Shireen Malamoo – Honorary Patron
 
Shireen’s forty-year career experience is invaluable as a founding board member and driving force behind the ASSI.PJ political perspectives. Shireen’s expertise cover as a former board member for Justice Health, AHMRC – Ethics Committee and The Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation.

In the 1970s Shireen worked for the Department of Social Security in Townsville, Queensland and her involvement with the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care included membership of the Finance Committee. Shireen was a Commissioner of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) from 1991 to 1993 and sat on the NSW Parole Board for 9 years (1994 – 2003).

Shireen has extensive experience in the management of non-government services for the Aboriginal community including the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Media Association and the Aboriginal Medical Service in Townsville and AMS Redfern board. 2009-2012 saw her sit on the First Nations advisory panel to the City of Sydney introducing the word ‘Invasion’ to the preamble of Sydney City.

As our first celebrated jazz artist Shireen has performed with The Pacific Main Stream jazz band, internationally acclaimed Johnny Nicol and the New York Jazz Qt Mimi Jones – Camille Thurman.

Shiren’s portrait hangs in the Australian Museum, Old Parliament House and she has been the subject of three Archibald prize nominations (2016,2017,2018). As an Aboriginal/Kanak artist Shireen’s work is influenced by her involvement in Black affairs on a global scale.

Awarded: 2016 NSW Council for Pacific Communities ‘Overall Outstanding’ and ‘Education’ Awards

(Waskam) Emelda Davis – Chairwomen (MA candidate)

Emelda is a founding member of ASSIPJ having extensive expertise in Community development and Media from a career in working with grassroots focused Indigenous / ASSI organisation’s for Federal and State government agencies. Emelda has implemented first time initiatives such as the five Wantok national workshops (2012-2015) the widely consulted Gilbert and Tobin Lawfirm drafting and adoption of the ASSI National Association constitution (2015), NSW Parliament recognition (2013), inaugural ‘Findem Baek Famili’ Solomon Islands/Vanuatu (2014) and the NSW Youth B.L.A.C.K workshops (2016). Emelda played a key role as a board member in setting up Indigenous organisation The Lillian Crombie Foundation (TLC 2015-2017).

Guest speaker roles have seen Emelda engaged across the state, national and international communities, education and government platforms to share historical and contemporary ASSI local knowledge and political history with communities in the French Caribbean, London, Jamaica (skype), Mauritius, QLD, NSW, SA, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Emelda has been a face and guest speaker of ActionAid Australia’s 2017 International Humanitarian Day ‘She is the real hero’ march and ‘Keep NSW Safe’ campaign.

Nominated: Sydney Peace Prize (2018) and ASSIPJ organisation was nominated for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Award (2018).

Awarded: Rotary Inspirational Women of the Year Award (2017), NSW Women of the Year – Sydney CBD (2016) for her work in procuring significant resources for cyclone relief to Vanuatu and Fiji as well as the continued advocacy work, and NSW Council for Pacific Communities Award (2015) – ‘Community Events’ and ‘Stronger Families’ categories.

Danny Togo – Vice Chair

As Vice President Danny is a dedicated team member with a strong commitment to community development and empowerment for our youth. From a national perspective Danny has played an instrumental role in the development and delivery of Wantok from 2012-2015. Danny is a delegate on the round table for the National Australian South Sea Islanders Association (NASSIA) nominated in Tweed Heads.

Through telling the ourstory of his ‘Tuku’ family history he hopes one day Australia as a whole will embrace it’s blackbirding history. Danny’s skill base comes from years spent as company and logistics manager for a high ranking recycling firm. He says: “Our reconnection with heritage, culture and history injects stability into our communities leaving a lasting legacy.”

Shola Diop – Treasurer (BA, DipFS)

Shola is gainfully employed with a global leading bank while applying for an MBA in finance at a University in London. As a founding member of ASSIPJ Shola has demonstrated a high level of commitment and working behind the scenes administratively in advocating for his community and applying good governance business practice.

A former Division 1 University Basketball scholarship recipient for Winthrop University SC, USA, Shola has carved a fine career in realising his potential at a young age. Impact Investment will be a key focus of Shola’s ongoing strategic planning in support of marginalised community groups.

Awarded: The Vernon Wade Terry Award – Winthrop University Div:1 USA (2013), Lifetime member of Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honour Society (2013), Deans Honour List – Winthrop University Div:1 USA (2013)

Zachary Wone – Deputy Vice Chair (LLB candidate)

Zac’s young career has seen him in a number of assistant coordinator and shared leadership roles with the Voice Australia’s 2011 Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, Faendem Baek Famili workshop in Honiara, Solomon Islands (2014), ASSI Recognition Day events (2015,2016,2017) and B.L.A.C.K workshops in Western Sydney and the Tweed Heads.

In 2012 Zac worked for the Australian Public Service graduate program with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) inclusive of two terms as Chair of the Indigenous Employees Network and a short posting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Other roles undertaken are Civitas Executive Leadership Program in 2015 and more recently as part of the 2018 ‘We are All Sydney’ program run by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. Zac is the current West Sydney delegate for the ASSI NSW State Alliance, ASSI National Association (round table).

Awarded: NSW Council of Pacific Communities (2016) – Youth Award.

Binette Diop – Co Deputy Chair (Cert II Business Service, Cert IV Management)

Binette’s young working career has seen her work in an assistant manager role for a small business and currently as Groups Coordinator for a global hotel chain. Binette’s skills include office administration, bookkeeping, event coordination and interests in social media platforms.

In 2016 Binette completed the Women’s Leadership six-week course – ‘We Are All Sydney’ an initiative of the Jewish Board of Deputies.

Nominee: Regional Accor Hotel Awards NSW/ACT (2016)

Awarded: Employee and Team Player of the Year (2015), Most Valuable Player Quarter 2 (2014), Blue Mountains Hotel Management School Indigenous Scholarship with Accor (Finalist 2014).

Melina Fakatava – Board member

Melina is committed to her community and having found family in Vanuatu through travelling to cultural celebration’s she has a strong love and connection to her forefathers lands. Melina is highly skilled in office administration and has over 20 years of experience in customer service. Other areas of skill for Melina have been in cultural awareness delivering Indigenous initiatives for TV program content in her capacity as an assistant producer and production assistant.

A staunch supporter on location for the Wantok initiative Melina is on the frontline with her community and assists with location project management. Melina represents her mother with pride ‘Carriette Pangas’ (nee Togo) who was a founding member of the ASSI.PJ and whose painting inspired the ASSIPJ logo design.