Background
As a migrant from Hong Kong and moved to Australia with my family at the age of 7, I possess a deep personal understanding of the difficulties faced by people from migrant backgrounds in Australia. Despite graduating with a degree in software engineering, I was drawn to the work of advocacy and fighting for the justice and rights of people from disadvantaged backgrounds during my time at university. And for that reason, after graduation I decided to work in the community sector, more specifically people with disabilities and multicultural communities.
In addition to my professional career, I have a diverse range of interests including photography, crafts, collecting cultural costumes, reading and music.
Education
- PhD candidate on the topic ‘What are political skills and how to develop them in politics’
- Swinburn-Scanlon Intercultural Fellowship
- Master of Business Management
- Graduate Certificate in Business (Quality Management)
- Graduate Diploma in Law
- Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce
Labor Party
I joined the ALP in 2004 at a time when I was an advocate for international students. During my time as Founder of the Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS), I worked alongside a number of Labor MPs to provide a voice for international students in Australia. As a young person back then, I was moved and inspired by the work of Labor MPs and learned how politics can help improve and change peoples’ lives for the better. As a result, I joined the ALP and have never looked back.
Since then I have held the following roles within the ALP:
- 2013 Labor candidate for Higgins
- Co-founder and Interim Chair of Poliversity
- Former branch executive for Prahran ALP branch
- Former member of the FEA executive in Higgins
Community Service and Leadership
I have served the community through the following board member and leadership roles:
- Board member of Carers Victoria
- Board member of Glenuc (Holmesglen Foundation)
- Member of the Ministerial Council of Women’s Equality
- Academic Board Member for Lyons College
- Chairperson of the judging panel of New Australian of the Year Award
- former Board member of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria
- former Board member of InTouch – Multicultural Centre against Family Violence
- Founder and former President of Australian Federation of International Students
- former Councillor of 3ZZZ Melbourne Community Ethnic Radio
Professional Roles
- Director and Principal Consultant, Cultural Intelligence
- Program Manager, Asialink Diplomacy
- Program Manager, Culture Card Victoria (auspiced by Committee for Melbourne)
- Direct Services Manager, Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC)
- Multicultural Partnerships Coordinator, North West CALD Partnership (auspiced by ADEC)
- Consultant, Australian Healthcare Associates
Awards
- Australian International Education Award (Internationalisation) 2016
- Tertiary Scholarship Fund – Social Services Award 2016
- Finalist Agenda Setter of the year – Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards 2016
- Australian Leadership Award 2013
- Inductee to Victorian Honour Roll of Women 2012
- Rising Star Award for Young Alumni (University of Melbourne) 2012
- Young Victorian of the Year 2010
- Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs 2006
- Melbourne Award (Youth) 2005