About us
The Equal Employment Opportunity Network (EEON) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1988 to support Equal Employment Opportunity practitioners and employers in Victoria.
The EEON committee is comprised of experienced practitioners with diversity of perspectives, attributes, lived experience and industry experience.
For almost 30 years EEON’s work is about inspiring people to action. The EEON mantra is ‘Learn, think, do’. We know that together we can help create a fairer and more equitable society.
EEON is funded via annual subscription. Members support amplifying minority voices and gain access to events, webinars, information and networks.
what we do
EEON brings people together to network, share information, learn from each other and inspire action.
Our annual events and webinars link people into a supportive network, showcase best practice diversity equity and inclusion in the workplace and stay up to date of emerging diversity issues.
We serve our members by minimising fees and maximising benefits. EEON is passionate about making positive workplace change in diversity, equity and inclusion.
our mission
Our mission is to help all organisations prosper by employing and engaging a diverse workforce.
Office bearers
rana ebrahimi
president
Rana Ebrahimi is the National Manager of the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN). She leads the MYAN to advocate for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds’ rights and best interests in policy and practice. Rana is the first Iranian woman to be a National Head of Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran. Rana is an expert in social inclusion and humanitarian ethics. Over 20 years, she has led strategic engagements to partner and build a shared vision with networks of stakeholders, funders and community groups to deliver transformative community and social operations.
Dr. Teresa De Fazio OAM (MAICD)
Vice President
Born in Australia (immigrant parents who fled post-war chaos) Teresa grew up experiencing the challenges – and labels (first in family, female, low SES, CALD, etc) growing up ‘different’ in a country that was increasingly defining itself as multicultural against the imposed silencing of First People ownership and rights. This lived experience has been the basis for the insights and passion brought to her work in equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Teresa is the Director of Intersect Global Partners specialising in equity and inclusion. She was the Manager, Cultural Diversity at Victoria University and an active researcher and academic. She is also a former Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and remains a member of the Regional Advisory Council. She is a Board Director for Zoos Victoria, and former Board Director of Multicultural Arts Victoria and Edmund Rice Community and Refugee Services. She is also a Community Ambassador for Melbourne Victory Football Club
Dawn Teo
Treasurer
Elena Callipari
Secretary
As a first-generation child of migrant parents growing up in regional Victoria Elena is deeply passionate about amplifying minority voices and achieving equitable outcomes. Elena joined the Victorian Public Service (VPS) in the 1980s while still a student completing an Arts/Law degree. Elena’s first employment experience in public housing shaped her career and interests in law, policy, people management and change projects.
Further studies in a Media and Communications pivoted Elena toward passions of communication, writing, editing, publishing, and workforce communications.
Elena’s values, interests and passions align with inclusion and opportunities in a diverse workforce. Elena’s recent achievements include key lead in policies and actions for employment of Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander peoples, Culturally diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ employee communities and people with disabilities.
For over seven years Elena coordinated a VPS Diversity and Inclusion community of practice driving positive change in the public sector. She works collaboratively with colleagues to reduce barriers, promote human rights, create safe workplaces, and promote change for gender equity.
Committee Members
Hala Abdelnour
A lover of languages, people and creativity, Hala has lived, travelled and worked in more than 50 countries. She is an expert at designing and delivering professional training and has participated in event management, sales, teaching, counselling and community development.
Hala is the CEO and Founder of the Institute of non-violence and is a highly qualified and experienced consultant and professional trainer, with specialist skills in family violence, intersectionality, and equity and inclusion.
