Who We Are

Ian has been on the SMECC Board of Management since 2014. He was elected as Chairperson in 2020 after spending four years in the Deputy Chairperson position.  His background is in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, environmental and social justice and more recently education. He has completed a graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and has been teaching English to adults in multicultural classrooms. In semi-retirement, his working life is now spent between teaching and veterinary medicine surgery.

He believes that the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees has historically been politicised, to the shame and detriment of our nation. He joined SMECC in opposition to such an approach. 

As a local resident who grew up in Mildura and managed a business for many years, he brings to the Board a range of skills more of a general nature. As a veterinary surgeon, he is a problem solver with hundreds of contacts in the region. He is proud to be a member of the Board at SMECC and feels that the organisation has not yet reached its full potential but given the current mix of staff and board members, we are setting our sights high.

Bio to come.

John is a second-generation Italian who grew up on a vineyard in Mildura. He is an accountant by trade and has worked as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for one of the largest local fuel distributor companies since 2007.

He is passionate about community involvement, which has been demonstrated through his 15 years of service with the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) in Mildura. During his time there, he assisted in fundraising activities, storm safety education and response, and Road Crash Rescue services.

Coming from a multicultural background, he has seen firsthand the need for community and collaboration. He believes that when a community comes together, great things can be accomplished and life long friendships are formed.

Claire considered it the ‘”privilege of my life” to have worked with CALD families for the past 23 years as a teacher in the EAL New Arrivals Program. Witnessing refugee and immigrant families enter Australia to start their new lives is a blessing.

Over the years I have worked and been adopted by the Ethiopian, Sudanese, Bosnian, Serbian, Karen, and Tibetan communities. Although my only language is English, I attempt to learn a few words in each of the languages at my school.

Moving to Mildura in 2019 to take up the position of Assistant Principal of the Mildura English Language Centre (MELC) has been an amazing opportunity. Although I have travelled, I’ve spent my life in Victoria, growing up in Mallacoota, then working in Melbourne, and now Mildura.

As a member of the SMECC Board I am hoping to offer insight into working with non-English speaking peoples and assist in planning programs and processes which keep SMECC a strong and reliable support to the Mildura CALD community.

Born in Mildura, Akesa studied in Robinvale before completing a Bachelor of Sports Management & Bachelor of Business (Marketing) in Ballarat at Federation University Australia. Her motivation as CEO at SMECC stems from her lived experience as a second-generation Australian growing up in regional Victoria. Since returning to the region, she has worked in numerous roles that have equipped her with skills and local knowledge that strengthen the organisation’s advocacy and vision towards an Empowered and harmonious community.

Akesa’s professional experience includes the Jobs Victoria Employment Network with Swan Hill Rural City Council, the National Rugby League as a Game Development Officer, and Our Place – Colman Education Foundation as a Community Facilitator.

Maree joined SMECC as Corporate Services Manager in early 2023, bringing more than 15 years of experience in finance, administration, and staff management.

With a diverse background across various industries, particularly in the retail sector, Maree has honed her skills in operational efficiency and customer service excellence. She is committed to enhancing operational processes and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Bio to come.

Stephanie is a Kiwi of Māori descent (Ngati Rangitihi, Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa, Ngapuhi). She is a mother of three daughters and four grandchildren who live in NZ.

She has lived in Australia since 2017 and has worked in various roles in Victoria and Queensland in the Domestic and Family Violence (DFV), volunteer, and multicultural support sectors. Stephanie is a trained facilitator in the Circle of Security, 123 Magic, and Love Bites and Seasons of Grief (adult) programs.

A second-generation migrant born in the Mallee, Emmie started work at SMECC in September 2020. During her time at the organisation, she has played a leading role in working with and supporting multicultural groups during the Covid-19 pandemic and 2022/23 Murray River floods. She founded our Sunraysia Multicultural Response Group (SMRG), in-language WhatsApp groups, and stakeholder settlement networks. After living in France for more than a year, she speaks conversational French as an additional language.

Emmie has a decade of professional experience working in the media industry, including for large organisations such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and News Corp Australia. Emmie’s transition to working in the multicultural and settlement support space began when she volunteered at World Radio Paris in France and started working as an English language tutor for school-aged French children. Since acquiring a Bachelor of Journalism from La Trobe University in 2013, Emmie has also completed a Diploma of Screen and Media (Interactive Media) at RMIT, and Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) through RMIT English Worldwide and the University of Cambridge. 

Emmie grew up on a family fruit block in Merbein and has nurtured relationships with local multicultural communities for decades.

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