Helen Nicholls-Stary
With over 23 years working in international student support Helen has worked in the school and tertiary sectors. As Director of Geelong Food Relief Centre, Helen continues to work with community partners to ensure Emergency Food Relief is available and accessible to community members, including international students experiencing food insecurity.
Recipient of three Vice Chancellor Awards at Deakin, in recognition of her excellent contribution, Helen led the Specialist Student Support team which comprised of the International Student Support Officer team and the Senior Student Advisers – Case Management, who supported students with multiple and complex issues.
With extensive experience travelling, living and working overseas Helen has developed high-level cross-cultural competencies. This has enabled her to deliver quality intercultural programs that contribute to improving the international student experience.
Helen has been a member of the Multicultural Action Plan Advisory Committee in Geelong for over 10 years, as well as a member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Barwon Regional Advisory Committee and continues to actively connect with the Geelong community to create opportunities for international students to become more connected with the wider community.
Helen has been a member of ISANA for over 13 years and has presented within Australia and internationally.
Del Gavin-Cox
Del has worked within the international Education sector for over 10 years with experience ranging from developing training programs, providing student support and international student recruitment.
She is passionate about international education and advocating for a positive student and education provider experience, particularly relating to health and wellbeing.
In her current role at Bupa, she works closely with key internal and external stakeholders to foster a customer centric culture and communicate the needs of international students and education providers to influence service, product and technology development. Del has been an Isana VIC/TAS committee member for over four years.
Danielle Hartridge
Danielle has been involved in international education for more than 25 years. She began her career at Monash University in 1991 and was the Associate Director International Student Experience at Victoria University from December 2005 until March 2016. Danielle’s specialist knowledge includes international student support, ESOS compliance and organisational management. Danielle is the recipient of the IEAA Distinguished Contribution to International Education Award, the Victorian Multicultural Award for Service Delivery to a Multicultural Victoria and ISANA Life Membership for her distinguished contribution to the association.
Danielle’s passion is to ensure the welfare of international students is maximised and those who support international students are also recognised. She has played an integral role in the identification of the critical needs of an increasingly diverse international student population.
Her vision and expertise have led to the development of a wide range of highly successful programs, resources and services for international students.
Aleisha Cox
Aleisha Cox is a Project Officer at Victoria University with extensive experience coordinating the administrative student lifecycle within the tertiary and vocational education sector.
Nick Ko
Nick arrived in Melbourne as an international student 20+ years ago and has used his lived experience to support and advocate for students in the international student education sector since 2013. He is passionate about cultural and language communications. He has extensive experience in complex case management support works, Australia Awards, and planning student programs. Nick is currently further developing social work skills at the University of Melbourne. He is also an active volunteer supporting young adults at Orygen and LGBTIQ peer mental health support at ANTRA.
Gary Lee OAM
Manager, International Education, City of Melbourne
Dynamic, creative and forward thinking, Gary Lee specialises in the areas of high level strategic planning and design; policy development and advice; design and delivery of complex projects, student wellbeing initiatives and community grants.
Gary leads the international student portfolio at the City of Melbourne. Having earned a reputation as an affable and versatile collaborator, Gary has worked on many award-winning projects and programs that support and empower international students.
As an authority and thought leader on international education, cultural diversity and social inclusion, he has presented at many ISANA conferences and in 2020, was one of two Professional Development Co-Coordinators for ISANA Vic/Tas.
In 2018, he was the recipient of the prestigious IEAA ‘Distinguished Contribution to International Education’ award and at the 30th ISANA National Conference, Gary was presented with the ISANA Members’ Award 2019 for an Outstanding Individual.
When not at work, you will probably find Gary at the beach, bush or hiking up a mountain.
Coby Liew
Director & Clinical Psychotherapist
@ Live Your Story Counselling & Psychotherapy
Coby, is an experienced mental health practitioner with a passion for life, health, and healing. As an advocate for good mental health, he regularly presents at conferences and facilitates training workshops across different states in Australia and internationally. Coby offers more than ten years of professional work experience in areas such as mental health, child protection, international education, and LGBTIQA+ support.
He owns a thriving psychology clinic in West Melbourne, and he recently joined the Midsumma Festival as a Board Member, providing strategic leadership and governance for the organisation. Besides that, he is also the Director of Volunteer Support at GLOBE Victoria.
Paula Durance
Paula has been working in the field of international education since 1992. She has dedicated recent years to the professional development of those working with international students and to supporting students themselves in universities, schools and representative organisations.
In 2021-2022 Paula was part of the content design team for ISANA New Zealand’s Capability Protect Programme, an online resource hub for international education practitioners supported by Education New Zealand. Prior to this she was the Australian Lead Advisor for International Student Success, a suite of online courses developed and published by Epigeum (Oxford University Press). Between 2004-2013 Paula led the development and delivery of the online Education Agent Training Course (EATC), the Diploma of International Education Services and the International Student Leadership Program (ISLP) for the Council of International Students Australia.
Paula has been a member of ISANA (International Education Association) since 1994, was its Australian National President (2003-2006) and is an ISANA life member. She has Bachelor degrees in Arts and Education, and a Master of Education specialising in International Education. Her PhD thesis investigated the experiences of international students in the City of Melbourne, Australia.
Zita Tattersall
Zita has worked within the tertiary education sector for over 10 years with experience ranging in specialist knowledge of international student support; ESOS compliance; successful program co-designs with regional international students, including social and sustainable change that advances their connections with local community. Zita is an active volunteer of the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition Warrnambool Circle, and a local member of community support and multicultural networks.
Zita is passionate about inclusivity with a strong advocacy for improving cultural diversity and has managed and designed intercultural organisational programs across government and community sectors.
Khim Gautam
Khim is an honest, dedicated, sincere, and enthusiastic person with a strong academic and promising research attitude and ardent interest to explore knowledge in the field of education sectors. He has worked in different academic institutions from Primary level to University level students in Australia and oversees for over 18 years with experience ranging from developing training programs and providing student support services continuously. He has worked as a Founder Principal for a High School and worked as a lecturer for multiple colleges in Nepal and has been working as a Campus Manager at Central Australian College, Australia. He understands the international students’ journey and educational experiences in Australia as he has moved to Australia as an international student in 2014. He has a strong track record of strategic growth, organisational performance and leadership quality & the ability to conduct high-quality research work, student assessing skills, commitment to academic research and high-quality teaching; familiarity with curriculum design; and a strong knowledge of the subject area coupled with a broad subject background.
Suzanne Fernandes
Suzanne has been a member of ISANA since 2013 and joined the Vic/Tas committee in 2019, as the Schools Sector Representative.
She has been involved in high school international student programs since 2009, with experience in marketing, compliance, administration, and student welfare management.
Keen to develop best practice and ensure the wellbeing of students, Suzanne sees ISANA as an ideal platform to represent and promote the interests of the international education sector.
Suzanne enjoys travelling, gardening and playing golf.