CEO of SisterWorks Inc.

Ifrin is the CEO of SisterWorks, a For-Purpose Social Enterprise supporting migrant, and refugee women, to achieve economic independence through employment and entrepreneurships.  

After 23 years in the glamorous world of corporate and consulting, Ifrin was introduced to SisterWorks during her sabbatical as a stay-home mum caring for three daughters. Starting her journey with the organisation as a volunteer, she quickly realised SisterWorks mission resonated deeply with her.

Ifrin is dedicated to bridging the gender disparity gap. She is a proponent of diversity and women's empowerment, serving as an inclusive leader and taking pride in being the mother of three strong and determined girls.

Policy Advisor, Ethnic Communities'​ Council of Victoria

Dr Jennifer Borrell has been a social researcher, policy advisor, advocacy leader and consultant in the community sector for 30 years. Her PhD thesis outlined a holistic, multi-level framework for understanding and addressing a range of interconnecting social issues. Jennifer has a special interest in the circumstances and policies affecting people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, and she is currently Policy Advisor at the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, where she oversees policies affecting older people, which informs ECCV’s advocacy work.

Jennifer is author of the recent report: The digital divide: Impacts on older people from migrant communities.Https://eccv.org.au/digital-divide-report/

Lecturer & Researcher of University of Melbourne

Dr. Xin Pei is a lecturer in in Media and Communications in the School of Culture and Communication. Her research focus lies in examining the social consequences of adopting information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the context of marginalisation. Xin uses an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the (dis)empowerment brought about by the adoption and usage of ICTs in different contexts encompassing gender, ageing and racism. At present, her research focuses on the AI adoption and usage by older adults, especially their imagination and perception of medical AI. 

Advocate, Elder Rights Advocacy

Genia Sawczyn is an experienced advocate at Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA), helping older people, their families and representatives in Victoria navigate aged care services and resolve related issues. She has over 40 years of experience as a qualified social worker in local and state government and the community sector, including extensive experience in community development and casework with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Genia is committed to access, equity, and aged care rights and supporting older people to have their voices heard.a

Leader in the Sri Lankan community

Rohana Karunaratne was a Quality Administrator at Leica Biosystems in Melbourne, Australia, where he worked from 1994 to 2018. He held a National Diploma in Technology in Electrical Power Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Beyond his professional career, Rohana was a prominent figure in Melbourne's Sri Lankan community, dedicated to preserving Sinhalese cultural identity among migrants. A professional singer, he was the first artist to present his own musical show in Australia and directed community theatre productions, including performing in the Melbourne production of Dr. Sarachchandra's Mahasara. Rohana also served as president of the Sri Lankan Engineering Diplomates Association of Australia (SLEDAA) and was an active member of the Sri Lankan Study Centre for the Advancement of Technology and Social Welfare (SCATS). He organized numerous community events, significantly enriching the Sri Lankan cultural landscape in Melbourne.