A national conversation on connection, identity and the future of social cohesion
Australia’s social fabric is shaped every day through language, policy, leadership and lived experience. At a time of increasing complexity, uncertainty and change, the question of how we build and sustain social cohesion has never been more urgent.
Communities in Action: Leading Between the Lines is a national forum bringing together community leaders, researchers, policymakers and practitioners for a full day of deep dialogue, shared responsibility and collective leadership. Presented by Polaron Connect in partnership with the Australian National University Centre for European Studies, this event creates space for meaningful engagement across sectors and communities at a pivotal moment for Australia.
Delivered in collaboration with NAATI, the Australian Baha’i Community, the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute and the Settlement Council of Australia, Communities in Action is designed to move beyond surface‑level agreement and into the real, nuanced work of connection, belonging and leadership.
Why this conversation matters now
As Australia prepares for the forthcoming Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, there is a critical opportunity to ensure that multicultural perspectives, lived experience and community leadership shape what comes next.
Communities in Action responds to this moment by creating space not only to reflect on where we are, but to actively contribute to the national conversation on cohesion, identity and responsibility. Insights gathered across the day will be consolidated into a formal impact report and submitted to the Royal Commission, ensuring that community voices inform future directions, policy thinking and public discourse.
This forum recognises that social cohesion is not static. It is built, tested and reshaped over time through trust, participation, power and leadership. Strengthening it requires honesty, care and the willingness to listen across difference.
Contribution to the Royal Commission
We are preparing an impact report informed by Communities in Action: Leading Between the Lines, which will be submitted to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
- If you attended the event and did not have the opportunity to share all of your reflections on the day, or if additional perspectives have emerged since, you are welcome to submit a response through this form.
- If you would like your name to be included as part of Polaron Connect’s submission to the Royal Commission, you can indicate your interest and consent by submitting this form.
- If you shared reflections during the event but do not wish for your name to be included in the final report, please let us know here so we can honour your preference.
By submitting a message, you consent to your contribution being considered as part of Polaron Connect’s submission.
Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important process.
Before You Say Yes: A Checklist for Community Organisations
Before You Say Yes: A Checklist for Community Organisations is a practical reflective tool designed to support community leaders and organisations when considering requests to engage with external initiatives, consultations or partnerships.
Too often, communities are asked to participate without clear purpose, fair compensation or adequate safeguards. This checklist invites leaders to pause, reflect and make intentional choices before committing their time, expertise or lived experience.
Request The Checklist Here
Agenda
Session 1:
Australian National University
Marie Reay Teaching Centre (Building 155), Level 2
155 University Ave, Kambri Precinct, Acton ACT 2601
Session 2:
Australian National University
Auditorium, ANU Research School of Social Sciences
146 Ellery Crescent, Acton, ACT 2601
Meet our Speakers
Eva Hussain
Founder and Director, Polaron Connect
Eva Hussain is the Founder and Director of Polaron Connect, a nationally recognised organisation working at the intersection of multicultural engagement, leadership and inclusive communication. With extensive experience across community engagement, policy, and systems change, Eva has led complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives designed to strengthen participation, trust and social cohesion.
Her work focuses on creating spaces where lived experience, research and leadership meet, ensuring multicultural communities are meaningfully included in decision‑making processes that shape public life. Eva brings a strong commitment to ethical leadership, dialogue across difference, and practical tools that support communities to navigate power, responsibility and influence with clarity.
Anastasia Rose Le
Dr Katarzyna (Kasia) Williams
Deputy Director, ANU Centre for European Studies
Dr Katarzyna (Kasia) Williams is Deputy Director at the Centre for European Studies at The Australian National University. Her research focuses on migrant cultures, diaspora and the transfer of memory between generations and communities, with a strong interest in how identity, belonging and history shape contemporary social landscapes.
Kasia is the lead of the international project supporting Communities in Action, the Centre of Excellence on Intersectional Leadership, co‑funded by the European Union. She also serves as President of the ACT Bilingual Education Alliance, advocating for multilingualism and inclusive education as foundations for social cohesion.
