2026 CiCT Forum – Beyond Resilience: Communities Shaping Australia’s Future

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the CiCT Forum 2026. Held on 22 May at the WSU Parramatta City Campus, this landmark event brought together community leaders, policymakers, researchers, and advocates to engage in meaningful reflection, storytelling, and collaboration.

Hosted by STARTTS in partnership with the Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University, the forum successfully explored how global conflicts, displacement, and migration shape diaspora communities, moving beyond resilience to champion collective solutions that strengthen social cohesion across Australia.

Master of the Ceremony (MC)

Our Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Jorge Aroche
STARTTS – Chief Executive Officer

Jorge Aroche is a clinical psychologist and STARTTS’ Chief Executive Officer. Jorge was born in Uruguay and has worked with migrants and refugee survivors of torture and organized violence since before 1989, when he joined STARTTS.  He has led the organization since March 1997, through some of the most challenging times for refugee services in Australia, helping STARTTS grow from a dozen staff to more than 200, assuming a truly state-wide role and becoming a world leader in this field in the process, while continuing to learn from its clients, its culturally diverse staff and the latest scientific advances. Jorge has also held a number of honorary positions in international humanitarian organizations, Australia government advisory bodies and NGO boards. He was the President of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) from 2016 until November 2020.

John Juriansz

Director

Professor John Juriansz is the Director of the Whitlam Institute and the Parramatta South Campus Provost for Western Sydney University. John previously served as Deputy Dean of the School of Law at Western Sydney University where he lectured in Equity & Trusts, Legal Technology, and Remedies. John is admitted as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and of the High Court of Australia. John has held a range of legal positions including as a Senior Lawyer at Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers, King & Wood Mallesons, MLC Limited, the Australian Law Reform Commission, and as a Member of the Litigation, Law & Practice Committee of the Law Society of New South Wales.

Uncle Colin Locke
Dharug Elder and Cultural Leader

Uncle Colin Locke is a respected Dharug Elder and sixth-generation descendant of Yarramundi, Chief of the Berooberongal Clan. A prominent figure in the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney communities, he is known for his deep cultural knowledge and dedication to preserving Aboriginal heritage.

Uncle Colin leads traditional ceremonies, including smoking ceremonies and welcomes for major infrastructure projects such as The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and NEXTDC’s S4 Sydney data centre. He was instrumental in founding Buran Nalgarra, the senior school program at Kindlehill School, and regularly shares his stories through “Yarning with Elders” sessions.

His personal history is closely tied to The Gully (Garguree) in Katoomba and his childhood home in Blackheath, and he has contributed extensively to the History of Aboriginal Sydney project, documenting his family’s experiences and heritage.

Uncle Coline Locke will join Deena Yako as a panellist in the discussion, Belonging and Shared Future: First Nations and Refugee Perspectives on Collective Belonging.

Patrick Earle

Diplomacy Training Program (DTP), Executive Director, Australia

Patrick Earle has over 20 years’ experience working in the human rights movement, both in Australia and internationally. Since 2003 Patrick has been the Executive Director of the Diplomacy Training Program, and in this role has developed and facilitated over 50 human rights courses in the region – including new thematic courses focusing on human rights and business, human rights and migrant workers and the rights of Indigenous peoples. From 1996 until 2003, Patrick worked with the Human Rights Council of Australia with a focus on its ground-breaking project on the relationship between human rights and development and is co-author of The Rights Way to Development – Policy and Practice. Prior to that he worked for Amnesty International in London and produced their first International Campaigning Manual.

Jasmina Bajraktarevic-Hayward
Community Services Program Coordinator

Jasmina Bajraktarevic-Hayward is a Social Worker who came to Australia in 1993 as a refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina. She manages STARTTS’ Community Services Program which consists of over 100 staff including the teams: Community Development, Rural and Regional Community Development, Youth, School Liaison, Families in Cultural Transition (FICT), Mental Health Community Living Supports for Refugees (MH-CLSR) and Health in My Language; as well as staff covering STARTTS’ LGBTIQA+ Project, volunteer management, policy analysis and input, community development evaluation, community cultural development, grant and tender writing and community capacity building. Jasmina has significant Board experience and is currently the President of the Refugee Council of Australia and a member of the NSW Refugee Communities Advocacy Network as well as a member of the World Pride Sydney Advisory Committee.

