New appointments
COMMUNAL leaders Nathalie Samia and John Searle have been appointed to the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC).
They will serve three-year terms on the national council, advising Australia’s Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke.
“I am honoured to have been appointed,” Samia told The AJN. “I look forward to working with other members and advocating for multicultural communities across Australia.”
The announcement recognised Samia as an experienced corporate strategy adviser who has worked with “Australia’s most recognisable brands across retail, financial services, technology and government sectors”.
Samia is vice-president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) as well as managing director of Rapport Public Affairs and an advisory board member of Land of Plenty Food Co.
JBD president Lesli Berger “wholeheartedly congratulated” Samia on behalf of the organisation.
“Nathalie brings with her a wealth of experience in media, government, public affairs and community relations, and will make an invaluable contribution to the council and to strengthening ties with other multicultural groups across Australia. Mazal Tov.”
Speaking to The AJN, Searle, who likewise said he was honoured to be appointed, described his own path to the role as “a very interesting and fulfilling road”.
The Victorian barrister said he had been driven in his career by the history of his Holocaust survivor father.
“That that level of discrimination and hatred led to such a calamity … was one of the big motivating factors for me to say ‘We can’t put up with this’,” he said.
Searle has served as chairperson of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission; president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria; and vice-president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry; and chaired the Anti-Defamation Commission.
Searle has also received a Victoria Police award for community service.
“I am very proud to be speaking as a member of the Jewish community,” he added, saying, what while “we have to appreciate the achievements that we, communally, have made … the job’s not done.”
“We all have a role to play in breaking down barriers, supporting each other and ensuring that our community thrives as a vibrant, accepting group of people from a wide range of backgrounds.”
He likened the work to “the water dripping on the rock … continuously over time. Suddenly, the rock’s broken in half.”
Searle also praised the council’s leadership by Bulent Hass Dellal. Describing his fellow members as “very enthusiastic, very committed”, he said he expects that the council will “hit the ground running” at their first meeting.
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