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Forty-nine remarkable individuals and organisations recognised across seven categories for their contribution to Australia's Latin American community.
Recognizing individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to strengthening and unifying the Latin American community in Queensland.
Through her leadership at LACA QLD as a Board Director, Carolina Bolivar has reshaped how Spanish-speaking older adults experience life in Brisbane. She has championed initiatives that combat isolation among Latin American seniors, including the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, regular Active and Healthy programs, and annual Seniors Month celebrations running since 2021. Her work ensures elders can maintain their language, heritage, and wellbeing in a new country. Carolina has also been a driving force behind Brisbane Fiesta Latina, helping deliver one of Queensland's most attended Latin cultural events. She is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for sustained, deeply human leadership in caring for those most often overlooked.
Founder of The Latin Directory, Catalina Meikle has built one of Australia's most influential platforms supporting Latin American entrepreneurs. Since launching in mid-2023, the Directory has grown into a national community ecosystem supporting more than 200 Latin-owned businesses, with monthly masterclasses, networking events, and Latin Business Fairs. Her work has been recognised twice by the Embassy of Colombia in Australia for innovation and leadership. Beyond business, Catalina has guided over 600 professionals through coaching and mentored more than 400 Latina women through faith-based programs. She is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for building infrastructure that empowers Latin entrepreneurs and migrants to thrive across Australia.
After surviving a workplace incident that left her with chronic health conditions, Francy Molina turned her experience into a calling, advocating for Latin Americans with disabilities and complex needs across Queensland. She volunteers at Sherwood Community Centre, Ronald McDonald House, and AMPARO Advocacy as a Board Committee member, while independently supporting community members in vulnerable situations to navigate medical care, advocacy services, and human rights organisations. Her work bridges CALD communities, people living with disability, and aged care groups, all without expectation of return. A recent Moreton Volunteer Award recipient, Francy is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for embodying resilience and turning adversity into compassion.
For more than three decades, Marina Castellanos has dedicated her life to migrants and refugees in Brisbane, particularly within the Spanish-speaking Catholic community. After arriving from El Salvador in 1988, she channelled her own experience of displacement into supporting others, working through the Latin American Housing Company, the Inala Respite Care Centre, the Multicultural Development Association, and the Latin American Catholic Chaplaincy as Secretary. She has presented on culturally sensitive end-of-life care, advocated against domestic violence, and mentored generations of Latin Americans. A finalist for The Catholic Community Leader Awards, Marina is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for a lifetime of quiet, profound service to Brisbane's Latin American community.
As co-founder and former President of LatinOz QLD, Solange Lipcin helped build one of Queensland's most active Latin American organisations, leading initiatives such as Lazos LatinOz, QWINBIZ, and the Latin Kids Fiesta. Beyond community programs, she founded The Daring Collective to amplify migrant women's voices through podcasting, workshops, and in-person events, conducting more than 60 interviews to date. She has also represented Latin culture on national stages, including performing the Argentine national anthem at international rugby matches and singing with the Mendoza Tango Quartet. Solange is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for building platforms that empower migrants, celebrate cultural identity, and foster lasting cross-cultural dialogue.
What began as a small informal gathering has grown into a vibrant volunteer-led community of more than 1,500 members, generating over 6,000 participations annually. Warriors Team Brisbane delivers free weekly outdoor activities including yoga, functional training, swimming, basketball, and running, alongside monthly hikes, meditation gatherings, and adventure events. Operating across 15 volunteer leaders and now formally registered as a non-profit, the organisation welcomes participants from more than 25 nationalities, serving as a first support network for many newcomers to Brisbane. Warriors Team Brisbane is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for building a sustainable, inclusive ecosystem where wellbeing, friendship, and belonging thrive.
