Board and Sub Committee Members

BOARD MEMBERS

Nic Manikis

PSM – Chairperson

Nic Manikis served as a Senior Manager in the Commonwealth Government from 1980 to 1984 and as a Senior Executive in social policy and community affairs roles in the ACT Government from 1985 to 2016.

In 1998, Nic received the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honors List in recognition of his then years of service and dedication to government and community. In 2000 Nic was awarded the Centenary Medal.

In November 2016, Nic retired from government service after a distinguished career of almost 40 years serving the community. Over the years, Nic worked with many local community groups to develop and provide programs, resources, and services to those most disadvantaged and vulnerable in our community.
Nic is currently the Chair of Fair Canberra Inc. and the Chair of Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services Australia. He remains active in the private sector while dedicating his time to supporting local community groups on a voluntary basis.

Toa Takiari Faonetam

Deputy Chair

Toa is an experienced Pacific community leader and elder in Canberra, ACT.  She is a champion for community service and ‘giving it a go’. For over a decade she has worked closely with the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs as the founder of Pacific Island Showcase Association, to provide both Pacific cultural presence and entertainment at The National Multicultural Festival annually.  Since 2018, she has been a valued executive member of Fair Canberra Inc of which she has been instrumental in many corporate charity events, fundraisers, and community driven projects where she maintains a ‘hands on’ approach. She has also been an executive member on the board at The Migrant and Refuge Settlement Services Australia since 2023.
Toa’s service in the community is both extensive and multi-faceted. She had been a long-term radio presenter at 2XX Radio for Tongan Language Radio, she has help found various community organisations including the youth centred ‘United Nesian Movement’ and also worked with many Pacific and Non-Pacific organisations in Canberra.  After the volcanic natural disaster in Tonga in 2022, her work (under the nationally elected ‘Pili e Tau Hala’ Committee by The Tongan High Commission of Australia) was recognised by His Majesty King Tupou VI and she received the ‘Coronation Medal of His Majesty King Tupou VI’ in 2025.
Additional to this, she is also the President and founding member of Feauini ‘O Kenipeli, a Tongan Language & Performing Art’s School here in Canberra and is currently working with Fair Canberra Inc on an inaugural Pasifika Festival based in the capital in 2026. Her drive and commitment to the greater good is what keeps Toa doing what she does best – working for our community

Nim Osborne

Treasurer

Nim Osborne has been a hard working community advocate for many years.  She has served on several community organisations that advance the interests of culturally and linguistically diverse members of the Canberra community.

Since 1997, Nim has had a keen interest in ethnic community radio broadcasting and has contributed on a voluntary basis to several local broadcasting stations in Canberra over the years including being a community radio broadcaster on CMS, 2XX and Queanbeyan & Valley FM.  Nim is currently the President of Valley FM 89.5 Community Radio.

Nim has also supported members of the local Thai community and has encouraged them to participate in Canberra’s community life.  She has been the President of the Thai Media and Cultural of Canberra Association for the past 15 years.  Nim has provided Thai cultural performances to the National Multicultural Festival during this time.  She has also contributed to the success of the Festival through her voluntary work as an organizer, MC and mentor to new volunteers since 1997.  More recently, Nim has been a members of the Festival Assessment Panel which assesses grants for community groups wishing to participate in the Festival.

Some examples of Nim’s community representation work over the years include: a member of the ACT Victims Advisory Board; currently the Treasurer of the Migrant & Refugee Settlement Services Australia; and currently the Treasurer of Fair Canberra Inc.

Nim brings a wealth of experience gained in both the local community and private sectors to the work of Fair Canberra Inc and for this reason is a valuable member of the executive committee.

Vijay Puri

Secretary

Esther Chelimo

Public Officer

Borhan Ahmed

Executive Member

Borhan Ahmed is an accomplished community leader with over 30 years experience in community sector work in Australia and Bangladesh.

Over this time, Borhan has held several high profile community roles including: President of the Canberra Muslim Community; President of the Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra; and President of the Bangladesh Seniors Group.

Borhan holds a Master of Economics (specializing in Development Economics), Master of Economics, Bachelor of Arts (with honours in Economics) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Science. He is a Colombo Plan scholar with 40 years successful public service career experience in the Australian Federal and Bangladesh Governments. He served as a member of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration Cadre), including as a First Class Magistrate with the Bangladesh Government. In 1978, he was trained at USAID HQ, US State Department on foreign aid administration and technical cooperation program. Before he retired in early 2018, Borhan served his final 26 years in the Australian public service with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and AusAid, including as an Aid Diplomat in Port Moresby/PNG. From DFAT and AusAid, Borhan undertook several aid project-related work missions to PNG, Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Palestine.

Borhan has a life long passion for advocacy work around issues and challenges facing members of new and emerging multicultural community groups, new migrants, faith based groups and former refugees in the ACT. In this context, he has served as a member of several high profile community service provider agencies and boards and on government advisory committees (eg. ACT Attorney-General’s CCTV Review Committee). Borhan continues his long standing wort on the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services as Public Officer and on the Council on ageing ACT Policy Committee.

Borhan continues to work closely with a diverse group of people to improve inclusiveness and respect in the ACT Community.

Andrew Ng

Executive Member

Having immigrated to Australia in 1988 as the first Business Migration Program candidate sponsored by the Canberra Development Board, Andrew Ng has dedicated decades to community service in Canberra’s Chinese and multicultural communities.

He serves as President of the ACT China Council of Commerce, Secretary of the National Australian Chinese Association and the Federation of Chinese Associations in the ACT, Vice-President/Secretary of the ACT Elderly Chinese Welfare Society, and Chair of the ACT Multicultural Council. Nationally, he is Deputy Chair of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA).

