The new galleries and exhibits will highlight diverse voices, extending beyond the experiences of those who served. To achieve this, the Gallery Development team has embarked on a comprehensive community engagement initiative.
Five advisory groups, formed with leading community members have offered ongoing guidance on gallery content and design. This process ensures that the stories we tell are relevant, and that the spaces are accessible and inclusive for all members of the public, our veterans and those still serving.
Ensuring inclusivity, this group represents individuals with diverse needs, guaranteeing that the museum remains accessible to all.
Natalee Thomas
Senior Advisor, Culture and Diversity at the College of Science- ANU
Highly experienced artist and activist, Natalee Thomas has a degree in traditional printmaking and drawing. Her work has appeared in magazines and given her the opportunity to act as a keynote speaker on panels for young women with disabilities. In 2019, she won the Michelle Firestone Scholarship award for Mental Health. She went on to join advocacy panels and become a member of disability groups across Australia before an appointment as Project and Training Coordinator at Accessible Arts. Ms Thomas works as Senior Advisor for Culture and Diversity at the College of Science at the Australian National University.
Ms Thomas joined the Australian War Memorial’s Access Advisory Group to further her positive impact on the community. She looks forward to seeing the outcomes of the advisory group implemented within the Memorial’s new galleries and public spaces.
Joe Symons
Executive Officer, Deafness Resource Centre
Joe Symons was born with moderate to severe bilateral hearing loss and has worn hearing aids for most of his life. Having learnt how to self-advocate, these experiences enable him to help other people with a hearing loss.
Joe is a trained graphic designer with his own clothing company, Arrowman Designs and was runner up of the Shepherd Centre’s 2019 Alumni Achiever Award. Volunteering for the Shepherd Centre, Mr Symons has been part of LOUD Shirt Day for over eight years, raising funds for the centre, and in 2020 was the centre’s Alumni Ambassador.
Joe started working with people with a hearing loss at the Canberra branch of Better Hearing Australia before going on to work at the ACT Deafness Resource Centre (DRC) in a communications and social media role, with a promotion to executive officer in June 2023. He is a part of numerous disability advocacy groups representing people in the ACT with a hearing loss. The DRC is a one stop shop for information, support and guidance for people with a hearing loss, which also specialises in assistive technology for people with a hearing loss, including alerting systems and personal microphones.
Casey Heffernan
Inclusion Advocate
A passionate advocate for access and equity, Casey Heffernan balances professional and lived experience to provide insight into inclusive design. Having worked as an inclusion support officer at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Ms Heffernan is deeply familiar with accessibility and government policies affecting people with disability. Casey is involved with Accessible Arts Canberra, utilising her knowledge to create opportunities for access and representation within Canberra’s art scene.
As a member of the Australian War Memorial’s Access Advisory Group, Ms Heffernan is proud to continue to apply her experience in a manner which will benefit all Australians, playing a part in ensuring that the diverse stories of the Australian Defence Force are available to all audiences.
Matthew Oastler
Autism Friendly Australia
Autism Spectrum Australia
Mathew Oastler is an experienced and passionate access advocate who started his career as a support worker with Aspect Adult Community Services in 2015. His passion for equal and respectful accessibility rights for all Australians has led him to leadership roles, including a position as regional coordinator, and a role in the organisation’s quality team, ensuring that processes and practices meet National Disability Insurance Scheme requirements. Mr Oastler currently works as co-ordinator of Autism Friendly Australia, where he employs his knowledge of policy, advocacy and practice to benefit the community.
By participating in the Australian War Memorial’s Access Advisory Group, Mr Oastler’s experience will ensure that a diverse range of accessibility needs are met.
Emma Beardsley (nee Gallagher)
Autism Spectrum Australia
A highly respected autistic researcher and advocate, Emma Beardsley has provided insight and input into numerous access-focused studies. Since beginning work for Aspect in 2016, Miss Beardsley has contributed to the organisation’s most successful projects, providing input at numerous stages. She was a founding member of the Aspect Think Tank, a remunerated group of adults on the autism spectrum who provide advice regarding day-to-day autism practices.
A keen advocate for the rights and needs of the autistic community, Miss Beardsley is excited to play a role in the Australian War Memorial Access Advisory Group. She views the opportunity to combine her passion for advocacy and the representation and remembrance of the Australian Defence Force community as a highlight in her already impressive career.
Jennifer Moon
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Jennifer Moon holds a Masters of Cognitive Science, Bachelor of Arts (Disability Studies, and an international certification for Orientation and Mobility, and is a qualified Access Consultant.
She has worked in the field of vision impairment for over 30 years, collaborating with people who are blind or have low vision to navigate their environments safely and independently. Ms Moon has worked with Guide Dog organisations across five states of Australia – including communities on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula, Thursday Island, and outback New South Wales – and internationally, including in the United Kingdom and Siberia. She currently works with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, providing advice, information and educational training programs to help improve access and inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision.
Lindy Hou OAM
Diversity and Inclusion Advocate
Lindy Hou is passionate about sharing her journey with others and empowering them to achieve their personal best. Before losing her sight, Ms Hou built a career as a computer consultant for major corporations’ specialising in accounting systems, gaining extensive experience of the corporate environment and its stresses and challenges. Ms Hou has since used this knowledge to embark on a career as a well-respected motivational speaker and life coach.
