EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(More photos and other details coming soon…)
African Women’s and Families Network Executive Committee is quite diverse as outlined below. The members bring in massive and distinctive experience and expertise in community service, including youth work and education.
President & Co-Founder: Theresa Sengaaga Ssali
Theresa Sengaaga Ssali is an African Australian from Uganda Community. She is a long-experienced social worker. She has massive experience in community service. Theresa has worked in both State and Commonwealth Government agencies, for over 25 years, as senior social worker, settlement and youth services. As a volunteer she has initiated and managed a number of community capacity building projects and programs proactively especially for youth, men, women and families responding to emerging issues ensuring the advancement of new and emerging communities’ in Australia. Her voluntary work in the community sector has gained her much acclaim. AWARDS: In 2014, Theresa was a winner of the Victorian African Community Awards as UNSUNG COMMUNITY HERO and in 2013, she received an award as one of the hundred most influential African Australians in Australia. Theresa has been an active advocate on issues affecting women and their families in Australia since 1989 and is passionate about Women Human rights issues. Theresa believes in “Living for the sake of others”.
Vice President & Co-Founder: Faduma Musse
Faduma Musse is an African Australian from Somali Community. She has long experience in Community service. She is the President for Somali Women. Over that time, many things have been accomplished in the Somali community and provided opportunities for all African Men, Women, and children to succeed in her country of origin, Somali. She has been working in community empowerment for the last 20 years and she intends to continue supporting and empowering all Africans in our community.
Secretary: Nyajany Deiwal
Nyajany Deiwal is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. She has massive experience and expertise in community service….
Vice Secretary: Nadia Ncumisa
Nadia Ncumisa is an African Australian from South African Community. She has massive experience in community service. She is the co-founder of Ubuntu Life Coaching. Nadia has a Master of Neuro Linguistic Programming Certified Globally, Clinical Hypnosis Certified Globally, Rational Emotive Behavioural Life Coach, Certified Public Speaker and Workshop Facilitator, Diploma of Business Management, Diploma in Global Governance, Certified in Leadership and Management Skills, Certified Entrepreneur Coach, Certified Leadership Coach, Certified Transformational Life Coach, Certified Relation Facilitator and Life Coach, Certified as a Health and Nutrition Life Coach, Goal For Success Life Coach, Happiness Life Coach, Certified in Communication Skills, Certified Group Coach Facilitator. Nadia has also completed and Certified in the following trainings: Frameworks for Gender Equality and Promoting Gender Equality. She knows Gender Equality, Violence Against Women and Girls, Women’s Leadership and Decision Making, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gender Equality in the World of Work, Gender Evaluation Responsive and I am currently studying Alimah to be a Scholar InshaAllah. As a Community Leader and Member, her ambition is to see love and connection within the diverse communities reaching out to each other through honesty and integrity, creating sustainable relationships.
Treasurer: Nyalieth Wal
Nyalieth Wal is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. She has massive experience in community service….
Vice Treasurer: Manar Tahir
Manar Tahir is an African Australian from Eritrean Community. She has massive experience in community service…..
Youth Coordinator: Victor Mphande
Victor Mphande is an African Australian youth from Malawian Community (Victoria Association of Malawians and Friends – VAOMAF). He has distinctive vast experience and expertise in youth work and community service. Victor is a dedicated community service worker specialized in youth work, a high school teacher and a soccer coach. His achievements include: Assistant Principal, Projects Manager, Finance Manager, Board Treasurer and Under 20 Women’s Soccer Team goalkeeper trainer. He has Leadership and Management for Change, Accounting, Soccer coaching qualifications.
Youth Coordinator: Kenneth Gonkarnue
Kenneth Gonkarnue is an African Australian youth from Liberian Community. He has massive experience in youth work and community service….
Youth Coordinator: Nasriin Shukri
Nasriin Shukri is an African Australian youth from Somali Community. She has massive experience in community service….
