NATIONAL TEAM

What we do?
National Team
Non-Executive Directors
Advisory Board
National Chapter
Awards
Careers
Partners
Contact Us

What we do?
National Team
Non-Executive Directors
Advisory Board
National Chapter
Awards
Careers
Partners
Contact Us

Say hello to the passionate and dedicated people that bring MDA’s work to life, translating MDA’s mission and values into practice. We pride ourselves on walking the walk when it comes to employment, and have insights and reach into the communities we seek to elevate.

SUZY MONZER

GROWTH & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

SUZY MONZER

GROWTH & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER

Suzy Monzer is a journalist, poet and human rights advocate who works as the Growth and Partnerships manager at Media Diversity Australia. Having graduated a combined Bachelor of Communications (journalism) and Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Technology, Sydney, she took all she learnt with her into the media space, working in the newsrooms of Nine, SBS and Central Coast News. She is a daughter of Lebanese migrants, currently living on Darkinjung land, who believes that diversity is the future, an open door to racial and Indigenous justice.

During her time at university Suzy held the position of Ethnocultural Officer at UTS and the President of UTS Students for Humanity, a society that aims to mobilise students in action against injustice and raise awareness of human rights abuses and inequality of all forms. She also carries her interest in these themes across into her broader advocacy and her art, participating in panels organised by UN Youth, Central Coast Environment Network and Anti-racism organisations at UTS, and writing poetry about identity, racism and inequality.

MARIAM VEISZADEH

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MARIAM VEISZADEH

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Mariam Veiszadeh is an award winning human rights advocate, lawyer, diversity and inclusion practitioner, contributing author and media commentator.

Mariam was most recently in a management position at the Diversity Council of Australia, founded the Islamophobia Register Australia, and has held multiple board positions.

She has delivered a TEDxSydney talk advocating for greater cultural diversity, was featured as an Anti-Racism Champion by the Australian Human Rights Commission and currently sits on the Commission’s Expert Advisory Group for the Workplace Cultural Diversity Tool as well their Multicultural Advisory Group. Mariam has worked as radio commentator for the ABC radio and as a columnist for Fairfax media.

With many accolades to her name including the Fairfax Daily Life 2016 Woman of the year, the 2015 Westpac Woman of Influence and Welcoming Australia Life Member Award in 2021, Mariam is renowned for influencing positive change both in the workplace and in society more broadly.

Mariam was born in Afghanistan and came to Australia in 1990 with her family as a refugee.

LINA ALI

ADMIN AND OPERATION COORDINATOR

LINA ALI

ADMIN AND OPERATION COORDINATOR

Lina Ali is a Muslim Indian-Australian emerging writer from Parramatta, NSW who has a love for all things written and media. Currently she is studying a double degree, majoring in English Literature and Politics, alongside completing a Bachelor of Islamic Studies part-time. In March, 2022 Lina was awarded as a Highly Commended recipient of the All About Women of Colour Mentorship Program. As a part of this program, she received editorial guidance and mentorship from Randa Abdel-Fattah and Sweatshop's Winnie Dunn. Lina's short story 'Shaking Hands Suffocate' was published on the Sydney Opera House Website.

Lina also received an internship to work as an SBS Diversity and Inclusion Research Assistant and as a Voices writer through the 2022 Createability Internship program, which is a partnership between Create NSW and Accessible Arts and a range of NSW-based arts, screen and cultural organisations, to develop strong career pathways for people with disability.

You can find Lina's by-lines across a range of reputable platforms such as the ABC, SBS Voices and Meanjin Quarterly. Most recently she published 'As a neurodiverse woman, small talk and networking are a nightmare' with SBS Voices.