Experience

WorkVentures

• Australia
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director, Technology Solutions & Social Impact

  • Aug 2021 - Present

  WorkVentures is Australia’s leading IT social enterprise with over 40 years’ experience in the innovative application of technology to drive social outcomes. I lead the Technology Solutions portfolio which focuses on initiatives that improve the digital divide. Talk to me about: • Developing tailored packages to support digital access, literacy and e-safety in underserved communities. • Affordable Cyber Security support for non-profit organisations. • Providing pathways for people from diverse backgrounds into cyber security careers. • Donating your company owned end of life technology to reach your ESG targets.



Refugee Council of Australia

• Australia
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Observer

  • Feb 2023 - Present

  The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is the national peak body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them. RCOA speaks up for flexible, humane and practical policies towards refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons, within Australia and internationally. The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is the national peak body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them. RCOA speaks up for flexible, humane and practical policies towards refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons, within Australia and internationally.



Catalysr - Accelerator for Migrants & Refugees

• Australia
• Information Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder, Non Executive Director

  • Sep 2018 - Present

  Catalysr is an award winning startup accelerator unlocking the potential in migrant and refugee entrepreneurs. To-date we have supported over 500 entrepreneurs to launch over 150 businesses across ANZ. I co-founded Catalysr and was its inaugural CEO, leading the venture through its first 2.5 years before transitioning to the board. Nowadays I provide governance to the organisation while helping with strategic projects including company strategy, financial management, systems design, expansion, key hires, and investment due diligence.



INCO

• France
• Environmental Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Country Manager

  • Dec 2019 - Jul 2021

  INCO Academy is a global training academy breaking down barriers to digital jobs. As the Australian founder, I had full responsibility for the launch and growth of the local subsidiary. In under two years, we trained 750 students nationally across three training streams: general tech, web development and digital marketing, achieving an 80% graduation rate in the heights of the pandemic. 90% of graduates continued on to employment or further education. INCO Academy is a global training academy breaking down barriers to digital jobs. As the Australian founder, I had full responsibility for the launch and growth of the local subsidiary. In under two years, we trained 750 students nationally across three training streams: general tech, web development and digital marketing, achieving an 80% graduation rate in the heights of the pandemic. 90% of graduates continued on to employment or further education.



Impact Venture Advisory

• Entrepreneur In Residence

  • Jan 2018 - Dec 2019

  Fast-tracking the launch and growth of impact startups by acting as a thought partner, mentor and coach to founders across multiple accelerator programs. • Catalysr - Migrant & Refugee led startups - 2019 • Remarkable Tech - Disability focused technology - 2019 • UTS Startups - Impact Ventures - 2018 Providing expertise on a range of topics including strategy, customer development, sales, operations, finance, product, and design thinking. Fast-tracking the launch and growth of impact startups by acting as a thought partner, mentor and coach to founders across multiple accelerator programs. • Catalysr - Migrant & Refugee led startups - 2019 • Remarkable Tech - Disability focused technology - 2019 • UTS Startups - Impact Ventures - 2018 Providing expertise on a range of topics including strategy, customer development, sales, operations, finance, product, and design thinking.



Masterly

• Australia
• Education Administration Programs

• Co-Founder, Head of Marketing & Product

  • Dec 2018 - Nov 2019

  Masterly is a new, user-centred approach to learning the skills of tomorrow. Grounded in the hypothesis that habit forming technology could be used to promote continuous learning, I led a team through product development process and ultimately launched a live streaming product focused on 21st century skills education. I worked under the guidance of Riley Batchelor, founder of General Assembly APAC and VP @ 2U education. Masterly is a new, user-centred approach to learning the skills of tomorrow. Grounded in the hypothesis that habit forming technology could be used to promote continuous learning, I led a team through product development process and ultimately launched a live streaming product focused on 21st century skills education. I worked under the guidance of Riley Batchelor, founder of General Assembly APAC and VP @ 2U education.



Catalysr - Accelerator for Migrants & Refugees

• Australia
• Information Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-founder & CEO

  • Mar 2016 - Jul 2018

  Catalysr is an award winning startup accelerator unlocking the potential in migrant and refugee entrepreneurs. I co-founded Catalysr with Usman Iftikhar and led the organisation through it's first 2.5 years. In that time we developed multiple iterations of our accelerator programme, raised capital from the likes of Atlassian Co-CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes, supported over 60 startups and built an ecosystem of over 1,000 successful founders, investors and domain experts. www.catalysr.com.au



Yunus Centre

• Bangladesh
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Social Ventures Immersion

  • Jan 2016 - Jan 2016

  The Yunus Centre is the Global Headquarters for Nobel Laureate and father of Microfinance Professor Muhammad Yunus. During my time there, I was exposed to social business/social enterprise models and best practices in areas including education, microfinance, water sanitation, solar panels and nutrition. It was here that I realised it was possible to forge a career out of making a positive impact. The Yunus Centre is the Global Headquarters for Nobel Laureate and father of Microfinance Professor Muhammad Yunus. During my time there, I was exposed to social business/social enterprise models and best practices in areas including education, microfinance, water sanitation, solar panels and nutrition. It was here that I realised it was possible to forge a career out of making a positive impact.



180 Degrees Consulting

• Australia
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Co-Founder & Co-President

  • Jan 2015 - Dec 2015

  180 Degrees Consulting is the worlds largest NFP Management Consultancy. I built the winning proposal to open a branch of 180 Degrees at my university in Western Sydney. In my time with the organisation, I recruited an executive team, 10 consultants and our first 2 clients before overseeing the first consulting cycle with Headspace and a Refugee Driving School. 180 Degrees Consulting is the worlds largest NFP Management Consultancy. I built the winning proposal to open a branch of 180 Degrees at my university in Western Sydney. In my time with the organisation, I recruited an executive team, 10 consultants and our first 2 clients before overseeing the first consulting cycle with Headspace and a Refugee Driving School.



Walker Wayland Australasia Limited

• Australia
• Accounting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Business Services Accountant

  • Oct 2014 - Aug 2015

  Walker Wayland is an international professional services firm. I provided financial and tax services to clients with up to $20M in turnover. In my time there I learned to be commercially-minded, efficient and process driven. Walker Wayland is an international professional services firm. I provided financial and tax services to clients with up to $20M in turnover. In my time there I learned to be commercially-minded, efficient and process driven.



Pears Chartered Accountants

• Australia
• Accounting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Accountant

  • Nov 2012 - Oct 2014

  Pears is a family operated professional services firm. This was my first professional job, for which I provided financial and tax services to clients with up to $2M in turnover. I also spent one day a week working on innovation, and in that time I introduced a new service line, optimised tax return processes and built tools for clients using excel macros. Pears is a family operated professional services firm. This was my first professional job, for which I provided financial and tax services to clients with up to $2M in turnover. I also spent one day a week working on innovation, and in that time I introduced a new service line, optimised tax return processes and built tools for clients using excel macros.