Hume Young Leaders Awards

Award winners will be presented with a $500 cheque and a certificate to recognise their leadership achievement. Award winners for Emerging Leaders will be presented with a $100 cheque and a certificate - there will be up to five award winners in this category.

The category finalists will receive a certificate to recognise their leadership in their community. 

• Nominees must live in Hume.
• Nominees must be between the ages of 12 –24 years.
• All nominations must have details included regarding what award they have been nominated for and why they have been nominated.
• Individuals can only be nominated for one category.
• Groups can only be nominated for Young Group of the Year category.
• Individuals who are on the assessment panel cannot act as referees.
• Submissions must be received by 7 July 2025.
• No late submissions will be accepted.
• A panel appointed by Hume City Council will receive and judge all nominations. The assessment panel’s decision is final.
• Hume Youth Services will inform the Award category finalists that they have been selected as a category finalist and the winner will be announced at the Hume Young Leaders Awards Ceremony which will be held at Hume Town Hall Broadmeadows.
• Winners of the Young Leaders Awards 2024 cannot be nominated for Young Leaders Awards 2025; however, can be re-nominated for Young Leaders Awards 2026.
• Councillors or Council staff cannot nominate a young person.
• The Young Leaders Award winners and category finalists must agree to have their photo used in Hume City Council’s print and digital communications.

For more information on the Hume Young Leader Awards, please contact Roomanna Abdulrahman, Youth Engagement and Pathways Officer on 0456 456 186 or email  roomannaa@hume.vic.gov.au.

Young Leader of the Year

Atena Kashani

Atena is a passionate young leader who uses her lived experience to amplify refugee voices and drive inclusive change. She ensures young people are heard, and actively involved in developing programs that shape a more inclusive and equitable future. Atena regularly speaks at schools, events, and community gatherings to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and foster understanding. She has presented to local councils about refugee experiences, hosted Refugee Week events, and helped plan family camps led by refugee communities. Beyond her advocacy, she mentors young people, guiding them to build confidence and leadership skills. Leading with heart and energy, Atena brings empathy, initiative, and determination to everything she does, making a lasting impact on inclusivity, confidence, and support systems in her community.

Young Group of the Year

Community Crusaders

Community Crusaders is a student-led group of Years 7–12 making a real difference in both the school and wider community. What started with 60 students has now grown to over 150, all working together to support local and national causes. From raising $8,572 for the Royal Children’s Hospital to making blankets for premature babies and fundraising for animal rescue, their impact is huge. They run lunchtime drop-in sessions, collection drives, and hands-on activities that get everyone involved. With strong values of service, inclusion, and leadership, they’re building a supportive and connected community. 

Finalists: Sacred Earth Student Action Team, Student Leadership team - Sunbury College  

Young Creative Leader

Mona El Rahi

Mona is a creative young leader who uses art, culture, and storytelling to connect and inspire. She runs henna workshops promoting mindfulness and wellbeing through cultural expression and shares her journey – leaving school early, starting a business, and later completing tertiary studies – to encourage others to follow their own path. From painting traffic signal boxes to designing culturally relevant sticker packs, Mona helps young people from underrepresented backgrounds feel seen and proud of their identity. She also helps organise youth events such as community iftars and leadership programs, using her creativity and empathy to bring people together and inspire positive change.

Young Sports Leader

Madisyn Herring

Madisyn has been volunteering as a basketball coach since she was 12, building confidence, teamwork, and inclusion in every player she works with. As the first female coach in her club, she’s shown real courage and become a role model – keeping nearly 100% of her players returning and even building a waitlist for her squad. She’s also stepped up as a referee to help balance gender representation, coaches' development squads, and captains her own team. Soon, she’ll head to the US on a basketball tour. On top of all that, she plays football, athletics, and cricket. Madisyn leads with empathy, dedication, and quiet strength, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps. 

Finalists: Nicholas Hooper, Kiara Ein-Alshaiba  

Young Entrepreneur Leader

Ali Almajidy

When Ali opened Greenvale’s first barber shop in 2020, he demonstrated vision, initiative, and determination. Since then, he’s built a welcoming space that’s become a hub for the community, supporting local sports clubs, sponsoring grassroots events, and building genuine connections with customers. He now leads a team of seven barbers and has mentored many young people starting out in the industry, teaching not just cutting skills, but professionalism and confidence. Ali also offers work experience for high school students and often shares advice about business and ambition, helping young people in his community develop skills, confidence and an empowered outlook on their future.  A true local leader, Ali gives back with dedication and heart. 