For more than 35 years, Yeronga Eagles Football Club has stood as one of Queensland's strongest examples of multicultural excellence and Latin American heritage in sport. Founded by Salvadoran migrants as the football arm of El Salvador Soccer Club, it remains the only Latin American football club in Australia to operate continuously for over three decades. Match days at Leyshon Park have become known for their fusion of cumbia, salsa, traditional Latin food, and family hospitality. Through Heritage Round and the Brisbane Copa America, the club unites communities across Queensland. Yeronga Eagles is a finalist in the Community Leadership Award for sustained, generations-long leadership in sport, culture, and community.
Celebrating those who have promoted Latin American culture, arts, music, and traditions within Australia.
An award-winning historian, archaeologist, translator, and educator, Andrea Ballesteros has spent over two decades bringing Latin American and Pacific history to Australian audiences. Her monograph Pre-Columbian Contact between the Americas and Oceania won the AILASA Best Monograph Prize 2025, and as Principal Researcher on The Raftsmen she helped bring the 1973 Las Balsas trans-Pacific expedition to mainstream audiences. Since 2017, she has volunteered weekly delivering Spanish Storytime at Brisbane City Libraries, nurturing bilingual identity in the youngest community members. Andrea is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for ensuring Latin American culture is visible, celebrated, and accessible across every level of Australian society.
For more than 25 years, Bolivia Marka has kept an ancient culture alive on stages across Queensland. Founded in Brisbane in 1999 by Jaime Moscoso and his daughters, the group performs 12 of the 18 dances from the UNESCO-recognised Oruro Carnival, one of the most comprehensive representations of Bolivian folkloric dance outside Bolivia. They have performed at the Woodford Folk Festival for 15 consecutive years, the Queensland Multicultural Festival, the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade, and supported Bolivian legends Los Kjarkas on their 2013 Australian tour. Bolivia Marka is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for sustained, multigenerational dedication to preserving Bolivian heritage and sharing it with all of Queensland.
More than 20 years on, the Colombian Dance Group has become a defining cultural institution within Brisbane's Latin American community. Through performances, workshops, and immersive shows at venues like BEMAC, the group celebrates Colombia's regional dances, traditions, and history while supporting community members in need through fundraising and outreach. They have evolved from a small group into a vibrant intergenerational community, recently launching a children's group that opens performances and creates a natural pathway for the next generation. The Colombian Dance Group is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for two decades of sharing Colombian culture with depth, joy, and authentic community spirit.
What began five years ago with five women singing together has grown into a multicultural community of nearly 40 active members and an extended network of more than 100, representing over 15 nationalities. Latin Choir Brisbane creates space for cultural connection through music, performing in three or more languages with arrangements tailored by their conductor. In 2025 alone, they delivered six performances and produced an original show inspired by Brazilian Boi traditions. Their work fosters belonging, supports mental wellbeing, and welcomes participants regardless of background. Latin Choir Brisbane is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for transforming voice and song into a sanctuary of culture, friendship, and inclusion.
Founded by Yasim Coronado Veranes, a Cuban-trained dancer and educator, Paradox Studios has become one of Queensland's most culturally rich dance environments since opening in 2018. The studio teaches Cuban Timba, Reggaeton, Afro-Cuban dance, and urban contemporary to over 100 active members, with more than 200 children currently learning through its kids' program. Yasim's contemporary dance company NUDO has produced original theatre works including Granted and Criollo, sold-out shows at the Brisbane Powerhouse and Thomas Dixon Theatre that explore migration, identity, and Latin culture. Paradox Studios is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for embedding authentic Latin heritage into Australian dance education and storytelling.
Since 1994, Rio Rhythmics Latin Dance Academy has taught more than 50,000 people across Australia and trained over 60 dance instructors who continue sharing Latin traditions today. Founded by Brazilian dancer and cultural educator Tarcisio Teatini-Climaco, the West End institution offers the widest range of Latin dance styles within a single school in Australia, from samba and salsa to bachata, Argentine tango, and Brazilian zouk. Beyond instruction, Rio Rhythmics delivers cultural workshops in schools and universities, and provides corporate communication and leadership training rooted in partner dance. Rio Rhythmics is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for three decades of shaping Australia's relationship with Latin culture.
