Refugee Alternatives Conference 2018 | Refugee Council of Australia | 13 February 2018 | University of Melbourne, Building 148, Royal Parade Parkville, Melbourne, VIC3052 Australia

The Refugee Council of Australia’s Refugee Alternatives Conference 2018, co-hosted by the University of Melbourne, is a two-day event focusing on improving policy, practice and public support for refugee and asylum seeker issues.

The event brings together a broad range of expertise covering topics of displacement; protection; cooperation; wellbeing; resilience; education; advocacy; and unity. The speakers will discuss these topics across the local, national and international space and bring their extensive and complimentary expertise to the discussions, notably and vitally, that of lived experience.

2018 Speakers:

Abiola Ajetomobi
Director, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Innovation Hub

Amir Taghinia
Human rights activist, writer and is currently studying law at college

Apajok Biar
Youth advisor, Multicultural NSW

Arash Bordbar
Bachelor of Engineering Honour at the University of Western Sydney

Aung Soe Naing, Habiburahman
Founder and spokesperson, Australian Burmese Rohingya Organization (ABRO)

Carolina Gottardo
Director, Jesuit Refugee Service, Australia

David Manne
Human rights lawyer and Executive Director, Refugee Legal

Davina Wadley
Coordinator, Statelessness Network Asia Pacific (SNAP)

Deena Yako
Refugee advocate

Deepa Nambiar
Founding Director, Asylum Access Malaysia (AAM)

Doug Cronin
Founder and Director, Our Race

Dung Tran
Assistant Director of the Multicultural Training Team, Multicultural Services Branch of the Department of Human Services

Elisha Riggs
Senior Research Fellow and co-leader, Refugee and Migrant Research Program

Erika Feller
Assistant High Commissioner

Esther Nima Sung
Interpreter, International Rescue Committee(IRC)

Fadak Alfayadh
Director of Advocacy, RISE

Glen Bates
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Engagement, Swinburne University

Greg Hanson
Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist

Jana Favero
Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)

John Roc
Organisational Board Member of the Refugee Council Australia and a member, RCAN

Khalid Hussain
Founder and Chief Executive, Council of Minorities

Linda Cusworth
Member, Australian Refugee Action Network National Committee

Louise Olliff
Senior Advisor – International and Community Engagement, Refugee Council of Australia

Mahammed Junite
Bachelor of Civil Engineering, majoring in Structural Engineering.

Marama Kufi
Community Development Worker

Mariam Issa
Co-founder, RAW (Resilient Aspiring Women)

Mathew Kirwan
Councillor, City of Greater Dandenong

Mehdi Vakili
Bi-cultural worker, Primary Care Connect in Shepparton

Michelle Foster
Professor, Director, International Refugee Law Research Program

Miriam Pellicano
Executive Manager, House of Welcome (HOW)

Muhammad Majid
Afghan refugee

Muzafar Ali
Former refugee from Afghanistan

Najeeba Wazefadost
CEO, Hazara Women

Neil Barber
National Vice President, Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA)

Olivia McMillan
Associate, Russell Kennedy’s Pro Bono Practice

Om Dhungel
Consultant and Practitioner, Strength-Based Approach

Osama Salem
Refugee protection and a humanitarian worker

Paul Power
Chief Executive Officer, Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA)

Phil Glendenning
Director, Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education

Sally Morgan
Teacher and Project Officer, St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre

Sarvenaz Almasi
Co founder, Kurdistan Patriotic Association of Victoria

Shabnam Safa
Black belter, Karate

Shaun Nemorin
Team Leader, School Liaison Program

Stephanie Adam
Fairfield City Settlement Action Plan (FCSAP)

Stephi Hemelryk Donald
distinguished professor of film, University of Lincoln

Susan Alfayadh

Tim O’Connor
Communications Director, Refugee Council of Australia

Tina Dixson
LGBTIQ

Yarrie Bangoura
Special Youth Representative, Australia for UNHCR

Yiombi Thona
Chair, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN)

2018 Sponsors:

PRINCIPAL:
• The University of Melbourne
• CBP Foundation
• Vivcourt

SPONSORS:
• Centre for Human Rights Education, Curtin University
• Australian Red Cross

PARNER:
• Spectrum

FRIENDS:
• Australian Migrant Resiource Centre
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Jesuit Social Services