Finalist: Matthew Howes 

Young Advocacy Leader

Rumaysa Salman

Rumaysa is a passionate leader who uses her voice to drive positive impact across multiple communities. A Victorian Youth Parliamentarian and best speaker winner, she’s led initiatives like her school’s first cyberbullying committee and an educational NDIS awareness campaign. She has raised thousands for women and children recovering from trauma, and published an article on mental health for SBS. She has contributed to youth projects on international crises, and volunteers with diverse community groups. Rumaysa also coordinated a Youth Careers Conference supporting culturally diverse students. Through her advocacy, she brings empathy, integrity, and a strong commitment to inclusion to every aspect of her community work. 

Finalists: Berdasin Nano, Hamzah Al-Mahdi, Sarah Shaik Abdul Kader, Atena Kashani

Young Environmental Leader

Rafid Al Danial

Rafid has shown strong leadership as a member and later student leader of his school’s environmental group. He’s organised sustainability campaigns, led waste reduction projects, and educated students and teachers about eco-friendly habits. One school-wide challenge boosted recycling awareness and encouraged student-led planting. Rafid has also raised funds for environmental causes and school essentials, coordinated clean-up days with students and community members, and mentors refugee peers navigating language and cultural barriers. With empathy, resilience, and teamwork, he combines a passion for the environment with a commitment to supporting newly arrived young people. 

Finalist: Jake Nguyen  

Young Aboriginal Leader

Gabby Smith

Gabby is a compassionate and confident young leader who inspires others through her patience, enthusiasm, and positivity. She guides sports initiatives and games, supports peers in the classroom, and role models kindness, respect, and responsibility in everything she does. Gabby has volunteered to lead important cultural acknowledgements at school ceremonies, highlighting her commitment to cultural pride and inclusion. With strong values of community, authenticity, and empathy, she consistently demonstrates leadership and makes a meaningful difference for students around her, serving as a culturally proud role model and positive influence in her school community.

Young Refugee/Newly Arrived Leader

Inana Dinkha

Inna arrived as a refugee from Iraq in 2019 and has become a strong, active presence in her community. She shares her culture and faith through church choirs, teaching hymns and religious content to children, and leading school choir sessions. Inna proudly performs the national anthem and participates in cultural festivals celebrating her Assyrian heritage. She volunteers at nursing homes, teaches her language and faith, and contributes to school leadership and wellbeing programs. Inna also launched a winter donation drive to support families in need. Through resilience, empathy, and cultural pride, she strengthens youth engagement, cultural representation, and awareness of refugee experiences, making her a compassionate mentor and leader. 

Finalist: Esho Esho 

Emerging Leaders

Stiven Eftimov, Bianca Barbaro, Chenelle Malhotra, Nicholas Georgiou, Elias Rawik

In 2025, the assessment panel recognised several young people who are emerging as leaders in their communities and wanted to encourage them to continue on their leadership journey. The panel believes that with time and patience, each of these young people has the potential to become strong, vibrant, and passionate leaders in their chosen fields. The 2025 Emerging Leaders are: Bianca Barbaro, Stiven Eftimov, Nicholas Georgiou, Chenelle Malhotra, and Elias Rawik.

Young Leader of the Year

Fatima Zahra

Fatima volunteers across a huge range of projects, from coaching archery, to leading environmental clean-up initiatives, to fundraising hundreds of dollars for communities impacted by natural disasters and war. Her advocacy focuses on issues both local, particularly those affecting Hume’s multicultural communities and their peers; and global, such as delivering speeches on Islamophobia and the value of community service. She has shown initiative and compassion, and in the words of her teacher, is always kind and caring.  

Young Group of the Year

Glenroy EFKS Youth Group

The Glenroy EFKS Youth Group led the inaugural Pacific Island Health Equity Day, where they MCed, moderated and facilitated the event. In addition to this, they have planned, implemented, and executed an event focused on improving employment pathways for Pasifika young people in Hume. Through initiatives like these, the youth group have addressed critical needs of their community, as well as inspired and empowered their peers through their leadership, responsibility, resilience and commitment. 

Finalists: Mt Ridley Year 12 Advocacy Group 

Young Creative Leader

Fedele Ghanim

Fedele uses storytelling to create a safe and engaging space to talk about critical issues for young people, including settlement and adjusting to new spaces, and mental health. Through his podcast, which he writes, hosts and produces, he shares his own experiences with these issues, as well as those of the guests he invites on, normalising conversations around mental health and encouraging others to seek support. 

