2026 Fellowship Recipients

On behalf of the Melbourne Forum Board, I am delighted to announce the Melbourne Forum Fellows for 2026. We had strong interest from very impressive applicants and have selected four Fellows for 2026. Our Fellowship Program supports emerging leaders to participate in our events and gain the mentorship that comes from interacting with our members. The 2026 Fellows are:

Dr Shaymaa Elkadi – Managing Director, Ruqi Consulting. Experienced in strategy, policy, and service system reform across the mental health, family violence, and justice sectors.

Kristie Looney – Executive Director, Housing & Property, Uniting Vic Tas. An experienced executive with a strong track record in delivering affordable housing solutions across the private, government, and not-for-profit sectors.
 
Pearl Muzariri – Managing Director, Starshine Support Services | NDIS. With a background in Paediatric Neurology, delivers impactful services tailored to the needs of the community. Also a multidisciplinary artist, known as Sappphire, working across Painting, spoken word Poetry and Photography.

Tammy Nguyen – Chief Executive Officer, Vietnamese Museum Australia. Executive experienced in project management, community-based work, and a decade in entrepreneurship, specialising in impact-driven, cross-sector engagement.

We extend a very warm welcome to them and trust they will have a wonderful experience participating in Melbourne Forum events this year. Grateful thanks to Professor Barbara van Ernst AM, Chair of the Fellowship Committee, along with Deborah Remfry and Divya Pasupuleti for their contribution to this valuable program.

You can find more information about the Fellowship Program on our website. If you would like to donate to this impactful program, please contact our Executive Officer.

Dr Marianne Broadbent
Chair
Melbourne Forum