People
Alton Budd, Chairperson
Alton Budd, Chairperson
Alton is a Quantity Surveyor and Construction Manager/Administrator of 30 years, now retired. Alton serves as the President of the Gateway Community Group at Cannon Hill and founded the Australian South Sea Islander Research Association. Alton also founded the FOP Australia Ltd, in 2015 to help to raise funds for medical research and patient support for Australians living with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). He founded the Hope for Jarvis Association Inc in 2018, to raise awareness of FOP. Alton is also a past Board Member of the Mater Hospital Ethics Committee.
Michael Yau OAM, Deputy Chairperson
Michael Yau OAM, Deputy Chairperson
Michael is a professional engineer specialising in project and construction management and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He has master degrees in engineering and law and a post graduate in Management. Michael has been appointed to several key positions on boards and committees in federal, state and local governments providing advice in culture, health, engineering, international business and trade. He has been Chair of QEII Health Community Council, a member of Professional Engineers Disciplinary Panel, a member of the Building and Development Tribunals and a former member of the Premier’s Business Roundtable. Michael is Past President of the Queensland Chinese Forum and the Chinese Fraternity Association. He is the current President of the Hong Kong Association, President of the Australia Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Queensland Chairperson of the National Liaison Council of Chinese Australians, and a Director of the Chinese Club. Michael has served the ECCQ Board for a long period of time. He also serves on the QPS Police Ethnic Advisory Group, the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Roundtable and Standards Australia.
Elijah Buol OAM, Deputy Chairperson
Elijah Buol OAM, Deputy Chairperson
Elijah is currently employed as a State Lead, Queensland at Australian Red Cross and Managing Director at Smart Answers Consulting Pty Ltd. Elijah sits on many government and organisation boards. Elijah has a unique understanding of multicultural communities and refugee issues, particularly those for young people and has strong community links. Elijah was the 2019 Qld Local Hero of the Year for the Australians of the Year Awards and recipient of Medal of Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the community and the area of youth policy reform in Queensland. He is a Criminologist, Accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and National Accredited Mediator with Master of Laws and Master of Justice (Intelligence).
Serge Voloschenko OAM, Honorary President
Serge Voloschenko OAM, Honorary President
Serge has served ECCQ in a range of capacities over the last 40 years, including 14 years as Chairperson. Serge is the current President of the Russian Benevolent Association, which set up Pine Lodge Home, a residential aged care facility for the Russian speaking community. Serge is a member of the Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council, which advises the Minister for Multicultural Affairs on opportunities and challenges facing people from CALD backgrounds. Serge has amassed a wealth of understanding around broader community issues through his many years of community work and his membership on many other advisory bodies and committees, including the Healthy Ageing Reference Network, the Police Ethnic Advisory Group, the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Roundtable, the Heritage Advisory Committee, and the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee.
Surendra Prasad OAM, Director
Surendra Prasad OAM, Director
Surendra has been a community leader and organiser for several years. He is the Founder and President of the Fiji Senior Citizens Association of Queensland and has coordinated the annual Senior’s Multicultural Dinner for the past 13 years. He is a Board Director of the Hindu Council of Australia and a founding member of the Hindu Council of Queensland. He served as President of the Federation of Indian Communities in Queensland (FICQ) and Chairperson of the Queensland Universal Peace Federation. Surendra has won many awards for his service to the community including a Queensland Multicultural Award in 2016 in the Local Champion category, a Lions International President’s Award among others.
Amar Khan, Director
Amar Khan, Director
Amar is a Public Health Practitioner and has worked for Queensland Health for nearly 18 years. Amar previously served on the Board of the Islamic College of Brisbane for ten years, and held the positions of President and Vice President of Pakistan Australian Cultural Association of Qld Inc for several years, served as Vice President of the Islamic Council of Queensland for 8 years and was the founding Vice President of the Islamic Society of Central Qld and Islamic Society of Ipswich Inc. Amar was awarded the ICQ Inaugural Community Service Award for 25 years of community services and has help many refugees and migrants to settle in Brisbane, Ipswich and Rockhampton.
John Fox APM, Company Secretary
John Fox APM, Company Secretary
In December 2017 John was appointed Company Secretary by the Board of Directors. John is a retired Police Inspector who served with the Queensland Police Service for over 42 years working is a variety of locations and different capacities. For over 10 years, John was the Officer in Charge of the Cultural Advisory Unit Working out of the Office of the Commissioner and engaged across a wide range of activities, policies and undertakings with the Multicultural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities of Queensland. John was presented with the Australia Police Medal and the QPS Meritorious Service Medal for his achievements in these sectors. John has served as the ECCQ Company Secretary since 2017.