Research Presentations

Research presentation: Culturally and Racially Marginalised Girls and Young Women in South West Sydney: Equity of Opportunity and Civic Engagement

Melissa Phillips

Senior Lecturer, Humanitarian and Development Studies Program, Western Sydney University

Melissa is a Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University whose research focuses on migration, displacement, refugee settlement, mobility, and diasporas. She has worked extensively in humanitarian and protection roles with the United Nations and international NGOs across Africa, the Middle East, and Australia, including in refugee protection, humanitarian coordination, and asylum seeker support in detention and community settings in Australia and the UK.

She is co-author of Becoming Australian: Migration, Settlement and Citizenship (MUP, 2014) and has published widely on refugee settlement and multiculturalism. Melissa is Associate Editor of the Journal of Intercultural Studies and serves on the boards of the Australian Red Cross, the International Detention Coalition (as Regional Advisor), and Urban Refugees.

Research Presentation: Arts, Culture and Iraqi Diaspora in Australia

Bashar Hanna OAM

 PhD student at University of Central Queensland

Bashar Hanna is a Sydney-based arts and community cultural development specialist, working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Middle Eastern communities in Fairfield City. A former refugee from Iraq (1998), Bashar fosters inclusion and cultural expression through music, theatre, storytelling, poetry, and visual arts.

He serves as a Community Engagement Officer with the NSW Department of Education, runs a consultancy focused on arts and social impact, and is the founder of the Australian Mesopotamian Cultural Association. His contributions have been recognised with multiple awards, including the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Moderators

Dr. Atem Atem, PhD

Former Senior Project Officer- CiCT, STARTTS 

Dr. Atem Atem is a former Senior Project Officer with the CiCT program at STARTTS. He has extensive experience in community development and multicultural services, having worked as a Senior Communities in Cultural Transition Project Officer and in roles with Fairfield City Council and Bayside Council, including Multicultural Officer, Social Planning and Advocacy Officer, and Community Development Inclusion Specialist. Prior to his work in local government, Dr. Atem contributed to various settlement support services, supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

 Lo-Shu Wen

Policy Officer – STARTTS 

Lo-Shu Wen is Policy Officer at the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) and supports the systemic advocacy objectives of the agency. As a trained social worker, he has worked in both policy and practice, principally in the children’s welfare sector, for government and non-government agencies in NSW.

Om Dhungel
Consultant and Strategic Connector

Om Dhungel, formerly a refugee from Bhutan is now a consultant and a practitioner of Strength-Based Approach to refugee settlement and community development. He also operates as a Strategic Connector assisting corporations to develop meaningful collaboration in the NFP sector as well as offer Innovation-Aware Governance and Community Engagement training.

A Fellow of AICD, Om is a Director on the Board of Asylum Seeker Centre and a Member of NSW Police Multicultural Advisory Council. He has also served on the Boards of Settlement Services International, SydWest Multicultural Services and MTC Australia in the recent past.

Om is a recipient of 2017 UTS International Alumni Award and 2016 Community Service Lifetime Achievement Award amongst many other accomplishments.

Panel Discussion on Belonging and Shared Future: First Nations and Refugee Perspectives on Collective Belonging

Deena Yako
Director of Community Engagement, Refugee Council

Deena Yako is an Assyrian woman originally from Bet Nahrain, now living and working on the lands of the Cabrogal band of the Darug people. Born in Kirkuk, Iraq, she and her family were forced to flee due to political unrest in 1986. Since 2006, Deena has dedicated her work to supporting young refugees, fostering educational opportunities, and creating better settlement pathways, opportunities she herself struggled to access.

As Director of Community Engagement at the Refugee Council, Deena manages the Refugee Stories for Change program, sharing powerful personal narratives to challenge stereotypes and deepen empathy for the refugee experience.

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Uncle Coline Locke will join Deena Yako as a panellist in the discussion, Belonging and Shared Future: First Nations and Refugee Perspectives on Collective Belonging.

Panel Discussion: Celebrating Refugee 

Jennifer Shahin
Journalist and Digital Reporter

Jennifer Shahin is a communications and media professional with experience across government, journalism, and the community sector. She has worked for a Federal parliamentarian, contributed to two local councils, and supported major infrastructure communications within the Department of Transport. She recently worked with Sky News Australia as a Digital Reporter, covering national stories on politics, crime, community affairs, and breaking news.

