The FUSE 2025 “Shaping Tomorrow – My Vision for Australia” program aims to empower young individuals from refugee and migrant backgrounds to voice their innovative ideas for creating a more inclusive, equitable, and harmonious Australia. This initiative provides a platform for young people to share their unique perspectives and contribute to the national dialogue on building a better future for all Australians.
What is FUSE?
FUSE is a unique and transformative opportunity for young Australians from refugee, migrant and asylum-seeking backgrounds to build and apply leadership and advocacy skills, expand their networks, and connect with peers from across Australia.
Delegates participate in skills-building workshops, hear from experienced advocates working in diverse sectors, explore key issues and solutions facing young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and engage with decision-makers and MPs from the state and federal levels.
FUSE is designed to equip delegates with the skills, confidence, knowledge and networks to engage in creating changes in their local communities, and at the state and national levels. Post FUSE, delegates are supported to apply their skills and knowledge at the state and local levels through MYAN’s partners. Previous FUSE delegates have gone on to be leaders in their state/territory and have joined MYAN’s Youth Ambassador Network (YAN).
FUSE Aims
FUSE aims to provide opportunities for young Australians from refugee, asylum seeking and migrant backgrounds to:
Share perspectives, and experiences with other young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds from around Australia;
FUSE 2025 Delegates
MYAN is pleased to introduce the FUSE 2025 delegates. These delegates have been selected following a comprehensive application process, highlighting compelling ideas and initiatives that have the potential to impact young people. Delegates will be invited to Parliament House in Canberra 6-7 August 2025 to present their ideas directly to Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators.
Learn more about our delegates below.
Adam Choong
Adam Choong is completing his Bachelor of Applied Data Science Advanced (Honours) degree at Monash University, has studied abroad in Singapore and is particularly interested in advocating for disability rights and technology regulation and safety.
Adam promotes digital literacy education among migrants as he believes that this plays a crucial role in technology safety and trust.
In his spare time, Adam enjoys watching Netflix, eating food from diverse cuisines and travelling to new places. He occasionally plays guitar and golf.
Anna Samul
Anna is a passionate advocate for youth homelessness and the housing crisis. Based in Perth, Western Australia, she originally came from Kazakhstan to Australia 4 years ago. She speaks Russian and Kazakh and is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University.
With firsthand experience in youth homelessness, Anna is driven to advocate for the expansion and improvement of youth homelessness services.
Atiu Kuot Madut
Atiu is passionate about getting young people involved in policy and including them in the decision-making process when it comes to matters involving them.
Atiu is a proud Sudanese woman, currently in her final year of university. She endeavours to be a positive role model for other young people and those in her community.
Emmanuela Luka
Emmanuela’s passion for advocating for others deepened when she visited her home country for the first time at 8 years old, recognising the hardships faced by children, particularly girls, in South Sudan. Emmanuela is working toward her dream of becoming a human rights advocate by studying a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations.
Emmanuela continues to volunteer in leadership roles and projects within her community, and hopes to inspire other first-generation African girls to pursue their dreams fearlessly and promote literacy as a tool for building a more equitable and just society.
Ezekiel Gachuruzi hakizimana
Ezekiel Gachuruzi Hakizimana is a dynamic and resilient leader with a diverse background spanning aviation, real estate, and community development. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he experienced firsthand the challenges of displacement due to the M23 conflict, seeking refuge in Uganda before arriving in Australia in 2022.
Shaped by his journey, Ezekiel continues to amplify the voices of people, advocate for inclusive communities, and inspire others through his story of perseverance and ambition.
Farhiya Ahmed
Farhiya is a 20 year old Somali woman based in Brisbane, currently in her final year of Social Work and Psychology at QUT. Her studies align with her personal values and beliefs in social justice and fairness in society, advocating for authentic multicultural voice in mainstream media. She pushes for authentic representation to empower youth in Australia to create the future they want for themselves and the next generation.
Farhiya is also a polyglot and loves to learn languages, is currently fluent in Japanese, and enjoys cooking, baking, sketching and café hopping.
Latifa Hazara
Latifa Hazara is at QUT university studying Bachelor of Business and Law honors. Her passion for human rights and social justice is one of the reasons which drove her to study law and become a Lawyer.
Latifa comes from a background where she believes war and injustices to women are normalised, which encourages her to study to become a lawyer and fight for justice within her surroundings. She believes hard work beats talent and looks forward to turning her passions into a reality. She hopes to pursue her dreams and reach out the voices that are never heard.