Andrew is a passionate advocate for migrant welfare, multicultural policy, and Australia-China business relations.

Syed A. As-Sayeed

Member

I am Syed A. As-Sayeed (known as Sayeed) has been living in Canberra since 2000 and have been actively involved in the community and social setting voluntary works and roles in Canberra and abroad.

Over the last 23 years, I have held several high-profile community roles in Canberra including:

  • Currently I am the board member of MARSS Australia Inc. Canberra.
  • President of Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra (BAAC) Inc (2013-14) and as Vice President from 2011-12 (one of my contributions as President of BAAC was that I led the charitable donation efforts of delivering over 400 Kilos of fresh meat to OZ Harvest, Australia for supporting the food for homeless people of Canberra).
  • Executive Committee Member and Founding Member of International Mother Language Movement (IMLM).
  • Life Member of Fair Canberra Inc
  • Life Member of Canberra Muslim Community Inc (Gungahlin Mosque).
  • Life Member of Canberra Islamic Centre Inc
  • Founder Member of Tigers Cricket Club (Bangladesh Community based club who organises and plays social cricket games with various ethnic community teams in Canberra.
  • Appointed as a community representative for the Bangladeshi community in Canberra for WALK for MENTAL HEALTH program, which is funded by Mental Health Foundation Australia.
  • Founder Board Member of an online based YouTube TV Channel called ‘NRB TV Australia (Non-Resident Bangladeshi)’ where we promote Bangladeshi cultural, lifestyle and Australian attractive events and places to the wider viewers all around the world.
  • Founding Member of Bangladesh Club Inc in Canberra where members get an opportunity to do indoor games and under socialisation activities to improve the health & wellbeing of individuals.
  • During 2019-2021, I served as a board member of the MARSS Australia Inc. I have actively supported the delivery of its key settlement and related activities, programs and services for new migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and other disadvantaged groups, including for a growing multi-ethnic/cultural clients base, in particular, people from CALD backgrounds in the ACT and surrounding areas.

I have completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Management degree from the Australian National University (ANU) and have been working in the IT project, performance, planning, and data management area for the last twenty years with the ACT Government. I also worked for over seven years in the marketing field in a senior management role with a large conglomerate in Bangladesh. I have keen interest in issues and challenges, particularly facing members of new and emerging multicultural community groups in the ACT.

Dr. Nadir Saikal

Executive Member

Nadir Saikal has a professional background in medicine and management and has been actively engaged in assisting refugees with their resettlement in Australia and the United States. He has served as a consultant, medical officer, and coordinator with the International Organization for Migration (IOM–UN).
Currently, Nadir is the State Director of the Afghan Peace Foundation in Canberra and a teaching staff member at the Australian National University (ANU). He has participated in numerous international conferences focused on rehabilitation and community development.
His current focus is on promoting effective management, cooperation, and unity within the Muslim community in Canberra, particularly through his active involvement in the Gungahlin Mosque. In last week’s executive election, Nadir was elected as an executive member of the Gungahlin Mosque.

Kofi Osei Bonsu

Executive Member

Kofi Osei Bonsu is a very down to earth, community-oriented person with a deep concern for the wellbeing of Canberra’s multicultural community. He has been in Canberra for the past ten years after migrating from Europe and is a member of many community organisations. Kofi is a leader, good listener, empathetic, proactive, and very passionate about community work.

Kofi believes in driving change and fostering a sense of togetherness and unity and loves volunteering for worthy causes and being a voice for the multicultural community.

Kofi, as Secretary of Fair Canberra Inc, brings a common sense and empathetic approach to the concerns and interests of our members and this makes him a valuable member of the executive committee of Fair Canberra Inc.

SUB COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Dr Sunita Dhindsa

OAM – Member

Dr Sunita Dhindsa was born in India but has lived for most part in Australia, primarily in Canberra,

Sunita has a PhD from the Punjab Agricultural University, India and also undertook a Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management from Macquarie University North Ryde in 2003-04.

From 1990 to 2014, Sunita worked in a range of roles in various government departments, and also worked for a short time in scientific research and in the private sector.

She received the Order of Australia Medal in 2023 for her social service to the Indian community.

Sunita has continued to positively support the Indian diaspora and to contribute to the broader Australian society and economy in various capacities. She is a member, Founder member, patron and Life Member of various community organisations as well as holding positions of Secretary, Coordinator and Executive member. Sunita is the Founder and was the Coordinator of AusIndia Fair, a platform for interacting, trade and showcasing shared values of Australia and India.

In addition to serving on multiple Indian federations and organisation boards, she is well known for her work with domestic abuse survivors and exceptional community service during COVID.

Sunita’s passion is to work for, and with people, enable meaningful interactions, and encourage positive empowerment while fostering constructive and harmonious outcomes at all levels. Her vision is to make Canberra and the surrounding region more progressive, inclusive, culturally vibrant, environmentally sustainable and economically strong.

Nishi Puri

Member

Mrs Nishi Puri OAM is a respected community leader who has called the ACT home for over 30 years. Of Indian heritage, she has dedicated more than two decades to supporting migrants and culturally diverse communities through advocacy, leadership, and community initiatives.

She is the Founder and Chair of the Multicultural Association of Canberra (MAC) and President of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a key role in delivering essential support to vulnerable communities and promoting health awareness.

As the ACT Multicultural Ambassador (2022–2024), Mrs Puri championed inclusion, strengthened community connections, and established programs supporting seniors and new migrants.

Mrs Puri’s contributions have been recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2023. She continues to be a strong advocate for a connected and inclusive Canberra community.

Shobha Varkey

Member

Andrea Diaz

Member

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