Alongside her professional work, Jennifer is actively involved in community organisations and charities, supporting advocacy, cultural initiatives, and public engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Media and Arts, majoring in Politics and International Relations with a minor in History, and is completing a Master’s in Public Policy, reflecting her commitment to informed storytelling and public service.

Sulaiman Ghalib
Executive Committee Member, Massoud Foundation Australia

Sulaiman Ghalib, a former refugee, is an entrepreneur and Manager of Royal Floors Hornsby, a retail flooring business he founded in 2024. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and brings over 15 years of experience across government, NGOs, and the private sector.

Before migrating to Australia in 2021, Sulaiman worked with Australia’s diplomatic mission in Afghanistan under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He is currently an Executive Committee Member of the Massoud Foundation Australia, where he contributes to initiatives supporting community development and humanitarian engagement.

Sulaiman is a passionate advocate for migrants and refugee communities, actively supporting programs that promote entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and social integration.

Ajin Karim

Area Manager, ACT Region, MTC Future Ready

 

Ajin Karim is an experienced education and workforce development professional, currently serving as Area Manager for the ACT region at MTC Future Ready. She joined the organisation five years ago as a Trainer after completing her Master of TESOL, along with qualifications in Training and Assessment and Academic English and has since progressed through roles including Senior Trainer and Centre Manager.

Before moving to Australia, Ajin completed a Bachelor of Education and taught in the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq. This experience shaped her strong commitment to supporting refugees, migrants, and diverse communities to improve language, literacy, numeracy, and employment outcomes.

Having lived in Australia for 18 years, Ajin has balanced study, career, and family while raising three children. Her journey reflects resilience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by many learners.

Fluent in Kurdish, Arabic, and English, with some Persian, Ajin is passionate about creating inclusive opportunities and contributing to meaningful, lasting community impact.

Panel Discussion: Community Challenges

Abang Anade Othow
Founder, Buckets of Hope and Educator

Abang Othow is an internationally recognised educator, speaker, writer, and leader whose work blends storytelling, education, psychology, and social impact. She is the visionary founder of Buckets of Hope, a transformative visual and emotional wellbeing framework that uses storytelling, colour, and mindfulness to support individuals and communities in moving from survival to thriving.

She serves as Deputy Chair of the Asylum Seekers Centre. A former child refugee who rebuilt her life through education and resilience, Abang now works with communities, corporations, schools, and individuals to cultivate emotional literacy, courage, and collective wellbeing.

Holding a Master of Teaching, Bachelor of Arts, and Diploma in Business, she integrates academic insight with lived experience to deliver powerful learning experiences that inspire empathy, leadership, and hope across cultures and generations.

Her story has been featured on SBS Insight, 7News, and The Canberra Times, and her writing has appeared in The New York Times and Pearls & Irritations. Her highly anticipated hybrid memoir will be published by HarperCollins in September 2026.

Mohammad Sadeghpour
President, Association to Defend Freedom & Human Rights in Iran

Mohammad Sadeghpour is an Iranian Australian human rights advocate and community leader committed to supporting Iranian refugees, defending political prisoners, and advancing a democratic future for Iran. He serves as President of the Association to Defend Freedom & Human Rights in Iran–Australia (ADFHRIA) and Treasurer of Australian Supporters of Democracy in Iran (ASDI).

He has played a key role in organizing parliamentary briefings, public rallies, and international advocacy initiatives, engaging with Australian MPs, senators, and global human rights figures, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran.

His advocacy is deeply personal. As a former political prisoner, and with family members who endured severe persecution under the Iranian regime, his lived experience drives his commitment to justice, human dignity, and freedom.

With academic training in law, accounting, and information technology, Mohammad brings strong analytical and organizational expertise to his work. He collaborates with organizations such as the Edmund Rice Centre and the Bill Crews Foundation to support vulnerable Iranian refugees, with a focus on empowering women, defending fundamental rights, and contributing to a free and democratic Iran.

Noor Azizah
Co-Founder, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network

Noor Azizah is a Rohingya genocide survivor, educator, and internationally recognised human rights leader. After fleeing Myanmar and resettling in Sydney, she co-founded the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network—a pioneering refugee-led, Rohingya-led, and women-led organisation addressing gender-based violence and advancing justice for displaced Rohingya communities across Asia and beyond.

