Welcome to the 2025 CiCT Forum – Strength in Struggle: Stories of Refugee Resilience

This year, we honour the strength that emerges from adversity — the resilience built in silence, the leadership forged through lived experience, and the courage it takes to speak truth in the face of hardship.

The CiCT Forum brings together powerful voices from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds who lead, create, and inspire. Each speaker you’ll meet on this page carries with them a story — a journey marked by displacement, survival, advocacy, and healing. These are not just stories of hardship, but of transformation, solidarity, and hope.

Through their experiences, we are invited to reflect on what it means to resist invisibility, to reclaim agency, and to build community across difference. Their voices are threads in the fabric of a more just and connected future.

We invite you to explore the profiles below, to listen with empathy, and to allow these stories to move, inform and empower you.

Because when we honour resilience, we build strength — not only in individuals, but across entire communities.

Call for Expressions of Interest: Join the CiCT Forum Steering Committee. Closing Date: 15 October 2025

Master of the Ceremony (MC)

Our Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Jasmina Bajraktarevic

Community Services Coordinator at STARTTS
President of the Refugee Council of Australia

Jasmina Bajraktarevic-Hayward, a Social Worker and refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina, manages STARTTS’ Community Services Program. With vast experience in community development and mental health initiatives, she leads diverse teams and projects, enhancing support for refugees. Jasmina is also the President of the Refugee Council of Australia and actively contributes to several advocacy networks.

Ms Charishma Kaliyanda, MP

Charishma Kaliyanda is the Member for Liverpool in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the Labor Party since 2023. Born in India and raised in south-west Sydney, she holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney and a double degree in Science and Arts from the University of New South Wales. Before entering Parliament, she worked in health promotion and community engagement roles, including at headspace Campbelltown and UNSW. She has also served as a Liverpool City Councillor.

Ms Julia Finn, MP

Julia Finn is the Member for Granville in the New South Wales Parliament, elected in 2015. A former Lord Mayor of Parramatta, she has served in various shadow ministerial portfolios and currently holds responsibility for Sport and Youth. Julia has a background in public service and is a strong advocate for community development and inclusive youth engagement.

Ms Anne Stanley, MP

Anne Stanley is the Federal Member for Werriwa, representing the Australian Labor Party since 2016. A lifelong resident of the area, she was the first woman elected to represent Werriwa in the House of Representatives. Prior to entering federal politics, she served as a Councillor on Liverpool City Council and has consistently advocated for healthcare, education, and local infrastructure in South West Sydney.

Ms Lynda Voltz, MP

Lynda Voltz is the Member for Auburn in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the Australian Labor Party since 2019. She previously served in the NSW Legislative Council from 2007 to 2019. Voltz has held several shadow portfolios, including Police and Counter-Terrorism, Sport and Recreation, and Veterans’ Affairs. A former member of the Australian Army, she is also the current President of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network.

Panel Discussion: Conflicts Abroad and Australian Community

Moderator

Dr. Atem Atem

Senior Communities in Cultural Transition Project Officer at STARTTS  – Dr. Atem Dau Atem, PhD, is STARTTS’

Acting Senior Communities in Cultural Transition Project Officer. He previously worked for Fairfield City Council and Bayside Council in roles including Multicultural Officer, Social Planning and Advocacy Officer and Community Development Inclusion Specialist. Before working for local government, Atem worked for various settlement support services. Atem Atem, Senior Communities in Cultural Transition Project Officer, STARTTS.

Panel

Bahtiyar Barat – Uyghur Community Speaker/Representative

Investment Support Officer

 Bahtiyar Barat is an Uyghur father of two and a dedicated professional in the financial services industry. Currently, Bahtiyar works as an Investment Support Officer in a financial advisory firm in South West Sydney while furthering his expertise by studying for a Master of Finance at the University of New South Wales. In addition to his finance career, he runs a home maintenance company with the support of his father and the Uyghur tradesmen in the community. Passionate about continuous learning and professional growth, he also actively contributes to community development initiatives for Uyghur Australians.

