Australian Arab Institute for Culture and Ideas – Sydney Launch

Dr Paula Abood

Dr. Paula Abood has worked at the intersections of community, culture and education for over three decades. She has written, directed, produced and published across multiple platforms including community cultural performance Songs for Life: A Choral Offering from The Children’s Choir for the Biennale of Sydney (2026), fiction Memory for Hunger in Southerly (2025), and chapters in The Cambridge History of Australian Poetry (2025) and Arab Australian Other: Stories on Race and Identity (2019). Paula was recipient of a Creative Australia Fellowship in 2018 and the Ros Bower Award in 2013 for her community cultural development work with refugee and immigrant communities.

Hassan Moussa

Hassan Moussa has more than four decades of experience across government, enterprise, and the not-for-profit sector. Born in Lebanon, he migrated to Australia with his family in 1977 and later completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of New South Wales. In June 2024, Hassan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Arab Council Australia, marking a return to an organisation he has been associated with since its early foundations. The Council delivers extensive programs in settlement support, health, civic education, gender equality, climate action, seniors services, and humanitarian initiatives, and maintains strong engagement with major peak bodies and advocacy networks across NSW. Hassan’s career spans senior roles in the NSW and Commonwealth public services, including with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, where he served as NSW Settlement Manager, Immigration Manager at Sydney Airport during the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and Principal Migration Officer at the Australian Embassy in Cairo overseeing Australia’s migration program for North Africa and Sudan. He also spent over two decades as director of RM Gregory Promoprint, a family-owned printing business established in 1954, earning industry recognition for business leadership. Deeply rooted in community development, Hassan has founded and led numerous organisations since the early 1980s, including the Australian Arab Business Council and the Croydon Park Business Chamber, and remains a frequent media commentator and advocate on multicultural, social justice, and community issues.

Aseel Tayeh

Aseel Tayah is a Palestinian artist, creative producer, and cultural leader based between Australia and the world. She is the founder and CEO of Bukjeh, a multidisciplinary arts organisation that brings stories of home, migration, and belonging to life through theatre, film, and community-engaged projects. Her works including Ardna, A’amar, and Motherhood in the Colony invite audiences to see the world through the eyes of displaced people and to celebrate the wisdom of women, mothers, and ancestors. Rooted in storytelling, food, and memory, Aseel’s practice transforms pain into connection and remembrance into resistance. You can find Aseel on Instagram on @aseeltayah, and @Bukjeh. To find her next show, or to support Aseel’s work, visit www.bukjeh.org

Ala’a Al Qaisi

Ala’a Al Qaisi is an award-winning Australian-Palestinian writer, director, and performer recognized for her compelling storytelling and artistic vision. Most recently, she wrote, directed, and performed in the Sydney stage production The Return, which achieved strong audience and critical success. A graduate of Sydney Film School, her work has been showcased at major international festivals, including the Cannes World Film Festival, Flickerfest, and Karama Human Rights Film Festival. Her short films Pink Swing and Cinderella received critical acclaim, while her debut feature Hadeel, developed at the Rawi Screenwriting Lab, won awards at the Malmö Arab Film Festival and El Gouna Film Festival, and received production funding from the Royal Film Commission and the Red Sea Film Festival. Her work explores themes of resilience, identity, and cultural heritage, amplifying underrepresented voices and engaging audiences worldwide.

Reem Abunada

Reem Abunada is a Palestinian artist from Gaza, currently based in Sydney, Australia. At 23, she creates work that blends expressive painting with hand-painted textiles. Her practice explores themes of human emotion, memory, and identity, drawing deeply from her personal experiences and cultural background. Through her art, Reem expresses Palestinian identity as a living presence within her work—preserving memory, embodying belonging, and giving visual voice to stories rooted in place and people. Her pieces transform both personal and collective narratives into vibrant visual expressions that carry a depth beyond language, bridging past and present with honesty and emotion. “Art is my language when words fall silent.” Reem’s art will be on display and available for purchase during the event. All sales directly support Reem’s work.

