FECCA is governed by a dedicated and elected voluntary Executive Council and supported by a professional national secretariat.

FECCA Executive Committee

Chair

Mr Pino Migliorino

Pino has over 30 years involvement with and expertise in immigration and multicultural community affairs, including welfare, the arts and the Italian community.

Professionally, Pino leads Cultural Perspectives and CIRCA Research and is a recognised expert in researching and communicating with diverse cultural and linguistic audiences.

Senior Deputy Chair

Ms Eugenia Grammatikakis

Eugenia has over twenty five years experience in the ethnic and multicultural field both at the Community and Commonwealth and Local Government levels.

Eugenia currently holds a professional position as Coordinator Social Policy with Monash City Council.

Senior Deputy Chair

Dr Sundram Sivamalai

Sundram has an extensive background and qualifications in education, science, health, and administration, and program evaluation.

Sundram is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine & Dentistry at James Cook University in Townsville (Queensland) and Adjunct Professor at Manipal University, India.

Hon Secretary

Mr Sam Afra JP

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Sam stems from successful generations of traders.

After secondary college Sam studied Law and Banking, his executive banking career finished in 1984 when he migrated to Australia to escape the war in Lebanon.

Currently he is the Dandenong Electorate Office Manager.

Hon Treasurer

Ms Helen Sara

Helen has a background in Education and has been involved in Ethnic Affairs for over 20 years. She has been an advocate for CALD communities, particularly in education and equal opportunity. Helen has held executive positions with the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra.

She is currently a senior English teacher at St Joseph's Catholic High School.

Women's Chair

Ms Maria Saraceni

Maria is an Australian born-lawyer born of Italian immigrant parents. Her initial career as a secondary school language teacher has meant that she has continued her childhood passion for languages and for assisting those who have migrated to call Australia home.

Maria is an Australian born-lawyer born of Italian immigrant parents. Her initial career as a secondary school language teacher has meant that she has continued her childhood passion for languages and for assisting those who have migrated to call Australia home.

Apart from her career, Maria is an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University Law School and the current Chair of the Womens Advisory Council of WA.

Regional Chair

Mr Ken Habak OAM

Ken has long been involved in multicultural community affairs and has extensive experience in advocating for the needs of CALD communities in regional, rural and remote areas. He is actively involved in the Australian Lebanese Community and holds several prominent positions in this community.

Since 2002, Ken has been the Chairperson of the Multicultural Communities’ Council of Illawarra.

Young FECCA Chair

Ms Tina Hosseini

Tina is a passionate campaigner for multiculturalism and human rights. Tina is involved in various youth committees, is currently a senior member of the Ethnic Youth Council, which is a group of young individuals advocating for the needs of migrant and refugee youth.

Tina is currently completing a Bachelor of Science at the University Of Melbourne, majoring in Human Physiology.

Disabilities Chair

Mr Christian Astourian

Christian is a strong advocate for the rights and welfare of ethnic people with a disability. Over the years he has held various positions on government and non-government community sector boards and committee.

Currently, Christian co-ordinates a self-advocacy program for ethnic people with a disability called Diversity and Disability through the Migrant Resource Centre in St Albans.

Hon President

Ms Voula Messimeri AM

Voula has been involved in the community services field for over twenty five years and has particular experience and expertise in multicultural affairs and women's issues.

Professionally, she is currently the Executive Director of Australian Greek Welfare Society (AGWS).

New and Emerging Communities Chair

Parsuram Sharma-Luital JP

Parsuram Sharma-Luital JP is a former refugee from Bhutan who arrived in Australia in 2002.

On behalf of the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) Parsuram has represented Australian refugee communities and in 2011 attended the UNHCR Standing Committee meeting and NGO Consultations in Geneva.

Parsuram currently works at AMES as a project coordinator and volunteers as a community leader in Bhutanese and Nepalese communities. He is also the joint secretary for the ECCV during the period 2011-2013.

President ACT Multicultural Council Incorporated

Mr David Ng JP

Since 1989 David has participated and supported multicultural community activities. He is involved in numerous national and territory based organisations and associations that support both the welfare of the Chinese community but also the wider multicultural community.

David has over 35 years of experience and expertise in finance and property investment and is currently Chairman of Managing Director of Jularon Pty Ltd (Trust investments group) and Jungfer Pty Ltd (Property investment and management).

Chairperson Ethnic Communities’ Council Qld

Ms Agnes Whiten OAM

Agnes is a metallurgical engineer by profession but has devoted her time, while bringing up her two sons, to community work. Agnes has been involved in both federal and state advocacy and holds expertise in ethnicity health, women’s issues and multicultural affairs.

Agnes is currently Chairperson of the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, which provides both advocacy and service provision to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

President Multicultural Communities’ Council of South Australia

Mr Ron Tan OAM

Ron has long been involved in multicultural and ethnic affairs. He is particularly committed and has interest in ensuring equitable representation of culturally and linguistically diverse CALD persons on government boards and committees.

Currently, Ron works with different CALD communities and groups in South Australia in his role as President of MCCSA.

Chair Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW

Mr Emanuel Valageorgiou

Emanuel has extensive experience in multicultural issues and has particular interest in areas such as sport and youth affairs.

Professionally, Emanuel is a Business Integration Leader at TransGrid and Secretary of the Canterbury Multicultural Aged & Disability Support Services since 2005.

Chairperson Multicultural Council of Tasmania Inc

Ms Tiiu Rääbus

Tiiu comes from a background of extensive voluntary experience in youth work, particularly with older teenagers. Tiiu is also an active member of the Estonian Association of Tasmania.

Currently, Tiiu works with a diversity of CALD communities and groups in Tasmania in her role as Chairperson of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania Inc.

Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory

Mr George Jerue

Image and bio pending

Chairperson Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria

Joseph Caputo JP

Image and bio pending

FECCA Staff

FECCA CEO

Dr Loucas Nicolaou

Loucas' capabilities and experience reflect a combination of community, government and private sector perspectives. These capabilities have been consolidated through his employment in senior roles during the last 33 years, including considerable Australian Public Service experience (having worked for over 22 years in seven different Commonwealth departments), and significant work in the community, academic and private sectors. In addition, Loucas was involved with FECCA in the 1980s both as a volunteer and an employee.

Loucas has held leadership positions in a number of different areas, including youth, women, retired people, Indigenous peoples, Australians in remote areas, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

Policy & Project Officer

Ms Victoria Erlichster

Victoria has a background in law and media and communications, graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2009. While at university she volunteered in the community legal space in a communications capacity and undertook placements with organisations committed to offering community support and education. She is passionate about access to justice, community education and the promotion of human rights.

Policy Officer

Ms Hannah Terry-Whyte

Hannah comes from a social research and teaching background, and has long been dedicated to highlighting and addressing issues of social inequality.

She is passionate about the power of discourse, language, and knowledge in achieving and enabling social cohesion and the empowerment of individuals.

Policy Officer

Ms Jenni Gough

Jenni has a background in gender, sexuality and cultural studies and is passionate about working towards equality and social justice.

She has previously worked in the community sector in women’s health advocacy and arts administration and teaching.