Jane Stratton

CEO + Founder

Jane Stratton is the CEO of the Think+DO Tank Foundation, an organisation she founded in 2013. From 2014 - 2017, Jane catalysed The Motion Room, a collaborative action-based inquiry in Green Valley, Liverpool with Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, Liverpool Women’s Resource Centre and South West Sydney Local Health District.

In 2017, Jane created the highly successful social enterprise LOST IN BOOKS, a multilingual kids’ bookshop, creative community hub and safer space for women and children in Fairfield, South Western Sydney.

Jane works through the arts to elevate the voices of low-income and excluded community members to inform, and to model systems reform. She enables multi-disciplinary collaborative projects, enterprises and enquiries in low-income communities in response to the question: “What would make life here easier, better or more affordable?”.

Jane has an accomplished background in commercial and public interest law; human rights and social policy. She has worked for leading rights-based organisations including Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (Justice & Equity Centre), and the Australian Human Rights Commission. Jane was the Acting Head, Pro Bono and then the inaugural Head, Corporate Social Responsibility at Gilbert+Tobin Lawyers.

Jane’s intelligent and empathetic approach has fostered her reputation as a courageous leader at the forefront of collaborative work with communities, inspiring those within them and beyond them to broaden the horizon of what is possible.

Recently, Jane was honoured by Western Sydney University and Coleman Greig Lawyers with the Women of the West (Community) award at the 2021 Women of the West Awards, which celebrates the achievements of women in our region who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and contribute to improving the lives of people in the Western Sydney area. In 2022, she was shortlisted in Pro Bono Australia’s IMPACT 25 awards.

Languages: English, French, Thai, Arabic (intermediate), German, Spanish (beginner)

Marian Abboud

Director, Multilingual Programming

Marian Abboud is the Director, Multilingual Programming. Marian graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a Bachelor of Visual Communication. In this role, she works with participants from diverse communities to create socially responsive projects as the springboard for cultural exchange. She is passionate about creating meaning across perceived borders of place, language, and identity.

Her interests lie in oral histories, ancestral knowledge and collective mythologies. Marian’s own artistic practice aims to translate and transform psychological conflicts, loss, and multilingualism into live performance and movement. Although Marian’s works develop from deeply personal experiences, they often reference layered and complex history and point to universal experiences of sovereignty, geopolitics and migration.

She has exhibited extensively locally and nationally and has collaborated on many dance and performance-based projects including Mona Foma in Hobart, 24 Frames, Carriageworks, and her recent performance, Not Her Reflection, a travelling performance at Artspace. Marian has worked as an artist-educator for the Art Gallery of NSW, Kaldor, ACE (fka ICE), Utp, ATS and Save the Children. Marian was a studio resident at Artspace for 2020 -2021, and Artist in Residence for UTS Library 2021-22. In 2022, Marian was invited to participate in documenta 15, a gathering of community arts collectives from around the world.

Languages: English, Arabic 

Afaf Al-Shammari

Community Director

Afaf has been a local resident of South Western Sydney for more than 25 years. She was born in Kuwait and came to Australia with her family. Since arriving here, she has attained English and graduated from Western Sydney University as a provisional psychologist. She is now training to be registered and is committed to working with migrant and refugee communities in Australia to make their transition into Australian life more manageable. Afaf was the Foundation’s Lead Community Connector from 2016 - 2022. After a break, we are thrilled to welcome Afaf as she rejoins our team as our inaugural Wellbeing Coordinator to focus on the wellbeing of the participants in our community and creative programming.

Languages: Arabic, English

Maysoon Elnigoumi

Administrator

Maysoon Elnigoumi is the Administrator at TDTF. She has a degree in English Literature, Media and is currently completing a degree in Education. Maysoon is passionate about social justice, grassroots organising, community-led projects and is an advocate for accessible creative and communal spaces.

The past decade of her career spans experience in government relations, project management, streamlining work processes, quality assurance and policy review.

Maysoon aspires that her previous work experience at art and cultural institutions and her current role in TDTF will result in formulating work processes that nurture creativity and individual identities and at the same time, build meaningful community connections and collaborative public spaces.

Witnessing the 2018 revolution in Sudan and the explosion of artistic creativity as a tool of resistance and mobilisation, Maysoon also strives to document in her work how art creation appreciation is an essential human right that must be accessible to all.

Maysoon comes from Sudan and she remains active in her community. She assisted in producing a youth and children's hour for the weekly community radio program as well as organising women’s and children's events.

Maysoon likes to explore writing and has had articles published in several literary journals in both Arabic and English. Maysoon also enjoys reviewing books and artistic work in an accessible way creating a bridge between the exclusive creative spaces and the community.