Marian Saba – Palestinian Community Speaker/Representative

Palestinian Artist and Community Advocate

Marian Saba is a Palestinian artist, community advocate, and basketball coach who arrived in Australia in 2024 after being displaced by the war in Gaza. Her journey has been one of resilience, renewal, and building connection and community in a new environment. As a visual artist working primarily in drawing, Marian explores powerful themes of memory, identity, and endurance.

Her leadership and service are grounded in empathy, creativity, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Through her art, advocacy, and mentorship, Marian continues to make a lasting impact, fostering resilience, connection, and opportunity within her community.

Yasin Rahmani – Afghan Community Speaker/Representative

Consultant at STARTTS

Yasin Rahmani is an MBA scholar and passionate human rights advocate with 20 years of experience in Afghanistan and Australia. He volunteers as a consultant at STARTTS and actively contributes to the CICT project team. Yasin supports refugee-led community organisations by organising partnership events, identifying grant opportunities, writing applications, and ensuring compliance. He also passionately supports Afghan refugee families and individuals with resettlement issues.

Dr Ahlam Ibrahim

Sudanese Community Speaker/Representative

Dr Ahlam Ibrahim is a dedicated General Practitioner based in Sydney, with a strong commitment to comprehensive healthcare. A graduate of Khartoum University, she brings extensive experience from various medical settings across Sudan. Dr Ibrahim has a special interest in women’s and children’s health, as well as mental health medication. She is also the founder of SAHWA, a non-profit organisation focused on supporting vulnerable communities.

Successful stories from grass-root initiatives

Rami Shaheen

Trauma and Wellness through Palestinian Community Resilience – President of Gaza Association Australia

He currently serves as the President of Gaza Association Australia, Rami oversees the delivery of essential services to newly arrived refugees from Gaza, including housing support, access to education, public transport integration, and trauma-informed care. He has successfully led multiple government-funded initiatives focused on social inclusion, civic engagement, and capacity building within culturally diverse communities. His efforts continue to drive systemic change and create meaningful opportunities for marginalised populations across Australia.

Zulfia Erk – Story if the Ughur Charity

Founding Director of Uyghur Charity Inc

Zulfia Erk, founding director of Uyghur charity Inc, passionately committed to creating positive change and empowering the Uyghur community through dedicated service and advocacy.

Naung Naung – Home Away from Home

Consultant at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNPOS)

Naung Naung is a Master of Social Justice (Peace and Conflict Studies) graduate from the University of Sydney and a former humanitarian practitioner. Originally from a small Bamar Buddhist town in central Myanmar, Naung Naung was forced to flee and seek refuge in Australia following the 2021 military coup.  An experience that deepened his commitment to social justice and informed his academic focus on forced migration, transnational repression, and diaspora politics. Currently working as a consultant with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), where his work and research aim to illuminate the lived experiences of displacement and contribute to broader understandings of authoritarianism, resistance, and peacebuilding.

Maryam Zahid – From Thrive to Survive

Founder and CEO of Afghan Women on The Move (AWOTM)

Maryam Zahid is an award-winning Afghan-Australian human rights advocate, diversity practitioner, and self-taught artist. She is the founder and CEO of Afghan Women on The Move (AWOTM), an initiative focused on empowering Afghan and refugee women through education, advocacy, and cultural inclusion. A former refugee who arrived in Australia under the Women at Risk program, Maryam has over 24 years of experience in community development, domestic violence prevention, and refugee support. She has studied community development, health counselling, and has completed further studies in public policy at Oxford University and executive leadership at Stanford University.

2025 CiCT Forum Committee Members

Atem Atem

Atem Atem is currently the Senior CiCT Project Officer at STARTTS. Atem is a former refugee from Sudan. His role is to support non-funded association and groups from newly arrived, small and emerging communities from refugee backgrounds to help them develop their leadership and governance skills. He is also the president of Refugee Council of Australia Network (RCAN).

