YOUTH INITIATIVES

Sandra Duarte is a professional CEO, Industry and Thought Leader, Inspirational Speaker, Board Member of the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce, Executive Coach, Youth Mentor and a Business Management Consultant. She has spent the last 30 years using her passion, skills and expertise to help founders scale their businesses, achieve their BHAGs and realise their visions.

She is a compassionate, and dynamic leader, highly experienced in the arts of communication, people management and negotiation. Sandra understands people and the pressure business leaders face and has the ability to execute, assess complex situations, and provide solutions with empowerment and support that leads to successful results.

She is also passionate about helping empower and inspire the next generation and is the Chair of the CBCC Youth Committee that runs various youth initiatives including the CEO for a Day Program. She volunteers with Inspiring the Future Australia and is an Ambassador for the Children’s Cancer Institute, CEO Dare to Cure. Sandra believes we can all help make a difference in the lives of others.

Ahmad Harb is the founder of Avail Business Solutions, a boutique management consulting company that helps SMEs reach their full potential, focusing on hospitality and food manufacturing. Ahmad is driven by building brands, growing businesses, and taking people on the journey.

Before devoting his work fulltime to Avail Business Solutions, Ahmad had the opportunity to serve as a General Manager at a hospitality group, with multiple restaurants and production kitchen, employing 300 people. Working with the organisation for almost 15 years, Ahmad experienced the different stages of growing a brand, from a small business to a medium one, while introducing the different functions, systems, and technology required to keep up with the growth. Ahmad also managed to experience the different functions of managing a successful business, including sales, marketing, food safety, supply chain, and other. In addition to restaurants, Ahmad launched a retail brand under the same umbrella, introducing multiple sales channels including major retail.

Ahmad is an MBA graduate from Macquarie Business School and a Macquarie University Alumni. As a Bankstown local, Ahmad is driven by having an impact to the community, its business, and most importantly, its youth as they represent the future of the community.

David resides in western Sydney commencing a manufacturing career in the machining trade before moving into engineering through a vocational pathway. He later completed mechanical engineering degree and master by research at UTS.

The industrial strength of the Bankstown and Revesby areas kept him working in the area for more than three decades. He and his wife settled in the area in the late 1990’s and have raised their three children here.

Through his career he developed a deep connection with Western Sydney’s manufacturing ecosystem and its work force. While leading a local heavy engineering and manufacturing business, he developed an interest working with schools on industry led education and the skills necessary to support the digital transition of manufacturing.

These interested led to career pivot in late 2021 moving into NSW Government working on delivery of the new Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility being built in western Sydney. A position that allows him to connect his manufacturing enthusiasm and interest in STEM education with his volunteer roles at Bass High School and the CBCC Youth Committee.

Michael Everett, Qualified Chef with a Bachelor of Business Double Major Marketing and Accounting.

I have worked in Kitchens around Australia and have had my own restaurant. I now work with young people transitioning into the working world. I have a passion for seeing young people succeed and the company I work for helps me with this.

MWLP is contracted by the Department of Education to provide Work Placement opportunities for all Vocational Education and Training Students from local high schools across the Bankstown and Macarthur areas. We provide opportunities for young people in nearly 30 different courses, working with the three sectors of education, Independent, Catholic and Department Schools.