Languages: Arabic, English

Omar Sakr

Literary Programs Lead

Omar Sakr is a queer poet and writer born in Western Sydney to Lebanese and Turkish Muslim migrants. He is the acclaimed author of the novel Son of Sin (Affirm Press, 2022) and three poetry collections, notably The Lost Arabs (UQP, 2019), which won the 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Award. He was the first Arab-Australian Muslim to win this award. His latest collection, Non-Essential Work (UQP, 2023), was released earlier this year.

Omar's poems have been published in English, Arabic, and Spanish, featuring in POETRY Magazine, Poetry London, Poets.org Poem-a-Day series, Prairie Schooner, The Margins, Mizna, Peril, Circulo de Poesía, Overland, Australian Book Review, and Griffith Review, among others. His poetry is anthologised in Border Lines: Poem of Migration (Vintage Knopf), Best of Australian Poems 2021 (Australian Poetry, 2021), the Anthology of Australian Prose Poetry (MUP, 2020), Best Australian Poems 2016 (Black Inc, 2016) and Contemporary Australian Poetry (Puncher & Wattmann, 2016).

His essays have been anthologised in This Arab Is Queer (Saqi Books, 2022), Fire, Flood, and Plague (Penguin Random House, 2020), Meet Me at the Intersection (Fremantle Press, 2018) and Going Postal: More Than Yes or No (Brow Books, 2018), and his short fiction has appeared in Kindred: 12 Queer LoveOzYA Stories (Walker Books, 2019) as well as After Australia (Affirm Press, 2020).

A consummate performer and social justice advocate, Omar has over a decade of experience in the arts and media as a writer, editor, producer, and educator. He holds a BA in Communications (University of Technology, Sydney) and a Masters in Creative Writing (University of Sydney). He lives on unceded Dharug land.

Languages: English, Arabic (some)

Kit Bylett

Creative Producer

Kit Bylett is a creative producer at Think+DO Tank. She is motivated to uplift Think+DO Tank’s communities through creative expression and to platform the voices of those conventionally de-centred in arts spaces.

Kit taps into their own practices as an artist, designer, and bread baker to support Think+DO Tank’s collaborative projects and events. Kit speaks the language of tactile and sensory materials, from dressmaking to the alchemy of the kitchen. She also speaks a little Cantonese.

They have been involved with public programs for organisations and collectives including Performance Space, Parramatta Artists Studios, PARI and Gudskul, The Bearded Tit, Worship Queer Collective, Cement Fondu, Our Neon Foe and Tiles Lewisham.

Languages: English, Cantonese (some)

Helen Guliana

Emerging Creative Producer

Helen Guliana is an emerging Iraqi artist and refugee advocate from Western Sydney. She is a vocalist, actor, writer and is currently also exploring photography. Helen is currently completing her Master of Teaching degree at Western Sydney University and holds a Bachelor of Arts - Pathway to Teaching Secondary (2022). Helen also studied music and vocals at Real Rhythm Studio. In her home country, she studied Teaching, major in Arabic language. However, due to the war in Iraq, Helen and her family were forcibly displaced and sought refuge in Australia.

 Since arriving in Australia in 2018 she has been involved in a number of local creative projects as a member of the ensemble program at the Powerhouse Youth Theatre (pyt) Fairfield. Helen was the lead in One Month A Year Cafe play produced by CORE Community Services. She also performed in Symphony 2165 and Khair 2023 with pyt Fairfield.  She has performed and featured in a variety of commercial photography exhibitions and screen events.

Helen has a great interest in photography and is very passionate about the different mediums and techniques with which a camera can be used to capture stories. In her spare time, she loves taking photographs of human interaction across various spaces.

She is a strong advocate for young migrants and refugee CALD communities. As a Youth Ambassador at Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN), Helen has been involved in many initiatives that support the settlement journey of young people. Helen worked as a peer facilitator for the school program Welcome to Australia and also was part of the Social Impact Champions project. In 2019 she was awarded a highly commendable award for Youth Achievement by Fairfield City Council.

As part of The Writers’ Room at Think+DO Tank Foundation, Helen is working on the publication of her first collection of poems and memoire in Arabic and English.

In her spare time, Helen enjoys power lifting, singing, cooking, reading and making crafts

She works with Think+DO Tank Foundation as an artistic partici­pant in creative programming and as an Emerging Creative Producer valued in our team for her adaptability, skill, commitment to learning and dedication.

Languages: Arabic, Syriac, English

Afrah Al-Hakeem

Community Connector

Afrah Al-Hakeem came to Australia in 2013 as a refugee. Before she left Iraq, she trained as a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and did work experience in university labs.