With an ability to connect with a wide range of people, Ms Hou will be a strong asset to the Australian War Memorial’s Access Advisory Group.
Hannah Coleman-Jennings
Liz Lea
Liz is a multi-award winning dance artist, choreographer and producer. Over three decades she has toured and been commissioned internationally. She directs the Stellar Company, a not-for-profit arts organisation, and recently launched the Chamaeleon Collective, Canberra’s first inclusive dance company. She works with Accessible Arts as an access advisor and as an audio describer, having described shows for Dan Daw, Rebus and Sydney Dance Company. She is currently working on an app – ShowGO – which supports access and audio description services and directs three festivals based in the ACT with an international focus.
Liz is honoured to continue the excellent work the Australia War Memorial is undertaking and to feed into the vibrant and dynamic nature of the programs the organisation delivers.
Phoebe Lupton
Phoebe Lupton is a Canberra/Ngunnawal land-based writer and creative. Her work integrates essay, poetics, philology, psychoanalysis and visual art to explore neurodivergent forms of perception and expression. Phoebe's writing can be found in The Big Issue, Overland, Cicerone Journal, Antithesis Journal and a forthcoming University of Queensland Press anthology of autistic female and trans writers, among others.
In 2023, she was a Disability and Cultural Diversity Fellow with Accessible Arts and Diversity Arts. In 2022, she was shortlisted for the Catalyse Nonfiction Prize with Express Media. In 2021, she participated in Toolkits: Nonfiction with Express Media. Phoebe is a Virgo Sun, Libra Moon and Capricorn Rising.
National Indigenous representation provides cultural advice and guidance, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are authentically represented in the museum's future development.
Francis (Frank) Lampard OAM
Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri
Aboriginal Veterans South Australia
Francis (Frank) Lampard OAM is a retired service member and a passionate advocate for the Aboriginal people of Australia. He served in the Australian Regular Army after being called up for National Service from 1967 to 1969. He is the Co-Chair of Aboriginal Veterans South Australia and a member of the Veterans’ Health Advisory Council South Australia.
His passion for Aboriginal culture – and support for greater engagement and economic opportunities, better government services, and stronger Aboriginal communities – are reflected in his continuous involvement in community committees and programs, including the South Australian Museum Partnership Committee, the Taingiwilta Pirku Kawantila Project Aboriginal Governance Panel, the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, and the Governing Body of Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Mr Lampard is keen to play a role in furthering the recognition and acknowledgement of Australia’s Indigenous community’s service to Country. He is excited about the steps the Australian War Memorial is taking to continue our story of service in the Memorial’s Development Project.
Wing Commander Cheryl Neal
Yuin Language group
Wing Commander Cheryl Neal is a decorated member of the Royal Australian Air Force, and a proud descendant of the Darug people from Western Sydney and the Yuin people from the South Coast of New South Wales.
Throughout her 35 years of service – including in roles as Deputy Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the RAAF, Senior Indigenous Liaison Officer, and Senior Indigenous Project Officer in Headquarters Air Command – she has worked tirelessly as an advocate for Indigenous peoples in the Royal Australian Air Force and the Defence community.
She is a recipient of various Defence service medals and awards, including the Afghanistan Medal, the Australian Defence Medal and Australian Active Service Medal with clasps ICAT and Iraq 2003 and a Chief of Joint Operations Gold Commendation, which reflect her high level of experience and recognition within the Australian Defence Force to act as a voice for fellow members of the Indigenous Defence community.
Wing Commander Neal views the Australian War Memorial as sacred ground for honouring Australians who have served their country, as well as being an important place of storytelling. With the expansion and modernisation of the Memorial underway, the opportunity to play a foundational role in the inclusion and display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and people is of great importance to her.
Squadron Leader Gary Oakley OAM
Gundengurra language group
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Service Association
Squadron Leader Gary Oakley OAM worked at the Australian War Memorial for 25 years, 22 as an exhibitions curator. During this time he advocated for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through his role as the Memorial’s inaugural Indigenous Liaison Officer.
He has been strongly involved in the affairs of First Nations people through the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Public Service, and other organisations. He is currently the National President for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Service Association, and is a member of a number of groups, including Canberra Museums and Galleries, the Defence Indigenous Cultural Advisory Group, and the Air Force Senior Indigenous Leadership Circle.
Squadron Leader Oakley was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2019 and was made a Fellow of the Australian War Memorial for his continued work in telling the stories of First Nations Peoples’ history in defence of country.
He is enthusiastic to be a member of the Memorial’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group, helping his people and fellow veterans to gain continued recognition and representation for their service to Country. It is his goal to help Australia recognise its First Nations Peoples.
Lorraine Hatton OAM
Quandamooka/Ngughi/Noonuccal language groups
Lorraine Hatton is a formally recognised Quandamooka Woman and Elder from the Ngughi/Nunukul tribes of Minjerribah and Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). Having served for more than 21 years in the Australian Regular Army, Ms Hatton continues to serve through her many roles as an advocate for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans.