Named after one of El Salvador's most significant pre-Columbian sites, Tazumal Salvadoran Dance Group is one of the few groups in Australia dedicated specifically to Salvadoran folkloric dance. Originally founded by women who arrived in Logan as refugees from El Salvador's civil war, the group was revived to ensure younger generations of Salvadoran-Australians could connect with their heritage. Today it brings together 11 senior dancers and 19 children, performing at the Queensland Multicultural Festival, LUMINOUS Lantern Parade, Brisbane Fiesta Latina, and Greater Springfield Community Festival. Tazumal is a finalist in the Cultural Ambassador Award for ensuring Salvadoran culture has its own voice, stage, and proud presence in Australia.
Honouring young leaders under 30 who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and community impact.
After three years as a member of the Latin American Students Association (LASA), Bader Alqahtani recognised that Queensland's only Latin student society needed more than social events, it needed professional infrastructure. Volunteering to lead a structural transformation, he secured partnerships with more than 15 Latin-owned businesses across Brisbane, organised LASA's first professional leadership panel featuring five established Latin professionals, and led a networking night attended by over 75 students and industry representatives. He also helped establish a business and entrepreneurship mentoring initiative supporting around 25 students. Bader is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for repositioning a student society as a launchpad for Latin professional excellence.
Still under 30, Camila Insuasti has co-founded two of Australia's most practical platforms for Latin entrepreneurs. Through Ecuapremium, built on a 40-year family business legacy from Quito, she leads education and import support helping Latin entrepreneurs bring products from Latin America into Australia. Through the MPOWER Awards, now in their second edition with formal endorsement from the Australia-Latin America Business Council, she has built a national platform that gathered over 11,000 voters and attendance from ambassadors of five Latin American countries. Featured in Forbes Ecuador for her work, Camila is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for building infrastructure the Latin community needs while still in her twenties.
What started as Jonatan Quintero offering free intermediate swimming sessions to the Warriors community has become one of its most valued weekly programs, drawing 30 to 40 swimmers per session on average. A trained swimming athlete, instructor, and coach, Jonatan combines technical structure with a welcoming Latin atmosphere, helping participants improve technique, endurance, and confidence in the water. He has also begun offering accessible swimming lessons in Spanish for adults in the Latin community and is helping establish a new underwater rugby club, Pacific Warriors UWR. Jonatan is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for using sport to build skill, confidence, and connection across the Latin community.
Through her work with internationally renowned crew Jam Republic and her appearance on Korean dance reality series Street Woman Fighter 2, Latrice Kabamba has represented Australian talent on some of the world's biggest stages. Brisbane-born and of Congolese and Salvadoran heritage, she now travels internationally to teach masterclasses, influencing thousands of aspiring dancers around the world. Drawing on her multicultural identity, Latrice champions Afro and Latin-fusion movement and uses her platform to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue their creative dreams with pride in their cultural roots. She is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for elevating Latin and multicultural Australian talent on the world stage.
Now a lawyer at associate level at a Brisbane firm, Marlon Camacho arrived from Bogotá in 2015 to study a Bachelor of Laws while working to support himself. He advises businesses on corporate, tax, and commercial matters, and has worked on significant matters including a Spanish company's first expansion into Australia, a deal that has created jobs and investment locally. Beyond his practice, Marlon founded the Good Food Club, a networking initiative that brings together entrepreneurs, accountants, and lawyers to create connections for migrants who often struggle to access Australia's corporate environment. Marlon is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for using his legal career to open doors for Latin entrepreneurs in Australia.
Born with two percent vision, Santiago Velasquez arrived in Australia from Colombia at age 12 without speaking English. By Year 12 he was Vice Captain of his school. He went on to graduate from QUT as the first blind electrical engineering graduate in the Southern Hemisphere and founded two technology companies: EyeSyght, a tactile visual display for blind users, and Hailo, a public transport accessibility platform that launched a world-first trial across 134 Melbourne routes serving 42 million annual passengers. A Churchill Fellow and three-time speaker at the United Nations, Santiago is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for transforming personal barriers into infrastructure that makes everyday life genuinely accessible.
