Our board

Azmeena Hussain OAM is a Principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Non-Executive Director at Football Victoria and member of the SBS Statutory Community Advisory Committee.

She has extensive experience in workplace law and is a member of the Victoria Statutory WorkCover Advisory Committee. She is listed in the prestigious Doyle’s Guide as a preeminent Australian personal injuries lawyer and is a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist.

She has a strong passion for equality and social inclusion and has provided advice to a number of government and not for profit organisations. In addition, she is an outgoing Director and Trustee of the Victorian Women’s Trust, Deputy Chair at InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence, Advisor to Victoria Police, Chief Commissioner’s Human Rights Strategic Committee, AFL Multicultural Advisor and Vice President of the Office for Women at the ICV. Most recently, she was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her contribution to the community and the law.

Fawaz Sankari OAM is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Benchmark Capital, a Sydney-based vertically integrated property development fund management firm built on construction business Binah and development business FYVE, with a focus on Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and Lower North Shore. Recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for distinguished service to the banking sector and the community, Fawaz brings over 30 years of senior banking experience and a deep commitment to excellence in both business and public life.

Previously, Fawaz played a pivotal role in establishing the Bank of Sydney as a community bank, growing its balance sheet from under $100 million to nearly $3 billion. His leadership was instrumental in transforming the bank to cater to a broader Australian audience. Fawaz served as Chief Banking Officer (CBO) at Bank of Sydney from November 2018, where he was responsible for the Customer & Distribution Division, encompassing Corporate and Institutional Banking, Retail Banking, Digital Sales, International Banking, Third-Party Distribution and Products across NSW, VIC, SA and QLD. He originally joined Bank of Sydney as Head of Commercial Banking in May 2012 and was subsequently appointed Executive General Manager, Corporate and Institutional Banking in 2016, playing a pivotal role in growing the bank’s balance sheet from under $100 million to nearly $3 billion. Fawaz has previously held senior executive roles within the NAB and CBA Groups as Relationship Executive Manager, Executive Manager, and Head of East Coast Business Banking respectively.

At Benchmark Capital, Fawaz is committed to making a difference in the Australian property market by delivering quality housing and superior returns for investors. His vision is to provide superior service, differentiate the company in the market, and establish a trusted brand that delivers exceptional value to investors. He is passionate about creating a property fund that offers secure returns and allows investors to share in the upside, setting Benchmark Capital apart from traditional funds. Throughout his career, Fawaz has served various executive committees and has a deep understanding of regulatory environments and the importance of accountability and governance in banking. His dedication to excellence and his ability to build strong relationships with investors and business partners make him a trusted leader in the industry.

Fawaz currently holds directorships on various external boards in both the education, indigenous and business-commerce sectors. After serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry NSW, Fawaz was elected as Chairman and plays an integral role in the two-way trade and investment between Australia and the Arab League Countries.

Fawaz held the role of Treasurer at the Sydney University Australian Lebanese Foundation where he is involved in promoting cultural, academic and student exchange between Australia and Lebanon, providing valuable scholarships and creating educational opportunities within the Australian Lebanese Community.

Fawaz is the Chairman at the Al Noori Muslim School College. Fawaz’s leadership and commitment to the college has resulted in the college being ranked in the top 100 schools since its first admittance in 2016. In 2023 the college was ranked 16th in NSW Higher School Education (HSC) school ranking.

Fawaz Sankari OAM recently joined the Board of the Islamic Museum of Australia, contributing to the institution’s mission of preserving cultural heritage, fostering community engagement, and promoting education and interfaith dialogue. This appointment reflects Fawaz’s long-standing commitment to building bridges between communities and celebrating the rich contributions of Islamic culture and history within the Australian landscape. It complements his broader civic leadership, including his role as Chairman of Al Noori Muslim School and Chairman of the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry NSW, further cementing his position as a respected voice at the intersection of business, culture, and community.

Fawaz is committed to continual personal and professional development. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and has served as a NSW Government Justice of the Peace since 2005.

Ali Fahour is the Strategic Community Engagement Manager at the Richmond Football Club as well as the General Manager of the Bachar Houli Foundation.

Ali has over 10 years’ experience as the National Diversity Programs Manager at the AFL, as well as extensive experience in the development of multicultural programs in the multicultural sector. Ali brings his experiences and learning from the AFL on social leadership, employment and engagement programs to broaden opportunities for multicultural youth.

Ali has previous experience as the CEO of the Islamic Museum of Australia overseeing strategic direction and stakeholder engagement.

Bachar Houli is a former Australian Football League (AFL) player who had a 15-year career with Richmond and Essendon. He is the first devout Muslim to play in the AFL, and is a three-time premiership winner.

Bachar played over 200 games with Richmond and was runner-up in Norm Smith Medal voting in 2017 and 2019. He was named an All-Australian halfback in 2019.

Bachar is the founder of the internationally award winning Bachar Houli Foundation and is a role model for the Australian community due to his inspiring work promoting social cohesion. In 2020, Bachar was awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

Toni Wilson is the Chief Marketing Officer at Pitcher Partners, one of Australia’s top 10 accounting and business advisory firms.

She has extensive experience in marketing, brand development and strategic communications, particularly in the professional services sector where she has held senior leadership positions for the last 10 years. Toni has driven strategic change initiatives to foster growth and deliver customer experience outcomes, with a particular interest in the interconnection between employee and customer experience.

Toni is passionate about diversity and inclusion and having a positive impact on the community.

Sheikh Zouhayr Benhim has an academic foundation and an understanding of Islamic theology and cultural heritage. He holds a master’s degree in Noble Hadith and Islamic Studies from the Islamic University of Madinah, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree. His scholarship is rooted in years of dedicated study, including a Linguistic Preparation Diploma from the same institution, equipping him with a comprehensive grasp of Islamic teachings and the Arabic language.

Sheikh Zouhayr’s expertise spans traditional Islamic studies, particularly in Hadith, Creed and Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and he is committed to preserving and promoting authentic Islamic knowledge. His academic accomplishments are complemented by his ability to relate these teachings to contemporary issues, making him a valuable contributor to any educational or cultural initiative.

Iman is currently serving as the Senior Departmental Liaison to the Premier’s Private Office at the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Before this, she had the privilege of working as an Aide to the Governor of Victoria, a role she continues in an honorary capacity.

After completing her Masters of Teaching at the University of Melbourne, Iman taught VCE Psychology and STEM at Southern Cross Grammar School, where she was driven by the opportunity to inspire students and support them in reaching their full potential.

She has volunteered as a Tour Guide at the Islamic Museum of Australia for several years, and contributed to a number of community initiatives including the Bachar Houli Foundation Women’s Leadership Program as a Program Lead, and the mental health Muslim advocacy initiative, Six Degrees. In her earlier years, Iman was a competitive track and field athlete, representing Australia in the Women’s Long Jump and 4x100m Relay.

Ridwaan Jadwat has served as Australia’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates since January 2024.

Mr Jadwat is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He was most recently the First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division, and has held the role of Australia’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation since December 2018.

Mr Jadwat was Australia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen from June 2018 until December 2020. Mr Jadwat has also served at Australian missions in Tehran (Deputy Head of Mission) and Kuala Lumpur (Counsellor).

Prior to his appointment as the head of the Middle East and Africa Division in March 2023, Mr Jadwat was the Head of the Southeast Asia Division and the Southeast Asia Maritime Division in the Office of Southeast Asia.

Mr Jadwat was seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2015-2018 and served as Assistant Secretary, South and South-East Asia, Americas and the Middle East, International Division, and as the Head of Policy in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit Taskforce.

Mr Jadwat holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney, and a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.