A compelling voice on the global stage, Noor shapes international dialogue on genocide, statelessness, and gendered conflict. Her work has been featured on major platforms including Al Jazeera, France 24, and SBS News. She has represented Rohingya communities at the highest levels of global policymaking, including as a refugee delegate and expert at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.

Her leadership has earned significant recognition, including NSW Young Woman of the Year 2024 and Marie Claire Woman of the Year 2025—cementing her as one of the most influential emerging advocates for refugee rights and justice.

2026 CiCT Forum Committee Members

Mubashar Hasan, PhD
Senior Project Officer, CICT, STARTTS

Mubashar Hasan is a Senior Project Officer with the CICT program at STARTTS and an Honorary Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University. He holds a PhD in International Politics from Griffith University.

An award-winning researcher, human rights defender, and communications expert, he has taught and conducted research in Australia and Norway, including at the University of Oslo. His work focuses on policy, democracy, and supporting communities impacted by trauma.

A survivor of torture and enforced disappearance, Mubashar brings lived experience to his advocacy for human rights and resilience. His work has been featured in major global media, and he also uses storytelling and comedy to promote healing and connection.

Yasser Waheed
Project Officer, CICT, STARTTS

Yasser Waheed is a Project Officer with the CICT program at STARTTS and an overseas-trained medical doctor with postgraduate qualifications in Health Science from Western Sydney University and Health Services Management from UTS.

With over two decades of experience as a health, community, and cultural activist, he co-founded an organisation supporting refugee settlement, education, health, and advocacy, with a focus on youth leadership and girls’ education. He has worked with national and international organisations and volunteers with NSW Health in digital health literacy and Multicultural Health programs.

Yasser is passionate about community development and empowering communities through leadership and social inclusion initiatives, including advocacy, cultural programs, and sport activities that foster connection, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging within diverse communities.

Bashar Hanna, OAM, JP
Community Cultural Development Specialist

Bashar Hanna is a Sydney-based arts and community development practitioner who works with culturally diverse Middle Eastern communities in Fairfield. A former Iraqi refugee (1998), he promotes inclusion and cultural expression through music, theatre, storytelling, poetry, and visual arts.

He is a Community Engagement Officer with the NSW Department of Education, leads an arts and social impact consultancy, and founded the Australian Mesopotamian Cultural Association. His work has earned several honours, including the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Deena Yako
Director of Community Engagement, Refugee Council

Deena Yako is an Assyrian woman from Bet Nahrain, currently based on the lands of the Cabrogal people of the Darug Nation. She was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, and fled with her family in 1986 due to political instability. Since 2006, she has focused on supporting young refugees, improving access to education, and strengthening settlement pathways she once found difficult to obtain.

She is the Director of Community Engagement at the Refugee Council and leads the Refugee Stories for Change program, which uses personal narratives to challenge stereotypes and build understanding of refugee experiences.

Ernest Kulauzovic
Founder and Director, WestRise Social Enterprise

Ernest Kulauzovic is a community development and business innovation specialist with a strong background in sport, recreation, and leisure management. He is the Founder and Director of WestRise Social Enterprise, a venture dedicated to creating positive social impact through sustainable business models, supporting individuals navigating new cultural landscapes.

Ernest’s innovative approach to community building has earned him wide recognition. In 2024, he received the NSW Government Community Service Award for his work on community programs in Liverpool, managed by Belgravia Leisure, and was also honoured by the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council for his efforts in fostering reconciliation and community connection.

Combining experience from the sporting field to the social enterprise sector, Ernest is a passionate advocate for using recreation and structured programs as tools for resilience, settlement, and long-term community thriving.

Kidtse Alene (Kidy)
Health Professional & Project Officer, St Mary Ethiopian Women Association

Kidtse Alene (Kidy) is a dedicated health professional with a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Public Health (MPH), specialising in Health Promotion. She works in the mental health sector at NSW Health, delivering evidence-based, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed care for individuals with complex mental health needs.

