The 2024 Victorian Youth Congress is made up of a diverse group of young people from across the state. They are an incredible and inspiring group, passionate about creating change and advocating for their peers.
Meet the 2024 Victorian Youth Congress
Bios are written by individual Victorian Youth Congress Members and do not represent the Victorian Government.
Isabella (Bell) Fantasia, 23 (she/her)
New member
Isabella is proudly a queer/asexual, disabled, neurodivergent and Greek, who passionately works and volunteers across youth, disability, and mental health services. She loves using her lived experience to influence systemic changes in these sectors to create a more equitable, accessible, and inclusive world.
As a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, Bell hopes to continue to advocate for accessibility and inclusion of young people with disabilities and to help build a nuanced understanding of young people in our community. She hopes to help to address issues like accessibility and inclusion in education, mental health services, transportation, housing, safety, local government and community services.
Kira Te Marama Sucgang Nugent, 21 (they/them)
New member
Kira is a Māori, Tongan and Filipino young person who recently completed their double degree in Criminology and Arts. They have a keen interest in youth, multicultural and intersectional policy. Alongside the Victorian Youth Congress, they are part of Le Mana as a youth ambassador for Māori and Pasifika young people. They are also taking part in Minus 18's Young Leaders Program this year.
Outside of these responsibilities, they love to play footy for West Brunswick, where they can show up and play authentically as a trans person of colour.
During their time at the Victorian Youth Congress, they hope to take part in government policy process and contribute to future policies that greatly impact young Victorians in a positive way, especially young people from intersectional backgrounds and identities.
Wilbur Machado, 16 (he/him)
New member
Wilbur was born in India and moved to Australia at the age of 3. Wilbur developed a passion for leadership and change-making as the President of his high school's Student Representative Council and as a past member of the Casey Youth Action Committee.
Wilbur is excited to work with the Victorian Youth Congress to help develop solutions for issues facing young people in Victoria. He intends to represent the views and concerns of young people in Melbourne’s south-east. Wilbur hopes to discuss the importance of education and how many young people are struggling due to low socio-economic status.
As an immigrant, he feels that it is important that Australia embraces and supports its ever-growing multicultural population, to ensure a just and fair Australia.
Neerja Singh, 18 (she/her)
New member
Neerja is a first-year student at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Neuroscience. Neerja enjoys volunteering and is currently on the advisory board and works alongside Headspace, Western Health, Strive Health and her local councils of Melton and Brimbank on youth-focused projects and policy decision-making.
Neerja is excited to work with the Victorian Youth Congress team to address the issue of youth violence and help shift the narrative from youth violence to youth safety. She is also passionate about improving access to education by providing low-cost tutoring and homework support groups to bridge the gaps in schools. She also aims to address access to healthcare and mental health supports, especially for those from multicultural backgrounds.
Samantha Straw, 15 (she/her)
New member
Samantha is a year 10 student living in Gippsland passionate about the addressing the factors leading to social isolation and the importance of young people's access to support services and resources.
She looks forward to hearing from and working with the other Victorian Youth Congress members to highlight the experiences, issues and voices of young people living in regional and rural areas.
She hopes to discuss the rising threat of social isolation on young people and how we can combat this growing disconnect. She also hopes to discuss the need for both general and supportive services and resources to foster connection and prevent social isolation of youth.
Praneel Kumar, 17 (he/him)
New member
After participating in various leadership roles in the community over the past year, Praneel was inspired to help people his age all around Australia. During his time on the Victorian Youth Congress, he hopes to discuss the issue of discrimination and advocate for equality and recognition.
Praneel hopes to create meaningful connections with his fellow congress members and overall, create meaningful change that makes life for young people that little bit better.
Kurin Lelean, 22 (he/him)
New member
Kurin was raised and lives in rural Victoria. He has a passion for using his lived experience to better the lives of young folk in the present and future.
He currently works in the youth sector and is a trained youth worker, creating and facilitating programs that empower young people to dream and achieve big state-wide. He has experience working particularly in and with sexual health, disability, queer health, disaster management/recovery, and First Nations rights, using his background and earned knowledge to support and bolster young people's voices.
Keyara D’Souza, 16 (she/her)
New member
Keyara believes that being part of the Victoria’s multicultural community allows her to embrace all the aspects that bring people together. She is a three-year and ongoing member of the Youth Advisory Committee of Melton City Council where she engages in youth leadership and advocacy.
Keyara believes that change creates pathways to progress. She would like to be part of that progress. She looks forward to working with others in the Victorian Youth Congress who are equally keen to make an impact of progressive change in our community.
She hopes to discuss the issue of youth violence and mental health concerns amongst young people.
Sarah McCamish, 22 (she/her)
New member
Sarah resides on Wadawurrung country and has completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in international relations and politics and policy studies. In her work with Deakin University and The Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic), she engages with young people around issues such as education and advocacy – she loves hearing their experiences and expertise.
As part of the Victorian Youth Congress, she hopes to discuss issues around social justice within minority groups and climate change. She hopes to uplift the voices of young people across Victoria. She is excited to listen to and learn from other young people across the state.
Ammar Mahmoud – 14 (he/him)
New member
Ammar migrated from Egypt to Australia in 2018 with his family, seeking new opportunities and experiences. Ammar is passionate about changing the perception of youth and their roles in society. He is involved in the Kalkallo Youth Advisory Council and various leadership opportunities at his school.
During his term, he is eager to advocate for greater youth involvement in decision-making processes. As a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, Ammar looks forward to being a leader who makes change, promote initiatives that foster early career planning, and collaborate with fellow members to address issues like youth empowerment and access to educational and career opportunities.
