Meet the panellists
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Amaani Siddeek
AGE 22
PRONOUNS She/her
LOCATION Sydney
With every hardship there will be ease.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- The Quran
Amaani was born in Sri Lanka, but grew up between Melbourne and Sydney, moving often between the two cities in her primary school years before settling in Western Sydney.Her love of investigative journalism and long feature stories led her to complete a Bachelor of Communications and she just started work as Cadet at NewsCorp.
Her interests range from social justice issues and politics, to bingeing Netflix and F1 and doing DIYprojects. She’s also passionate about the environment, believing “that government policy inaction is not only compromising us environmentally but also exposing deep flaws in our infrastructure and economy”.
She’s joining our Youth Panel to get “a better sense of diverse opinions and perspectives that exist within my generation. Most of my friends look like me and think like me, it would be great to get to know better people from many walks of life”.
Government policy inaction is not only compromising us environmentally but also exposing deep flaws in our infrastructure and economy.
“I really wish they would realise that the world is in change, that it’s different to how they grew up and how they constructed it. I want them to understand that Gen Z is literally in a fight for our survival right now, and that means they have to abolish those old structures.
Older Generations need to understand that we aren't lazy, we are empowered to change the world to a state that we want to function and work in”.
Older Generations need to understand that we aren't lazy, we are empowered to change the world to a state that we want to function and work in.
Nich grew up in the outer Brisbane suburb, where he now works on a casual basis as a journalist and content creator while finishing his studies - although you can often catch him in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
He loves to relax with gaming and streaming, the latest pop culture news or a trip to the beach, but issues of Indigenous and Queer activism, as well as political news that’s near to his heart. He just wishes that older generations would get on board.
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking,
don't you think?
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- The Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz
AGE 25
PRONOUNS They/them
LOCATION Brisbane
Nicholas Topher
His passions include healthcare, education, sports, and social justice for people of colour - the latter coming from personal experience
“Being a young person of colour had its turmoils - experiences of racism, discrimination, and the absence of a sense of belonging based on what I looked like and the colour of my skin”.
In his words, the biggest issue currently facing Gen Z is that they’re “not given the platform or opportunity to speak about issues that are affecting them….[we need to have] meaningful engagement and participation in conversations around the country”.
“Young people are eager to contribute and not just sit on the sidelines”.
Gen Z are not given the platform or opportunity to speak about issues that are affecting them.
Jahin Tanvir was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, moving to Australia with his family in 2002. He grew up in Sydney’s Western suburbs, and now spends his time between his family home in Sydney and studying in Canberra.
His resume is full and varied, studying Optometry full time, while also working in health policy, being an active youth advocate and keynote speaker - and won several awards for it. He’s even given a Ted X talk.
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- James Clear
AGE 21
PRONOUNS He/him
LOCATION Canberra/Sydney
Jahin Tanvir
He wishes that older generations would realise that “being queer is nothing new, but people are becoming more and more comfortable coming out and being their authentic selves” and that this can only be a good thing.
He also sees “the increasing inevitability of climate catastrophe and the struggle that comes with late-stage capitalism” as the biggest issue facing Gen Z today.
Being queer is nothing new, but people are becoming more and more comfortable coming out and being their authentic selves.
Working full time as a manager at a local bottle shop while completing his studies, Angus has spent his life in Central Western NSW. In his down time, he likes to play his guitar as well as writing and playing tabletop games — but issues facing the LGBTQIA+ and rural communities really ignite his passions.
In fact, he’s joining our panel with the hopes of giving a “voice to queer people in rural and semi-rural areas and to at least make one viewer feel seen”.
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn’t hear the music.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- Frederich Nietzsche
AGE 22
PRONOUNS He/him
LOCATION Bathurst
Angus French
He wishes that older generations would realise that “being queer is nothing new, but people are becoming more and more comfortable coming out and being their authentic selves” and that this can only be a good thing. He also sees “the increasing inevitability of climate catastrophe and the struggle that comes with late-stage capitalism” as the biggest issue facing Gen Z today.
Being queer is nothing new, but people are becoming more and more comfortable coming out and being their authentic selves.
Working full time as a manager at a local bottle shop while completing his studies, Angus has spent his life in Central Western NSW. In his down time, he likes to play his guitar as well as writing and playing tabletop games — but issues facing the LGBTQIA+ and rural communities really ignite his passions. In fact, he’s joining our panel with the hopes of giving a “voice to queer people in rural and semi-rural areas and to at least make one viewer feel seen”.
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn’t hear the music.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- Frederich Nietzsche
AGE 22
PRONOUNS He/him
LOCATION Bathurst
Angus French
His passions include healthcare, education, sports, and social justice for people of colour - the latter coming from personal experience. “Being a young person of colour had its turmoils - experiences of racism, discrimination, and the absence of a sense of belonging based on what I looked like and the colour of my skin”. In his words, the biggest issue currently facing Gen Z is that they’re “not given the platform or opportunity to speak about issues that are affecting them….[we need to have] meaningful engagement and participation in conversations around the country”. “Young people are eager to contribute and not just sit on the sidelines”.
Gen Z are not given the platform or opportunity to speak about issues that are affecting them.