Some of Ms Hatton’s achievements and positions since her retirement from the army in 2007 include the Indigenous Elder of the Australian Regular Army, the appointed Board President/Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Memorial Committee Incorporated, a member of the University of Southern Queensland Council/Board, a mentor for the Preston Campbell Foundation and the Gold Coast Titans Deadly Futures and Community Program, a lifetime member of the Australian National Flag Association, the Indigenous Ambassador for Corporate Protection, the inaugural Patron for the Indigenous Youth Mobility Pathways Project 2019–2022, a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal in 2019, and a member of the Queensland Veterans Council/Board.
Aunty Lorraine is widely recognised as a leader and ambassador of Community Capability Building and Relationship Enhancement, Cultural Awareness Facilitation and Veterans Advocacy. She is a sought after keynote speaker to a variety of government, corporate and community-based organisations and is highly regarded as an inspirational role model.
Her spirit of leadership and passion will ensure that she plays a strong role in the Australian War Memorial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group.
Marianne Atkinson
Gunaikurnai language groups
Marianne has a background in human services, education and training, family violence policy, systems and reform, Aboriginal affairs, and community organisations.
She has experience in strategic policy development and regional partnerships and works to co-design and develop effective processes for the evaluation and validation of programs, systems, and structures.
Her fields of study include business, business analytics, education, and data analysis.
Marianne is the co-chairperson of the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group at the Australian War Memorial and an appointed member of the Victorian Marine and Coastal Council.
Commander Bertram Slape OAM
Larrakia language group
Commander Bertram Keith Slape OAM enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in 1972 and served on HMAS Melbourne before being posted to the United Kingdom, where he underwent submarine training. For his professionalism and commitment to the highest possible standard, Commander Slape was awarded the Australia Day medallion in 1996. The following year, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his meritorious service. He has served in submarines for 26 years, deployed to Banda Aceh on HMAS Kanimbla as a part of the international humanitarian response to the Indian Ocean earthquake, and spent much time in the Middle East.
Commander Slape is passionate about his work as part of the Australian War Memorial’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group, as he feels this will be a powerful means of sharing his story – not only with his three grown children but also with the nation. He is passionate about the need for the stories of Indigenous people in the Defence Force to be told, and is proud to be part of the Memorial’s effort to do so.
Auntie Brenda Hodge
Trawlwoolway/Paireebeene woman
Auntie Brenda Hodge is a respected Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, and a proud descendant of Mannalargenna and the Trawlwoolway/Paireebeene people of north-eastern Tasmania.
She was employed as an Elder in Residence at the Riawunna Centre for Aboriginal Education at the University of Tasmania for almost four years.
Auntie Brenda has a strong personal commitment to the promotion of reconciliation and cultural awareness in the wider community. In 1998, Auntie Brenda was awarded the Tasmanian Award for Humanitarian Activities; just one of the many accolades she has received.
Auntie Brenda is always striving for ways to better her community, and it is for this reason that she has joined the Australian War Memorial’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group. She is enthusiastic about being an integral part of the Memorial’s continuing story and to help provide a voice for Indigenous service personnel and veterans.
Christopher Proud
Kaytej language group
Chris joined the Royal Australian Navy as a junior recruit at the age of 15 in 1979 in Adelaide. He started his 26-year career at HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle, Western Australia, with 59 other boys from all over Australia. From there Chris was sent east to commence weapons mechanic training with HMAS Cerberus in Victoria. His first posting in 1980 was aboard HMAS Torrens where he was the youngest on board at the age of 16.
Chris has been posted to a number of different ships during his many years of service. He served in East Timor (Timor-Leste) during the INTERFET campaign, been involved with border protection around Christmas Island, served in the Second Gulf War and deployed to the Persian Gulf. During this last deployment, Chris’s ship was heavily involved in a major incident on 24 April which deeply affects him and his shipmates to this day. After a long career in uniform, Chris made the decision to discharge from the Royal Australian Navy in 2005. He spent 15 years in mining in Perth before taking a well-deserved retirement in 2023.
Chris is now loving his retirement with family and friends and is excited to be working with the Australian War Memorial as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group.
Sam McKechnie
Reflecting the diversity of Australian society, this group includes representatives from diverse cultural backgrounds, from countries that saw Australian military involvement.
Dr Farkhondeh Akbari
Postdoctoral Fellow, Gender, Peace and Security Centre, Monash University
Farkhondeh Akbari is a postdoctoral research fellow at Monash University where she researches inclusive peace, diplomatic actors, feminist foreign policy and the women, peace, and security agenda. She has recently published research on the Taliban's gender-apartheid regime in Afghanistan. Farkhondeh completed her PhD in diplomatic studies at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. She has work experience at the Department of Political Affairs at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and the Afghanistan Independent Directorate of Local Governance in Kabul.
Dr Akbari leads a grassroots non-for-profit NGO taking a bottom-up approach to development and peacebuilding in Afghanistan, focusing on women’s empowerment. She is also an activist, using her scholarly research to advocate for women's rights, inclusive peace, and the rights of marginalised ethnic groups in Afghanistan.
Aunty Sana (Susan) Balai
Museum Curator, City of Logan
Aunty Sana (Susan) Balai was born on Buka Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. She is a Bougainville elder born to the Nakaripa clan of the Hakö peoples from Buka Island. An applied science graduate, Aunty Sana spent more than 13 years working for Bougainville Copper Limited in the Analytical, Environmental Research and Development Studies Laboratories, Pilbara Laboratories Niugini Limited, and PNG Analytical Laboratories.
