Voula Messimeri has a combination of operational, governance and leadership skills having had a long career in the community and multicultural services sector.
She has had roles as an non-executive Board Director including as Chair of the peak multicultural national body, the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) Deputy Chair of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, inaugural Chair of Women’s Health in the North, Chair of InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence where she was also until recently, Patron.
Voula was appointed and served two terms on the RMIT University Council and represented the Council as a Board Director on the RMIT Training Board, a controlled entity of the RMIT University. With a strong interest in language services Voula was appointed as a Director on the Victorian Interpreting & Translating Service (VITS) Board, a state owned enterprise, where she served for 15 years and occupied the role of Deputy Chairperson twice in that time.
Major contributions to policy and advocacy roles led to appointments on a wide range Ministerial State and Federal advisory structures across diverse areas, including health, ageing, income support, media and as a member on the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council.
She is a Fellow of the prestigious Williamson Community Leadership Program and has been awarded Honorary life membership for significant contributions and leadership by FECCA and Australian Greek Welfare Society now PRONIA, where she was a long standing CEO. The Greek Government recognised her service to the Australian Greek diaspora in 2009.
Voula was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women and recognised under the Order of Australia for her contribution to refugees, migrants and women. Currently serving on the Board of PRONIA and is the Chair of the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).