PROGRAM

SPEAKERS

The full line-up of speakers will be announced over the coming weeks, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to receive the notifications.

Hon Andrew Giles MP

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

Andrew Giles MP is the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and the Federal Member for Scullin.

Thomas Costa

Assistant Secretary, Unions NSW

Thomas is the Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW, where his responsibilities include managing the NSW peak’s communications and digital team and also its research and industrial strategy.  

Thomas is also responsible for the coordination of Unions NSW’s Visa Assist Project. A partnership with the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC), Visa Assist was launched in 2019 to assist unions in representing and advocating for migrants and in particular the project provides free immigration legal support and advice to migrants who are union members.  

Prior to his role at Unions NSW, Thomas worked as an industrial officer and lawyer with the national offices of the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union and the Australian Workers’ Union, he has also worked as a solicitor for Slater & Gordon Lawyers and the HIV Aids Legal Centre (HALC).

Gabrielle Hughes

Senior Manager, Brotherhood of St Laurence Jobs Victoria

Gabrielle has been bringing together employers and employees from different backgrounds since she arrived in Australia 12 years ago.  She has volunteered in organisations such as the Centre for Multicultural Youth supporting refugees, delivering work-rights in hospitality seminars to Scarf trainees, supporting employment pathways for people seeking asylum in Red Cross and is currently employed as a Senior Manager at the Brotherhood of St Laurence where she continues that work in delivering employment programs that respect the perspectives of both employers and jobseekers.

Julie McKay

Founder & Managing Director, Enable

Committed to social justice and finding new and innovative ways to support disadvantaged community, Julie is well-regarded for her innovation, passion and expertise in and for the Social Enterprise sector. Backed up by multiple business awards, for the past decades Julie’s leadership has supported thousands of disadvantaged through social enterprise operating in manufacturing, general packing, food packing (HACCP), hospitality, gardening, nurseries, landscaping, cleaning and building/construction, retail and e-Waste industries.

Joy Xu

Strategic Campaigner, Transport Workers Union

Joy Xu is Strategic Campaigner in gig economy at the Transport Workers’ Union. She is also an international student officer at the UTS Student Association, and a previous Labor Party field organiser in Chinese community.

Sherry Huang

Research Organiser, Migrant Workers Centre Inc.

Sherry Huang is a research organiser at the Migrant Workers Centre. She has a diverse range of roles and achievements. As an advocate, researcher, union organiser and freelance journalist, she has dedicated her efforts to the migrant workers' movement in Australia. Sherry first arrived in Australia from Taiwan in 2010, working on a working holiday visa. Her firsthand insights as a farm worker have proven invaluable in driving her commitment to improving the conditions of migrant workers. Her contributions to this cause have earned her recognition, including the Walkley Award for industrial relations reporting and the inaugural Dr Daryll Hull Memorial Fellowship in Industrial Relations for her expertise in this field. Sherry is also pursuing her PhD in sociology at La Trobe University.