A qualified Colombian commercial lawyer pursuing a Master of Business Management, Sergio Silva has dedicated significant time to giving back to Latin American and migrant communities almost since arriving in Australia. He volunteered with Multicultural Australia for around two years supporting newly arrived migrants, contributed pro bono legal support through SAMBI Legal in migration and commercial law for over a year, and was elected Secretary General of ALAYP in 2025 after two years of active volunteering. Through ALAYP, he helped design a mentorship program connecting newly arrived professionals with experienced leaders. Sergio is a finalist in the Young Achiever Award for the density of his commitment to community while still building his own career.
Recognizing business owners and professionals who have achieved excellence while contributing to the community.
Recognised as a Top Voice for Forbes and MSN.com, Carol Zatt is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Marketing Flow, a female-led agency that operationalises inclusion by centring women as both creators and audiences in branded campaigns. Her global collaborations include work with Google, YouTube, and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and through The Women's Business Lab and My Favourite Local she has built structured pathways for migrant entrepreneurs and female founders. She has helped immigrants gain visibility in Forbes and CEO Weekly, transforming personal experience of displacement into a platform that amplifies others. Carol is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for proving that inclusion can be a strategy, not a slogan.
Through GM Coffee and Andes Reserve, Cristian Campo Figueroa has built an end-to-end coffee business that brings premium Colombian coffee to Australia while creating real value locally. In just one and a half years since launching Andes Reserve, his cold brew concentrate crafted from Colombian beans, his operations have grown from $65,000 to approximately $500,000 in annual turnover. Andes Reserve helps Australian venues elevate cocktail programs and serve high-quality coffee with consistency, while GM Coffee strengthens the supply chain for roasters and hospitality partners. Cristian is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for combining Latin heritage and operational excellence to elevate how Australia experiences coffee.
Founder of Vida, Creating Inspired Lives, Diana Earl has quietly built one of the rare bilingual counselling practices in Australia, working in Spanish and English to support clients navigating trauma, workplace injury, and cultural displacement. As one of very few counsellors providing Spanish-language support within WorkCover and CTP systems, she has helped injured workers from across Latin America regain control during periods of distress and uncertainty. Her practice has grown from solo work into a multi-clinician service, and she has been invited to deliver professional training for Evolve Legal and Littles Lawyers. Diana is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for delivering deeply human, ethically grounded mental health care.
Over seven years, Mafe Garcia has grown Entrelingo Group from a small translation service into an integrated professional ecosystem supporting Spanish-speaking migrants across Australia. The group now spans NAATI-certified translations, professional skills recognition through SkillsPRO, migration strategy through AustraliaPRO, and employability through JobPRO Talent, launched in 2025. Her work has supported more than 35,000 individuals and families to validate qualifications, progress migration plans, and access professional opportunities. Beyond services, Mafe has built trusted digital communities across Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn where thousands turn for honest, practical guidance. Mafe is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for building sustainable infrastructure that helps migrants move from survival to stability.
More than just a café, Terrace Espresso has grown into one of Brisbane's most beloved cultural hubs for the Latin community, run by Héctor and MarÃa. Known for exceptional Peruvian coffee and authentic Peruvian cuisine, the venue hosts dance workshops, live music, World Cup screenings, family-friendly cultural fairs, and gatherings that bring together Peruvians, Colombians, Mexicans, Chileans, Argentinians, and many more. Through resilience during COVID-19 and the Brisbane floods, the café has remained a constant for the community, supporting local Latin artists and creating space for new arrivals to feel at home. Terrace Espresso is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for blending hospitality, culture, and community with rare warmth.
