About Us

Masoom Stanekzai is a distinguished Afghan peace negotiator, former senior government official, and research affiliate with the University of Melbourne’s Initiative for Peacebuilding, as well as an honorary fellow with the Asia Institute. He’s a co-facilitator of the Intra-Afghan Dialogue in Australia.

With over three decades of experience in governance, security, and peace processes, Masoom has held key leadership roles in Afghanistan’s transitional and republic governments. He served as Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, vice-chair of disarmament and reintegration efforts, Chief Peace Negotiator for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and head of the National Directorate of Security. He is also an Ambassador for Peace with UPF Australia.

Dr Mujib Abid is an Afghan–Australian scholar whose interdisciplinary work spans modern Afghan history, peace studies, political theory, and diaspora studies. He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Initiative for Peacebuilding at the University of Melbourne, where his research engages critically with forms of power, resistance, and agency that emerge across varied geopolitical contexts. Mujib’s scholarship foregrounds intellectual traditions rooted in the Global South, drawing on postcolonial and decolonial theory as well as Islamic and other non-Western knowledge systems to rethink dominant narratives of conflict, peacebuilding, and political subjectivity. Beyond academia, he is co-founder of the Salaam Center for Dialogue, a Virginia-based non-profit dedicated to dialogue facilitation, peace research, and advocacy.

Mujib holds a PhD from the University of Queensland, a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Arts from the American University of Afghanistan. He is also an Ambassador for Peace with UPF Australia.

Dr John Bellavance is a distinguished academic and community leader with 40 years of experience in international peacebuilding and education. He currently serves as a Global Vice-President at Sun Moon University, South Korea and Asia Pacific Coordinator, International Association of Academicians for Peace. Additionally, he holds the position of Vice-President of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Australia. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Monash University, Australia in values education and the use of Information and Communication Technology and has been teaching Information Technology in high schools for 23 years.

Lio Ale is an Ambassador for Peace with UPF Australia and the Co-Chair of the Universal Peace Federation Victoria chapter. He is the past leader of several Pacific Island Associations in Victoria. From a business perspective Lio is dynamic leader committed to nurturing talent and cultivating a thriving workplace culture with a strong emphasis on integrity and transparency, lead with authenticity, motivating teams to excel and embrace their strengths.

Ambassador Dr. Sayed Fadlullah Fadel is a former Ambassador of Afghanistan to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Non-Resident Ambassador to Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, and Nigeria. For more than a quarter of a century, he has served as a diplomat and academic, working extensively in the fields of peace building, dialogue facilitation, and conflict resolution, particularly in the context of Afghanistan.

He had the privilege of being among the earliest Afghan political figures involved in arranging and facilitating peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government during the period 1996–2001, prior to the establishment of the Afghan Peace Council. He also contributed as a Political Advisor to the Chairman of the Afghan Peace Council, supporting national and international initiatives aimed at achieving reconciliation, stability, and sustainable peace.

As an academic and researcher, Dr. Fadel’s competencies in research and analysis have been further enhanced by his participation in extensive academic studies, including a Doctor of Philosophy in Politics and Policy, a Master of International and Community Development, and a Graduate Diploma of International Relations from Deakin University, as well as studies in Islamic Law and Civil Law from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. He also serves as a Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University and has previously lectured at the Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne. He also serves the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) as a Study Specialist Reviewer, Examination.

Development Panel Member, and Assessor.

In addition, As Islamic Scholar, Dr. Fadel currently serves as a Member of the Board of Imams, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), and Member of the Australian Fatwa Council.

Anita came to Australia as a refugee from war-torn Germany with my parents and sister in 1950.

Anita comes from a 45-year education background. She has Diploma of Primary Teaching, Graduate Diploma in Teaching English as a 2nd Language and a Master of Education, Special Education Degree.   Since retiring from teaching, she has become involved with the Interfaith Network (IFN) of Greater City of Dandenong where she served as President (August 2023-September 2024) and Vice President (September 2024-September 2025). She is also a practitioner of Stillness Meditation Therapy and involvement on local and international levels with Ignatian Spirituality.  She is happily married with a married daughter.  Anita comes from a Christian/Catholic background.

She is a U3A tutor running sessions in Stillness Meditation and am a Victorian team member of the First Spiritual Exercises and God’s Field Hospital. 

