First Nations advisors

(Australian South Sea Islander, First Nations, Caribbean)

Ms. (Waskam) Emelda Davis is a passionate resident of Pyrmont with strong links to the local community, as well as a strong advocate for cultural diversity and greater inclusion for her Indigenous, Pacific, and Australian South Sea Islander communities. 

Emelda Davis is proud of her diverse indigenous ancestry as as second-generation Australian South Sea Islander of First Nations and Caribbean descent. Emelda has worked for federal, state, community and grassroots organisations where she has exhibited diverse expertise in community development, education, training, media, and marketing. 

As chairwoman of the Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) (ASSIPJ) since 2009 under Emelda’s leadership ASSIPJ have revived the focus on ‘the call for recognition’ for the descendants of Australia’s Blackbirding trade through the coordination of seven ‘Wantok’ national workshops between 2012-2015, and the development of the National Australian South Sea Islander Association constitution adopted at Tweed Heads New South Wales (NSW 2015). Holding a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Technology Sydney Emelda was awarded partial funding through the Networking Tranby ARC Scholarship for her work on Children of the Sugar Slaves – ‘Black and Resilient.’ Emelda is founder of The Black Collective AU working group in 2018 and was key advocate in 2019 towards the establishment of the Australian Museums – Pacific Cultural Collection Advisory Panel of which she sits followed by the appointed to the Board of Trustees for the International Coalition Sites of Conscious and Sydney NSW – International Council on Monuments and Sites committee. More recently Emelda is a committee member for the COVID-19 response Health Directory for Pacific Communities coordinated by state representative NSW Council for Pacific Communities and Multicultural NSW. Achievements include: • 2020 CALD Advisory Panel for Women’s Business • 2020 Women for Election Australia, Ambassador • 2020 Parliament of NSW Community Recognition Statement – Legislative Assembly • 2020 Premiers Multicultural Community Medals (Settlement Services International NSW Human Rights Medal) • 2020 Masters of Arts (FASS) Children of the Sugar Slaves ‘Black & Resilient’ • 2017 Rotary Inspirational Women’s Award • 2017 Inspirational Wall Medal, Ultimo – Public School Sydney NSW • 2016 NSW Women of the Year (Sydney Local) • 2015 NSW Council for Pacific Communities Award As the director for Onyx Management Group since 2004, Emelda has worked consistently and diligently in resourcing Indigenous, Australian South Sea Islander, Pacific, POC and broader community practitioners to deliver projects on a multitude of platforms producing film, television, sports, event management, music and entertainment projects for grassroots, corporate and private sectors. 

(Boigu, Torres Strait Islands)

Masepah Banu (Mas) is a Boigu Islander from the Torres Strait Islands who acknowledges his Aboriginal heritage from Taepithiggi, the community of Mapoon in western part of Cape York Peninsula.  He has extensive experience in governance as Project Officer at the Office of Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Chairperson for the ACT Torres Strait Islander Corporation, Member to the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and Delegate to the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples.  Currently, Mas is an Engagement Officer to the Australian Electoral Commission where his role is to educate First Nations people on enrolling to vote and engaging in opportunities to work at polling centres in upcoming elections. Mas is also a traditional dancer and performs Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander dancing at schools, in government departments and on cruise ships.  His dancing has opened opportunities for him to perform overseas in countries such as Brazil, Qatar and Vietnam.