 Mubashar Hasan  

Mubashar Hasan is currently CiCT Project Officer at STARTTS. He holds a PhD in international politics from Griffith University, Australia. Mubashar is a former academic who taught at University of Western Sydney and researched for University of Oslo, Norway. He is passionate about human rights and a former torture survivor.

Bashar Hanna, OAM, JP

Bashar Hanna is a Sydney-based arts and community cultural development specialist who works closely with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Middle Eastern communities in Fairfield City. Arriving in Australia in 1998 as a refugee from war and discrimination in Iraq, Bashar has since dedicated his life to fostering inclusion and cultural expression. He currently serves as a Community Engagement Officer with the New South Wales Department of Education and runs his own consultancy focused on arts and social impact. Through music, theatre, storytelling, poetry, and visual arts, he promotes healing and cohesion. He is also the founder and public officer of the Australian Mesopotamian Cultural Association. His contributions have been recognised with multiple awards, including the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Yasin Rahmani

Yasin Rahmani is an MBA scholar and committed human rights advocate with two decades of experience working in Afghanistan and Australia. He volunteers with STARTTS as a consultant and plays a key role in the Communities in Cultural Transition (CiCT) project team. Yasin supports refugee-led organisations through event coordination, grant writing, compliance support, and capacity building. He also actively assists Afghan refugees in navigating resettlement challenges. A member of the Philanthropy Evaluation Network at Philanthropy Australia, Yasin is passionate about designing programs that advance social justice and strengthen the nonprofit sector’s impact.

Rami Shaheen

Rami Shaheen is the President of Gaza Association Australia, where he leads initiatives supporting newly arrived refugees from Gaza. His work includes facilitating access to housing, education, public transport, and trauma-informed care. Rami has successfully overseen multiple government-funded projects that promote social inclusion, civic participation, and community capacity building. His leadership continues to foster positive change and expand opportunities for marginalised communities across Australia.

Zulfia Erk

Zulfia Erk is the founding director of Uyghur Charity Inc. and a passionate advocate for community development and equity. She works to build the capacity of the Uyghur community in Australia, believing deeply in the power of shared skills and mutual support. Zulfia currently facilitates a Uyghur women’s support group, fostering connection, belonging, and empowerment through shared storytelling and peer support. She also provides individualised assistance, including referrals and resource navigation, and is active in raising awareness about the political crisis facing Uyghurs globally.

Zainab Jalloh

Zainab Jalloh is a dedicated community leader who works to uplift women and youth from refugee, migrant, and underrepresented backgrounds. She is currently with Women’s Welfare Australia, a charity supporting CALD communities through programs that foster resilience, confidence, and belonging. Zainab helps deliver initiatives in capacity building, sports, health, digital and financial literacy, and social cohesion—creating spaces where women and youth can connect, grow, and thrive.

Rita Sokiri

Rita Sokiri is the Youth Coordinator for the Kajo-Keji community, with a strong commitment to working with refugee families. For over five years, she has been actively engaged in supporting children, youth, and their families through creative outlets such as dance and crafts. Her volunteer work reflects a deep passion for community wellbeing and the empowerment of young people through cultural expression and social connection.

As we close this year’s CiCT Forum, we honour the strength, courage and collective resilience that have shaped every moment of today’s gathering.

What we witnessed was not only the sharing of stories, but the affirmation of voice, the reclaiming of space, and the powerful act of standing together in solidarity. These stories of struggle are not only reflections of the past, but blueprints for the future: they challenge us to listen deeper, to lead with empathy, and to act with purpose.

We hope the insights, performances and lived experiences shared today have inspired you, to amplify the voices of those too often unheard, to challenge systems of exclusion, and to build stronger, more inclusive communities.

Let us carry forward the strength we’ve seen today and turn it into lasting action, rooted in justice, connection, and collective healing.

Thank you for your presence, your listening, and your commitment to making a difference. Together, we move forward, stronger, connected, and resilient.