AusInd Bridge Foundation
AusInd Bridge Foundation, a not-for-profit community think and do tank, headquartered in Melbourne, is a visionary initiative aimed at fostering profound people-to-people connections to enhance the Australia-India relationship across various sectors of bilateral, regional, and global significance. Our mission is to deepen these ties through several unique initiatives like Parliament Connect Programme (PCP), Industry Connect Programme (ICP), Community Connect Programme (CCP) and above all the University Connect Programme (UCP).
Launched by the South Asian Community Link Group Australasia (SACLG), AusInd Bridge is backed by influential Members of Parliament and leaders in academia, business, and policy from both nations. This support underscores our commitment to crafting a collaborative future, fostering mutual understanding and opportunities that bridge distances and differences between Australia and India.
Deepak Vinayak OAM JP
Founder and Patron
Iwan was elected to the Victorian Parliament in November 2022, becoming the first Member for Greenvale in the Legislative Assembly. In 2023, Iwan was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Disability in the Victorian Government. Prior to entering Parliament, Iwan’s working life was focused on education and ensuring that young people can access quality education wherever they live. As a secondary school teacher in Victoria, Iwan experienced how public services and government policies have a practical impact on families and shape communities. In 2012, Iwan was awarded the General Sir John Monash Scholarship, which enabled him to complete postgraduate degrees at Oxford University, where he researched how to expand access to training and work for young people.
Iwan loves community sport, having been involved in local sport, especially cricket, as a player, volunteer and administrator over many years. He is passionate about ensuring every person has the opportunities they need to learn, grow and thrive, and that economic chances and prosperity are shared equitably across our state, including in our growing outer suburbs.
Iwan Walters MP
Honorary Patron
Luba Grigorovitch is an Australian politician. She represents the Labor Party and is a former trade union official. She is very passionate and committed to represent the diverse community interests to ensure that people have a strong and powerful voice representing them in Parliament. Her remarkable career and her unwavering commitment to public service, particularly her efforts in advocating for community welfare and workers’ rights is commendable. Her leadership and dedication resonate deeply with the values and mission of our foundation.
Luba Grigorovitch MP
Honorary Patron
Sujeet Kumar is a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, India. He is currently the Chairman of the Committee on Petitions of Rajya Sabha. He is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Parliamentary Consultative Committee on External Affairs, Press Council of India, and the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). He studied Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School and completed an MBA from Said Business School of Oxford University. His profound interest in international relations, geopolitics, business, and technology especially concerning India and the Indo-Pacific, has been evident since his early academic days. His deep study of Foreign Policy of Major Powers and global interactions has fueled his active participation in parliament and beyond.
Sujeet Kumar
Honorary Patron
Dr. Thamizhachi Thangapandian is a distinguished Tamil poet, academician, and Member of Parliament, representing the South Chennai Parliamentary Constituency, Tamil Nadu, India. With a strong academic background in English Literature, she earned her M.A., M.Phil., and Doctorate from esteemed institutions, including the University of Madras. As a professor of English at Queen Mary’s College, Chennai, from 1996 to 2008, she fostered a deep passion for post-colonial and diasporic literature, especially focusing on Sri Lankan and Australian contexts. Her association with Australia was strengthened through her prestigious AIC (Australia – India Council) Fellowship Award in 2004, enabling her to build bridges between the two nations through her literary and cultural contributions.
In Parliament, Dr. Thamizhachi has been a vocal advocate for education, women’s empowerment, and child welfare, earning recognition for her initiatives on child-related issues. Her work extends beyond politics and into literary translation, theater, and cultural dialogue, making her a pivotal figure in connecting Australia and India. Her efforts align seamlessly with the mission of the AusInd Bridge Foundation, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations.
Dr T Sumathy aka Thamizhachi Thangapandian, MP
Honoray advisor
Sulata Deo is an Indian politician and a current Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, representing Odisha under the banner of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). She has been a prominent spokesperson for her party and has held key advisory roles, notably for the Mission Shakti initiative of the Odisha government, which focuses on empowering women through self-help groups.
Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2022, Sulata has been actively involved in various parliamentary committees, showcasing her commitment to social and economic development. Her work also extends to promoting women’s rights and advocating for handloom and artisanal sectors. In addition to her political engagements, Sulata Deo has been instrumental in BJD’s efforts to increase women’s representation in Indian politics. She played a significant role in pushing for 33% women’s reservation in Parliament, with her party fielding numerous women candidates during the 2019 elections. She continues to be an influential figure within the BJD, working to amplify the voices of women and marginalized communities in Odisha and beyond.
Sulata Deo, MP
Honorary Advisor
Prof KamalaKanta Dash
Honorary Director, AIBF and National Coordinator, India Office
Bhavya Sugur, Director
Youth Engagement
Board of Directors
Ms. Caroline Mc Guinness
Founder, Empowering Leading Women
Ms. Caroline is a leading Melbourne based Life Coach and Consultant and has founded Empowering Leading Women to transform lives and careers of women. As a qualified Social Worker with a wealth of expertise in human behaviour, trauma, and attachment, including highly proficient engagement and assessment skills, Caroline has trained hundreds of students and professionals in Australia and India.
Prof Sucheta Priyabadini
Chair Professor, Maa Rama Devi Chair
Rama Devi Women's University (RDWU)
Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha, INDIA
Dr. Sucheta Priyabadini has a PhD from Utkal University and a D.Litt from KIIT University respectively and a Postdoctoral from Monash University, Australia. Her inspiring work on mothers, young women students and women professionals have been highly appreciated in academia and policy making.
Able Wanamakok
Presenter & Communication Coach Find Your Voice Asia
Able is a 16+ year communications expert well-known across Asia as an International Presenter, Actress, TV Personality, Motivational Speaker, Author, Communication & Presenter Coach and Host of the ‘You Are Able’ Video Series. Her aim is to guide individuals to communicate honestly, openly and from their hearts. With her own experiences and her client’s success stories, she leads through the formative process of going beyond one’s ego to find true authentic self.
Prof Srinivas Subbarao
Prof of Entrepreneurship and Business Sustainability, Head of the Department Department of Management Studies NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
Message from Parliamentarians
Dr. Tien Kieu
Former Member of Parliament ( Victoria)
Kaushaliya Vaghela
Former Hon’ble Member of Legislative Council ( Victoria)
Dr Achyuta Samanta
Founder – KIIT & KISS , Former Hon’ble MP( Lok Sabha) Parliament of India
Shri Sujeet Kumar
Hon’ble MP (Rajya Sabha) Parliament of India
Research Fellows
Mrs. Jyoti Luhadiya
Honorary Distinguished Fellow
Dr Prabodh Malhotra
Distinguished Fellow PhD, Victoria University Melbourne, Australia
Video Gallery
Feedback From Interns
The internship provided us valuable mentorship from mentors of different cultures and countries have provided us valuable knowledge and varied perspectives , broadening our horizons. Amidst the pandemic, I thank each and every mentor and founder for providing me this amazing opportunity to learn under your guidance. I developed my soft skills, networking, entrepreneurship, community leadership, etc & learned abt AI & how ties between countries can be made strong.
In the wake of this pandemic situation, when all are confined within their houses to keep themselves safe, AusInd Bridge Foundation had come up with a great internship opportunity. AusInd Bridge Foundation has developed a lot of new initiatives to make cross-border internships, which offered a mutual and cross-cultural learning experience.
A hearty gratitude to Dr Sucheta Priyabadini ma'am, Caroline Mc Guinness ma'am, Deepak Vinayak OAM JP sir, Kamala Kanta Dash sir, Bhavya Sugur Ma'am, Raju Adhikari sir and all the respected members and mentors of AusInd Bridge Foundation for providing me such a great opportunity, experience and learning platform amidst the pandemic and helping me throughout this internship journey.
‘BEYOND THE GLASS CEILING’ – STRENGTHENING GENDER DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURALISM IN LEADERSHIP ROLES POST COVID
South Asian Community Link Group and AusInd Bridge Foundation on 09.10.21 organised a webinar on the theme “Beyond the glass...