Ahmed Abunada

Ahmed Abunada was born in the Gaza strip, Palestine and now resides in Gadigal country (Sydney). His artistic practice is rooted in the contemplation of memory, identity, and displacement, drawing from both personal and collective experiences. His artistic style is defined by hyper-expressive realism, often blending classical techniques with modernist elements and spans a range of media including traditional oil painting, charcoal, comic illustration, and digital art, choosing materials that best suit the concepts he explores. He is particularly inspired by portraiture and gravitates toward the silent details that are often overlooked in dominant narratives. For him, art serves as a space for reflection and confrontation, a form of testimony and a means of healing. Ahmed will be painting live during our event, and the piece will be available for sale through a silent auction. This sale directly supports Ahmed’s work.

Aseel Tayeh

Aseel Tayah is a Palestinian artist, creative producer, and cultural leader based between Australia and the world. She is the founder and CEO of Bukjeh, a multidisciplinary arts organisation that brings stories of home, migration, and belonging to life through theatre, film, and community-engaged projects. Her works including Ardna, A’amar, and Motherhood in the Colony invite audiences to see the world through the eyes of displaced people and to celebrate the wisdom of women, mothers, and ancestors. Rooted in storytelling, food, and memory, Aseel’s practice transforms pain into connection and remembrance into resistance. You can find Aseel on Instagram on @aseeltayah, and @Bukjeh. To find her next show, or to support Aseel’s work, visit www.bukjeh.org

• Aseel Tayeh's website

Ali Al Haj

Ali Al Haj Hussein is a slam poet who won the 2024 Bankstown Poetry Grand Slam and People’s Choice. He addresses politics, identity and mental health through poetry and has recently been included in the publishing of Poetry & Prints For Palestine and the Muslim Poetry Anthology.  He has been competing in slam poetry yearly since 2016, featuring on stages such as ABC, TedX, Town Hall, Sydney Opera House, Parliament House and Sydney Writer’s Festival.

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Cheryl Akle

Cheryl Akle is the founder and director of Better Reading, one of Australia’s largest online book communities. Born in Australia to Lebanese parents, Cheryl draws on her cultural heritage and personal experience to champion diversity and inclusion in the literary landscape. With decades of experience in publishing, media, and marketing, she has worked closely with authors, publishers, and readers to foster national conversations about books and ideas. A passionate advocate for accessibility and representation, Cheryl has created platforms that connect writers with audiences across Australia and celebrates voices from all backgrounds. She is also a respected interviewer, podcaster, and cultural leader. Cheryl is a co-founder of the Australian Arab Institute for Culture and Ideas.

Lawrence Abou Khater

Lawrence Abou Khater is a second generation Lebanese Australian, current Board Member at the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV), Previous deputy chair of the ECCV, and Previous executive member Australian Arabic Council (AAC) 1996-2004. Lawrence has worked as a designer / builder in the residential sector in Victoria for over 30 years and is a co-founder of the Australian Arab Institute for Culture and Ideas.

Deanna Hadid

Deanna Hadid is a communications specialist operating at the intersection of global advocacy and city-shaping infrastructure. From Sydney’s community radio to Melbourne’s multi-billion dollar transit projects, her specialty is scale - making massive builds feel personal and small voices feel powerful. By merging her career in strategic engagement with a long commitment to global advocacy, Deanna ensures the human story remains the heartbeat of every major project. Deanna is a lead volunteer at the Arab Institute.

Jamal Hakim

Jamal Hakim is the CEO and Founder of Hakim Consulting, where he specialises in turning ideas into impactful realities. With extensive executive experience across diverse industries, he is passionate about delivering innovative, community-focused solutions. A former City of Melbourne Councillor and lead for the Creative Melbourne portfolio, Jamal is a seasoned board member and brings a unique perspective on business, community well-being, and sustainable growth. He holds degrees in Commerce, Asian Studies, and Law and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He is currently studying a Masters of AI. He is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder of the Arab Institute.