Hala has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families who are experiencing various hardships, including family violence. Hala has focused on people from migrant & refugee backgrounds, violent offenders and those battling with addiction (substance use and gambling). In this capacity, she has consulted with Victoria Police, various government bodies and welfare services regarding more inclusive practice and effective client engagement. She has also developed and delivered numerous training programs to community members, including multicultural and multifaith communities, as well as various professionals in the emergency services, government, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Debbie Marks
Debbie has a background in commerce with many years’ experience in IT and Business Project Management. Working for large multi-national organisations and governments in both Australia and the UK, she excels at delivering and embedding change. Now an accredited and qualified coach, facilitator and partnership broker, Debbie loves working with people to improve their outcomes in work and life. Throughout her journey Debbie has realised that there was a lack of support and understanding for working parents and how to maximise their participation in the work environment without support for leaders. Debbie has spent the last 12 years coaching working parents and their leaders in how to manage return to works, flexibility and team coordination. She has written and facilitated programs for large universities and within the government sector around leading remote and flexible teams as a means of enhancing diversity, inclusion and equity in our work environments.
David Tonge
David is the Chief Operating Officer at Amaze. He has a background in not-for-profit, government, education, health and community service delivery, and prior to joining Amaze, was the Director of Family Services at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. He also has previous experience as a University Lecturer, and currently volunteers his time on a number of boards and committees. He has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in education and an MBA.
Sophie Burzacott
Sophie Burzacott is currently a HR business partner at Ford Motor Company and is passionate about all things diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Born and raised in Ballarat she learned from a young age the importance of DEI when her younger brother was diagnosed with a disability at a young age. Competing her higher education at Federation University Australia and RMIT she has become inspired to learn more in the DEI space and create workplaces where everyone feels valued, safe and most importantly loves their job!
In her spare time she loves going to the gym with her twin sister, hanging out with her cat Kevin and watching horror movies.
She is looking forward to having an open mind, listening to others experiences and taking real action on improving DEI for all.
Narissa Diwan
Narissa (she/her) is a 1.5 generation Canadian/Pakistani who moved to Australia about 3 years ago. Narissa currently works as a Global Talent Acquisition Partner in marketing technology, recruiting in APAC, Europe and UK. Narissa brings to EEON a strong passion and extensive experience in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, organisational development, learning and development and talent acquisition. Going through several lived experiences, Diversity and Inclusion is very close to her heart.
She currently volunteers as a Research & Development Lead for the Asian Australian Organisation Psychology association & a member of Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast as well as Reconciliation Queensland.
Narissa’s work is focused on creating and facilitating workshops with an intersectional lens, on topics such as racial equity, gender equality, gender-inclusive language, anti-racism, inclusive hiring practices and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Jodie Nicks
Jodie lives with disability and grew up in a multicultural environment which brought great richness to her life. She is driven to creating more inclusive communities for all who face barriers to and within employment particularly for those experiencing multiple, intersecting forms of systemic discrimination. She is a senior advisor for disability and accessibility for the Victorian government. Previous roles include diversity and inclusion lead, capacity building and NDIS transition support through Victorian government grants.
Jodie worked as a performing artist for many years. In 2016 she was awarded the inaugural Funds in Court Inspire award in recognition of her professional contribution to performing arts and for creating a more inclusive society through her work. She is on the board of Arts Access Victoria, the state’s peak body for arts and disability.
Mat Lewis
As an out and proud gay man working in the university sector, Mat has a background in finance, recruitment, call centres and HR. Mat is an LGBTIQA+ Equality and mental health advocate, residing on the lands of the Wurundjeri people. His experience from the financial and corporate sectors, and his passionate involvement (both professionally and personally) in the LGBTQ+ and mental health communities allows him to bring a personalised enthusiasm to ensuring the continual growth and elevation of underrepresented communities across a number of areas.
Now working at RMIT University in Naarm (Melbourne), Mat is a Diversity and Inclusion Advisor and works across a number of focus areas such as gender equality, accessibility/disability, LGBTQ+ and cultural inclusion.
Life Members and Associates
Jill Sears
EEON Life Member
Roman Ruzbacky
EEON LIFE MEMBER
Roman is an experienced inclusion, diversity and equity practitioner, starting his career as an analytical chemist. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing strategies, facilitation and dispute resolution to raise consciousness and build competency.
At the core of the work is the belief that people should be treated with dignity and respect, have equitable access to employment opportunities and outcomes and have the ability to participate in all aspects of work and public life.
Karen Milward
EEON Associate
Administration
Adrian Price
EEON Administrator