Management Committee

The current MCSCA Management Committee as elected at the Annual General Meeting in November 2019:

Ali WakoChairperson

Ali Wako originally from Kenya and has lived in Australia since 1999. He came to Alice Springs in 2008, left for two years and came back in 2011 because his family loves the place so much.

Currently working in the Australian Public Service, Ali is also a part time external PhD student with the University of Western Australia.

As a migrant who has made a home for his family in this wonderful country, he wishes to give back to Australia through community volunteer organisations whenever possible. Besides MCSCA, Ali volunteers for Anglicare in their community visitor program, checking on a resident in an aged care facility every fortnight.

Hilda ReederVice Chair

Hilda Reeder was born in the Philippines, and has lived in Alice Springs for over 20 years. During that time, she has been heavily involved in the multicultural community, especially the Filipino community, promoting their culture and integration into the Alice Springs community.

Hilda has been teaching young Filipinos the art of dance, enabling them to showcase their performances at a various community events, such as Harmony Day, and the Town Council’s Christmas Carnival. She is the Vice Chair of the Mabuhay Multicultural Association.

Arvinder JunejaTreasurer

Originally born in India, Alice Springs has been home for Arvinder for nearly 15 years.

Arvinder has more than 10 years of experience in finance. Currently he works for CASA Central Australia Inc as Finance Manager. He is also Treasurer of the Central Australia Sikh Cultural Centre Inc. Previously, Arvinder has been Treasurer for the Alice Springs Table Tennis Association and Central Australia Football League Umpires Association.

Mona UlakSecretary

Mona was born in Nepal. Alice Springs has been home for Mona for nearly 10 years now. Currently she works for Charles Darwin University. She holds a Master of Economics and Master of Business Administration from University of Adelaide. Before migrating to Australia, Mona worked as a Business Development Advisor for the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation.

Mona shares the values of MCSCA and enjoys giving something back to the community. She is President of Nepalese Community Alice Spring Inc. (since 2017), an advisory member of YMCA Alice Springs (since 2016) and is a member of the Minister’s Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs in the Northern Territory.

Isaac MosesManagement Committee Member

Information coming soon

Jeanette Shepherd Management Committee Member

Jeanette Shepherd is a new member of the MCSCA Committee. Jeanette has worked for a diversity of non-profits in Australia and abroad for the last 12 years, including the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland. Jeanette holds a Master of Communications for Social Change, a Bachelor of Creative Industries and a Diploma of Non-Profit Management. Jeanette is currently the Manager of Community and Cultural Development at Alice Springs Town Council, and has lived in Alice Springs since 2016. She is also on the board of 8CCC Community Radio Inc.

Navin BhatnagarManagement Committee Member

Navin Bhatnagar has lived in Alice for more than four years and takes lot of interest in community gathering and enjoys community living. He has been a committee member since 2018. Navin represents the Hindu Society of Central Australia and he mingles with the other communities associated with MCSCA. He takes great interest in organising events be it for the Hindu community or others.

As an engineer Navin Bhatnagar has led NT Government projects including projects in the remote communities.

Navin takes plays Cricket, Table Tennis and Badminton. He enjoys road trips and would like to cover the length and breadth of Australia by road.

Lillian LabastidaManagement Committee Member

Lillian Labastida born in the Philippines. She has lived in Alice Springs since 2006. Lillian is a Home & Community Support Program Manager at Central Australian Supported Accommodation (CASA).

She is an active committee member of the Mabuhay Multicultural Association in Alice Springs.

Lillian plays a big role in organising and bringing people to engage in community events such as the Philippine Independence Day & MCSCA’s Harmony Day.

Vinod KurupManagement Committee Member

Coming soon