Our Board and Leadership

Lisa has extensive experience across the housing and homelessness, community care and aged care sectors, with a strong focus on service quality, workforce capability and continuous improvement. Drawing on a background in training, quality improvement and service development, Lisa has supported community aged care providers to strengthen practice, meet evolving regulatory and quality requirements, and deliver person-centred services. Lisa is particularly committed to ensuring people have equitable access to inclusive services that respect and respond to their individual preferences, beliefs, values and needs.

Nic has worked in the health sector for more than 20 years’ and is passionate about community health and health equity. She is an experienced non-executive director and chair specialising in strategy, optimising the customer experience and risk & financial management. Nic serves on a number of not for profit and public sector Boards and Committees in the areas of health, community, migration and water. She is the Deputy Chair of the Migrant Information Centre Board and the Chair of several Finance and Audit committees. Nic is a Chartered Accountant, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Information Systems.

Melinda Martin is a Melbourne-based arts leader with more than 20 years’ experience across public, government and commercial settings. She is currently the Creative Programming Lead at the City of Melbourne, where she leads the development and delivery of inclusive, contemporary creative programming that connects artists, communities and audiences across the city. A strategic thinker with strong business acumen and a creative approach, Melinda has held senior leadership roles across the cultural sector, including CEO of Shepparton Art Museum and Linden New Art. She brings a strong track record of building organisational capability, developing sustainable business models, growing audiences and partnerships, and articulating the impact and value of arts and cultural organisations.

Melinda holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master of Fine Art & Cinema Studies from The University of Melbourne, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Museum Studies from Deakin University. She is also a graduate of the Women in Leadership Program at Melbourne Business School. Melinda grew up in the City of Whitehorse and has strong family ties to the area.

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Kai currently practises law as a partner in a Melbourne-based law firm. Before becoming a lawyer, he spent more than 10 years managing corporate services as CFO of public-listed and private companies. He has a strong interest in the successful settlement of migrants

Naomi is a risk and assurance leader with over 18 years of experience spanning Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. She is currently the Head of Internal Audit in the financial services industry, and also serves on the Boards of Financial Counselling Victoria and Migrant Information Centre (Eastern). She is an advocate for financial wellbeing for the vulnerable, and having been raised in a migrant family, has a passion for the successful settlement of migrants in Australia. Naomi has strong ties to the Manningham and Whitehorse communities where her family has lived for over 20 years.

Vin is an accomplished technology leader with 15 years’ experience delivering digital and business/service transformation solutions in retail, education, banking, insurance, government and not for profit sectors. Vin is currently a senior IT Manager for the Country Road Group and has previously held senior management position at Carsales.com. Vin holds a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Information Technology from The University of Queensland. Vin enjoys cooking, yoga, the arts and travelling.

Edmond is an experienced executive leader with over 30 years’ experience across primary health care, aged care and NDIS disability services in both not-for-profit and commercial organisations. With a clinical background in physiotherapy, he has held senior leadership roles overseeing complex operations, diverse funding environments and multidisciplinary teams. Edmond brings his experience in strategic growth, service innovation, digital transformation and quality improvement, with a strong commitment to delivering sustainable, client-centred outcomes that enhance community wellbeing.

Grant is a highly accomplished Registered Nurse with a Master of Business Administration and more than 25 years of experience in the aged care sector and community health. He combines clinical expertise with strategic insight to lead policy development and drive high standards in quality aged care service delivery. His expertise in aligning clinical practice with legislative and accreditation requirements has made him a trusted advisor to executive teams and service providers alike.  With a strong background in policy development and process optimization, Grant is committed to driving impactful initiatives that support organisational growth and sustainability. Grant is passionate about contributing to a sustainable, safe, and compassionate aged care sector. His dual qualifications in nursing and business uniquely position him to influence positive change, ensuring older Australians receive high-quality, respectful, and responsive care.

Rachna Muddagouni has been appointed as the CEO, in September 2024. With over 25 years of leadership and management experience across the legal, health, public sector, and community sectors, Rachna has dedicated her career to supporting and empowering disadvantaged and marginalized communities. Rachna’s academic qualifications include doctorate (fellowship), a MBA, a master’s in public policy and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) credential. She also holds certifications in accreditation(quality), mediation, leadership, and facilitation. Her commitment to promoting social inclusion, equity, and diversity underscores her leadership approach. Rachna is non-voting member of the Board.

Linda has worked within the organisation for more than 20 years and currently serves as the Manager of Aged and Disability Services. Throughout her career, she has developed extensive expertise in aged care, disability services, and community engagement.

She is dedicated to supporting individuals and families as they navigate complex service systems, ensuring they can access the supports needed to live with greater independence and dignity. Her compassionate, client-focused approach has made a meaningful difference to many in the community.

In her leadership role, Linda brings integrity, empathy, and a strong commitment to inclusive, person-centred practice. Her guidance continues to strengthen the team’s work and contributes to the organisation’s ongoing positive impact in the community.

Houra is a community services practitioner with over 10 years of experience in the sector and currently the Manager of the Settlement Services at MIC. She provides strategic leadership in delivering support services that strengthen outcomes for newly arrived migrant and refugee communities. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a migrant, which informs her commitment to advocacy, inclusion, and equitable access to services. Houra is a recognised leader and advocate within the Iranian community, supporting community voice, participation, and representation. Her work focuses on program development, stakeholder engagement, and service innovation, grounded in culturally responsive and strengths-based practice. Her leadership is driven by equity, inclusion, and community empowerment.

Sawm Suante is a passionate community leader with more than 15 years of experience in the settlement sector, supporting migrant and refugee communities across Melbourne’s eastern region. He is committed to helping newly arrived families build connections, access opportunities, and successfully settle in Australia.

Dennis brings a career spanning banking technology, software development, education, and for-profit/not-for-profit governance across Asia-Pacific and Australia to his role as Senior Manager Operations. That breadth has shaped a genuinely holistic approach to organisational operations – integrating ERP, CRM, accounting, and other technology platforms with process improvement and governance so that MIC’s programs and staff are supported by systems that work.

Throughout his career, Dennis has led initiatives that turned complex, slow-moving processes into efficient, reliable operations – including large-scale process automation and payroll/HR system rollouts delivered across multiple countries. He has also provided company secretarial and governance leadership to both listed and not-for-profit boards, delivering compliance audits and steering organisations through periods of significant structural change, including a major education-sector amalgamation and a full transition to online, LMS-based operations – both achieving formal regulatory approval.

In his leadership role, Dennis brings integrity, discipline, and a steady, person-centred approach to organisational governance, helping ensure MIC’s frontline teams have the operational foundation they need to focus fully on the communities they serve.

Fiona is a collaborative, values-driven community services leader with over 20 years of experience working with team and communities delivering trauma-informed programs and place-based projects. As Senior Manager – Strategic Projects, she is deeply committed to social justice, advocacy, and community wellbeing.

A natural relationship builder, Fiona unites government, peak bodies, and community sectors to co-design person-centred initiatives. Blending strategic vision with compassionate leadership, she is passionate about empowering people, supervising students, and building community capacity.

Pinar is a skilled community engagement and policy professional with over eight years of experience across government, non-profit, and international development sectors. She brings to MIC a strong track record in stakeholder engagement, inclusive program design, and culturally responsive service delivery, underpinned by a Master’s in International Relations and current Juris Doctor studies. As Community Engagement Manager, Pinar is passionate about equity, social inclusion, and empowering communities in partnership with stakeholders.