Maria Dimopoulos
Chief Executive Officer, Settlement Council of Australia
Maria Dimopoulos is the Chief Executive Officer of the Settlement Council of Australia, the national peak body representing settlement services and advocating for policies that support migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants.
With decades of experience across policy, advocacy and sector leadership, Maria has contributed to significant national conversations on multiculturalism, migration and inclusion. Her work centres on strengthening equitable systems, amplifying community voices and supporting service frameworks that respond to the lived realities of diverse communities.
Dr Andrew Jakubowicz
Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Technology Sydney
Dr Andrew Jakubowicz is an Emeritus Professor of Sociology and one of Australia’s most influential thinkers on multiculturalism, migration and social policy. His involvement in migrant settlement dates back to the 1970s, when he worked alongside Al Grassby on the NSW Migrant Task Force and helped shape the foundations of Migrant Resource Centres in Australia.
Andrew has served as a Board Member of SBS, a member of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, and is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of NSW and the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. He publishes the influential website Making Multicultural Australia in the 21st Century and is a regular contributor to The Conversation, where his writing has reached over half a million readers.
His advisory work includes contributions to the Multicultural Framework Review, the Disability Royal Commission, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and the Commonwealth Vaccine Task Force on Cultural and Linguistic Diversity. His scholarship and policy work continue to shape national thinking on equity, inclusion and multicultural futures.
Vanessa Brettell
Co‑founder and CEO, Stepping Stone
Vanessa Brettell is a social entrepreneur and climate advocate passionate about creating pathways to opportunity for women, refugees and Indigenous communities. She is the Founding CEO of Café Stepping Stone, a work‑integration social enterprise that provides employment, training and support for migrant women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Stepping Stone currently employs over 50 women across its cafés, catering business and urban farm, many of whom had never worked in Australia and face multiple barriers to employment. Vanessa’s leadership combines social innovation, environmental sustainability and compassion, redefining what inclusive community leadership can look like in practice.
Anthea Hancocks
Chief Executive Officer, Scanlon Foundation Research Institute
Anthea Hancocks is the Chief Executive Officer of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, bringing extensive experience across strategic planning, communications, education, business development and community service.
Her leadership spans senior roles across private, ASX‑listed, government, academic and not‑for‑profit organisations. Anthea is a Fellow of Monash University and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Her work centres on evidence‑based approaches to social cohesion, public understanding and national research on belonging in Australia.
Breandax Lim
Senior Project Officer for Multicultural Community Health, Health Equity Matters
Breandax Lim is a second‑generation Australian migrant and descendant of the Baba–Nyonya. Their personal journey to reclaim ancestral heritage has shaped a deep curiosity about culture, connection and shared humanity.
As a community facilitator, artist, producer and health equity advocate, Breandax works at the intersection of multicultural and LGBTQ+ health, system reform and creative practice. They currently lead multicultural community health projects at Health Equity Matters, co‑chair the Australian Multicultural HIV and Community Health Alliance, contribute as an editorial producer for HIV Australia, and facilitate ConversAsians forums and health promotion workshops.
Jana Ventura
Culturally Responsive Health Lead, True Relationships and Reproductive Health
Jana Ventura is the Culturally Responsive Health Lead at True Relationships and Reproductive Health. A Filipina‑Australian woman, Jana is an experienced Bicultural Peer Researcher whose work centres on multicultural health and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
She has contributed to multiple research projects across academic and community settings, including work with young Samoan mothers and initiatives exploring sexual health literacy among migrant and refugee communities. Jana is committed to culturally responsive healthcare, community‑led knowledge and mentoring emerging leaders to drive meaningful change.
Aleem Ali
Chief Executive Officer, Welcoming Australia
Aleem Ali has spent more than two decades seeding and mentoring initiatives that advance inclusion, belonging and justice for diverse communities. He is CEO of Welcoming Australia and Deputy Chair of Oxfam Australia, working with leaders and organisations nationally to cultivate cultures of welcome.
Aleem is also a mentor and advisor to startups, community enterprises and government agencies, supporting systems change that enables communities to thrive. His leadership is grounded in collaboration, ethical practice and long‑term social transformation.