Aunty Sana has had an extensive career working in museums including the Melbourne Museum (1997–2002) and the National Gallery of Victoria where she was Assistant Curator of Indigenous Art, with art from the Pacific as her main focus.
Aunty Sana co-curated the Women’s Wealth project for the APT9 (Asia Pacific Triennial 2018–2019) which showcased artwork by women from Bougainville, the Solomon Islands, and Australia. Aunty Sana is currently the museum curator of the Living Museum of Logan at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct with the Logan City Council in Queensland.
Bilal Waheed
Executive Director, Massoud Foundation Australia
Bilal Waheed is the founder and executive director of the Massoud Foundation Australia.
Bilal actively supports newly arrived refugees and advocates for those seeking humanitarian protection. He has had a strong focus on girls’ education, sponsoring female teachers and facilitating online education for disadvantaged girls in Afghanistan.
Bilal is committed to helping diverse Australian communities, providing resettlement support to newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan, fostering relationships between different ethnic and religious groups through meaningful cultural exchange, advocating for gender equality, social justice, and human rights. Most importantly he has community-oriented views. Bilal is passionate about philanthropy and intercultural works.
Bashar Hanna OAM
President, Australian Mesopotamian Cultural Association
Bashar Hanna is a civil engineer, project manager, businessman, social worker, educator, multi-instrumentalist, composer, writer, choir leader, producer, and arts and community cultural development specialist.
Bashar has designed and implemented social change through creative initiatives which aim to connect, engage and empower the creative capacity and social cohesion of culturally and linguistically diverse Middle Eastern communities in Sydney, and broader Australian communities. His focus has been chiefly on disadvantaged residents, families and youth.
Bashar also operates an arts and community development consultancy based in the heart of multicultural Fairfield City. His goal is to facilitate creative partnerships to build an inclusive Australian community through the beauty of song, art and shared understanding. In 2019, Bashar established the Australian Mesopotamian Cultural Association. He is its current public officer.
Bashar won the 2015 ZEST Award for community leadership, and in 2018 was named a Community Fellow of Western Sydney University. In 2021, Bashar was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his long and distinguished service to multiculturalism and refugee support in Western Sydney. That year, he was named Influencer of the Year by the Third Sector. On Australia Day 2022, Bashar was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award by Fairfield City Council.
An Australian citizen of Mesopotamian descent, Bashar carries a message of peace and love: a reminder that we as humans can live in intercultural and inter-community harmony.
Gil Santos
Dili Allstars
Gil Santos was born in Bazartete, Timor-Leste in 1970. Gil and his seven siblings left Timor-Leste in 1982 for Portugal, reuniting with his widowed mother and younger sister who had left Dili in 1979. Arriving in Melbourne in 1985, he joined the Westall Timorese Soccer Club Band with his brothers and friends, and played in community bands such as Kadi-Ain and Lemorai Band.
In 1992 after the capture of Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao by Indonesian armed forces, Gil teamed up with David Bridie (from the band Not Drowning Waving) and Paulie Stewart and other members of the band Painters and Dockers. With other Timorese musicians they recorded the Rose Tattoo song We Can’t Be Beaten in English and Tetum. In the mid-1990s, Gil, Paulo Almeida, Billy Abbot and Paulie Stewart formed the Dili Allstars band and wrote and recorded the song Liberdade, which was popular in the lead-up to the 1999 independence referendum, and continues to hold a special place in Timorese memory.
The Dili Allstars toured widely. Gil worked on various film and theatre productions, and many album compilation projects. He recorded, played and toured with Australian musicians such as Paul Kelly, Peter Garett, Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford. Throughout this period Gil produced successful events and concerts that raised money to support the political struggle and humanitarian needs back home.
These days you can still catch Gil playing with Paulo Almeida and Zeca Mesquita in the band Mystic Trio. The Dili Allstars have re-formed and continue to share the spirit of struggle and resistance and keep the music, culture and art of Timor-Leste alive through storytelling, social engagements with the community, and mentoring young people.
Hussain Razaiat
President, Afghan United Association South Australia
Settlement Director, Middle Eastern Communities Council South Australia
Hussain Razaiat arrived in Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2001. He completed his postgraduate studies at Victoria University, and a Master’s degree of Islamic Studies at Charles Sturt University. He is currently studying a Juris Doctor degree at Flinders University.
Hussain has been involved with the settlement of Middle Eastern communities for nearly two decades and has held the role of Settlement Director for the Middle Eastern Communities Council of South Australia since 2007.
He is the President of the Afghan United Association Inc. and the co-founder of Wali-E-Asr Centre, which supports the Afghan community in South Australia.
Hussain is a member of the South Australian Multicultural Commission, a Justice of the Peace, and a former instructor at TAFE SA who is a National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters-accredited translator and interpreter in three languages.
Katie Fono
Secretary, Solomon Islands Brisbane Community
Katie Fono emigrated from Solomon Islands to Queensland with her immediate family on a sponsored work visa in 2005.
