New AFOPA Executive Committee

At this year’s AGM, two new members of the Executive Committee were endorsed. Cameron Green and Paul Chambers joined the Committee, and hit the ground running at the subsequent Executive Meeting the following week.

That meeting, in accordance with the Constitution, selected the office bearers for the Association. The Constitution allows for 12 members of the Committee; we are carrying two vacancies.

The Committee and wider association is deeply appreciative of the leadership of our immediate past Chairperson, Edie Bransbury. Edie served as Chair for 2 years and worked incredibly hard behind the scenes as well as out front advocating for Palestine as well as for AFOPA. Thank you for your leadership, energy and devotion, Edie. But you haven’t gone far - here is AFOPA’s Executive Committee for 2023-24:

Christa Christaki, Chairperson

Christa joined AFOPA’s Executive Committee in 2020 after 33 years as an Executive and Senior Manager in the SA public service. She particularly enjoyed opportunities throughout her career to build strong organisational cultures based on shared values with both staff and stakeholders. Throughout her career Christa worked in positions that aligned with her core values of social justice, human rights and equity. This included multicultural affairs, Aboriginal policy and programs, employment policy and programs and an early career in social work in the Greek community. Christa’s commitment to justice for Palestine was cemented after a stay in East Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories in 2019. Christa is of Cypriot background, the daughter of immigrants who came to Australia in the 1940s. She is also passionate about justice for Cyprus which has been occupied in the northern part of the country since 1974. 

Jeanie Lucas, Secretary and Public Officer

Jeanie is a retired Social Worker. She has been an activist for most of her adult life, first in the Women’s Movement, then in the Anti-War movement and now for Palestine. She has been involved with AFOPA since 2006 and has previously served as Secretary. Jeanie is interested in “operations room” work behind the scenes. Her responsibilities on the Executive include the newsletter and coordinating social media messaging.

Dr Sam Shahin, Treasurer

Sam has been involved with AFOPA since its inception and has been an Executive member for many years, having previously served as AFOPA Chairperson. Sam is a passionate advocate for his homeland and a great spokesperson for AFOPA. He is the Managing Director of The Bend Motorsport Park and as such is a pretty busy person. He has been AFOPA’s Treasurer for the past two years.

Edie Bransbury

Edie is our immediate past Chairperson. She is stepping back from this leadership role but wants to continue active involvement on the Committee. Edie retired in 2011 from working in the SA justice system, where she held Senior Management and Executive positions across various jurisdictions. Edie’s involvement with AFOPA goes back to its inception in 2004. Three visits to Palestine in the last 10 years - witnessing daily the humiliating treatment of the Palestinian people, the lack of any foreseeable just future for their young and the relentless destruction and theft of their property - motivates her to continue her support of Palestinian aspirations for peace and a just existence. 

Mike Khizam

Mike is a long time peace activist and campaigner for Palestinian rights. He was active in the Anti-War movement during the 1990s and early 2000s. He is an experienced public speaker who frequently addresses AFOPA rallies and provides lectures and presentations on Palestine for AFOPA. Mike has worked as a personal assistant in the South Australian Parliament. He is a former Commonwealth Public Servant and has also worked extensively in book retailing in Melbourne and Adelaide.   

Margaret Cassar

Margaret first became interested in Palestine while studying for her teaching degree in the 1970s but did not become politically active, due to family and teaching commitments, until 20 years ago when she started writing letters to the editor regarding the Iraq War, Palestine and Indigenous issues. Shortly after joining the Executive of AFOPA 14 years ago she became convenor of its BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) Activist Group. As Convenor of BDS activities she has organised nearly 640 street actions in Adelaide. Margaret has also published articles about AFOPA’s BDS group in the international magazines Intifada Palestine, Palestine Chronicle, Mondoweiss and Europalestine. She remains passionately committed to educating as many people as possible about the situation in Palestine and how everyone can effect change through activism and adopting BDS.

Imad Mahmoud

Imad is 46 years old and of Palestinian origin. He has a BE in Mechanical Engineering and is currently working as a project manager with a real estate company. Imad has been active since he arrived in Australia in 2018. He, along with his beautiful wife, volunteered at Marion Community Centre, then as a school soccer coach. He has completed several courses at University and TAFE. Imad is active within the Palestinian cultural community group, Glimmer of Hope often working jointly with AFOPA through Glimmer before he joined the AFOPA Executive Committee in 2022. Imad is also interested in religion and hopes that progressive religious ideas might help push forward an end to the Palestinian conflict.

Oceah Davis

Oceah is a recent University of Adelaide graduate. She became increasingly aware of the Palestinian cause while studying. In early 2022 she completed an internship at AFOPA and later that year at the AGM she joined the Executive. Oceah is adept at social media and manages our Instagram account and helps produce graphics for the promotion of the Palestine Centre for Peace. She is also active in the new group, Young AFOPA.

Cameron Green

Cameron has just finished his double degree in International Relations and Arts. He is hoping to use his degree to develop a career in policy development to assist Australia in creating better relationships with other countries. During his final year at the University of Adelaide he participated in an internship with AFOPA, which widened his view of the Israel-Palestine conflict. He is looking forward to working with members of AFOPA over the coming years.

Paul Chambers

Paul is a retired scientist. He previously worked as a researcher focusing on molecular biology and microbial genetics, and lectured in the biological sciences. Paul has an interest in politics and social justice, hence his involvement with AFOPA.