1. Dr Santino Atem Deng
Dr. Santino Atem Deng is the founder and CEO of African-Australian Family and Parenting Support Services (AFPSS). Dr Santino Atem Deng is an experienced counsellor, educator/trainer and researcher with over 15 years of work in education, mental health, family and parenting, and relationship counselling. His PhD was in the areas of psychology, education, sociology and migration studies in which he investigated changes within South Sudanese family dynamics and parenting practices in Australia. Dr Santino lives in Tarneit with his wife and three daughters. Dr Santino from a South Sudanese background.
2. Barry Moustapha
Moustapha Barry is an engineer, originally from Senegal, in West Africa and is now living with his family in Point Cook. Moustapha is currently working with NBN as a senior Manager in charge of analytics and activations performance across all States in Australia. Moustapha has been working in the Telecom industry in Australia for over 23 years. He moved to Melbourne 7 years ago and has been involved in various community initiatives, driven by his passion to make a difference in the society, be an ambassador for the African continent and help others to achieve their best. In 2006, Moustapha decided to run for Wyndham City Council elections as a challenge to himself and as a way of proving to Africans-Australians and other minorities that it is important to get involved and bring positive answers and contributions to the issues facing the wider Wyndham Community. Moustapha believes that African-Australians and all other minorities have a duty to make their local community and the rest of Australia better places to be, by making positive contributions in different areas of community life. Barry believes that in order to achieve the above, new platforms that give opportunities to reach out to others through inclusive actions and activities. Moustapha supports WACN as one such platform that can help not just African communities, but the broader Wyndham community.
3. Summayyah Sadiq-Ojibara
Summayyah Saiq-Ojibara is a Psychotherapist, Counselor, Life Coach, Mentor, Writer, Poet, Speaker, Social Entrepreneur, Community Worker, Creative Consultant, Producer and Director. Summayyah is a very dynamic member of the community, she is the CEO and Managing Director of ComXtra Knowledge Concepts, a consultancy that delivers Counselling, Coaching, Community and Creative Services. She is also the founder and CEO of Fitrah, a non-for-profit organisation in Victoria that helps people find connection and meaning in their life. Summayyah has worked and continues to work with various agencies and organisations both locally in Wyndham and across victoria and continues to serve in different roles and capacities in the community. Summayyah is from a Nigerian background and lives with her family in Hoppers Crossing.
4. Dr William Abur
Dr William Abur is a lecturer in social studies at Deakin University. He has worked in community service sector as a social worker in various roles, including in mental health, student wellbeing, settlement, cultural and diversity positions for over 15 years. Dr Abur completed his PhD thesis “Settlement Strategies for the South Sudanese Community in Melbourne: An Analysis of Employment and Sport Participation” at Victoria University in Melbourne. He has published many academic papers and articles in various media platforms. His research interests is the areas of social work practices, wellbeing for young people and families, racism and discrimination, trauma and resilience, refugee settlement and well-being and migrant’s participation in employment and sport. Dr William Abur is from a South Sudanese background.
5. Frank Newah- Jarfoi
Frank Newah- Jarfoi has more than ten years working experience with young people especially those from
an African heritage. He moved from regional NSW to Melbourne two years ago and now works with Melton City Council as an Engagement and Activation Officer. Frank has extensive experience in working with communities in various roles. He is also the founder and director of the Sinava Youth Consultancy and Training (SYCAT). Frank has been and remains involved in many organisations to help make a difference in the community. Some of his previous involvement includes:
Ambassador and committee member for White Ribbon Foundation, Former Community Ambassador AFL NSW/ACT,
Former council member – NSW Multicultural Regional Advisory Council and Former Secretary General Wagga African Association (WAFRICA), a position he held for six years. Frank has a passion in community development and in working with young people to make sure they realise their full potentials and contribute positively in the communities in which they live. Frank Newah-Jarfoi is from a Sierra Leonean background.
6. Clyde Salumu Sharady
Clyde Sharady is the convenor of Wyndham African Communities’ Network. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sharady is a journalist and a business owner. He is the CEO of Africa Media Australia, chair of African Professionals of Australia (APA) Victoria Inc. and a founding member and former president of the DRC Community Association of Victoria Inc. Sharady has been involved in various community initiatives in Melbourne for over 20 years and has been a staunch advocate of African-Australian communities, with a focus on promoting a more positive image of the African person in Australian media. Sharady is passionate about making a difference in the community and believes that the welfare and advancement of African-Australian communities in the future depends on how these communities can learn not just to collaborate in addressing issues of common interests, but also reach out to and partner with other more settled multicultural communities. Sharady organised the widely acclaimed inaugural Wyndham India-Africa Festival in 2018 in partnership with Forum for Indian-Australians. Sharady lives in Tarneit with his wife and two boys.