“I have been given a huge opportunity and I want to pay it forward,” says Lizzy. She now serves as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and a non-executive board member at the Victorian Council of Social Service. She plays a crucial role in the Metropolitan Partnerships program, focusing on building community engagement on economic, inclusion, and environmental issues to design better policy outcomes. In her capacity as Member for the Inner Southeast Region Partnership, she liaises with community and industry leaders to address pertinent issues, particularly those affecting youth and refugees. Lizzy’s leadership extends to advising the City of Monash on community engagement initiatives and collaborating with organisations like the United Nations Association of Australia and Victorian Police to promote social cohesion, gender equality, and respectful relationships. Her story is a testament to the positive impact that refugees can have on their new communities, inspiring through public speaking and mentoring to empower others.