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Appointed as Chair of LanguageLoop in November 2020, Professor Kathy Laster is thrilled to lead such an important organisation which provides such vital services to Australia’s diverse communities. Currently the Director of Victoria University’s Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, Professor Laster has successfully gained funding for the Centre’s Courts and Tribunals Academy which specialises in ‘law and cultural diversity’.
With more than a decade experience in various leadership roles throughout the public sector, Professor Laster has published an extensive range of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in the field of criminology, legal history and gender and multiculturalism in relation to the law. Many of these contributions have been highly influential in both the public and legal sectors, as has her work on improving access to justice. She has also recently co-authored Interpreters and the Legal System, a key text used in interpreter education in Australia and overseas.
Professor Laster completed her LLB and Master of Arts at the University of Melbourne and went on to postgraduate study in New York obtaining her Doctorate of Juridical Sciences degree from Columbia University.
Joseph Haweil is an existing Director of VITS LanguageLoop with considerable experience in leadership, strategic planning, and the design, delivery, and management of government services. He is currently a Councillor at Hume City Council, where he has previously also served two terms as Mayor.
Cr Haweil serves as a company director and deputy president of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), director on the Australian Local Government Association, and is an active member on other committees, and multicultural advisory groups.
With extensive experience within the Victorian public sector, including 14 years as a senior executive in a large government department, Noble has a track record of achievements in leading policy development, service design, service operations, and the implementation of key government initiatives in the disability and human services sectors such as the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Noble currently works within a large not-for-profit organisation which provides services for people with disability, foster and out-of-home care, mental health, aged care, and services for refugee and asylum seekers across Australia.
As a former international student from Hong Kong shaped by her experiences in overcoming cultural and language barriers, Noble is driven by a strong commitment to valuing diversity and creating opportunities for people to overcome barriers and disadvantages.
Noble completed her Master of Special Education in 1986 and Executive Master of Public Administration at the Australian and New Zealand School of Government in 2006. Noble is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Raymond Ngo is an accomplished professional with a strong background in business transformation and corporate strategy. With 14 years of leadership and executive experience in the community and not-for-profit sectors, he has gained a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Until recently, he served as the General Manager of Strategy and Engagement at Melbourne City Mission. Currently, he holds the position of General Manager, Strategy and Impact at WAYSS. He has extensive experience in government business enterprises and has held leadership roles in finance and corporate strategy at Australia Post.
Raymond commenced on the Board in 2023.
Diana Nestorovska has extensive experience as a non-executive director and legal professional, with strengths in commercial and technology law, governance, risk and compliance, and stakeholder relations at the State, Commonwealth, and international levels. Diana is a former Australian diplomat and has represented Australian interests in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
She is currently serving as a Non-Executive Director at South Gippsland Water and as the Independent Advisor to the Governance Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Diana holds a Master of Business Administration and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Diana also speaks Macedonian and French.
Eugene Arocca is an experienced leader with strong governance skills. Mr Arocca has over 30 years of experience in legal, community, commercial and membership-based organisations. He recently retired after 11 years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Motorsports Australia. He was formerly CEO of North Melbourne Football Club, and Collingwood Football Club. He also has extensive experience as a board member, committee chair and committee member over many years. Mr Arocca is currently a non-executive director on the board of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Chair of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Foundation and Chair of the hospital’s People, Culture and Remuneration Committee.
Mr Arocca is fluent in Italian.
Kushal Shah is a Managing Partner of multi-national management consulting firm DBS Global. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Westernport Water and the Queen Elizabeth Centre, having recently resigned as Deputy Chair from the Kooweerup Regional Health Service Board. Mr Shah has extensive audit, risk, finance, and IT experience. Mr Shah is a chartered accountant (CA) and is skilled in risk, audit, assurance, finance, governance, and IT reform. Mr Shah holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Commerce, and an Executive MBA from the Melbourne Business School.
Mr Shah is fluent in Hindi and Gujarati.
Shara Teo has extensive experience in industrial relations and is an experienced Board Director. Ms Teo is presently the Chief of Staff at the Office of the National Secretary, United Workers Union. In addition to industrial relations, Ms Teo brings experience in strategic planning and financial management. Ms Teo is also a Non-Executive Director at Gippsland Water, where she is the Deputy Chair. Ms Teo holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University.
Ms Teo is fluent in Mandarin.
Thu-Trang Tran is a commercial lawyer by training and has developed strong experience in public sector leadership, particularly in policy development and regulation. She was CEO of Volunteering Victoria and CEO of Volunteer West. Ms Tran is also a director on the board of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (which tackles significant issues impacting women, girls and families), The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and .au Domain Administration. Ms Tran also serves as a sessional Commissioner with the Victorian Liquor Commission.
With our network of over 3,600 professional interpreters, in 190+ languages (including Indigenous languages) we enable you to connect with your customers in any language, anywhere, anytime.
LanguageLoop acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
We work on the lands of the Kulin Nation in Naarm.