Since arriving in Australia, Afrah has undertaken diverse studies at Navitas, TAFE and the Australian College for Applied Professional (ACAP) where she is completing a degree in Psychology.

Afrah has volunteered for Jesuit Refugee Services as a translator and community mobiliser in support of women and families experiencing family and domestic violence. 

She has completed training in leadership and public speaking, and is following her love for helping others. She is passionate about helping people, listening to their stories, and trying to find strength in them. 

Afrah’s moral in life is that everyone should aim to the best of their ability, trying their best so they end up being where they should be. She follows the saying: Aim for the moon, so if you fall, you will find yourself between the stars.

Afrah says that she used to be an electrical engineer (dealing with machines), and now wants to be a psychologist and counsellor (dealing with people). As she sees it, there is a similarity between machines and people: they both get broken and need to be fixed.

We are thrilled to welcome Afrah to Think+DO Tank Foundation as a Programs Assistant and Community Connector working in our Community House and our outreach programs.

Languages: Arabic, English

Sama Saba

Community Connector

Sama Saba is a dedicated community connector at Think+DO Tank Foundation. She holds a Bachelor’s in Translation from the American University of Madaba. With a strong academic background and a passion for learning, she is eager to contribute her knowledge and sharpen her skills within an organisation that values growth and collaboration. Known for her punctuality, hard work, and easy-going personality, Sama possesses enhanced organizational abilities and meticulous attention to detail.

Originally from Palestine, Sama's life there was deeply enriching. She provided care and support to needy children, volunteering with orphanages on day trips to boost children's positivity and life balance. Through these experiences, she learned invaluable lessons in empathy, patience, and the significance of community service.

Sama has a strong background in community engagement, having organized events, managed schedules, and maintained records. As a team leader and public speaker at the YMCA Club, she successfully led groups through various activities, demonstrating her leadership skills and commitment to teamwork.

An active member of her local orchestra, Sama has been playing the cello for six years and has participated in numerous music festivals. Now in a new country, she is passionate about exploring new places and immersing herself in diverse cultures.

Languages: Arabic, English, French

Natalia Bragaru

Consultant Book Buyer, LOST IN BOOKS

Natalia has a passion to help kickstart or maintain a love affair with literacy and reading; and to promote the appreciation of the art of children’s book illustration. She works in our LOST IN BOOKS multilingual kids’ bookshop to find the best books around the world to inspire the love of reading in multiple languages.

Natalia blogs independently at Kids Book Explorer where you can find her well-informed and deeply researched reviews of books. We are delighted to have her as our Consultant Book Buyer, taking us around the world through children’s literature. Natalia’s passion for picture books is fuelled by her joy in the aesthetics of illustration and intelligent book design.

Languages: Russian, English

Jonathon Kelley

Collection & Distribution Manager, LOST IN BOOKS

Jonathon has loved books since a young age; and loves languages! He speaks English and German, and has previously studied some Arabic, French, Italian, and Mandarin.
He also has a great passion for music and plays trumpet and violin, as well as singing and composing. He is currently studying History and Linguistics at Sydney University.

 Languages: English, German

Dr Rachel Jacobs

Academic in Residence

Dr Rachael Jacobs is a lecturer in Creative Arts Education at Western Sydney University and a former secondary teacher (Dance, Drama and Music) and primary Arts specialist. Her research interests include assessment in the arts, language acquisition through the arts and decolonised approaches to embodied learning. Her PhD focussed on creativity in assessment. Rachael has facilitated arts projects in community settings all over Australia, including in refugee communities, in prisons and in women’s refuges. In 2016, she contributed to the arts education component of the OECD report on the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. In 2020, she contributed to UNESCO's Futures of Education Initiative, co-authoring a report on artists’ depictions of the future of education. Rachael has written two textbooks for teachers on Arts Education in Primary Schools. In 2021 she received a grant from the Australia Council for the Arts to conduct anti-racism programs in schools, addressed through drama and dance. Rachael is a community activist, a freelance writer, aerial arts instructor, dancer and choreographer. She was a founding member of the community activism group, Teachers for Refugees and runs her own intercultural dance company in Sydney. She is a climate activist and is on the board of Sweltering Cities and youth theatre company PYT Fairfield, as well as an anti-racism and human rights campaigner.

Rachael Jacobs has a Bachelor of Education from Sydney University, a Masters of Education from University of Southern Queensland, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from the Australian Catholic University and a PhD from the University of Western Sydney. Rachael has received two citations from the Australian Teaching and Learning Council for outstanding contributions to student learning in higher education.