Youth Coordinator: Liiban Togdheer
Liiban Togdheer is an African Australian youth from Somali Community. He has massive experience in youth work and community service. He has completed his undergraduate degree at Monash University. Liiban hopes to continue to become a doctor. He has organised and managed many youth programs for example, soccer and basketball tournaments and swimming programs. He is very active in the community.
Project Admin: Ahmed Shukri
Ahmed Shukri is an African Australian youth from Somali Community. He has massive experience in community service….
Executive Ordinary Member: Dr. Charles Mphande
Dr. Charles Mphande is an African Australian from Malawian Community (VAOMAF). He is an Applied Linguist, a Senior Lecturer at Victoria University, a specialist in International and Community Development in the College of Arts & Education, Victoria University. He has long years of experience in community change work overseas and in Australia. In his academic work, his areas of teaching and research are social change and development; public action and advocacy; community networks and resilience. He has done some extensive community-based research among emerging African communities. Thus, he has massive experience and expertise in community service, youth work, education, settlement and integration issues.
Executive Ordinary Member: Dr. Apollo Nsubuga-Kyobe
Dr. Apollo is an African Australian from Ugandan Community. He has massive experience in community service. He is an inspiring, self-giving, empowering, engaging, community and academic leader supporting, and contributing to emerging communities’ settlement, higher education, research, development, and student career pathways done with shared vision and strategies. Dr. Apollo is a tireless leader, believing in equitable, accessible and fair treatment of all (respect). He has exceptionally served both metropolitan and regional communities especially African Australians. We are proud of Dr. Apollo’s re-appointment as a member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Councils (VMC RAC). He operates with high-level advisory, advocacy, collaborative relationship, and strategic change management skills of cross-cultural capacity building and partnerships enhancements. Thus, Dr. Apollo is an experienced international higher educator, multicultural community stakeholders-ship manager of innovations of fantastic collaborative business facilitation relationships skills. He is a UPF Peace Ambassador living life for the others and a La Trobe University graduate, PhD Business Management and Therapeutic Counselling
Programs Manager
Rabecca Mphande is an African Australian from Malawian Community (VAOMAF). She has massive experience and expertise in community service, passionately working with families, children, young people and adults across the ages, researching, designing relevant programs and projects in response to target settlement and integration issues. Rabecca draws from her distinctive experience of working across various African communities, advocacy, leadership, coordination, establishing partnerships and, promotion of gender equity, family violence prevention and violence against women initiatives to massively contribute towards AWAFN. We are proud of Rabecca being appointed as a member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Councils (VMC RAC). Rabecca is the Chairperson for Pan African Australasian Diaspora Network (PAADN) Women, Men and Gender Equity. She strongly believes in sustainable empowerment of women and the Girl Child. AWARDS: Rabecca has received numerous awards, for example the Ministerial Award Winner Women in Leadership Victorian African Communities Australia, Lifetime Recognition Award for Service to the African Community, Ambassador for Peace, Special Recognition Community Champion, Outstanding Dedication and Commitment for African Community in Victoria. PROFESSION: Rabecca is an educator for 32 years, a specialist in English, English as an Additional Language (EAL), History, Literacy and Adult Education. She has Master of Literacy and Master of Education.
Publicity Manager: Mary Riek
Mary Riek is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. She has massive experience and expertise in community service….
Publicity Officer: Ilhan Jama
Ilhan Jama is an African Australian from Eritrean Community. She has massive experience in community service….
Photography & Videography: Hussen Muhamed
Hussen Muhamed is an African Australian from Eritrean Community. He has massive experience and expertise in community service. He is a journalist…….
Co-opted Member: Nyok Gor
Nyok Gor is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. He has vast experience and expertise in community service. He is the current President for African Australian Communities Leadership Forum (AACLF)……….
Co-opted Executive Member: Deng Kor
Deng Kor is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. He has massive experience and expertise in community service…….
Co-opted Executive Member: Rev Tut
Rev Tut is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. He has vast experience and expertise in community service……..
Co-opted Executice Member: David Tut Kuiy
David Tut Kuiy is an African Australian from South Sudanese Community. He has massive experience in community service……….
(More info coming soon…)