Katie has always had a keen interest in connecting with fellow Solomon Islanders living in and around the greater Brisbane region. She has held the role of Secretary for the Solomon Islands Brisbane Community Inc since 2019. The community has worked to establish dialogues with other Solomon Island groups and communities around Queensland. The Solomon Islands Brisbane Community Inc works closely with community partners such as the Pacific Islands Council of Queensland, the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, the Pasifika Women’s Alliance, and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility seasonal workers group.
Katie hopes to forge a connection and understanding between the Solomon Islands community and the Australian War Memorial’s Development Project, and to make a positive contribution as a member of the CALD Advisory Group.
Layla Naji
Layla Naji graduated as a mechanical engineer in Baghdad before developing her career in Australia in the fields of arts and cultural development, health education, and disability employment services. She has provided cultural consulting services for the arts and culture sector, is Creative Director of the Shanasheel Iraqi Cultural Festival, and has organised the Arabic calligraphy group in Auburn for over five years. Layla is a visual artist who has worked on a number of public art projects with Auburn Council and has exhibited her work in galleries across New South Wales.
Layla works to foster the integration of newly arrived refugees settling in Australia through education and employment with the Iraqi Australian University Graduates Forum, and was the co-founder and convenor of its Cultural Salon. She has been a member of the management committee of the Multicultural Network (formerly Bankstown Area Multicultural Network) for over ten years.
Nasteha Mohamud
Somali Community Inc.
Nasteha Mohamud is an experienced community development professional and an emerging multicultural leader with years of dedicated service in the not for profit and public service sectors. With a passion for building community capacity and belonging, Nasteha has made a significant impact through her leadership in community engagement projects aimed at fostering community resilience and strengthening participation.
Throughout her career, Nasteha has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to and success in building the knowledge and networks of community. She recognises that empowering individuals and groups with the necessary skills and resources is crucial for sustainable community growth. By fostering strong community partnerships, Nasteha creates an environment that encourages collaboration and collective action.
Nasteha has recently been inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll, recognising her exceptional and lasting contributions to multiculturalism in Victoria.
Shabnam Safa
Community Development Training Lead, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia
Chair, National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group
Director, Centre for Multicultural Youth
Shabnam is a community development practitioner who is passionate about cultivating true partnerships between communities and structures of power to create lasting solutions and social change. She grew up as a Hazara Afghan refugee in Pakistan before arriving in Australia at the age of 15. Inspired by her experience of forced displacement, she is a strong advocate for the meaningful participation of refugees in addressing the complex challenges of resettlement, inclusion, and belonging.
Shabnam has founded and led multiple initiatives supporting refugees and host communities in Australia and abroad. She is part of a small team at Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia working to establish a holistic, community-led refugee sponsorship program in Australia, with a focus on building community capacity to welcome newcomers. She is the inaugural Chairperson at the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group, creating spaces for the effective elevation of voices with lived experience in making key decisions, policies, and discourse about refugees. A Director at the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Shabnam also serves on multiple government advisory boards influencing policy design and program delivery to devise unique solutions for the unique challenges and opportunities facing refugee and migrant communities in Australia.
She is an emerging leader in the Afghan Australian community and since the fall of Kabul in August 2021 has been part of the national coordination team leading the Action for Afghanistan campaign, galvanising public support to urge the Australian government to take swift and adequate action in response to the crisis and in line with Australia’s 20-year engagement in Afghanistan.
She was recently inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her tireless work in promoting refugee rights, social cohesion, meaningful diversity and inclusion. She is also a former karate champion with multiple national and international titles to her name.
Sokha (Lisa) Nagatsuka
President of Cambodian Living Arts and Culture of NSW Inc.
Sokha (Lisa) Nagatsuka was born in 1973 in Battambong Province in Cambodia. With the Pol Pot regime in control of Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, Sokha and her family were forced to leave their home town to work in a labour camp. When Vietnamese forces occupied Cambodia in 1979, Sokha and her family fled to a Thai refugee camp and lived there until 1983. That year, when she was 10, Sokha’s family came to Australia with the assistance and support of the Khmer Community of New South Wales.
Sokha has felt passionate about Cambodian arts and culture since she was a young child. Her father operated the Sunday Khmer Language School in 1986, and Sokha taught traditional Cambodian dance and performance at community events. In 2018 she established the Cambodian Living Arts and Culture of NSW Inc. to preserve and maintain Cambodian arts and culture for present and future generations of Cambodians.
Sokha is an active volunteer for associations such as Khmer Community of NSW, Cambodian-Australian Welfare Council where she is the Director of Arts and Culture, Bonnyrigg Khmer Language School, the Bushido Judo Club and the Cambodian Buddhist Society.
Comprised of representatives from various ex-service organisations, associations and individuals, this group contributes invaluable insights into the welfare and experiences of veterans.
John Hardgrave
John Hardgrave has been working in senior positions with ex-service organisations and advocating for veterans’ issues for over five years. He has a particular interest in bringing to light stories of the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan, highlighting stories of service during Australia’s longest war.
After more than 18 years of service in the infantry, with operational service in Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Afghanistan, and deployment in domestic operations such as the Queensland Flood Assist, Mr Hardgrave was recognised as an Australia Day Dickson Citizen of the Year in 2022 for his contribution to the local community.