Founder of Wendy Super Accounting, Wendy Jimenez left a secure corporate accounting role to build a firm with a different mission: helping Latin American families understand the Australian financial system and make informed long-term decisions. In just one and a half years, her practice has helped more than 50 families strengthen retirement planning, with many growing superannuation balances from around $200,000 into property investments exceeding $500,000. She also runs weekly Facebook Live sessions in Spanish, mentors women re-entering the workforce, and was elected President of her BNI chapter after only one year. Wendy is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for transforming financial literacy into long-term security for Latin families.
A trained Argentine pastry chef with five diplomas from France and seven years of experience in luxury hotels and patisseries, Yazmin Maestre has spent her years in Australia teaching, mentoring, and building. Through culinary studios and short courses, including teaching at Le Cordon Bleu, she has supported more than 500 students beginning their hospitality careers. Eight months ago she opened Luna's Deli in Coolangatta with her partner, a café, pastry, gelato, and deli where everything is made from scratch and the team of more than 10 represents Argentina, Chile, South Africa, England, and Australia. Yazmin is a finalist in the Business & Professional Excellence Award for transforming pastry into a vehicle for culture, education, and connection.
Celebrating educators and mentors who have made significant contributions to learning and development.
Director of Teaching and Learning and Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at The University of Queensland, Adriana DÃaz has shaped Spanish language education across Australia for nearly two decades. After arriving in Brisbane as an international student in 2000 from Buenos Aires, she completed her Bachelor, Honours, and PhD at Griffith University and now leads curriculum innovation grounded in inclusive, culturally responsive pedagogy. She co-led the recognised UQ-wide Languages Employability initiative and has been appointed Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Third National Congress for Teaching Spanish in Australia (2026). Adriana is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for advancing Spanish language education from international student to national academic leader.
Holding a CELTA, a Specialisation in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from UNAM, and a PhD, Andrea Ballesteros brings rare pedagogical depth to every educational space she enters. Over 17 years she has taught Spanish to learners of all ages and levels at the University of Sydney, Griffith University, and through her own tutoring practice. She co-founded LatinOz QLD, including its community Spanish school for Latin American children, and has supported Spanish Storytime at Brisbane City Libraries since 2017. Her academic work has been published with Cambridge University Press and Palgrave Macmillan. Andrea is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for moving with equal commitment between elite academic institutions and grassroots community spaces.
Founder of Huitaca, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Latina scientists, Dr Astrid RodrÃguez-Acevedo brings together a Colombian PhD in Genetics and Bioinformatics from QUT with sustained advocacy for women in research. Through Huitaca and its volunteer network, she has mentored more than 20 Latin American women with scientific writing, editing, and publication support, and delivered scientific writing workshops to over 200 international students through partnerships with The University of Queensland. She also founded Global Women's Science, Nature and Society, an international journal with no fees for authors or readers and free English editing for Global South researchers. Astrid is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for dismantling barriers that have long kept Latina scientists invisible.
With more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and over 5,300 academic citations, Dr Ignacio Correa-Velez is one of Australia's leading voices on the health and wellbeing of refugee and migrant communities. A Senior Lecturer at QUT's School of Public Health and Social Work, he has secured $2.7 million in research funding and supervised 13 PhD students to completion, many from refugee and migrant backgrounds. From 2019 to 2022 he served as Co-CEO of QPASTT, leading Queensland's specialist torture and trauma support organisation through COVID-19. Ignacio is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for two decades of research, teaching, and mentorship that has shaped how Australia supports its most vulnerable newcomers.
Seven years ago, Joao Aguirre founded Instituto PTE to solve a barrier he experienced personally: the English certification required for visas, residency, and citizenship. Today the institute is the first and only fully digital provider of PTE Academic preparation in Spanish, with more than 520 verified success cases supporting students across Australia and overseas applicants preparing to relocate. As a PhD in Systems Engineering, Joao designed the proprietary methodology and AI-powered platforms himself, building tools tailored specifically for Latin learners. He is also developing 88ingles.com to reach Latin learners globally. Joao is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for transforming a personal migration challenge into a structured educational solution for thousands of families.
