism, she applies her bicultural perspective to address systemic challenges in various institutional environments, with particular insight into racism, discrimination, and cultural integration.

Recipient of the prestigious Churchill Fellowship, Adongwot conducted international research examining how Western societies effectively integrate African diaspora communities across institutional frameworks. This comprehensive study yielded evidence-based approaches for improving outcomes for culturally diverse populations that now inform her professional methodology and contribute significantly to policy development across multiple sectors in Australia.

Adongwot established a consulting firm dedicated to transforming conventional diversity and inclusion practices within organisations and institutions. Her approach employs experiential learning techniques that help professionals develop more nuanced understandings of racial dynamics and cultural identity in workplace and educational settings. This methodology has been successfully implemented across numerous organizations throughout Victoria, including government departments, educational institutions (such as universities and public and private schools), corporate environments, and community organisations.

Adongwot serves as an Advisor to the Victorian government through her role on the Victorian African Communities Committee, where she provides strategic guidance on best practices for engaging with African diaspora communities, including recommendations on funding allocations for community initiatives and policy development.

Her professional portfolio encompasses multiple complementary roles: strategic consultant to government and private sector organizations, radio and podcast host, mentor to culturally diverse professionals, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, and policy advisor on systemic reform. Through these various capacities, she applies her narrative expertise and research findings to advance meaningful change in Australia's institutional frameworks and strengthen its multicultural foundation.

Specialties: Strategic Consulting and Organisational Development, Communication and Cultural Intelligence (CQ), Community Engagement and Program Design.

Amiel is an award-winning mediator and intercultural practitioner with deep expertise in conflict resolution, restorative justice, and community cohesion. A former refugee from Rwanda, raised in a refugee camp in Zimbabwe, he brings a unique lived experience that shapes his grounded, culturally intelligent approach to working with diverse communities.

Recognised nationally with the 2025 Community Mediator of the Year and 2024 Michael Klug Award, Amiel has led initiatives across Australia and internationally. He has extensive experience working with vulnerable communities, including refugee and First Nations peoples. Amiel collaborates with stakeholders, practitioners and service providers to resolve intercultural conflict, strengthen service delivery, and build more connected, resilient communities.

Multilingual and cross-culturally fluent, Amiel is known for his ability to navigate politically sensitive and emotionally complex situations with care, clarity, and impact. He holds qualifications in Law, Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Family Dispute Resolution, and has supported numerous community organisations to develop inclusive programs and culturally safe engagement strategies.

Amiel’s work is grounded in practical wisdom, professional excellence, and a genuine commitment to achieving lasting, just, and inclusive outcomes.

Specialisations: Mediation, peacebuilding, intercultural practice, restorative justice specialist.

Donna Sherwani is the CEO and Founder of Kind Rebel, a purpose driven consulting firm and brand dedicated to empowering individuals, organisations, corporations, governments, and systems—like education and justice—with the tools to lead with purpose and kindness.

She believes that true innovation and disruption must be anchored in humanity. Change, after all, is necessary for progress—but the kind that matters, the kind that lasts, must serve the collective good. That’s where the Kind Rebel comes in: someone who defies with intention, rebels with wisdom, and drives meaningful transformation from the inside out.

Donna works with businesses, local councils, nonprofits, ex-lawyers, and corporate leaders to design solutions and leadership pathways that challenge the status quo while building trust, connection, and purpose-led impact.

As someone who has lived through war, detention, and profound cultural shifts, Donna brings a deeply personal lens to everything she does. She embodies interculturalism—not just in theory, but in lived experience. Her emotional agility, shaped by her refugee background and professional journey, allows her to create spaces where people feel seen, respected, and free to be themselves. She’s passionate about building environments where authenticity isn’t just welcomed—it’s celebrated.

Donna is a qualified lawyer with a background in international and human rights law, having worked in both private firms and leading community legal centres such as Refugee Legal, Liberty Victoria, and West Justice.

Internationally, she has contributed to human rights work with Human Asia in South Korea and Global Rights Compliance in the Netherlands, where she co-authored a legal manual for judges of the ICC, based on the Rome Statute.

She holds a Master’s from the University of Melbourne and studied peace and security at Korea University. Beyond law and policy, Donna is a leadership and transformational coach, a natural mediator, and a sought-after transformational speaker—bringing energy, clarity, and vision to every stage she steps on.

After completing the IYE pre-accelerator program with iGen Foundation, she launched her first business designing “bucket bags,” inspired by her refugee childhood days of collecting water in plastic buckets. That story, like so much of her work, is a powerful symbol of turning pain into purpose.

Donna is currently writing her first book on the Kind Rebel methodology—about how to be a modern kind Rebel leader in the era of total disruption. Kind Rebellion isn’t about winning at all costs—it’s about creating space for understanding, transformation, and justice without the harm of adversarial conflict.

Specialities: intercultural mediation and conflict resolution; intercultural leadership, program design and training.

Flabia is the CEO and Founder of Transcend Beyond the Scope, a consulting firm dedicated to creating inclusive spaces and advancing equity for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and marginalised communities.

She works with businesses, government agencies, and non-profits to deliver tailored solutions that break down barriers, amplify diverse perspectives, and drive meaningful organisational change. By combining innovative strategies with cultural insight, she empowers organisations to build trust, embrace diversity, and create environments where everyone can thrive.

Her expertise includes leadership development, cultural competency training, and community engagement, designed to help organisations connect authentically with diverse groups and achieve lasting impact. At Transcend Beyond the Scope, inclusion is not just a value—it’s a strategic advantage.

Flabia holds a Bachelor of International Studies, International Relations and Affairs from Deakin University and a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health from Victoria University. In 2024 she completed the Women of Colour Australia Executive Leadership Program and the iGen Foundation IYE Pre-accelerator entrepreneurship program.

Specialities: working with young people including workshop delivery and strategy development; organisational development.

Frances is an experienced Intercultural Practitioner and policy writer with a long history of working in local government in regional Victoria.

She has worked in the higher education industry, is skilled in nonprofit governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, leading and writing government policy and strategies, program evaluation and social policy.

She is a strong community and social services professional and is a Fellow of the Leadership Ballarat Western Region (LBWR) with Development Management qualifications from the Asian Institute of Management.

Specialities: intercultural policy and practice; strategy and consultation development and delivery.

Parry is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous health and community empowerment, serving as the Managing Director of Linking Futures. With extensive expertise in Indigenous Specialist Service Provider, industry and community engagement, cross cultural communication and projects, cultural project management, and business connections, he is committed to fostering sustainable, community-led solutions that drive meaningful change.

As a leader at Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Ltd., he champions a holistic healthcare model that integrates clinical services with well-being programs. His approach ensures culturally informed, community-driven care that enhances health outcomes and empowers Indigenous communities. Under his leadership, Moorundi has become a trusted pillar in Indigenous health, providing vital support and advocacy.

Expanding his impact, Parry was recently appointed as a Board Member at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, where he applies his governance expertise to improve healthcare delivery. His leadership is defined by empathy and intercultural inclusivity, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected while strengthening the health system’s responsiveness to community needs.

Parry’s unwavering commitment to community development and inclusivity is evident in his ability to bridge relationships across cultures. Through his work at Linking Futures and beyond, he continues to drive collaboration, understanding, and long-term benefits for both Indigenous and broader communities, cementing his role as a key figure in advancing Indigenous cultural engagement and healthcare initiatives.

Specialities: institutional and corporate liaison; First Nations health outcomes; governance mentoring and training.