Aunty Violet Sheridan
Ngunnawal Elder
Aunty Violet Sheridan is a pillar of the community in Canberra and the region. She is a passionate Ngunnawal Elder who shares her cultural knowledge and expertise with the entire community. She generously donates her time at events, schools, and for a broad range of organisations – in a bid to bring all Australians together.
Tendayi Ganga
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Born To Shine
2026 Canberra Citizen of the Year
Tendayi Ganga is a global beacon of empowerment, purpose and resilience. A keynote speaker, pastor, author and community advocate, she is the Founder and CEO of Born To Shine, an award‑winning organisation dedicated to empowering women and girls to rise above adversity and embrace their identity.
Her work spans domestic violence prevention, mental health awareness, parenting, faith and financial empowerment. Tendayi has received national and international recognition, including the 2025 Zimbabwe Achievers Global Award and being named a finalist for ACT Woman of the Year. Rooted in lived experience, her leadership inspires hope, healing and community connection.
Sashka Koloff
Managing Editor, Standards & Compliance, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Sashka Koloff is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career spans more than 20 years across documentaries, news and current affairs. Her work examines media standards, language, trust, and the role of media in shaping national conversations.
Dr Sana Ashraf
Anthropologist and Published Author, Specialising in Religiously Motivated Violence
Dr Sana Ashraf is an anthropologist and published author specialising in religiously motivated violence and its impact on communities and institutions. Her work explores how belief systems shape conflict, identity and social dynamics.
Drawing on academic research and applied policy experience, Sana brings a nuanced, evidence‑based perspective to conversations on social cohesion within diverse, multicultural societies.
Leigh Cox
Manager, Sector Development, NAATI
Leigh Cox is a secondee at the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), where he led the implementation of the Language Service Provider Endorsement Model. Previously, Leigh served as Director of the Language Services Policy Section at the Department of Home Affairs.
With over 15 years’ experience in multicultural, humanitarian and social policy, his work has played a formative role in strengthening language services and access across Australia.
Nika Sinai
Director, Office of External Affairs, Australian Baha’i Community
Nika Sinai contributes to national conversations on social cohesion, environmental sustainability, gender equality and the role of youth in society. With more than twenty years’ experience across government, education and community development, she works at the intersection of policy, public discourse and community‑building.
Born in Zimbabwe to Iranian (Persian‑Azeri) parents and raised in Australia, Nika’s multicultural lived experience underpins her commitment to inclusive, unified communities. She holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Southern Queensland.
Dominik Grossalber
Deputy Head of Mission, Austrian Embassy Canberra
Dominik Grossalber is an Austrian diplomat with broad global experience across humanitarian aid, security policy and European Union foreign affairs. He currently serves as Deputy Head of Mission in Canberra and brings an international perspective shaped by postings including Kyiv.
Qin Qin
Author: Model Minority Gone Rogue: A Memoir
Qin Qin is an acclaimed author and speaker who embraces the power of storytelling to heal and unite. Her memoir Model Minority Gone Rogue was shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year and the ACT Book of the Year Award in 2025.
Named one of the 40 Under 40: Most Influential Asian Australians in 2020, Qin Qin’s work explores identity, belonging and the personal cost of social expectations. Her mission is to live consciously and contribute to a more peaceful, sustainable world.
Priyanka Rai
Executive Director, Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative
Priyanka Rai has spent over a decade advancing health equity for multicultural communities through national advocacy, program leadership and systems‑level reform. As Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative, she leads national strategies to address systemic racism, shape federal policy and elevate multicultural voices.
Her previous work spans chronic disease care in low‑resource settings, policy reform across India and African countries, and evidence‑based advocacy improving outcomes for under‑represented communities.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Communities in Action and to those who have continued the conversation beyond the room. The reflections, questions and perspectives shared through this process are not incidental, they are essential. These are complex conversations, and they matter deeply to the social fabric Australia is building now and into the future.
We are grateful for the trust placed in this process and for the generosity of thought offered at every stage. We look forward to continuing this work together and to creating more spaces where what matters most is held with integrity and intention.
If you have any enquiries, questions, or would like to connect with us further, please contact
Mehri Vijdani at mehri.v@polaron.org.