African Engagement RMIT University

Malak Foundation at the Launch of the Business and Law Centre for African Engagement – RMIT University

Malak Foundation was honoured to attend the official launch of the Business and Law Centre for African Engagement at RMIT University. The event brought together distinguished Australians, members of the diplomatic community, international scholars, and representatives from across Africa and its diaspora to celebrate a milestone in building stronger Australia–Africa connections.

Meeting Leaders and Building Bridges

At the event, we had the privilege of meeting Professor David Mickler, Chair of the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN), as well as many distinguished guests from Australia and overseas. We were especially delighted to connect with:

• Mr Ahmed Abdelatif, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Sudan from the Sudanese Embassy in Australia — whose support is invaluable in elevating Australian–Sudanese community engagement as part of the wider African community.

• Members of the Seychellois community, both from Australia and abroad, with whom we discussed the opening of the first Australian higher education campus in Seychelles and the anticipated launch of another in Kenya early next year.

These conversations underscored the importance of international partnerships and the role of education in deepening Australia’s engagement with Africa.

Key Panel Discussion

We also attended a thought-provoking panel that explored how Africa and Australia can work more closely together, with a special focus on supporting Australia’s African population. The panel featured:

• Professor David Mickler – Chairman, Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN)

• Selba-Gondoza Luka – CEO, Afri Aus Care

• His Excellency Dr Wilson K. Kogo – High Commissioner for Kenya

• Stella Avramopoulos – CEO, Good Shepherd

• Duncan Harris – President, Australia-Africa Chamber of Commerce

Their insights highlighted opportunities to build deeper mutual understanding, strengthen community engagement, and expand educational, cultural, and economic links between Africa and Australia.

Pan-African, Pan-Australian Engagement

At Malak Foundation, we see the Centre for African Engagement as a vital addition to the growing ecosystem of initiatives supporting African literacy and collaboration in Australia. This includes:

• The Centre for Australia-Africa Relations at Curtin University

• The Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN)

• Our own partnerships with the African Science Frontiers Initiatives (ASFI) to support education and innovation across Africa

Together, these efforts contribute to a “Pan-African, Pan-Australian” project that seeks to build knowledge, understanding, and opportunity between our two continents.

Congratulations

We warmly congratulate the RMIT University team — including Professor Mathews Nkhoma, Professor Sefa Awaworyi Churchill, Professor Victor Gekara, Assistant Professor Mariam Makkar, and Professor Colin Picker — for their vision and commitment in bringing this important Centre to life.

The Centre will play a pivotal role in shaping future Australia–Africa relations by advancing education, fostering collaboration, and strengthening ties with African communities at home and abroad.

Learn More

For more on the new Centre for African Engagement at RMIT University, visit: RMIT News

✨ Malak Foundation is proud to stand with our partners, community members, and academic leaders in supporting this important step forward for Australia–Africa engagement.