Essan Dileri is a Rotary Peace Fellow and currently works as a Senior Diversity and Intercultural Advisor at Melton City Council based in Western Metro Melbourne. He completed his MA in International Development in Republic of Ireland. His MA thesis was on alternative livelihoods, from opium poppy growth and production to saffron conducted in Afghanistan. He also completed his MBA from Preston University in Peshawar, Pakistan. He has published a book "Raised in Conflict" in 2013 sharing first-hand tales of conflict from his country Afghanistan. Essan is a Peace-Meal Contributor, as well as Host and Facilitator. Peacemeal is a community-based organisation nourishing hope through culinary peacebuilding in times of conflict. He is also part of the University of Melbourne's Intercultural Advisory Group and Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust Community Advisory Committee member.

Fereshteh is a cybersecurity professional with about 20 years of experience serving the industry. She holds a Master of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Software Engineering.

Over the years, Fereshteh has been deeply committed to raising awareness within the Australian community about Iran, its people, and the realities they face. Together with a group of like-minded friends, she has closely observed Iranian society and identified a critical need to focus on its most marginalised members - the forgotten and vulnerable individuals often overlooked by both society and, at times, their own families.

Her work also extends into education, where she explores alternative educational systems in Iran and research for more wholesome educational systems where the human is at the centre of the curriculum.

Fereshteh has actively contributed to peacebuilding initiatives through regular gatherings, both online and in person. During these forums, she has contributed into the study and culturally relevant translation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (2010), engaging professionals to lead discussions on specific articles and their application within local contexts. She is also an Ambassador for Peace with UPF Australia.

Archbishop Amb Dr Nelson Pervaz

Winners Fellowship/ Global Peace Network, Ambassador for Peace

Member of Australian Peace Council

Chair, Interreligious Association of Peace and Development

Former Chaplain of Multi-Faith Chaplaincy of RMIT University

Former Member of Regional Advisory Council (RAC) of Victorian Multicultural Commission

Kamla Reddy, as a distinguished educator, and community leader has dedicated her life to education, social cohesion and unity. A gold medallist from the University of the South

Pacific (USP), she holds multiple qualifications from Monash University, Massey University and USP.

After 14 years of teaching in Fiji, she become a foundation staff member at Nossal High School where she played a key role in shaping the school’s culture.

Her Outstanding Service to School Community Award (2023) marked her retirement.
Beyond the classroom, Kamla fosters cultural connection through initiatives like the Intercultural Social Book Club, launched during COVID-19 and is now in its seventh year. For the last five years, she has played a leading role in NAIDOC Week, promoting reconciliation and unity. For her community work, she has been recognised with numerous Sir John Monash Awards including the Inspirational Women’s Leadership

Award. Last year she was also awarded the lobal Women’s Peace Ambassador Award by WFWP.

A dedicated management committee member of the Monash Interfaith Gathering (MIG) and as a member of Dandenong Interfaith Network (DIFN), Kamla has taken active role

in numerous of their activities aimed at promoting peace, harmony and unity.

Married to Mangaiya Reddy, with three children and seven grandchildren, Kamla continues to inspire through her leadership and service.

Matilda Davis is a master’s student in Humanitarianism and Development, Deakin University, Australia. She has a background in International Development and a broad interest in disaster preparedness and recovery, advocacy against domestic and gendered violence and peacebuilding.

Through her academic work has engaged with key issues including poverty reduction, community-led development approaches, and disaster risk reduction policy. Through NGO volunteering, she has developed skills in research, critical analysis, and policy evaluation, alongside strong cross-cultural awareness and experience engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Matilda is particularly interested in working alongside refugee communities and contributing to peacebuilding initiatives in diverse global contexts. 

Kuol Malou

Founder, Third Space Narrative

Founder & CEO @ THIRD SPACE NARRATIVE | 64 Network | Leading with empathy in Refugee & Immigrant Business and Leadership Solutions

He works with nonprofits, social enterprises, councils and government teams operating in multicultural, refugee and diaspora contexts. His work helps organisations turn lived experience, community knowledge and complex system realities into clear strategy, practical delivery and useful evidence. Third Space Narrative focuses on narrative and systems strategy. I help teams align their story, stakeholders, decisions and delivery so the work can hold under pressure and make sense to the people it is designed to serve.

Rev David Moffat is the Spiritual Leader of Swedenborg Community Victoria, a post he has held since 2020.

