Conference Highlights
Our 2026 Conference in Brisbane was a fantastic way to kick off our new chapter as Multicultural Voices Australia (MVA). Over two days, we gathered to connect at our AGM, host our annual Gala and Awards night and discuss the future of multicultural media.
It was an inspiring time for broadcasters to connect, share strategies for audience growth and explore new ways to create inclusive programming that builds trust and belonging within our diverse communities. We left the conference feeling energised and equipped with the tools to continue strengthening multicultural media across Australia.
We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who made this event such a success. A special shout-out to our incredible MC’s and photographer/videographer:
- Camille Bianca Gimeno Punzalan (Conference MC)
- Sam Tagataese (Gala Dinner & Awards MC)
- Katheryn Santamaria (Photographer & Videographer Volunteer)
Thank you for your time, talent and energy. We couldn’t have done it without you.
We also want to sincerely thank our amazing members and volunteers, whose support across registration, event and session facilitation and many other areas helped make the Conference possible.
Download the conference photos, presentations, MVA logo files and membership badge
Congratulations to all Award Winners and Nominees!
Download the 2026 Award Nominations Booklet
Listen to this interview by Eduardo Jordan from The Wire with our newly elected President, Irene Bayldon, discussing our official rebrand to Multicultural Voices Australia (MVA), announced at our Brisbane conference, and what this new chapter means for multicultural community media in Australia.
Source: https://www.thewire.org.au/story/multicultural-voices-australia-conference-in-brisbane/
Multicultural Voices Australia (MVA) Rebrand
We are thrilled to announce that The National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC) has officially rebranded to Multicultural Voices Australia (MVA).
Unveiled at our 2026 Annual Conference in Brisbane, this new name and identity mark an exciting chapter for the peak body. While our look has changed, our mission remains the same: we are here to champion, connect and strengthen multicultural community broadcasters and digital creators across the country. We are as committed as ever to advocating for media diversity and ensuring diverse voices are heard in Australia’s media landscape.
Update your branding: We encourage all our stakeholders and members to help us spread the word by updating your materials to our new look. You can download the new MVA logos and branding assets via the link below:
AGM Update: A Resounding Success
We are thrilled to report a fantastic turnout at the 2026 Brisbane AGM.
It was inspiring to see so many members and affiliated stations come together to shape the future of Multicultural Voices Australia (MVA).
Congratulations to Our New MVA Board Directors
We are pleased to welcome our new Board of Directors, whose combined experience and passion will drive MVA forward:
- Irene Bayldon (Radio 4EB, QLD) – Elected President
- Santhosh Nagaiah (CMS FM 91.1, ACT) – Elected Vice President
- Karito Acuna (89.7FM, WA)
- Pradeep Timalsina (CMS FM 91.1 FM, ACT)
- Raymond Chow (Casey Radio 3SER, VIC)
- Noelani Osueke (Koori Radio 93.7FM, NSW)
Youth Committee Update
Our Youth Committee is off to a flying start. We are excited to announce the following appointments to the committee:
- Grace Edwards (Radio 4EB, QLD)
- Terenz Batac (City Park Radio, TAS)
- Tamirirashe Matara (Koori Radio 93.7FM, NSW)
- Evelynd Evelynd (Radio 4CRB, QLD)
- Alexander Wang (CMS FM 91.1, ACT)
Want to get involved?
If you are a young broadcaster keen to have your say and contribute to the MVA’s Youth Committee, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Chad Phillips – MVA Membership and Engagement Coordinator at [email protected].
Women’s Committee Update
We are also proud to introduce the dedicated members of our Women’s Committee, who will be working to amplify the voices of multicultural women across our sector:
- Subasini Shekhar (CMS FM 91.1, ACT)
- Wenjin (Judy) Zhou (CMS FM 91.1, ACT)
- Jayanti Gupta (2XX FM 98.3, ACT)
- Irene Bayldon (Radio 4EB, QLD)
- Nenita Weekes-Meacham (2MCE FM, NSW)
- Karito Acuna (89.7FM, WA)
- Sonia Parra (Hobart FM, TAS)
- Aileen Castigo-Hancock (PBA FM 89.7, SA)
- Joyce Yang (CMS FM 91.1, ACT)
Thanks to Conference Supporters
MVA would like to sincerely thank the following supporters of our 2026 Conference. Thanks to their support, we were able to bring the Conference to life and deliver it as planned.
On the Road: Connecting with our Stations
Ahead of the conference, our team had the pleasure of visiting two of our wonderful regional stations in Victoria. It was a humbling experience to see first hand the passion and dedication that keep these stations at the heart of their communities.
A huge thank you to Gippsland FM in the Gippsland and Latrobe Valley, Victoria for such a warm welcome.
We also loved heading to Bendigo, Victoria to visit Phoenix FM during their Outside Broadcast, the MVA team even managed to jump on air for an interview. You can listen to our chat here.
Seeing how these stations serve their local multicultural communities and diaspora is a great reminder of why the work they do matters so much. Well done to the teams at Gippsland FM and Phoenix FM and to all our affiliated stations across the country for your incredible efforts.