Michelle Liao
Michelle, or Mich is a 19 year old born and raised Queenslander, currently living and studying at ANU in Canberra. Michelle will be pitching about digital literacy and cybersecurity – specifically, about the accessibility and spread of information in bettering the lives of people from migrant or refugee backgrounds.
Michelle has always had a keen passion in social advocacy and justice – and her many interests are reflected in her degree choices: Law and International Relations. Mich also enjoy reading and archery, but also just chatting about anything and everything with other people, whether that be close friends or strangers.
Mirza Ahmed
Mirza is a passionate advocate for multicultural youth empowerment, with experience in leadership, community engagement, and governance. My work focuses on fostering inclusive opportunities, strengthening youth participation, and creating meaningful social impact.
With a background in information technology and community leadership, Mirza has played a key role in projects that promote digital literacy, accessibility, and equitable resource distribution for young people. He is dedicated to building supportive spaces where multicultural youth feel empowered, valued, and equipped to achieve their goals.
Nargis Rezaie
Nargis is a first-year Bachelor of Cyber Security student at Macquarie University, originally from Afghanistan. Since moving to Australia in May 2023, she has pursued her passion for technology by completing a Certificate III in IT, a Certificate IV in Cyber Security, and participating in a SOC Analyst Bootcamp at the Institute of Applied Technology, providing her with a solid foundation in security operations and incident response.
In addition to my academic pursuits, Nargis is active in advocacy, community service, and creating positive social impact. She is committed to using her skills to help address challenges in both the tech industry and my community.
Neerja Singh
Neerja is a second-year student at the University of Melbourne, passionate about equity and inclusion. She is dedicated to improving access to education, mental health support, and opportunities for young people. Coming from a migrant background, she strives to strengthen support systems and ensure young people have a voice in decision-making.
She founded a nonprofit startup in Melbourne’s West that seeks to address inequalities in education, support and employment. As a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, she helped lead the co-design of two webpages for YouthNav, a Victorian Government project providing an accessible digital toolkit for young Victorians.
In recognition of her contributions to youth empowerment, Neerja received the Australian South Asian Emerging Leader Award in 2024.
Oliver Lim
Ollie has lived with a rare and genetic chronic health condition NRAS & Lupus since he was 18 months old. A strong advocate for youth living with disability, Ollie has raised over $100,000 for Telethon as the Little Telethon Star 2021. He also supports various causes, including MSK, Arthritis, and Osteoporosis WA, and has advocated against funding cuts with the Youth Disability Advocacy Network. As a City of Melville Youth Advisory Committee member, he secured a grant for community inclusion workshops for young people.
Ollie has participated in research on pain management for young people with Curtin University and The University of South Australia. He has been a finalist for multiple awards, most recently, The YACWA – Young Person of the Year 2024.
Princess Delany
Princess Delany is a passionate advocate for child and youth empowerment, driven by a commitment to amplify the voices of marginalized and refugee communities. With a strong background in leadership, advocacy, and community engagement, she works tirelessly to promote inclusion, social justice, and youth participation. Her journey as a young Sierra Leonian woman navigating identity in Australia has shaped her understanding of the challenges faced by migrant and refugee youth.
Princess’s leadership experience includes serving as Youth Premier, organizing youth-focused programs through her work with the Salvation Army, recipient of the Debbie Abrahams Award for Youth and Community Involvement as well as Bayside council young citizen of the year award.
Princess Kisakye
Princess Kisakye is a first-year student pursuing a dual degree in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. She is deeply committed to youth advocacy, focusing on the strategic implementation of solutions within multicultural and youth communities.
Princess believes that when provided with a platform to voice the challenges faced by marginalized groups, it is imperative not only to highlight these issues but also to ensure the development and execution of actionable solutions. She strives to engage policymakers, ensuring they are attuned to the needs and aspirations of the communities she represents.
Yuwal Kannan
Yuwal is a current 1st year at University of Melbourne, studying bachelor of Commerce. Being a refugee himself and going through several difficulties, he is passionate about advocating for improvements when it comes to refugee lifestyles and multiculturalism overall within Australia.
In his spare time, Yuwal loves to watch movies, hang out with his friends and engage in photography. With a strong passion for leadership, Yuwal actively ensures he takes part in opportunities and University clubs, building upon his experiences from highschool.