Mr Hardgrave is honoured to be part of the Veterans Advisory Group and looks forward to representing the unique insights, rewards and sacrifices, and varied experiences of veteran servicemen, servicewomen and their families.
Commodore Michele Miller AM, RAN
Defence
Board, Soldier On
A veteran and the partner, daughter and granddaughter of service personnel, Michele has a keen interest in Australia’s national security operations and continues to play an active role in the Royal Australian Navy Reserves. Alongside numerous service achievements, Michele has been a non-executive director of the veteran charity Soldier On since 2012, and was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2018.
Michele is passionate about the role that the Australian War Memorial plays in representing the experiences of Australians who have served the nation in times of peace and conflict, and is excited to help in depicting these stories accurately, truthfully and meaningfully through her contribution to the advisory group.
Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Humphreys DSC
Mental Health Ambassador
Founder and Executive Director of Cor Infinitus
Founder and Executive Director of Cor Infinitus, Kevin Humphreys has had a long and diverse career in the Australian Defence Force. For more than 20 years, Mr Humphreys served in the Australian Army, flying Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters in Timor-Leste, Iraq and Afghanistan. Between 2006 and 2007, he commanded the Chinook Task Group in Afghanistan. Mr Humphreys has become a proud advocate for awareness of veteran mental illness and suicide. Through his work at Cor Infinitus he has been able to provide dignity and respect to the families of those who have served the nation and taken their own lives.
Mr Humphreys views the Australian War Memorial as the most hallowed ground for Australian military history and contemporary service commemoration. Being part of the advisory group is an honour which connects him to the next chapter of the Memorial’s role in sharing stories of triumph, tragedy, courage, anguish and hope.
Air Vice-Marshal Tracy Smart AO
Military and Aerospace Medicine, the Australian National University
Member, Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal
Former Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force, recipient of the 2021 Australian National University Chancellor’s Award, and professor of military and aerospace medicine, Tracy Smart has a strong connection to the Australian War Memorial. With strong memories of visiting the Memorial as a child with her mother, Professor Smart recalls feeling a deep personal connection to Australia’s military history through being able to find the names of her uncle and great-uncle on the Memorial’s Roll of Honour.
As a member of the Australian War Memorial’s Veterans Advisory Group, Professor Smart is keen to utilise her passion for mental health awareness, resilience, and veterans’ issues. She is keen to contribute to the next iteration of the Australian War Memorial’s story, and to help in depicting the experience of her time in the Australian Defence Force.
Thomas Foster
Young Veterans
Invictus Games athlete
Australian Sports Medal and Australian Defence Medal recipient Thomas Foster has a strong interest in the social inclusion and wellbeing of Australia’s service personnel and its veterans. Mr Foster wishes to utilise his experience as an active member of the Young Veterans organisation, and an Invictus Games gold medal athlete, to help implement a single Australia-wide standard for the services accessible by veterans, from housing and emergency support to help with mentorship to provide assistance in post-Defence careers.
Mr Foster looks forward to the opportunity to help further the nation’s understanding of Australia’s fallen, injured, serving and surviving service personnel while ensuring they receive the respect they deserve. By aiding in the creation of the Memorial’s next chapter, he takes pride in the knowledge that he will be able to help ensure that an accurate depiction of Australia’s experience of service will lead to public understanding of who service personnel are, what they do, and why they choose to serve.
Sergeant Peter Rudland (Ret’d)
Invictus Games athlete, RedSix, Pain Australia Ambassador, RSL Australia Ambassador, Kokoda Program Ambassador
Sergeant Peter Rudland’s 28 years of service, including time in Afghanistan, has allowed him to become a strong and vocal advocate for Australia’s veterans. Since his return from service, this has been achieved through his participation in and support for the Invictus Games, his role as ambassador for Pain Australia, RSL Australia, and the Kokoda Program, and as a board member for RedSix, a mental health app for the defence and veteran community.
After being wounded while serving in Afghanistan, Sergeant Rudland turned his attention to helping the veteran community. The opportunity to contribute to the Memorial’s continuing story is a source of great pride for him, and he feels very honoured to have been asked to be involved.
Cathy Arcus
Department of Defence, Defence Member and Family Support
Cathy Arcus has worked for Defence for over 20 years, improving and supporting the lives of Australia’s veterans and their families. Through this work she has pursued her passion for acknowledging and celebrating the contribution that these families make and the importance of a strong Defence community. Ms Arcus was awarded an Australia Day Medallion for her work and continues to be an inspiration to her peers.
In joining the Australian War Memorial’s Veterans Advisory Group, Ms Arcus hopes to further contribute to understanding and celebrating the lives, sacrifices and achievements of veterans and their families. She looks forward to ensuring that the Memorial’s next chapter will acknowledge the contributions made by the families of those who serve our country.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Moor (Ret’d)
Australian Special Air Service Association
Lieutenant Colonel Rick Moor is a veteran with 40 years’ service in the Australian Regular Army and nine years’ service in the Australian Army Reserves. Twenty-four years of his service was spent on Special Forces appointments, resulting in deployment to 21 different nations, including long term postings to the United States of America and Papua New Guinea, and active service in East Timor and Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Colonel Moor was awarded a Distinguished Military Service Medal by the government of Papua New Guinea and a commendation from the Chief of Defence Force. He is currently serving as Vice Chair for the Australian Special Air Service Association.
