Meet Our Team

GABY  BURGESS

Gaby is the co-founder of the Culture Bridge Institute. She has recently graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies. She has experience studying and working across the Asia-Pacific. She is passionate about developing high quality practical public policy to Australia's most pressing cultural challenges. She sees the Culture Bridge Institute as an important platform for the development of multicultural policy research and cross-cultural interaction capacity building.
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BEN  BURGESS

​Ben is the co-founder of Culture Bridge Institute. He is a fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Economics and Finance with a Diploma in Software Development. Having studied at Peking University, Ben has an appreciation for other cultures and believes that Australia must embrace its multiculturalism as a strength moving forward. Ben also believes that solutions to global challenges will only result when nations and cultures comes together to look for creative solutions. To this end, Ben has Co-Founded Culture Bridge, hoping that it will provide a platform for universities and other institutions to develop the cross-cultural competencies of their members and relationships between them.

MARY  LIU

Mary is a second year Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce student at Monash University majoring in Finance. Mary is also serving as the Promotions Director for the Australian Federation of International Students (AFIS) and was actively involved with People Exchange and Translations at the Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA). With a multicultural upbringing, she is greatly passionate about cross-cultural integration, diversity and communications. Mary believes Culture Bridge will enlighten the practical solutions and provide a platform to better embrace the domestic and international channels. She sees Culture Bridge as one step towards better cultural understanding and interaction in Australia.

ANNABELLE  CHAI

​Annabelle is a penultimate year Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws student at Monash University, majoring in International Relations and Chinese Studies. With an international upbringing, growing up in various cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Sydney and Shanghai, Annabelle truly believes there is much we can learn about others, and ourselves, from appreciating and respecting other cultures and their perspectives. As the Director of Culture Bridge Monash, Annabelle is passionate for promoting greater cultural diversity and understanding – bringing different people together in order to better understand, embrace and celebrate one another’s unique identity.

HAYA  SABOOR

Haya is a writer, text artist and refugee resettlement commentator. She recently graduated from UNSW, and holds a Master of International Development, specialising in Refugees and Forced Migrations. She also did a year of Master of Cultural Studies and Communications from NCA under the UNESCO chair. She is an avid reader of cultural theory and integration and what it means to connect or disconnect at a cultural and linguistic level.
She found her love for history and culture while reading historical fiction novels and re-enacting them in her home library, though her favourite book remains Wuthering Heights.
Her current research interests are arts, culture, literature and policy interfaces in immigrant. ​She currently serves as Director for the Research Fellowship Program and National Editor.

ANNIE BURGESS

Annie is the National Director of Culture Bridge Institute. She is a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Economics and Marketing with a breadth in Mandarin Chinese language. She is passionate about learning languages. Beyond her Chinese studies, Annie has completed intensive Italian language courses in Italy and enjoys spending some of her spare time learning Russian. Annie believes that through languages, she will have a greater opportunity to learn about different cultures and gain a deeper understanding and connection to diverse and interesting people. Annie recognises that language is a main barrier to cross-cultural interaction amongst domestic and international students and believes that Culture Bridge is an essential platform for allowing students to forge stronger connections and a deeper understanding of one another.