Dr Jacobs developed Think+DO Tank Foundation’s NESA-accredited Multilingual Creative Classrooms Professional Development course and is its facilitator and assessor. 

Languages: English

Siobhán McCann

Chair, Think+DO Tank Foundation

Siobhan is the Manager, Inquiries and Engagement at the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People. A highly skilled policy analyst and adviser with particular interest and expertise in relation to child protection and children’s rights, Siobhan was previously the Policy and Engagement Manager at Plan International, Australia. She has an Arts/Law degree (University of Tasmania) and a Masters of Law specialising in child rights law (University of Melbourne). Siobhan has worked for over a decade in the Victorian public service in law reform and has advised both the Departments of Human Services and Health on human rights compliance in the areas of housing and child protection. Siobhan was a founding member of the Victorian chapter of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, a national network of lawyers committed to advocating for human rights and rights-based approaches in Australia. At Plan International, Siobhan was responsible for parliamentary advocacy, community and youth engagement and child rights capacity building. She has specialist expertise in strategic planning; program design, implementation and improvement; and innovation.

Languages: English, Spanish

Sera Mirzabegian SC

Director and Company Secretary, Think+DO Tank Foundation

Sera Mirzabegian SC is a senior barrister who practises in commercial litigation, regulatory investigations and litigation, class actions and human rights. She has acted for major Australian and international companies in a variety of industries including banking and finance, media, automotive, telecommunications and medical devices, as well as independent commissions such as the Australian Human Rights Commission. Sera has also acted for senior executives, politicians, and marginalised and disadvantaged individuals and communities on a pro bono basis. She has been a Councillor of the NSW Bar Association and its Honorary Secretary. Outside the law, Sera has co-produced and co-hosted an online political talk show called The Third Rail and co-founded WomenVote, an independent and non-partisan women’s lobby group.

Languages: English, Armenian

Kalpana Gee

Director, Think+DO Tank Foundation

Kalpana Gee is the Head of Digital and Transformation at The Smith Family. She is a senior executive in digital businesses, customer-led transformations, and technology functions. She has deep experience in delivering large customer journey and service design-led digital transformation programs.  Kalpana is passionate about collaborating with the community to design and deliver experiences that make a difference to their lives.  Kalpana has worked in the Financial Services and Telecommunications industry for over twenty years.  In her last role she was the Head of Customer Experience and Service Innovation for Westpac Consumer Bank, transforming the organisation to a customer journey and service design-led approach to delivering change.  Her roles at Westpac included Head of Digital for Business Bank, Director Business Development in the Strategy & M&A team, and Head of Business Transformation for the Westpac Online Transformation Program.  Prior to Westpac, Kalpana was the General Manager of IT for Optus Business.  Kalpana has a Master of Science in Information Technology and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Bioscience (De Montfort University, Leicester, UK).

Languages: English

Christina Jarron

Director, Think+DO Tank Foundation

Christina is a consultant researcher and impact measurement practitioner. She has worked with for purpose organisations for over 10 years in research, impact measurement, policy and business development roles. Christina has extensive experience working in and with organisations that focus on gender equality, masculinities, social inclusion and mental health.

Christina is passionate about the transformative role research and impact measurement can play in the successful operation of for purpose organisations, and the flow-on effects this can have on the lives of the individuals and communities for purpose organisations work with. 

In 2018, Christina co-founded the Western Sydney organising committee of the Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA). Prior to this, Christina was a member and Chair of SIMNA Sydney.

Christina holds a PhD in Sociology from Macquarie University and a Graduate Certificate of Social Impact from the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW. She was born and raised on Darug land in Western Sydney and now lives, works and raises her own family on those same lands.

Languages: English

Erin Gough

Director, Think+DO Tank Foundation

Erin is the Senior Associate, Community Wellbeing and Justice at the Paul Ramsay Foundation. In this role, she works with people and organisations across sectors and communities to change policies and programs, where resources go, and hearts and minds, with the aim of stopping disadvantage.

Previously, Erin worked for twenty years in the NSW public sector, primarily in policy and law reform. Roles included managing reviews for the NSW Law Reform Commission and NSW Sentencing Council in areas including guardianship law and consent, and leading strategic policy work at Legal Aid NSW to support service delivery and broader reform within the legal services sector.

Erin is also a fiction writer whose books have been published globally. She has won the Ampersand Prize, the Readings Young Adult Book Prize, the NSW Premier’s Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Fiction, and the Griffith Review Novella Prize. She is passionate about social impact, the arts, and the intersection between the two. Erin has an Arts/Law degree (Sydney University) and a Masters of Creative Arts (University of Technology Sydney).

Languages: English