Lieutenant Colonel Moor joined the Australian War Memorial’s Veterans Advisory Group to continue his work as an advocate for Special Operations Command Units, veterans and serving personnel.
Phil Winter AM CSC ADC
CEO RSL Australia
Brigadier Phil Winter AM CSC ADC is a highly experienced veteran and CEO of RSL Australia. He served in artillery and intelligence units in the Australian Defence Force for 42 years, and 12 years in the Australian Federal Police.
With a keen interest in veteran issues and military history, Brigadier Winter has joined the Australian War Memorial’s Veterans Advisory Group for the opportunity to be involved in the Development Project, and the next era of telling the stories of Australia’s contemporary service personnel. He is enthusiastic to share this experience, as he feels that the gallery development process is pivotal to the commemorative experience of visitors in understanding Australia’s ongoing experiences of war and conflict.
Queen Dunbar
Australian War Widows NSW
As an active board member and State President of Australian War Widows NSW, Mrs Queen Dunbar is admired for spending her time advocating on behalf of Australian war widows and their families. She has represented her organisation at events and meetings with state and federal stakeholders, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ female veterans and veterans’ families’ forums. These opportunities have helped Mrs Dunbar to understand and guide policy developments in the veteran sector.
Sharing her lived experience of post-traumatic stress disorder and her husband’s suicide, Mrs Dunbar has become an active advocate for Defence and veteran suicide awareness. She has collaborated with other interested parties and provided public and individual submissions for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Mrs Dunbar seeks opportunities to promote war widows with other organisations, acknowledging the support they provide to veterans, their families, and the wider community.
By joining the Australian War Memorial’s Veterans Advisory Group, Mrs Dunbar hopes to represent the next chapter of the Australian Defence Force and share veterans’ untold stories. She hopes that the Memorial can further assist the general public to understand and appreciate the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to do so.
Major Brett C Grosser (Ret’d)
Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Federation of Australia
Major Brett C. Grosser (Ret’d) holds extensive qualifications including Graduate and Post Graduate law degrees and a Master of Arts (Public Sector Leadership). With 25 years of service in the Australian Defence Force, his extensive experience has brought him the respect and admiration of the veteran community. Brett is currently the President of the TPI Association of South Australia.
Major Grosser is an Infantry Officer and has served on a number of deployments including, as Operations Captain on Exercise Suman Warrior, Rifle Company Butterworth and with Overwatch Battle Group 3 embedded with British forces in Al Basrah as SO3 Borders Training Team. The tradition of service runs in his family; His wife Katie is an Afghanistan veteran and his two sons are both serving members of the defence force, one a Physical Training Instructor in the Army and one an Officer Cadet in the Navy currently completing his degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Major Grosser places a strong value on ensuring that the history and continuing story of Australian service personnel are depicted faithfully to the Australian people and is extremely proud of his place on the Australian War Memorial Veterans Advisory Group.
Lieutenant Commander David J. Manolas, RAN (Ret’d)
Naval Association of Australia
Lieutenant Commander David J. Manolas, RAN (Ret’d) began his naval career in 1965 at age 15. Specialising in gunnery, he was selected for officer training in the United Kingdom, graduated from the Royal Navy College Dartmouth in 1979, and returned to Australia in 1981. After a number of gunnery-specific and executive category appointments, he completed full-time service in 2001.
After a long and accomplished career, he transferred to the RAN Reserves in 2001 and took on the role of Major Events Coordinator in HMAS Harman. Joining the Australian Public Service in 2005, he continued in Defence until 2014. He is the National President of the Naval Association of Australia.
The Australian War Memorial’s Veterans Advisory group will be greatly benefited by his enthusiasm and experience.
Kristopher Milne
Commercial Manager, Sports Entertainment Network
With 14 years of military experience, Kristopher Milne has been on three peacekeeping operation deployments and was a finalist for the inaugural Prime Minister’s Veteran Employment Program.
Mr Milne is the former Director of Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Veteran Association, former Director of Veteran Support Force, former Advisor to DVA on Veteran Employment, and former Member of the Younger Veterans Forum.
Mr Milne’s personal interests include advocating for veterans and their employment, coaching and career development, sports and sports marketing.
As a member of the Veterans Advisory Group, Mr Milne wishes to ensure that stories are told appropriately, encompassing wartime service and peacekeeping operations, and shining a light on remarkable Australians and their dedication to duty for Australia and other countries. He wants to ensure the legacy of the Memorial lives on through the next generations of Australians. He is passionate about the Memorial being a place of remembrance for veterans and veteran families. Mr Milne is honoured to have a place in solidifying that legacy.
Comprising young Australians from diverse backgrounds, this group offers insights and feedback on gallery content to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the museum for future generations.
Eja Collins
Eja Collins is an active member of the advocacy community with a strong passion for equal opportunity and social justice. The inaugural recipient of the Gallipoli Scholarship Foundation’s Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Memorial Bursary, she is completing her Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Arts degree at the Australian National University. Ms Collins is an enthusiastic contributor to the Student Voice Network and the ANU's Law Reform and Social Justice Project.
Ms Collins is proud to honour and strengthen the relationship between the Australian War Memorial and the Gallipoli Scholarship Foundation as a member of the Youth Advisory Group.
