With 30% of Australia’s population coming from non-English speaking backgrounds, Menaka Cooke interviews some of the many remarkable migrants from multi-cultural backgrounds who call Australia home. You can listen to all the episodes of Colours of Australia below:
5 Feb 2024, 4pm #31 – Pawan Luthra In this episode, Menaka talks to journalist and co-editor of Indian Link media, Pawan Luthra. Pawan has recently joined the 2RPH board as a member.
11 Dec 2023, 4pm #29 – Farjana Mahbuba Today Menaka talks to Farjana Mahbuba. Farjana specializes in the intersectionality of women’s issues with religion, culture, migration, and history, with a particular focus on Islam and South Asian women at home and abroad. Farjana holds a BA and an MA in "Ulumul Qur’an wad dirasat al islamiyyah" (Qur'an and Islamic Studies) and was awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Gold Medal for outstanding achievement in both degrees. She has also completed her first Australian government scholarship-funded PhD from Western Sydney University, Australia, where she investigated Muslim women's gender perceptions in urban Bangladesh and how these perceptions impact their everyday lives.
13 Nov 2023, 3pm #28 – Yoong Tran Yoong Tran is a refugee, who has been Assistant Director in Services Australia Multicultural Training team, now a Founder and Facilitator of 'Our Race' not-for-profit organisation. Original broadcast date: 13.11.23
30 Oct 2023, 4pm #27 – Taufeeq Sheikh Today Menaka talks to Taufeeq Sheikh – a writer, actor, director and storyteller.
18 Sep 2023, 4pm #25 – Faith Agugu (Silver Sirens) In this episode, Menaka talks to Faith Agugu, founder of Silver Sirens.
4 Sep 2023, 4pm #24 – Poornima Menon Poornima Menon is the owner of 'Five Pleats by Poornima Menon' and founder of 'The Saree Club' in Sydney. Original broadcast date: 04.09.23
24 Jul 2023, 4pm #23 – Janis McKenna Our guest today is Janis McKenna, an expert advisor to two Tasmanian Premiers and a board member of Nyaho Healthcare in Ghana. She was Telstra Business Woman of the year 2009 and past Nat. Pres. Of Women Chiefs of Enterprises Australia.
26 Jun 2023, 4pm #21 – Tharini Rouwette Today's guest is Tharini Rouwette, a Singaporean migrant, CEO of Centre of Multicultural Political Engagement, Literacy, and Leadership and who prepares candidates for political office and advises on a range of marketing strategy and social media activities, which is active in Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane.
12 Jun 2023, 4pm #20 – Dr. Jane Brassington (MarineEco) Today's guest is Dr. Jane Brassington, an Australian of Kenyan descent, who has studied in the UK and Australia in Marine Biology and Ocean Governance and has a Ph.D. in International Law. She works with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water providing detailed environmental impact assessments. She was ACT's Nominee for Australian of the Year 2023
29 May 2023, 4pm #19 – Zahra Shafaq Today's guest is Ms. Zahra Shafaq, enrolled Nurse who grew up in Afghanistan till age 8 when her father died and the family fled to Pakistan, then to Australia in 2001. She he learnt to speak English in Australia, then went to on to finish High School, get married and have 4 children before enrolling in Nursing studies. She is an advocate for mental health which she shares in her community and widely and also equality for women
15 May 2023, 4pm #18 – Tinashe Dune (Part 2) Today's guest is Dr. Tinashe Dune, currently Associate Professor in Psychology at Western Sydney University. She is a multi-award academic working in health sociology and public health. She champions Diversity and Inclusion in organisations, is a Director of African Women Australia and has worked across Australia and internationally including the World Health Organization in Geneva with the Violence, Injury and Disability and Reproductive Health Research Units.
1 May 2023, 4pm #17 – Tinashe Dune (Part 1) Today's guest is Dr. Tinashe Dune, currently Associate Professor in Psychology at Western Sydney University. She is a multi-award academic working in health sociology and public health. She champions Diversity and Inclusion in organisations, is a Director of African Women Australia and has worked across Australia and internationally including the World Health Organization in Geneva with the Violence, Injury and Disability and Reproductive Health Research Units.
17 Apr 2023, 4pm #16 – Abula Agwa Today's guest is Abulla Agwa who fled persecution in Ethiopia, relocated to Kenya, then came to Australia in 2001. He has a Masters in Social Services, coordinates English classes for SydWest Multicultural Services as well as working for the Department of Health.
3 Apr 2023, 4pm #15 – Elijah Buol Today Menaka talks to Elijah Buol, a Criminologist, former refugee, father of four and Director of Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland.
20 Mar 2023, 4pm #14 – Tabitha Ponnambalam Today's guest is Ms. Tabitha Ponnambalam, a solicitor in the Blacktown area who is standing as an Independent candidate in the upcoming NSW election. Tabitha has lived and studied in Srilanka, Zambia, USA, while working and advocating in Eldercare and community and affordable housing
6 Mar 2023, 4pm #13 – Charishma Kaliyanda In today's episode Menaka talks to Charishma Kaliyanda, occupational therapist, and state Labor candidate for Liverpool.
6 Feb 2023, 4pm #11 – Avijit Sarkar Today's program features Mr. Avijit Sarkar, mathematician, musician, composer, a writer, a poet, an artist, a puppeteer – a polymath, who received an Australia Day award in 2020 from the city of Parramatta for his contribution to arts and culture.
30 Jan 2023, 4pm #10 – Maria Calibo-Sales Today's program features Ms. Maria Calibo-Sales, CEO of Kalmar Corp., technology startup retraining women leaving DV shelters, Zonta Foundation ambassador for district 24 and director for Disaster Aid Australia.
9 Jan 2023, 4pm #9 – Prof. Dipti Talaulikar Today's program features Prof.Dipti Talaulikar, Haematologist, lead cancer researcher and educator at the Australian National University's medical school.
26 Dec 2022, 4:15pm #8 – Neel Banerjee Today's program features Mr. Neel Banerjee, Director of Nautanki theatre, Syndey. Starting life as an IT professional in Australia 15 years ago, he now produces, directs and acts at Riverside theatres, Parramatta.
12 Dec 2022, 4pm #7 – Sukhmani Khorana Interview with Sukhmani Khorana, Vice-Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow at Western Sydney University.
28 Nov 2022, 4pm #6 – Deepti Sachdeva Ms. Deepti Sachdeva, Head of Westpac's head of Enterprise Capability and Transformation. Deepti, has a Master's in film and television and started as a producer for NDTV India, then worked as their foreign correspondent in Australia. She has produced documentaries such as Bollywood Downunder, and won a number of international TV awards
14 Nov 2022, 4pm #5 – Padma Raman Ms. Padma Raman CEO of ANROWS Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety. A lawyer by profession Padma has previously been CEO of the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Victorian Law Reform Commission.
31 Oct 2022, 4pm #4 – Div Pillay Ms. Div Pillay, CEO of MindTribes, a social enterprise focusing on Diversity and Inclusion. Div has won Telstra and Westpac business awards and been nominated as one of 25 global influencers with a social impact.
17 Oct 2022, 4pm #3 – Shankari Chandran Ms. Shankari Chandran, social justice Lawyer and author of Chai Time in Cinnamon Gardens.
