Our Board

Kevin De Souza – Board Chair

Kevin is a practising lawyer.  He grew up in Singapore and has been involved in social justice and human rights issues for nearly 40 years.  He was previously involved with the UNHCR as a refugee lawyer.  He served on the board of CASE for Refugees from 2005 to 2010.  Kevin was previously detained as a political prisoner in Singapore and  this experience continues to motivate him to participate in society, seeking the advancement of human dignity, especially among the vulnerable in our society.

Helen Cotter – Board Deputy Chair

Helen Cotter is an experienced Community Services professional specialising in strengthening family relationships, early childhood development, mental health, childhood trauma and building safe and connected communities. Helen holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Counselling, Professional Certificates in understanding and assessing childhood trauma and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. Helen’s most important personal values are of compassion, inclusivity and connection she always strives to live by these. She also has a real passion for empowering people and communities to use their strengths to lead fulfilling lives.

Rania Soliman – Board Secretary

Rania is a committed education leader with more than 30 years of experience in the school and VET sector, grounded in a strong belief in equity, inclusion, and community empowerment. She has spent much of her career supporting migrant and refugee communities and ensuring they can access education and services that promote meaningful participation in Australian society. She is experienced in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, working alongside community organisations, settlement providers, and government partners to strengthen pathways, wellbeing, and social connection. As Portfolio Director of English and Language Studies at North Metropolitan TAFE, Rania leads programs including AMEP, ESL, Auslan, Languages, and Interpreting. She brings a collaborative approach to leadership, governance, and service delivery and supports transparent decision-making, effective governance, and mission-driven outcomes.

Wade Scott – Treasurer

Wade is a senior finance leader with over 20 years’ experience working across several diverse and complex industries. He has well-developed skills in strategic thinking, governance and financial thought leadership. Wade has experience in philanthropic committees, plus diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging groups. With an MBA and a Chartered Accountant qualification, he hopes to utilise his skills to give back to the community and help ASeTTS realise its vision. 

Amanda Gillett – Board Director

Amanda is currently the Manager of Service Development for the Centre for Women and Children at Ruah Community Services which provides recovery and healing support to women and children affected by family and domestic violence. Prior to working with Ruah, Amanda spent 16 years working with refugee services, including 6 years with the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre and 10 years with ASeTTS. Amanda lived in South Africa from 1993 – 2006 during which time she held several positions including Project Officer with the National Youth Development Forum, Manager of IDP Education Australia’s office in Johannesburg and Senior Program Manager with AusAID, the international development arm of the Australian Government.

Christalla Yakinthou – Board Director

Dr Christalla Yakinthou is a political scientist with extensive experience in human rights, transitional justice, and inclusive governance. Over the past two decades she has worked with survivor groups, civil society organisations, governments, and international institutions to strengthen participation, dignity, and accountability in societies affected by conflict, genocide, and repression.

Christalla has previously served as an academic in the University of Birmingham’s Department of Politics, an advisor to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Syria, and a practitioner with the International Center for Transitional Justice in several regions. Her work centres on supporting survivor and activist ownership of justice processes and fostering more trustful and engaged communities.

She has a background in constitutional design for divided societies, with further training in transitional justice and public law, and has published widely on human rights. She brings expertise in participatory governance and trauma-informed policy design, and is committed to supporting ASeTTS’ mission to promote healing and inclusion.

Sally Roach – Board Director

Sally is a senior organisational change leader with over 15 years’ experience across the technology, resource and media sectors. She began her career as an ESL teacher in Australia and overseas, building strong cross-cultural capability and a commitment to dignity, inclusion and culturally informed practice. Her work has since centred on organisational transformation with expertise in ethical risk, cultural integrity and people-centred change in complex environments. Sally holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Cultural Studies, is completing an MBA and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Samira Husic – Board Director

Samira has over 20 years’ experience in mental health and human services, supporting vulnerable individuals, families and communities. With lived refugee experience, having arrived in Australia under the Humanitarian Settlement Program in 2001, she brings firsthand insight into the challenges faced by refugees and the diverse needs of people rebuilding their lives.

Samira is a passionate advocate for social justice and the rights of disadvantaged populations, with a strong understanding of how mental health challenges intersect with social and economic disadvantage. She has extensive senior leadership experience in strategic planning, service design and implementation, as well as board governance at community, State and National levels. Samira holds qualifications in psychology, counselling, global mental health and an MBA, and currently serves as General Manager for Multicultural and Disability Services at MercyCare, leading a portfolio of programs delivered by over 100 staff.

Toan Le – Board Director

By profession, Toan is a project manager with over a decade of experience delivering large-scale infrastructure projects across Australia. He brings to the Board a practical, hands-on approach and a genuine enthusiasm for contributing to an organisation whose mission he holds close to his heart.

Toan’s connection to ASeTTS is deeply personal. His parents arrived in Australia as Vietnamese refugees, and growing up with an understanding of the courage, sacrifice, and uncertainty that journey involved has shaped who he is and what he cares about. Supporting the survivors and families that ASeTTS serves feels, to Toan, like a way of honouring that story.

Emem Udo – Board Director

Bio coming soon.