Elleni Bereded-Samuel
M Ed, Dip Counselling VU; BA (Foreign Languages and Literature and English as a Second language) Addis Ababa
Community Engagement Advisor and Coordinator
Elleni has focused her life's work on strengthening education, training and employment for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Australia. Her dynamic leadership has resulted in new solutions for community to access and participate in society.
From 2005-2011 Elleni served as the first African Commissioner appointed to the Victorian Multicultural Commission. For six years she served on the Board of Directors of The Women's Hospital and chair of the Community Advisory Committee. Elleni also served for three years as the inaugural member of the Australian Social Inclusion Board.
Recently, Elleni was appointed to the Western Health Board of Directors and is also chair of the Western Health Cultural Diversity and Community Advisory Committee and a member of Education Research and Development Committee. She is a Director of the SBS Board.
Elleni was one of the recipients of the VU Vice-Chancellor’s Citations and Award for Outstanding Engagement with CALD communities in Australia. She also received Victoria’s Premier Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs – Education and Prime Minster International Year of Volunteers Award. Her name has been included on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
Elleni is also on the 2006 “Who is Who Australian Women” among 4000 remarkable women in Australia. In 2008, she was selected as one of twelve significant women in Victoria as part of 100 years of women’s suffrage reflection and celebration and also participated at the 20-20 Summit. She won the 2008 Diversity@Work Individual Champion Award for Diversity and Inclusion, and was presented with her award by Sir Bob Geldof.
In 2012, the Australian Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard, congratulated and recognized Elleni as one of the 40 Australians champions independently selected as the new People of Australia Ambassadors following hundreds of nominations from the public. Their role is to provide advice to government and the Australian Multicultural Council. She was also named one of the 100 most influential African Australians.
Portfolios
Areas of expertise
- community capacity building and engagement
- cultural diversity
- education training and employment of migrant and refugees in Australia
- multiculturalism
- partnerships
- refugee issues
- settlement issues
- social Inclusion
Contact details
- +61 3 9919 4948
- +61 3 9919 4792
- elleni.bereded@vu.edu.au