Finalists: Sahez Singh, Nirmala Ganesh  

Young Gender Equity Leader

Sowmya Ghimire

Sowmya supports gender equity across a number of platforms. Creatively, she has written a short story about gender and cultural issues which she hopes will inspire other young people from diverse cultural backgrounds to share their stories. She is currently working on a piece challenging beauty ideals. Sowmya is also one of the founding members of the Youth Against Homophobia group at her school, in which she advocates for an inclusive, safe, and engaging space. 

Young Sports Leader

Shalom Uatisone

Shalom is a mentor, captain and state champion of Rugby League. As well as coaching his team, he coaches younger students at lunchtime, who look up to him for his leadership, knowledge, skills, and kindness.

Finalists: Sahnan Saini, Jake Johnston 

Young Social Entrepreneur Leader

Bianca Meneghetti

Bianca is a business owner and employer at just 23 years old. She runs a dessert business called The Crumble Corner, which has grown impressively in the few short years she has been running it, Bianca cares for her staff and always strives to inspire them.

Young Advocacy Leader

Ammar Mahmoud

Ammar shows leadership and advocacy across a wide range of platforms. He represents young people in Hume as a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, and has also been a member of the Kalkallo Youth Advisory Council for two years, where they have driven initiatives focusing on the development of life skills and career guidance for young people. Ammar has also advocated on global issues which are important to the Hume community. This work has included initiating a petition advocating for a ceasefire in Palestine, which garnered over 15,000 signatures, and which was presented in Federal Parliament.

Finalists: Jasmine Roeschmann, Mantasha Shaikh, Fatima Zahra 

Emerging Leaders 

In 2024, the assessment panel recognised several young people who were growing as leaders in their community and wanted to encourage them to continue their leadership journey, as they felt that with time and patience, all of these young people could emerge as strong, vibrant and passionate leaders in their chosen fields. The 2024 Emerging Leaders were Atena Kashani, Brodey Baginski-Charles, Ella Moran, Yousif Butrus, and the Naughty Broady team from Banksia Gardens. 

Young Aboriginal Leader

Lily Salmon

Lily regularly delivers a Welcome to Country at her school and associated events. She spoke on behalf of her Mob at an ANZAC ceremony earlier this year, and also advocates and plans for diversity and inclusion at her school and represents her indigenous peers at every opportunity.  

Young Environmental Leader

Lucas Soe Chu-Shing

Lucas volunteers at a local Salvation Army op shop to promote the use of second-hand clothing. He has also inspired his family and community to take up recycling bottles and containers through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, creating sustainable change. Finally, he has worked with other young people to plant trees for a local resident, supporting a positive relationship with nature and setting a great example for other young people.

Young Leader of the Year

Sarah Hanoona

Sarah was a Youth Advisor at the Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) and works at Centre for Multicultural Youth as a Youth Trainee. Sarah has contributed to the Hume community by advocating for young people, developing engaging programs, and using her lived experience as a refugee to elevate the voices of fellow refugees. Sarah was school captain and completed the Youth Parliament program with YMCA.

Young Group of the Year

Victorian Afghan Youth Association

Victorian Afghan Youth Association (VAYA) has demonstrated leadership by addressing needs of young Afghans and making a significant impact on the community. VAYA organise events, workshops and programs tailored to empower and support Afghan youth. They have created platforms to develop their skills, express their talents and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Finalists: Climate Adaption Requires Youth Action (CARYA), Salesian College Sacred Earth Student Action Team

Young Creative Leader

Siyoda Jayawardene

Siyoda has been involved in performing Sri Lankan Dancing and presenting on Channel 31 Sri Lankan Morning show where she interviews other young people about their passions. Her enthusiasm and strong passion in this creative field has led to her being commended in the Sri Lankan community as a great leader and representative of youth talent.

Finalists: Brivini Fernando, Lillian Hindson-Peck

Young Environmental Leader

Majorie Falefata

Majorie has had various leadership roles at school, church, community, Marjorie is a school captain at her school and president of the SRC. Marjorie plans projects and activities for other young people in the community with a focus on the environment, some of these projects include rubbish clean up days, collection of idle electronic devices which were donated to Melbourne Zoo.

