Saturday 21st December 2024
Open Monday - Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Closed 24 Dec 2024 - 5 Jan 2025
Saturday 21st December 2024
Open Monday - Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Closed 24 Dec 2024 - 5 Jan 2025
Meet the Board of the Islamic Museum. Our Board Members bring a wealth of experience and expertise, assisting the staff and volunteers to meet Museum objectives.
Azmeena Hussain OAM
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, is an outgoing Director and Trustee of the Victorian Womens’ 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.
Ali Fahour
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
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 Smuth 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.
Asad Ansari
Asad is a Melbourne based lawyer and finance professional with more than 20 years of experience as an adviser to some of the world’s largest banks, investment and infrastructure funds in South East Asia and the Middle East. He is a leading Islamic finance advisor and has advised on more than $1 billion of successfully implemented Australian Islamic finance transactions.
He was a Director at Deloitte in their Financial Services and Investment group, and also served as a Special Counsel in the firm’s legal practice, Deloitte Lawyers. He has held senior appointments with the Islamic bank, Kuwait Finance House and Australian top tier law firm, King and Wood Mallesons.
He co-founded Amanah Islamic Finance, a home finance provider with committed finance of more than $100 million which provides Islamic financial solutions across Australia.
Toni Wilson
Toni Wilson is the Director, Brand and Communications 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
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.
Moustafa Fahour OAM
Moustafa Fahour OAM is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Plenary Middle East, the Founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia and is also an Advisory Board member of the AUS/UAE Business Council. He was formerly the CEO and Managing Director of one of the leading diversified international contractors in the Middle East, based in Dubai for over 7 years.
He has over 23 years of experience in the banking industry, construction, management and has held senior roles with CIMIC Group, Macquarie Bank, National Australia Bank, UBS and Citigroup.
Moustafa is the author of Boundless Plains: The Australian Muslim Connection and The Journey: Establishing Australia’s First Islamic Museum. He is the Executive Producer of the Boundless Plains: The Australian Muslim Connection documentary.
He was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by the Australian Government in 2015, Highly Commended by the Victorian State Government for community response and recovery in 2021, was selected as one of The World’s Most Influential Young Arabs under the age of 40, by Arabian Business and the distinguished Alumni Award by La Trobe University in 2016.
Ahmed Fahour AO
Ahmed Fahour AO is the Managing Director of Latitude Financial. He has held many other appointments during his career notably: Director of Boston Consulting Group; Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup Alternative Investments; Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for NAB; and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Australia Post. He has also previously served as a Director of the Carlton Football Club, Board Member of Methodist Ladies College, Chair of the Council for Australian-Arab Relations, and Non-Executive Director of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. In 2014, Ahmed was appointed as an Adjunct Professor in the La Trobe University Business School.
Ahmed is also an active member of Australia’s Muslim community. He is an Australian Special Envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In January 2017, Ahmed was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to business, and as a supporter of improved multicultural relations.
Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal AO
Hass Dellal AO is the Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation. He has over 25 years’ experience in policy, management, community development and programming for cultural diversity.
He has extensive experience nationally and internationally in multicultural affairs. He serves on various boards and committees and has spearheaded initiatives for the development of the general community. He has prepared programs on community relations on behalf of Government authorities and the private sector. Hass is Chair of the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Co-Chair of the Victoria Police Multifaith Council, Board Member of the European Multicultural Foundation, a Fellow of the Williamson Leadership Program and an Australia Day Ambassador.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to Multiculturalism, the Arts and the Community in 1997, and the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2003. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences by RMIT University in 2006.