Tara McClelland
2021 ACT Young Australian of the Year Tara McClelland works to support and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of Australia’s youth. She has worked alongside not for profit organisations such as the Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul Society in order to improve the lives of children faced with homelessness and domestic violence.
As a member of the Australian War Memorial’s Youth Advisory Group, Ms McClelland looks forward to furthering her work by ensuring that the stories of Australia’s modern veterans and service personnel are told.
Sub Lieutenant Kynan Elliott
ADFA
Sub Lieutenant Kynan Elliott is a strong voice in the youth advocacy community. He recently completed a Bachelor of Computing and Cybersecurity degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy, his accomplishments include 2019 Dux, Toolooa State School and the 2019 Queensland Certificate of Education Distinguished Academic Achievers Award and top performance in his degree.
Mr Elliott is keen to be a part of the Australian War Memorial’s Youth Advisory Group and is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the redevelopment. He views the Memorial as a significant monument to those who have served our country, and is proud to play a role in representing that continuing story.
John-Paul Romano
Youth Advisory Council ACT
John-Paul Romano is a passionate advocate for his community. Executive Director of the Amici Hospitality Group in Canberra, and former member of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Youth and Young People with the ACT Government, Mr Romano describes himself as a passionate young man who cares about the future of his city, his country and his fellow man.
He is excited about the opportunity to act as a member of the Australian War Memorial’s Youth Advisory group, which he views as a great way to engage with and support his community.
Leanne Leong
Ms Leong is a proud representative of 414 Squadron – a school based unit, open to students at Melbourne Girls' College – for schools-based Australian Air Force Cadets and helps with providing advice on how exhibitions can be more appealing to the younger generation.
Ms Leong is interested in supporting the Australian War Memorial as part of the Youth Advisory Group as she is passionate about sharing the Australian Defence Force’s continuing story of service and sacrifice.
Lachlan Kingsford
Legacy Youth member
Lachlan is a key advocate for the history and support of the Australian Defence Force. After the passing of his father, Colonel Michael James Kingsford, Legacy helped Lachlan and his family stay on their feet.
Lachlan is supporting the work Legacy continues to do for families like his by representing them on the Youth Advisory Group.
Rahim Mohammadi
A psychology graduate from the Queensland University of Technology, Rahim wants to utilise his lived experience and expertise to drive systemic change. He is involved with over 30 organisations via advocacy and advisory groups across Australia. Through these organisations, Rahim devotes his time to issues such as mental health and suicidality, culturally and linguistically diverse representation, youth representation, refugee and disability rights, child and family safety, and youth justice. He is committed to enacting change by engaging with local parliament members, government departments, and other key stakeholders.
Growing up in Afghanistan, Rahim has witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of war on individuals, families, and communities. As a refugee, he has navigated the challenges of displacement and resettlement, grappling with the complexities of identity, belonging, and cultural adaptation. Through his involvement with the Youth Advisory Group, Rahim aims to contribute to the creation of inclusive and accessible spaces that honour the diverse experiences of veterans, refugees, and civilians impacted by conflict.
Darcy Ngabire
Darcy Ngabire is an advocate for refugee rights and is interested in supporting the integration and empowerment of refugees. His focus is on enhancing access to essential services and fostering community understanding and support for refugees.
Darcy is a member of the Refugee Advisory Group, where he leverages his personal experience as a refugee to advocate for improved treatment and support for refugees. He has contributed to various advocacy groups and participated in policy discussions to promote inclusivity and integration.
Darcy is passionate about contributing to the Australian War Memorial advisory group to ensure that the experiences and contributions of refugees are recognized and respected. He hopes to amplify the voices of refugees and advocate for policies that foster understanding, acceptance, and support within the broader community.
Amok Sarah Dhuol
Growing up in Australia with South Sudanese parents who sought refuge from the turmoil in their homeland, Amok has been deeply engaged in mentoring young people, within her family and through organizations like the Queensland African Communities Council. Her experiences have fostered a profound understanding of the challenges faced by young immigrants as they navigate their new lives. To that end, Amok is pursuing a degree in governance and policy. She is passionate about understanding how government policies impact vulnerable members of society.
Amok’s goal is to leverage her knowledge to advocate for those who need it most and to make a positive impact on our community. Joining the Youth Advisory Group is a natural fit as she recognises the importance of providing meaningful opportunities for young voices to be heard and to actively participate in shaping our communities. Amok is deeply committed to advocating for inclusivity and accessibility, and she firmly believes that representing youth perspectives is essential in ensuring that the Memorial remains relevant and engaging for future generations.
Bakary Fall
President of the Future Leader Advocacy Group
President of the Future Leader Advocacy Group and Treasurer of the Griffith Government and International Relations Society, Bakary is passionate about advocating for youth through his ongoing volunteer work and through his contributions towards government advisory boards.
Bakary received the 2022 Highly Commended award on behalf of the Future Leaders Advocacy Group from Leanne Linard, then Queensland Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
Bakary is excited to join the Youth Advisory Group. He wants to champion the Memorial's vision and values for youth whilst also contributing to community engagement, exhibition content, and other important areas. Bakary’s favourite quote reflects his enthusiasm: “Why give up today when tomorrow might be the day I win.”