Finalists: Zac Chu 

Young Advocacy Leader

Michaela Bench

Michalea advocates for student voice in her role as inclusion and diversity officer at her local school, she champions students in the school community and hosts a range of opportunities to voice their perspective. Michaela shows humility, empathy and compassion in supporting other students.

Finalists: Charlotte Le Guier, Lorjel Sia

Young Gender Equity Leader - Joint Winners

Jamil Nabole

Jamil advocates for the rights of LGBTIQA+ young people by being a leader at Youth Camps, speaking at community events including Hume City Council events, and marching in LGBTIQA+ marches. Jamil participates in Pride Camps as camp leader, they share their story, create a safe environment, and support other young people to explore their gender identity.

Aleyna Ozsoy

Aleyna has led the Youth Against Homophobia (YAH) group for the past 2 years and is an active member of the school's Student Voice Leadership team. Aleyna champions the rights of members of the community who identify as LGBTIQA+ and has worked to increase visibility of the group. This has included running fortnightly meetings, planning significant days such as IDAHOBIT and Wear it Purple Day.

Young Sports Leader

Laura Giles

Laura has been a member of the Sunbury Lions Football Club for 7 years and was named captain of the Women's Senior Football team in 2023. Laura ensures to foster a culture of inclusion, mentors the younger players, and encourages collaboration with everyone at the club. Laura shows leadership on and off the field.

Finalists: Adam Bell, Jayson Thomson, Dale Readings, Lily Dowsett

Young Social Entrepreneur Leader

Kiana Mei

Kiana started her small business in December 2021, Kiana sells hand folded Japanese origami artworks and has done this at over 140+ market stalls, Kiana has a vision to implement Youth Markets across Melbourne where young people can sell their items and mentors other young people to support them to sell their items and grow their businesses.

Young Aboriginal Leader

Natasha Walker

Natasha has taken a leadership role at Gladstone Park Secondary College with a focus on advocating for Indigenous students. Natasha advocates for the voices of Indigenous young people, works with the student support team to improve cultural recognition. 

Young Creative Leader

Alyssa Barbara

Alyssia has performed dance all around Melbourne at big events such as Moomba and Royal Melbourne Show to smaller local events such as Pass the Mic Tours. Alysa demonstrates enthusiasm and a can-do attitude always bringing a positive attitude and mindset to supporting other dancers to grow their skills and increase their confidence.

Finalist: Abbas Mohammed 

Young Environmental Leader

Louis Harrison

Louis was appointed the Environmental Sustainability Leader in 2020 and 2022 for their school Environmental group. Louis has also advocated for more recycling bins at school, supported tree planting sessions, clean up Australia day events and the introduction of compost bins among many other achievements in raising awareness around environmental issues.

Young Community Change Maker

St John’s Ambulance Volunteers Sunbury Unit

These dedicated volunteers are committed to improve their skills and knowledge and volunteer their time to support local community events to be safe and welcoming for the entire community.

Finalists: Roman Presta, Tharuki Rajapasksha, Liana Klaric, Jamil Nabole

Young Advocacy Leader

Kara Gifford

Kara is passionate about increasing the knowledge of every Australian to understand the impacts that having an allergy and/or anaphylaxis can have on a person, and volunteer with the National Allergy Strategy as part of the 250k allergy project.

Finalists: Lorjel Sia, Liaqat Ahmadi, BSL Youth Action Group

Young Gender Equity Leader

Good People Act Now (GPAN) from Banksia Gardens Community Services

GPAN are passionate and dedicated in promoting gender equity and the prevention of violence against women. They volunteer their time to meet to develop plans and facilitate workshops for young people in Melbourne and are involved in fundraising efforts to continue their important work.

Finalist: Bushra Hashi

Young Sports Leader – Joint Winners

Carly Cranston

Carly was the co-captain for the Youth League team and was selected as player of the Month for the competition three times. Carly also coaches an Under 10 boys team and is a role model to other young women at the club.

Paul Bugeja

Paul has been part of the Craigieburn Basketball Association for 16 years, coaching junior teams and advocating for better access to basketball competitions in growing communities within Hume. Paul has helped the Craigieburn Basketball Association grow their presence in the Hume growth corridor.

Finalists: Abdullah Ahmed, Delani Matuauto

Young Social Entrepreneur Leader

Shato Hamasaid

Shato uses their art to express themselves and share their message and story. Their art has been showcased at many events and was selected to be shown at Hume City Council Refugee week. Shato uses their art to advocate and raise money for animal cruelty.