Jahin Tanvir was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, moving to Australia with his family in 2002. He grew up in Sydney’s Western suburbs, and now spends his time between his family home in Sydney and studying in Canberra. His resume is full and varied, studying Optometry full time, while also working in health policy, being an active youth advocate and keynote speaker - and won several awards for it. He’s even given a Ted X talk.
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- James Clear
AGE 21
PRONOUNS He/him
LOCATION Canberra/Sydney
Jahin Tanvir
“I really wish they would realise that the world is in change, that it’s different to how they grew up and how they constructed it. I want them to understand that Gen Z is literally in a fight for our survival right now, and that means they have to abolish those old structures.
Older Generations need to understand that we aren't lazy, we are empowered to change the world to a state that we want to function and work in”.
Older Generations need to understand that we aren't lazy, we are empowered to change the world to a state that we want to function and work in.
Nich grew up in the outer Brisbane suburb, where he now works on a casual basis as a journalist and content creator while finishing his studies - although you can often catch him in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. He loves to relax with gaming and streaming, the latest pop culture news or a trip to the beach, but issues of Indigenous and Queer activism, as well as political news that’s near to his heart. He just wishes that older generations would get on board.
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking,
don't you think?
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- The Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz
AGE 25
PRONOUNS They/them
LOCATION Brisbane
Nicholas Topher
She’s joining our Youth Panel to get “a better sense of diverse opinions and perspectives that exist within my generation. Most of my friends look like me and think like me, it would be great to get to know better people from many walks of life”.
Government policy inaction is not only compromising us environmentally but also exposing deep flaws in our infrastructure and economy.
Amaani was born in Sri Lanka, but grew up between Melbourne and Sydney, moving often between the two cities in her primary school years before settling in Western Sydney.Her love of investigative journalism and long feature stories led her to complete a Bachelor of Communications and she just started work as Cadet at NewsCorp. Her interests range from social justice issues and politics, to bingeing Netflix and F1 and doing DIYprojects. She’s also passionate about the environment, believing “that government policy inaction is not only compromising us environmentally but also exposing deep flaws in our infrastructure and economy”.
With every hardship there will be ease.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- The Quran
AGE 22
PRONOUNS She/her
LOCATION Sydney
Amaani Siddeek
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Meet the panellists
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“The one thing I wish the older generations would realise is that racism stems from the colonisation of so-called Australia,” she explains. “In order to address it we must first acknowledge settler-colonialism as a structure, not a one-time event that occurred in the past - then we can move forward as a country built on mateship”.
The one thing I wish the older generations would realise is that racism stems from the colonisation of so-called Australia.
Eelemarni is a Sydney born and bred local, who is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sociology. She’s joined newsChat in the hopes she can “encourage other young Indigenous People to share their voices”.
Her interests and hobbies range from politics and social justice, to literature, photography and exploring nature. However, as an Indigenous Person, her main concern is a growing performative allyship - specifically virtue signalling by many non-indigenous young people on social media, without putting in any real work towards equality.
What you put into the world is what you will receive in return.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- Eelemarni’s mum
AGE 23
PRONOUNS She/her
LOCATION Sydney
Eelemarni Close-Brown
“The one thing I wish the older generations would realise is that racism stems from the colonisation of so-called Australia,” she explains. “In order to address it we must first acknowledge settler-colonialism as a structure, not a one-time event that occurred in the past - then we can move forward as a country built on mateship”.
The one thing I wish the older generations would realise is that racism stems from the colonisation of so-called Australia.
Eelemarni is a Sydney born and bred local, who is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Sociology.
She’s joined newsChat in the hopes she can “encourage other young Indigenous People to share their voices”.
Her interests and hobbies range from politics and social justice, to literature, photography and exploring nature. However, as an Indigenous Person, her main concern is a growing performative allyship - specifically virtue signalling by many non-indigenous young people on social media, without putting in any real work towards equality.
What you put into the world is what you will receive in return.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- Eelemarni's mum
AGE 23
PRONOUNS She/her
LOCATION Sydney
Eelemarni Close-Brown
When it comes to older generations, he just wishes they’d realise “the economy and jobs are a lot different now compared to when they were our age”. But he hopes to share and learn different views on the panel.
The economy and jobs are a lot different now compared to when they were our age.
After graduating early from his homeschooling, Jasper is running his own business as a drum teacher and performer. Aside from music, he spends a lot of his time gaming and cooking. He feels that the biggest challenge facing Gen Z right now is the social and economic fallout created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the long, hard road back to ‘normal’.
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- Albert Einstein
AGE 18
PRONOUNS He/him
LOCATION Rural NSW
Jasper Shields
When it comes to older generations, he just wishes they’d realise “the economy and jobs are a lot different now compared to when they were our age”. But he hopes to share and learn different views on the panel.
The economy and jobs are a lot different now compared to when they were our age.
After graduating early from his homeschooling, Jasper is running his own business as a drum teacher and performer. Aside from music, he spends a lot of his time gaming and cooking. He feels that the biggest challenge facing Gen Z right now is the social and economic fallout created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the long, hard road back to ‘normal’.
Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
FAVOURITE QUOTE
- Albert Einstein
AGE 18
PRONOUNS He/him
LOCATION Rural NSW
Jasper
Shields