Mahsa Nabizada, 20 (she/her)
New member
Mahsa is a Melbourne-based producer at ABC, currently completing her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Melbourne with a focus on psychology and neuroscience. With a deep-seated passion for education accessibility, storytelling, gender equality, and climate change advocacy, Mahsa has been actively involved in community service and nonprofit work from an early age. Additionally, she serves as the Chief People Officer at the Melbourne Space Program, driven by her enthusiasm for space exploration and industry expansion.
She is particularly focused on ensuring access to quality healthcare and mental health services for young people. She aims to amplify the voices of young people across our state, ensuring their perspectives are integral in shaping policies that address their unique needs and challenges
Billy Chen, 18 (he/him)
New member
Billy grew up in the Western suburbs of Melbourne. He is studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne and tutoring VCE Global Politics.
As a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, he would like to address inequality experience by young people in Melbourne. Coming from a socio-economically disadvantaged part of Melbourne, he is passionate about ensuring that young people have the same opportunities to succeed in life, regardless of their upbringing.
During his term, he would like to work with young people who may come from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds to understand their experiences and to ensure that they feel supported. He wants to raise awareness about all of the fantastic organisations and services in Victoria which can provide young people with all kinds of assistance.
Angela Huang, 18 (she/her)
Returning member
Angela is a second-generation immigrant doing her first year of Commerce and Computer Science at Monash University. She enjoys playing music and because of that she is interested in more funding for visual and musical arts programs, so more people pick up art. She is interested in addressing the cost of living crisis, the housing crisis, as well as reform of the HECS debt system. After attending the 2024 National Youth Forum, she is looking forward to contributing what she has in order to empower young people's voices in Victorian Youth Congress and learning from others’ learned experience and expertise.
Jiawen (Yannee) Liu, 22 (she/her)
Returning member
Jiawen (Yannee) is an intern pharmacist at a metropolitan hospital and is a second-generation Chinese-Australian woman. Yannee is passionate about empowering communities and advocating for young people by actively listening to historically silenced voices and narratives. She has an interest in bridging the gap within adolescent health, mental health, education and lifting voices of marginalised communities through advocacy and representation. Yannee developed strong leadership, teamwork, and inquiry skills through her time as a UN Youth delegate and volunteer, peer mentoring, advocating as a pharmacy student representative, working as a research assistant within health education and volunteering for health NGOs. Outside of work and study, Yannee enjoys reading, playing tennis with friends and family as well as playing the Chinese harp. Yannee looks forward to collaborating with her fellow Victorian Youth Congress members in her second term to advocate and assist in developing a safer, more equitable, respectful, and sustainable future for young people.
Louis Harrison, 19 (they/them)
Returning member
Louis is a passionate advocate for issues concerning the LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse communities. They currently study a Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication) and spend most of their free time pursuing a range of creative interests including music, writing, photography and radio. In addition to their studies, Louis is one of the 2024 Executive Producers of a local music radio show called 'The Hoist' through which they endeavour to champion the voice of local artists and young people from marginalised backgrounds. Louis values compassion, creativity and individuality and hopes to continue learning from the people around them, sharing the voices of young people and inspiring creativity in their peers.
Madylin Gamble, 20 (she/her)
Returning member
Madylin is a proud Gunditjmara woman. She was born in Northern Suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne) but grew up in many locations across Victoria before finishing school back in the northern suburbs. She is currently employed full time at the Victorian peak body for Aboriginal health and well-being; VACCHO. Madylin has a strong passion for women’s rights, especially the rights of Aboriginal women. Madylin aspires to advocate for the health rights of Aboriginal women and children. She envisions a healthy future, an empowered nation that’s free from violence
Pranjali Sehgal, 23 (she/her)
Returning member
Pranjali Sehgal is a journalist, SBS News video presenter and youth and gender equality advocate passionate about creating safe and empowering spaces for young people. She uses her many platforms to drive conversations for change and challenge systemic barriers, especially those faced by young people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
A committed advocate against gender-based violence, Pranjali has worked across various newsrooms, government bodies and not-for-profits where she has supported organisations to speak to young people, not at them. She has previously reported on ABC News, served as a Media Advisor for the Victorian Government across prevention of family violence, women's affairs, child protection and youth portfolios, and is currently also a Plan Australia youth activist.
Born in India, Pranjali is a proud South Asian woman who now lives and works on the lands of the Wurundjeri people in Naarm.
Rose Russell, 22 (she/her)
Returning member
Recently named a 2024 Top 100 Future Leader by the Australian Financial Review for her work in driving social impact through the law, Rose is a fifth year Law and International Relations student at Monash University. She is energised by her robust experience in connecting with diverse, motivated young people in Victoria and across the world - whether it be as a Volunteer Project Manager collaborating within a team of young people to help Not-For-Profits drive social impact, or as a Head Delegate leading Monash University’s delegations to international conferences generating solutions to global issues. As a Member of Youth Congress, Rose is excited to listen to, learn from and uplift the many voices, lived experiences and ideas of Victoria’s young people.
Sarah Tolan, 15 (she/her)
Returning member
Sarah is a Year 10 student who lives on Wadawurrung land. She is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and helping other young people feel more included in their local communities. In the last few years, Sarah has been lucky enough to participate in a Deakin University Study called ‘Growing Up In Cities’, which focuses on how urban design can be more inclusive to young people and how cities can adapt to better suit the up and coming generations. Additionally, she has provided advice on what a new youth space looks like for her local community. Sarah is thoroughly looking forward to being a part of Victorian Youth Congress this year and can’t wait to see what it accomplishes!