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YOUTH AMBASSADORS 2018

Arka Das

Actor

Lion

Arka started acting in 2003 when he entered the regional Youth Shakespeare Festival. In 2004 he found success in the same festival when he won first place in the duologue category. He made his debut with the Ensemble Theatre in 2010 in Animals Out of Paper, in which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards. He also returned to the Ensemble a year later for 'Casanova', then appeared in 'Beached' at the Griffin Theatre in 2013 alongside a star-studded cast.

Mandeep Sodhi

Chief Executive Officer

HashChing

​Mandeep Sodhi is the CEO and Founder of HashChing, a fast growing FinTech start-up in Australia. Mandeep was recently selected as one of the top 100 coolest people in Australian tech by Business Insider in October 2016, won 2017 Young Professional of the Year by IABCA, and nominated as Finalist for 2017 Young Business Leader of the Year award by Optus.

Celina Lazarus

Co-Founder and Director

First Crop Coffee and Maillard Atelier

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Celina Lazarus is the 2017 IABCA Business woman of the year winner and currently on the 2018 Global Women to Watch List.

She is the co-founder, owner, and director of First Crop Coffee, a raw coffee importing company and Maillard Atelier, a coffee co-roasting and educational space. Her community involvement is at the heart of both businesses as she invests into people through business. Through First Crop Coffee she has been able to finance the building and running of schools and health centres in coffee growing regions. She is an advocate for not only women but women in colour within the industry and has supported numerous women in their own business ventures. 

Michael Koss

CEO &Co-Founder

Netik Quick Clinic

Michael is the CEO and Co-Founder of Netik Quick Clinic, an Australian startup providing digital health services in India. He was named in the 100 Most Impactful Healthcare Leaders in India 2017 & 2018. Michael is the first and only foreigner to hold a leadership role in India’s peak healthcare body, NatHealth. He was named an Australia – ASEAN Emerging Leader in 2017 by DFAT and is a 2018 Westerwelle Young Founders scholarship recipient.

Dr. Payal Mukherjee

Clinical Associate Professor

University of Sydney

Associate.Professor Payal Mukherjee is an Adult and Paediatric ENT Surgeon subspecialising in advanced ear surgery. She is the ENT Research Lead of the RPA Institute of Academic Surgery and an executive member on the Royal Australasian College of Surgeon, NSW committee.  As a surgeon and an academic, she is a great advocate for building respect in surgery, domestic violence and gender equity in surgery and academia.

Preeti Daga

Corporate Communications Manager

Community Housing Ltd

With over 13 years of experience in marketing and communications, strategy, stakeholder engagement, public relations and branding, Preeti Daga is a tertiary qualified communications specialist. She has worked across private and third sector multinational organisations in India and Australia and is presently leading the communications at Australia’s largest NFP Affordable Housing Provider, Community Housing Ltd.  A young community leader, Preeti is also the Vice President of Australia India Business Council Victoria and is deeply passionate about furthering India and Australia relations.

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Prerna Pahwa

Founder & President

Simply Human

Nominated as Finalist for IABCA awards 2017. Prerna is an epitome of what her name rightfully suggests in Hindi- an ‘inspiration’ for many. She is an IT professional, an entrepreneur, a humanitarian and aims to be a philanthropist. Founder of Simply Human– Superheroes Without Capes; an organisation supporting cancer patients, also raising awareness about bone marrow transplant & mental well-being. Prerna is spreading the love and support to the people in dire need. Prerna bring with her a passion for helping people which is so rarely found.​

Sam Freeman

Director

First Impressions Resources

Sam Freeman has been Active in India since 2012, working to solidify the integration of an Australian and Indian joint venture in the skill development sector. He has cemented himself as a significant figure in the Indian Skills and Education industry, working to create pathways for Australian Education Suppliers who are struggling to integrate into the industry. He has lived in India since 2014, working on the expansion and improvement of the Australian Retail College India Private Limited.

Sunil Menon

Multicultural Participation and Stakeholder Manager

Australian Football  League

Sunil has over 10 years’ experience working in communications, sport, major events and project management on an international level. With a strong background in using sport as a vehicle for change, he has worked for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and Charlton Athletic Football Club in London. Currently working at the Australian Football League (AFL), Sunil has worked to harness passion and convert this into participation, achieving outstanding results and creating sustainable partnerships between numerous sectors.

Youth Ambassadors 2017  - Click Here

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