Reeta Verma – President
Reeta is an experienced professional in law, her career spanning in university teaching over 30 years. She is a family dispute resolution practitioner and respected community leader with awards for excellence in teaching and community work.
Reeta has a strong presence in the local media and has demonstrated leadership in the prevention of violence against women and children. She has delivered various papers in the international law conferences and domestically on issues ranging from leadership, family violence, rights and responsibilities of not-for-profit organisations and dispute resolution.
Reeta is a leadership Alumni and completed leadership trainings both at the Brimbank and Wyndham Councils. She also developed and delivered programs at the local councils.
Reeta has served on the Victorian Red Cross Advisory Board from 2016-2019 and, also serves on other Cultural Advisory Boards at various organisations.
In 2016, Reeta has been the finalist in Brimbank Citizen of the Year Award for her community work.
Ko Sonnoy – Vice President – Internal Affairs
Ko is an independent community development worker and creative artist.
She has 20 years’ experience working in community development, mainly in local government Neighbourhood Houses in Melbourne’s culturally diverse western suburbs. With her inclusive and collaborative approach, she has developed targeted programming and a broad array of successful initiatives and partnerships to provide inclusive opportunities for community.
She finds this work immensely rewarding, especially advocating for community, helping vulnerable people overcome difficulties and creating pathways for community connection.
Ko is also a visual artist and community arts practitioner running arts workshops and group murals to bring people together in creative expression.
Thuy Dang – Vice President – External Affairs
Thuy is an active volunteer in many community projects across Brimbank. She has executive leadership in Brimbank community organisations including Chair of the Cairnlea Advisory Group, Committee Member of the St Albans Community Centre (STACC), Committee Member of the Safety Working Group for St Albans Connect and Mentor of Women and Mentoring.
Thuy has also contributed to our diverse, multicultural local community as Founding President of Australian Vietnamese Arts, Program Director of TNT Media, Vice-President of the St Albans Business Group and the First Vice-President of the Vietnamese Lions Club.
Thuy’s contribution to the Brimbank community has been recognised with the Dedicated Service to the Community Award 2015, Cultural Achievement Award 2017 and as a Finalist for 2015 Citizen of the Year.
Beverley Thoms – Treasurer
Beverley is the 6th generation Australian of Scottish, Irish, Norwegian & Icelandic heritage originally from South Australia.
After many years of living in most Australian states and in Asia and the Americas Beverley and her husband chose to settle in the Brimbank area in 1993.
Professionally, for many years, she was the Insurance Manger of the largest financial institution of its type in Australia. This was followed by a challenging role as the Senior Researcher for a national consulting firm working in the area of International Politico Economic Analysis.
She has always been interested and involved in community activities. In particular, since 1979 She has taught English to recent immigrants, and have mentored those new arrivals as they integrated into our society. Since retirement Beverley has been able to devote more time to local organizations, in particular to the Delahey Community Centre, Brimbank Ballroom Dancing Social Cub, Chinese Ling Nan Art Group and, of greatest importance to her. Beverley’s on going involvement to assist more recent arrivals through English Conversation Groups and familiarization.
Beverley sees the Women of the West initiative as an incredibly important development for Brimbank. Support for women through education and encouragement enables them to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. These stronger decisions can only lead to a safer, healthier more cohesive Brimbank for all. This ideal she will strive to see fulfilled.
Mai Nguyen – Secretary
Mai Nguyen, an experienced Financial Accounting Expert with a background in managing staff, financial management and analysis.
Effective in improving processes and systems to support the business, and a commitment to service excellence.
A community volunteer involving education and performing arts. She is currently a President of Australian Vietnamese Arts group (AVA).