Our team

Chantal Kabamba

Chantal is a lifelong learner who enjoys learning and continuously developing herself academically, professionally and in many ways she can. She successfully completed Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Postgrad in Business Administration, a Postgrad in Economics, and Bachelor’s degree in Humanities (BA. Hum), all in Australia. A Former Chairperson for Community Leadership Network Inc (CLNV). She successfully devised and oversaw the organisational Strategic Plan, Learning and Development Programs (L&D) and Stakeholders’ Engagement Plan (SEP). Chantal also co-founded and was a former President for the Congolese Community of Victoria (CCV). Her passion to assist women started early on during her work placement at a maternity and childcare in the Democratic Rep Congo (her country of origin) as part of secondary school curriculum. ‘It was there that I witnessed malnourished children with mothers unable to afford medical care for their children let alone feeding them. Poverty stricken women’s communities and children are still very much alive and rapidly growing throughout the world’. Following her authentic call to assist women, Chantal also worked in Family Violence sector in Melbourne assisting women and children to live safe as ‘Free members’ of our society. ‘It was an eye opener and a steep learning curve for me’. In addition, Chantal has extensive knowledge and expertise in property management through her career.

A Woman is a Sacred Being’, she says.

Saranya Pranav

An Accountant by training with extensive accounting experience for over five years in SriLanka, her home country. Saranya is primarily working in accounting administration and bookkeeping roles while doing her Master’s in International Development at RMIT. She is a peer educator on ‘Let’s talk Money program’, a financial literacy for Women run by Women’s Health in the North (WHIN). Saranya joins How-Are-You Magazine to develop her capabilities in community development and contribute to the wellbeing of women from Culturally and Linguistic Diverse (CALD) communities

Shida Pourlotfi

Shida Pourlotfi was born in Iran where she completed a Bachelor of Psychology. An entrepreneur from having successfully owned some photography business in Iran. She harnesses her psychological skills to build rapport with people capturing the moment and the essence of people with vivid images that tell stories.

In Melbourne, Shida has been helping refugees and asylum seekers from Northern Iran and is in the process of establishing Northern Iranian Community (nic) organisation. She recently started working as a Real Estate agent trainee. Shida joined How-Are-you magazine in 2018. She continuously enjoys developing herself whilst helping communitie

Krishanthi Liyanage

Krishanthi Liyanage worked as a lab technologist in a Family Planning Association in Sri Lanka, her country of origin. In Melbourne she has been working as a certified Early Childhood Educator. In addition, Krishanthi is an advocate member for women’s group at Women Information, Referral & Exchange Services (WIRE). She completed ‘And I rise’ leadership program with Co health and is a member of the Community Leader’s Working Group (CLWG) at Whittlesea Community Connection(WCC). Recently she has also been working in volunteer capacity as a community connector at DPV health as well at Brotherhood St of Laurence. Krishanthi enjoys writing poems & short stories in Sinhala language. She is passionate about empowering communities and had no second thought in joining How-Are-You magazine.

‘Be kind to one another ‘ she says.

Dr Esther Tsafack

Dr Esther Tsafack, originally from Cameroon has a PhD in Economics from Monash University. Dr Tsafack lectured at the University of Yaounde II in Cameroon prior to moving to Australia. ’I am learning to navigate the Australian systems’. Prior to joining How-Are-You Magazine project, Esther worked with migrant and refugee women as the Vice-Chairperson for the Whittlesea Community Leadership Network (WCLN). She successfully led the Learning and Development (L&D) programs including Leading Women Health and Safety Program (LWHSP), which was sponsored by a range of organisations (private, NGOs, government such as UNESCO-Australia). Esther currently combines missionary work and economic regulation work.

Ingrid Michel – Proof-reader

Our special thank to Ingrid for her dedication and her indefatigable work on proofreading the magazine since its inception while working full time and looking after family.