As a Project Officer at the St Mary Ethiopian Women Association, Kidtse leads health promotion and community development initiatives, with a focus on youth newly arrived in Australia. She designs and implements programs that enhance health literacy, strengthen social connection, and improve equitable access to essential services. With expertise in stakeholder engagement, program governance, and outcomes evaluation, Kidtse is committed to advancing health equity and creating sustainable, community-centred impact.

Ko Ko Aung (Koko)
Special Counsel, Albert Arthur Lawyers

Ko Ko Aung (Koko) is a Special Counsel at Albert Arthur Lawyers, specialising in immigration law. With over six years’ experience, he advises individuals, families, and employers across the full visa spectrum, including refugee and humanitarian protection, corporate migration, citizenship, character and cancellation, deportation, and migration litigation. His approach combines strategic thinking, evidence-based advocacy, and clear communication to achieve practical outcomes.

A committed human rights and social justice advocate, Koko supports Myanmar communities in Australia and abroad. He has led pro bono initiatives and workshops for organisations such as the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, the Kaldor Centre for Refugee Law, and the ASRC Afghanistan Clinic, and serves as immigration advisor to the Australian branch of Myanmar’s National Unity Government. He is also Company Secretary at Afghan Women on the Move and co-founder of Mohinga Hub, a community platform for Myanmar refugees and people seeking asylum, whose first major project is the Unsettled Journey podcast sharing real stories in Burmese.

Koko has held leadership roles with the UNSW Buddhist Society and UNSW Myanmar Student Society and is completing a Master of Laws (International Human Rights Law) at UNSW. He works bilingually in English and Burmese. His contributions have been recognised with the Law Council of Australia’s John Gibson AM Young Australian Migration Lawyer of the Year (2023), the STARTTS NSW Humanitarian Award – Government and Legal Sector (2024), and Lawyers Weekly Special Counsel of the Year (2025).

Mr Morris K. Mukasa
Advocate, Humanitarian & Community Leader

Mr Morris K. Mukasa is a distinguished advocate, humanitarian, and community leader dedicated to advancing social justice, trauma recovery, and the empowerment of marginalised communities. With a career spanning multiple continents, he has extensive experience in crisis management, conflict resolution, and refugee support.

In Australia, Morris co-founded Cross-Cultural Partnerships Engagement Worldwide (CCPE Worldwide), a non-government organisation promoting cultural understanding and trauma healing. Through its flagship Kwetu Project, he has supported refugees, asylum seekers, detainees, and other vulnerable groups using music, creative arts, and cultural dialogue as therapeutic tools. He also holds key roles with the Refugee Communities Advocacy Network.

Morris has contributed to policy reform, led conflict resolution initiatives, and engaged in international dialogues on refugee support, including with UN representatives in Australia. His commitment to community service has been recognised with multiple accolades, including the African Australian Community Service Award (2024).

Nigar Faraj
Educator & Community Development Practitioner

Nigar Faraj is an educator of Kurdish (Sorani) background, originally from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. She holds a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma in Community Services, and a Graduate Certificate in TESOL in Australia.

With a strong foundation in education and community development, Nigar brings extensive experience in teaching, program coordination, and community engagement. Her work focuses on education, awareness, and social development across diverse life stages, with particular expertise in supporting adult refugees and migrants to build English language proficiency, practical communication skills, and confidence for everyday life, employment, and community participation.

Nigar is committed to delivering inclusive, learner-centred education that responds to the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of adult learners. Passionate about lifelong learning, cross-cultural understanding, and social inclusion, she contributes her skills through volunteer work with CiCT, supporting stronger community connections and empowering individuals through education.

As we prepare to gather for the 2026 CiCT Forum, we recognise the importance of creating a space where voices, experiences, and ideas come together with purpose.

This Forum is a platform for connection, learning, and collective action, bringing together community leaders, advocates, practitioners, and storytellers who are shaping change across Australia in meaningful and lasting ways.

Guided by the theme Beyond Resilience, the Forum invites us to engage deeply with the knowledge, strengths, and leadership within refugee and refugee-like communities. It is an opportunity to listen, reflect, and explore how lived experience continues to influence systems, build belonging, and inspire new pathways forward.

We look forward to the conversations, insights, and collaborations that will emerge, and to a shared commitment to fostering inclusive, connected, and thriving communities.

Join the CiCT Forum 2026 as it brings us together to learn, contribute, and help shape what comes next.