Mathuri D Santhi

Mathuri’s career spans finance and government sectors, curation of business and diversity events and working in marketing and communications across different countries. Mathuri genuinely thrives in the pursuit of purpose. Her current work in the electric vehicle space is to make the world a better place for the future. Her first personal venture was a Not for Profit, GIRLS Rising Up, (an acronym for Global, Intercultural, Resilient, Loud and Strong) to amplify the voices of intercultural women and provide role models they could aspire to being. Her strong belief is that we have the power to redefine reality. 

Suren Jayemanne

Suren is fast becoming one of Australia’s most exciting young comedians. Suren is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor. Beginning his career in 2011, he quickly impressed audiences with his engaging delivery and quick wit. Suren’s stand-up has been seen on ABC (Comedy Next Gen, Comedy Up Late) and SBS (Celebrity Letters & Numbers, The Cook Up with Adam Liaw) and is a writer for ABC’s Question Everything. In 2021 he launched his highly acclaimed “Industry Darling, Adjacent” at the Sydney Comedy Festival and in 2022, “Radical Honesty” as part of The Equity Foundation’s Screen Diversity Showcase.

Shaun Christie-David

Shaun is CEO and co-founder of PlateitForward and Sydney restaurant, Colombo Social. He believes everyone deserves the same opportunities. Over the past 15 years, Shaun has combined his passion and knowledge of social enterprise, corporate partnerships and food to drive positive change in marginalised communities. In 2019 Shaun was a driving force in launching the Aboriginal Health Television Network with the Australian Government to improve health literacy of First Nations’ people. He helped to establish The Dental Truck. His awards: Time Out’s Hospitality Future Shaper, AMP Tomorrow Maker and Westpac ChangeMaker.

Dinesh Palipana

Dinesh was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland and the second medical graduate in Australia with quadriplegia. Dinesh is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate and researcher. His injury and experiences led to him being an advocate for inclusivity, a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia, a doctor in the emergency department, Gold Coast University Hospital, a senior lecturer, Griffith Uni, doctor for Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby team and senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission. Dinesh was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019, and Qld Australian of the Year in 2021.

Terence Jeyaretnam

Terence is a Partner and APAC leader of Ernst & Young’s Climate Change and Sustainability team based in Melbourne. Terence is a non-executive director of Amnesty International Australia, Global Citizen (Australia), Fairtrade Australia New Zealand, Food Frontier and Legal Sector Alliance and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland. Terence has been involved in key fundraising activities for Bridging Lanka and is passionate about Bridging Lanka’s work because it delivers real impacts and harmony on the ground in Sri Lanka, and in Australia.

Dr Lara Jeyaretnam

Dr Lara Jeyaretnam was delighted to join the Bridging Lanka board in 2020. Lara is a practicing general dentist for the last 19 years in Melbourne. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and a Masters of The Environment. She is a first generation migrant who grew up in Singapore before migrating to Australia. 

 

Lara is of Sri Lankan, Tamil, Catholic descent. She is proud of her ethnicity and passionate about celebrating one’s cultural heritage, whilst embracing our layered and nuanced cultural identities in multicultural Australia and the globalized world at large. 

 

As a mother of three who wants a better world for her children, Lara is a passionate environmentalist and a strong advocate of a shared humanity. She strongly understands the importance of the Sri Lankan diaspora in enabling positive change both here and in Sri Lanka, particularly in post-conflict areas, and has thus been a strong supporter of Bridging Lanka. 

Jeswynn Yogaratnam

Jeswynn Yogaratnam or Jes, as he is fondly known, is grounded by his connection to culture and spiritual life. He believes that the ecosystem of humanity can be economised to create value that serves both living for the moment as well as a sustainable future. His love for fashion, cooking and functional training sparks a quirk-appeal that keeps him effervescent. Jes is driven by social impact that places the wellbeing of people at the centre of business success. He is energised by service to community and relational connection that enable profit with purpose. His passion for restorative justice means that he sees strength in adversity when championing equality of opportunity.  

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