Board directors

The AWECC Board of Directors provides the strategic leadership and management of the organisation. The Board is accountable to the members and the community through transparent decision-making, responsible management of the budget and organisational risk, and setting strategic direction.
Through a collaborative, community-focused approach, our directors strive for organisational excellence and maximum community impact.   

RUPINDER KAUR
​Chairperson

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Rupinder is a Wodonga resident, who moved to Australia from India in 2007. Rupinder is a passionate advocate for people in need, particularly in helping victims of family/domestic violence. Rupinder serves as a White Ribbon advocate and the Deputy Chair for its Victorian branch, and is also a committee and executive member for other government and non-government organisations.

As a nursing graduate (Bachelor of Nursing), Rupinder has developed various community and corporate skills and is passionate about using these abilities to support the local community. With her empathetic approach to helping people in need, Rupinder has established relationships with many like-minded state and local service agencies. She is also a graduate of Wodonga’s New and Emerging Communities Leadership Program and is currently a participant in the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program. 

​Rupinder has been presented and honoured with number of prestigious awards and titles, including being named Wodonga Citizen of the Year for 2019, and being awarded a bravery medal in 2017 for raising awareness about violence against women. As well as serving on the AWECC Board since October 2017, Rupinder has volunteered with Lifeline, and holds a Certificate III in Business Administration (Legal). Her many hobbies include cooking, writing and make-up artistry. 

KERRI IMLACH
​Deputy Chairperson

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Kerri Imlach was elected to the Board of Directors and nominated as Deputy Chair in October 2019. Kerri  is the Team Leader - Customer Support at North East Water. She is motivated to “want more”, to no longer want to wait for change but to be part of the change, Kerri wants to motivate and lead others to be the change they want to see for healthy and sustainable communities.
 
Kerri’s ambition it to be part of communities where every person is treated without fear of being judged, where there will be gender equality and where all communities will be free of racial prejudice. A community where there will be inclusion, cohesion and wellbeing and where all community members will have easy access to basic needs including food, water and shelter.

MARIAM ABBAS
Treasurer

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Mariam came to live in Albury in 2011 and is of Lebanese heritage, born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mariam graduated from La Trobe University in Wodonga with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting). She currently works as a graduate accountant at a local firm in Wodonga.

​Mariam has a passion to support local young people and has an interest on supporting migrant and refugee background young people to find employment. Mariam serves on the AWECC Board of Directors as Secretary and was appointed to the Board in October 2018.

CLAIROL CRUZ
​Secretary

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Clairol was elected to the Board of Directors and nominated as Secretary in October 2019.

PAHAL M. BHATTARAI
Director​

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Born in Bhutan, Pahal left his country of birth in 1991 due to ethnic cleansing occurring in the country at the time. He would spend the next 19 years of his life living in a refugee camp in Nepal. During this time, Pahal studied and worked in the camp school for 11 yrs.
After eventually being resettled in Australia in 2011, Pahal continued to learn, initially completing certificates in Spoken and Written English through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), and later through various courses in aged care, home and community services, disability support, and security. Pahal was also a graduate of the 2017 'New and Emerging Communities Leadership Program' (through Leadership Victoria) and is a trained Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) community advocate.  
After short stints working in a factory and in the security industry, Pahal now holds several jobs, as a carer with Westmont Aged Care Services Ltd., as a support worker for Uniting and casually with the VEC.
Pahal’s commitment to the community saw him appointed as the first chairperson of the Wodonga Bhutanese Community Inc. and as a volunteer with refugee and migrant communities through the St Vincent de Paul Society. Pahal has a passion for assisting people who need a helping hand.

SOWMIYA SOORI
​Director

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Miya was elected to the Board of Directors and nominated as Secretary in October 2019.

TARA GAUTAM
​Director

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Born in Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan,  Tara worked as a heavy machinery operator in the public work department of Bhutan for 10 years. Tara left Bhutan in 1990 and spent 18 years living in a refugee camp in Jhapa, Nepal. While in the camp, Tara worked for the camp management committee and as a school volunteer.
Tara migrated to Wodonga in 2008.

After settling in Australia, Tara became a volunteer with the Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga from 2010 to 2016, helping new migrants and newly arriving Bhutanese family's with their initial settlement needs, such as helping them with their shopping, etc. Tara has also served on the Advisory Body to the Wodonga Bhutanese Community Inc., from 2011 to 2016. Since 2010, Tara has worked for Aware Industries and is presently a team leader. He also continues to volunteer at various community events.

Tara is interested in providing social and community help to people in need. Tara was elected to the Board of Directors and nominated as Secretary in October 2019.

SUE PORTORS
​Immediate Past Chair

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Sue is the immediate past chairperson having been elected to AWECC's first Board in 2014 and serving as Chair from 2016 to 2018. Sue is an American-Australian, of German and English descent. She has lived on the Border for over 20 years. Her interest in supporting and advocating for local multicultural communities has been shaped by her volunteer work locally and abroad, and through the ethnic diversity within her own family. Locally, Sue has been involved in refugee soccer initiatives, and has volunteered with the Midnight Basketball program. Abroad, she has volunteered in orphanages for international organisations in Uganda and Nepal, and traveled back to Nepal as part of a team helping rebuild schools in Nepal following devastating earthquakes in 2015. Sue is a Development Supervisor for North East Water, and lives in East Albury.   

Staff

AWECC staff supports the mission of AWECC through research and advocacy, capacity-building programs, and community partnerships. AWECC staff operate across a diverse range of policy and service areas, including, settlement, women, citizenship, health, family, youth, employment, ageing, and more.​

Contact us: our staff can be contact by calling (02) 6024 6895 or emailing contact@awecc.org.au

JODIE FARRUGIA
Community Advocacy Officer

JOSEPH LUMANOG
Community Advocacy Officer

BRETT SANDERSON
Community Advocacy Officer

BHAKTI DHAMALA
​Multicultural Support Worker

CHRISTIAN BASHIMBE
Multicultural Support Worker

GRACE UWASE
Multicultural Support Worker

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