Minister’s Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs

Dr Edwin Joseph
Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory

• Edwin migrated to Australia as an adult and has been volunteering for community groups, not-for-profit organisations and professional associations. Edwin’s contributions include serving as Secretary of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA), Vice Chair of the Australia Day Council NT, President of the Multicultural Council of the NT and others.
• Edwin brings experience in governance and community development to MACMA.

Ms Jamuna (Mona) Ulak
Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia

• Mona has lived in Mparntwe Alice Springs for 17 years. She has 25 years of experience in business development, tourism, policy, strategy and not-for-profit leadership work. In Alice Springs, Mona has worked in business development and research at Charles Darwin University and is currently working on gambling amelioration.
• Mona was a founder of the Nepalese Community Alice Springs and has been the Chair of Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia for 4 years.

Mr Kwame Selormey
Melaleuca Australia

• Born in West Africa, Kwame serves as CEO of Melaleuca Australia, a non-profit supporting humanitarian entrants, migrants and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. A strong advocate for human rights and a founding committee member of the NT Human Rights Awards, Kwame is recognised for his leadership in driving systemic change in refugee and migrant health.
• With over 25 years’ experience across sectors including disability, mental health and family services, Kwame has led large teams and represents the NT nationally through roles with the Refugee Council of Australia, Settlement Council of Australia and the SBS Multicultural Advisory Council.

A/Commander Tianfang (Terry) Zhang
Northern Territory Police Force

• Terry is a police officer with 20 years’ experience serving communities in New Zealand and the Northern Territory. He currently leads a large policing district covering Katherine and remote communities in the Top End. He holds qualifications in management and law.
• Being of Chinese descent and a fluent speaker of Mandarin, Terry brings strong lived multicultural experience. He is passionate about fostering a culturally diverse and inclusive Territory, with a focus on intercultural engagement, equitable access to services and building trust between culturally diverse communities and government agencies.

Councillor Wayne Bayliss
Local Government (Observer)

• Wayne is the son of Maltese parents who immigrated to Australia in March 1960. He was raised in a non-English speaking household which gave him a strong understanding of the challenges faced by new migrants and the important role of community organisations and government.
• Wayne served the NT community for 29 years as a member of the NT Police Force, primarily within the Territory Intelligence Division and Youth Diversion Unit. Throughout his career, he worked with diverse communities and organisations, earning recognition for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to public safety.

Prof Sivaram (Ram) Vemuri
MACMA Chair

• Ram is an economist with over 50 years of experience, having lived and worked in multiple countries including England, India, and Papua New Guinea. His work involves the nexus between migration, health and ageing. He served as the Chair of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies and led the Diversity and Recognition hub for the Interdisciplinary.net Oxford conferences, both of which provided him with insights into the shifting and continuing challenges faced by migrant and refugee populations.
• Ram’s involvement with multicultural communities in Darwin spans over 35 years. Since his retirement, Ram has contributed to various multicultural health and ageing boards.

Mr Shilvin Mathews

Mr Sakeasi Tawaketini

• Sakeasi is a community leader with formal qualifications in Governance and Public Policy, Commerce, Management, and Psychology. He is experienced in working across government, non-profit and community sectors, with expertise in organisational governance, evidence-based policy development, strategic planning and community development.
• In Sakeasi’s leadership roles, he has overseen major multicultural and community initiatives that promote social inclusion, civic participation, and youth development throughout the Northern Territory.

Mr Gagandeep Singh Ralh

• Gagan is originally from Punjab, India and has lived in Mparntwe/Alice Springs for more than 12 years. During this time, he has worked in the disability sector and been actively involved with multicultural and community organisations including the Alice Springs Indian Association, the Central Australia Sikh Cultural Centre, and the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia.
• Gagan teaches Bhangra to children to keep his culture alive and believes strongly in a multicultural Australia where people from all backgrounds feel included and can contribute to a vibrant, diverse community.

Ms Suyana Shrestha

• Suyana has been actively involved in multicultural organisations in the Northern Territory for over a decade including through the Nepalese Association of Northern Territory and the Non-Resident Nepali Association Australia, helping organise and volunteering at cultural and community events.
• As a CPA NT Division Councillor, Suyana also mentored new migrants and aspiring accounting professionals by guiding them through CPA pathways, job readiness and professional development.

Ms Elena Gomatos

• Elena is an experienced Service Manager with a strong background in community engagement and multicultural affairs. With over a decade of leadership serving on the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia, she has played a role in fostering cultural understanding and supporting inclusive initiatives. Her professional expertise spans retail, service delivery and stakeholder collaboration and engagement.
• Elena’s life experiences reflect a deep commitment to strengthening intercultural dialogues, community development, multicultural networks, and creating opportunities for future generations to preserve their heritage while thriving in modern day Australia.

