Ethnolink has marked a historic milestone, hosting its largest ever Ethnolink Summit in Melbourne. Nearly 300 leaders, experts, and practitioners came together for a full day of ideas, inspiration, and action — all centred on the future of multicultural communication in Australia.
From the role of artificial intelligence to the power of storytelling and the importance of community co-design, the Summit delivered a dynamic program featuring government representatives, academics, health experts, and creative industry leaders.
“The energy in the room was undeniable,” said Costa Vasili, Founder & CEO of Ethnolink. “People were curious, engaged, and ready to challenge old thinking. This Summit showed what’s possible when we bring together diverse voices to reimagine the way Australia communicates.”
The day was emceed by Rachael Adams, Ethnolink’s Head of Multicultural Communications, who brought her years of expertise in the field—and her background as a NAATI-certified translator and interpreter—to guide us through the program.
Morning Highlights
The program opened with an address from Bwe Thay, Deputy Chairperson of Victorian Multicultural Communications, who called for continued investment in inclusive dialogue.
Ethnolink’s Founder & CEO Costa Vasili then delivered a keynote on the role of AI in multicultural communication, tracing the evolution of technology in translation and casting a vision for its impact by 2030.
One of the day’s most moving moments came from Anh Nguyen Austen (Australian Catholic University), whose personal story highlighted the deeply human side of communication across cultures — a story attendees continued to reference throughout the day.
Delegates also heard from:
- Bec Schafer (PANDA) – insights from a multicultural perinatal mental health campaign, tackling the complexities of raising awareness across communities.
- Lauren Elston (Office of the eSafety Commissioner) – a case study on a video campaign designed to deliver child safety messages in diverse cultural contexts.
These sessions reinforced how research, strategy, and cultural sensitivity combine to drive meaningful impact.
Mid-Morning Sessions
Following a panel discussion and networking break, attention turned to creative and research-led approaches:
- Alexandra Clarke (Jean Hailes for Women’s Health) presented culturally sensitive illustrations developed to reach women from diverse backgrounds.
- Anthony Lam (Punchy Digital Media) shared a groundbreaking collaboration with Ethnolink and the Butterfly Foundation on Arabic-language video resources for eating disorders.
The morning closed with an exclusive preview of the Natural Hazard CALD Community Education Resources Project for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. Presented by Vanessa Cancino and Rachael Adams, the session offered rare insights into the scale of research and design required to deliver life-saving public information in multiple languages.
Afternoon Energy
The afternoon maintained momentum with presentations that balanced expertise and accessibility:
- Asvin Phorugngam (Victorian Electoral Commission) injected humour and humanity into the subject of democracy and civic participation.
- Sherry Xu (Brand Asia) provided insights into reaching and engaging Chinese-speaking audiences.
- Francesca Bennett (Hume City Council) demonstrated how local government can build robust multicultural communication frameworks.
The Summit concluded with a keynote from Professor Rita Wilson (Monash University), a leading authority in community translation, who showcased the power of co-design approaches in strengthening intercultural communication.
Why It Matters
Across the day, three panel discussions and a facilitated roundtable gave participants opportunities to share knowledge, ask questions, and spark new ideas. The energy in the room was tangible, with delegates leaning into the conversations and building on each other’s perspectives.
Thank You
Ethnolink extends its thanks to the speakers, delegates, and sponsors who made the 2025 Ethnolink Summit possible. The event marked a milestone in the evolution of multicultural communication — and planning is already underway for the next Summit, continuing the mission to push boundaries, share knowledge, and build a stronger, more inclusive future.
