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.
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.
Simone Amelia Jordan is Australia's most successful hip-hop journalist, with a career spanning print, radio, TV, and digital media. At 23, she founded Urban Hitz, the country's highest-selling rap and R&B publication. Later, in New York City, she served as the content director of The Source, the iconic 'Hip-Hop Bible' that inspired her reporting and social consciousness. Simone is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, dedicating her career to mentoring young women and guiding the next generation of talent at Media Diversity Australia. Her debut book, Tell Her She's Dreamin', won the 2021 Richell Prize.
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.
Rachel Daniel is an Indian-Australian student, with a passion for storytelling and social justice. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws and Media, majoring in journalism and non-fiction writing.
Alongside her studies, Rachel works for a leading Australian communications agency and is completing a legal internship with the Tenant’s Union of NSW.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support the important work we do please click here. We are a not-for-profit organisation run predominantly by volunteers. With your support, we can continue to run programs to support CALD journalists, conduct agenda-setting research, run networking events, provide practical solutions for the media industry, and much more.