In February this year, a call went out to all Estonia Australians to volunteer with the Australian Estonian Media Project (AEMP). Following this expression of interest, the new Steering Committe was formed and held their first meeting this April 2024.
The Steering Committee will oversee the activities to improve media and communications, including re-designing the Estonians in Australia website and developing relationships with the various Estonian Australian societies and groups to improve circulation of news, events, and resources.
Who are the members of the Steering Committee and why are they so passioante about this project?
Read about them below!
Johanna Rivers – VIC
Chair | Content
Johanna was born in Australia to Estonian parents who escaped the USSR in the 1980s. Growing up, Estonian House in Melbourne could be called hery second home, where she folk danced, sang, performed, and ate verivorst. As a young adult, Johanna moved to Estonia for four years, working at a software startup. Returning to Australia at the beginning of Covid-19, she increasingly missed Estonia as time passed. This longingness led her to discover eesti.org.au, after which she contacted the founder Kristi to get involved. Since then, she has been working with the team to revitalise the platform and transform it into a tool for all Estonian communities in Australia.
Johanna’s educational background is in business (marketing/ international trade) and psychological science. Johanna’s work life has varied, including property management and housing, telecommunications, business development, and festival event administration. Currently, she is working with the Estonian Foreign Ministry and Integration Foundation to implement development and programs with the portal for Estonian diaspora: globalestonian.com
Mark Narustrang – WA
Deputy Chair | Governance | Funding
Mark’s paternal family fled Estonia in 1944 before settling in Western Australia in 1950. Mark had regular contact with the Estonian diaspora over his upbringing, but didn’t truly embrace the culture when young due to the social challenges from being considered ‘ethnic’. When Mark had children, he sought ways to introduce them to their Estonian heritage and reconnected with the local Perth community over the last decade and a half. Mark subsequently joined the national EACCI as a member and this involvement led to a request to assist the Australian Estonian Media Project facilitating the initial project strategy workshop. Mark has continued to be involved, as a volunteer providing a governance and finance skillset, as well as serving as a link to the Western side of the vast country that is Australia.
Mark is the Principal Consultant and a Director of Pivotal Point Strategic Directions. He is an experienced strategist and senior leader that works with boards and executive to create long term value, primarily through strategic reviews, facilitations, analysis and development. Engagements have included the Health, Education, Mining, Manufacturing, and Digital industries, as well as extensive involvement across Food and Agribusiness.
Prior to consulting, Mark was the Group Strategy Manager at Australia’s largest agribusiness – CBH Group – and worked in Banking and Financial Services in audit and risk management.
Mark has served on numerous boards and governance committees, is a Graduate and Member of the AICD, a Fellow of CPA, a Fellow of FINSIA and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting).
Kristel Alla – VIC
Content
Kristel is passionate about creating an inclusive Estonian Australian community. A community where everyone, old and young, born here or a newcomer to the country, anyone with connections to Estonia and those who feel they belong, are always welcome. Kristel was born in Estonia. She came to Australia as a backpacker 15+ years ago, fell in love with the country and decided this was her new home. She is now part of the Committee of the Estonian Society in Melbourne responsible for their publications. She is also part of the Melbourne Estonian folk dance group.
Kristel is a senior researcher and an impact expert with interest in mental health. Her work involves research and knowledge translation activities across a range of research projects that aim to improve child and family wellbeing. Kristel’s professional experience spans research, communication and policy relevant roles across academic and government sectors. Kristel has a PhD in public health from the University of Queensland, Master’s degree in health promotion from the University of the Sunshine Coast and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tartu. Outside of her professional research roles, she prefers a writing style that is spiced with good humour and topics that explore the various aspects of human experiences. Her mindset is one of a curious wanderer and a lifelong learner.
Manfred Mletsin – NT
Marketing | Governance
Manfred Mletsin brings a deep-rooted passion for fostering connections within the Estonian diaspora through his involvement with the Australian Estonian Media Project. Originally from Estonia, Manfred has witnessed firsthand the importance of maintaining cultural ties and a shared identity, especially in a vast country like Australia where the Estonian community is widely dispersed. Driven by a commitment to preserving Estonian heritage and addressing the communication gaps left after the closure of the “Meie Kodu” newspaper in 2019, Manfred is dedicated to the project’s goal of creating a centralised, reliable platform for Estonian Australians. Understanding the diverse needs of both recent Estonian migrants and third-generation Estonians, Manfred supports the project’s vision to establish a unified space that provides accurate, timely information and resources.
Manfred Mletsin brings a wealth of professional expertise to the Australian Estonian Media Project, combining skills in business management, communications, and community advocacy. As an experienced business owner and manager, Manfred has developed strong capabilities in branding and strategic development, ensuring projects align with both their audience’s needs and organisational goals. His work with multicultural groups and organisations has given him a solid understanding of diverse communication styles and the nuances of uniting communities with varying backgrounds and interests.
In his role as a representative for international student wellbeing, Manfred has engaged closely with government bodies and key stakeholders, advocating for accessible and effective information-sharing platforms. His work in public relations with the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) involved collaboration with major educational and government institutions, where he championed transparent communication strategies—an essential skill in building trust and cohesion within the Estonian-Australian community.
Manfred’s experience in accounting and business operations ensures the project is efficiently managed, from budgeting to strategic planning. His ability to connect with different audiences and simplify complex information will be invaluable to the Australian Estonian Media Project’s goal of creating an inclusive, reliable communication hub that bridges generational and geographical gaps across the community.
Kristi Barrow – NSW
Technology | Funding
Since 2002, Kristi has been digitally embracing her Estonian heritage (her mother was born in Estonia) after founding the eesti.org.au website for all things Estonian in Australia and volunteering at the Estonian Archive in Australia. She has always been involved in the Estonian community in Australia. Her first memories include learning to count to 10 in Estonian with her grandparents, learning to bake a Kringel (Estonian Sweet Bread) with her Godmother Reet and attending the Estonian summer camp Sõrve. As an adult, Kristi currently serves on the board of the Estonian Cultural Foundation of Australia (ECFA) and has previously sat on the board of the Sydney Estonian Society and been a director at the Estonian Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EACCI).
Kristi runs Kritikality, a digital analytics consultancy specialising in digital analytics and marketing technology solutions, which she founded in 2019. She helps clients maximise the value from their Martech stack. She specialises in the Financial Services, Travel, Retail & Media sector. Previously, she has worked in various digital and management roles at Optus, Expedia, Macquarie Group, Suncorp and the Australian Football League (AFL). Kristi holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Sydney. She is also a fanatical Sydney Swans and Sydney Sixers fan!