Dr Tamoor Mirza

• Tamoor is a Darwin-based psychiatrist, with experience working across both public and private mental health sectors. He has a special interest in youth mental health and culturally responsive care for diverse communities.
• An active academic and researcher with Charles Darwin University and Flinders University, Tamoor represents the Northern Territory at national and international professional forums. He regularly volunteers mental health support for culturally and linguistically diverse community, particularly migrant and international students with limited access to Medicare.

Ms Nivia Jimena Espitia Gonzalez

• Originally from Colombia, Jimena is experienced in program delivery and business development, with a record of delivering high-impact programs and translating community and market gaps into strategic opportunities that drive growth, partnerships, and cultural connection.
• Jimena co-founded Kindness Shake, has led the kindness Festival, and revitalised the Multicultural Youth Council of the NT with Melaleuca Australia. Deeply connected to her cultural roots, Jimena is Secretary of the Colombian-Australian Association of the NT, helped start Viva Colombia Festival and performs Colombian folklore dances with the Macondo dance group.

Mr Fred Marrone

• Fred has been in the NT for 54 years and have been involved in various ethnic clubs and committees including the Italian Club, the United Nations Association in the NT and the NT Police Ethnic Advisory Group.
• Fred’s experience as liaison officer for South East Asia and as a representative for valuation programs in Indonesia and Vietnam taught him leadership skills, experience in inter-country diplomacy and teaching at foreign and local universities. Fred is currently writing a manuscript on the Forgotten Italians from 1845 to 1945.

Ms Laura Nguyen

• Laura has over a decade of experience in social change communication and strategic partnerships and was recognised for fundraising and donor engagement to advance women’s, children’s and disability rights. Her expertise is in using art to prevent gender-based violence which led to presentations at the Global Conference of Women’s Shelters.
• Each year, Laura organises over 30 fundraising and community events across the Top End. She also hosts and performs at major events, showcasing culture, diversityand inclusion to thousands across the NT.

Mr Charles Pitia

• With over a decade in the Northern Territory Government as a teacher, Child Protection Practitioner, and Government Engagement Coordinator with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Charles brings extensive expertise in community development and public service. He holds a Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies and is pursuing a Master of Emergency and Disaster Management at Charles Darwin University, building strong foundations for inclusive and resilient communities.
• His background and lived experience enable Charles to champion inclusion, ensuring diverse voices are celebrated.

Dr Guzyal Hill

• Guzyal is a lawyer and specialist in the governance, regulation and legislative design of Artificial Intelligence. She is the author of National Uniform Legislation, a book articulating a comprehensive theory of legislative harmonisation across the federation.
• Originally from Kazakhstan and proudly calling the Northern Territory home for more than two decades, Dr Hill brings a uniquely global perspective paired with deep NT expertise. Her work intersects with law, technology, and public governance, helping government agencies, corporates and institutions navigate AI risks, compliance and strategic adoption with clarity and confidence.

Ms Paula Milatos

• Paula’s experience spans decades across education, business ownership and community service. Her early teaching years in Darwin allowed her to work closely with Greek-speaking families, strengthening her role as a cultural liaison within the school community.
• Paula’s lifelong commitment to the Territory’s multicultural community is reflected in her extensive volunteer work, including decades of involvement in Greek community events such as the Glenti festival and her current service on the St Savvas Church committee.

Ms Martha Gawa

• Martha moved to Darwin from Indonesia in 1984. She worked as a Registered Nurse before transitioning into the Information Technology field.
• Martha is passionate about football (soccer), played for various clubs and remained actively involved in the sport through volunteer roles after retiring. She also volunteers with the City of Darwin Launch Youth Program, supporting after-hours activities to engage young people and reduce street roaming.

Dr Devaki Monani

• Devaki is a Senior Lecturer at Charles Darwin University teaching Leadership in Social Policy. She completed her PhD in 2008 from the University of Melbourne and is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Zelman Cowen Centre, Victoria University.
• Devaki is currently undertaking collaborative research in partnership with Adelaide University, Latrobe, Charles Sturt (NSW) and several industry partners to examine whole-of-community approaches to regional migration, settlement and retention (2026-2029).

Ms Jovelyn Lora

• Jovelyn is passionate about building inclusive communities where people from all backgrounds feel connected and valued. She enjoys bringing people together and using technology, knowledge and collaboration to create opportunities and break down barriers, with a strong interest in multicultural affairs and diverse perspectives.
• Jovelyn’s interests centre on community engagement, inclusion and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate and thrive.