David was ordained in 1997, serving congregations in Birmingham, UK, and Canberra prior to his call to Melbourne. He is President of Monash Interfaith Gathering, Vice-President of Monash Inter Church Council, convenor of the Swedenborg Social Media Network, and has recently stepped down as President of The New Church In Australia, a post he held for 10 years. A former piano teacher and accompanist, he retains a keen interest in music in many forms.

He is married to Pam and they have three adult children.

A/Prof. Degu Abebe is an academic leader, medical educator, clinician, researcher, and community advocate with qualifications in medicine, neuroscience, mental health, nursing, biotechnology, cancer therapeutics and veterinary medicine. He currently serves as Associate Professor, Associate Dean, and Clinical Director for the Australia, New Zealand, and Asia-Pacific regions at the International University of Health Sciences (IUHS). His leadership has focused on expanding clinical education opportunities, strengthening healthcare partnerships, mentoring students, and supporting healthcare workforce development.

Over more than two decades, Dr. Abebe has combined scholarship, clinical service, and educational leadership across Australia, Africa, Europe, and North America. He has supervised more than 230 MD research projects, contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications, and delivered invited presentations at internationally recognized institutions including Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego.

G Alphonse has professional experience across the disability, mental health, community services, and pastoral care sectors in Victoria, Australia, as well as international experience gained earlier in career.

G work has involved supporting individuals, families, and communities through roles focused on service coordination, community engagement, psychosocial support, advocacy, and pastoral care.

Throughout career, has worked with people from diverse cultural, linguistic, faith, and social backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, older adults, people living with disability, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. G’s professional interests include community wellbeing, social inclusion, intercultural understanding, and supporting individuals experiencing vulnerability, loss, or significant life transitions.

G currently serves as a Pastoral Practitioner while continuing his involvement in community-focused initiatives and approach combines practical support, active listening, collaboration, and a commitment to respecting the dignity and autonomy of every individual. In addition to professional responsibilities, G is completing a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and completed studies in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care.

As a member of the Peace Council, G supports efforts that encourage constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation among people of different cultures, faiths, and backgrounds. G particularly interested in initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, community participation, and understanding across diverse communities.

Milon Islam FCPA is a distinguished multicultural leader whose lifelong commitment to service has profoundly enriched Australia’s diverse communities. Over more than 25 years, he has combined professional excellence with selfless volunteerism, fostering cultural diversity, social inclusion, and community cohesion across multiple sectors and generations.

Advisory Committee Member of the Universal Peace Federation Australia – Victorian Chapter, a UN-affiliated NGO in General Consultative Status with ECOSOC, Milon actively contributes to peacebuilding, interfaith understanding, and global cooperation, reflecting his enduring commitment to harmony across faiths and cultures.

As Vice President of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), the peak representative body for Muslims in Victoria, Milon plays a pivotal leadership role in advocacy, unity, and engagement. During his tenure as Treasurer from 2018 to 2024, he strengthened financial governance while supporting programs that promoted transparency, trust, and meaningful intercultural dialogue.

Professionally, Milon is a Fellow of CPA Australia and serves as GM – Finance at a leading NFP national housing and homelessness organisation. He brings his expertise to ensure sustainable social impact while mentoring teams and strengthening organisational capability.

Milon Islam FCPA is not only a leader of organisations, but a builder of communities—his work strengthens the fabric of multicultural Australia and models the transformative power of selfless service.

Prof. (Dr. Hon) Jude Ogbeide Ediae is the Founder & CEO

at Global Youth Mental Health Awareness (GYMHA) Incorporated, Australia. Professor Jude Ogbeide Ediae is an accomplished mental health advocate, serial entrepreneur, and gospel minister, whose life’s work is defined by a steadfast commitment to fostering positive change through education and awareness. With a profound belief in the transformative power of the human spirit, Professor Ediae has dedicated his career to empowering individuals and communities, helping them build brighter futures.

Global Youth Mental Health Awareness (GYMHA) Incorporated is a prominent charity based in Australia which has been instrumental in creating vital programs aimed at improving mental health literacy among youth their passions.

Professor Jude Ogbeide Ediae has a B.Sc in Psychology from Swinburne University Australia, Master of Business Administration (HR) from Australia Institute of Business, Final Year Student Bachelor of Economics and Extension from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Tripple Masters of Rehabilitation, Counselling, and Mental Health from La Trobe University, Australia, National Diploma in Agricultural Technology Nigeria, Diploma of Community Welfare Work Australia, Certificate IV in Disability, and Cert III in Aged Care, Graduate New Emerging Community Leader- Leadership Victoria.