Recently appointed CEO of Diálogo de LÃderes Emergentes Australia-LatAm (ALELD), Laura Sarmiento brings over a decade of experience in international development, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement to strengthening dialogue between Australia and Latin America. She built a solid career at Save the Children International, progressing from Communications Officer to Advocacy and Campaigns Manager, leading strategies in complex contexts to influence public policy and advance children's rights. She also led advocacy that integrated a children's sign language dictionary into Venezuela's National Library system, and currently supports values-aligned partnerships at International Needs Australia. Laura is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for using her platform to mentor and connect emerging leaders across regions.
For more than a decade, Latin Stories Australia, led by Director Trini Abascal, has used storytelling, facilitated dialogue, and gamification to create meaningful conversations within multicultural communities. The organisation has engaged more than 5,000 participants directly through programs including La Sobremesa, Finding Your Place in Australia, and the community-led documentary Nuestras Voces, the first of its kind documenting the history of Latin American communities in Australia. Reaching participants from over 50 countries, La Sobremesa transforms complex topics like gender equality, consent, and cultural identity into accessible community-led discussions. Trini is a finalist in the Education & Mentorship Award for pioneering creative tools that turn migrant voices and stories into lasting cultural learning.
The highest honour, recognizing an individual or organization that exemplifies excellence across multiple areas of community contribution.
With more than 17 years working at the frontline of multicultural advocacy in Queensland, Claudia Diaz Amayo originally arrived from Peru and has spent her career making sure migrant voices reach decision-making tables. At the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, she helped CALD communities navigate complex systems and supported the legal establishment of multiple migrant organisations, including LatinOz QLD. She has held governance roles with ECCQ Women's Ethnic Network and Immigrant Women's Emergency Support Services, and now works at the Australian Human Rights Commission, where she ensures lived experiences of migrants and refugees are embedded in national policy. She also established a cross-sector Anti-Racism Community of Practice supporting Queensland schools. Claudia is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for sustained, principled leadership across community, governance, and human rights.
Founder of Professional Migrant Women (PMW), Fabiola Campbell has spent six years building one of Australia's most impactful platforms for the visibility and leadership of culturally diverse women. Since 2019, PMW has delivered over 160 events reaching more than 4,400 participants, run 12 mentoring cohorts supporting more than 300 women, and achieved a 70 percent employment or career progression rate among participants. Author of Own It (2025) and Nailing the Job Interview (2023), she has built partnerships with The University of Melbourne, RMIT, NAB, and the City of Melbourne, and was inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll in 2024. Fabiola is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for turning personal grief into a movement reshaping migrant women's futures across Australia.
Now Deputy Mayor of Gladstone Regional Council, Natalia Muszkat is the first migrant woman from a non-Anglo-Saxon background elected to that council, and believed to be the only South American-born woman elected to public office in Australia. First elected in 2018 and re-elected three times, she received the highest number of votes in 2024. She co-founded Welcoming Intercultural Neighbours Inc., establishing multicultural centres in Gladstone and Rockhampton, and Strong Communities Ltd, which delivers CAMS services in Gladstone today. She also led Gladstone Regional Council to become the only regional council in Queensland with Welcoming Cities accreditation. Natalia is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for two decades of grassroots, civic, and policy leadership in regional Australia.
Born with two percent vision and arriving in Australia from Colombia at age 12 without speaking English, Santiago Velasquez has refused to let the world define his limits. He graduated from QUT as the first blind electrical engineering graduate in the Southern Hemisphere and founded two technology companies, EyeSyght and Hailo. In 2025, Hailo launched a world-first trial across 134 Melbourne routes serving 42 million annual passengers. A Churchill Fellow, three-time UN speaker, and named in 2025 as an official Australian ambassador for the International Day of People with Disabilities, Santiago is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for proving the people a system writes off are often the ones who change it.
As co-founder and former President of LatinOz QLD, Solange Lipcin helped transform a small initiative into one of Queensland's most active Latin organisations, leading programs including Lazos LatinOz, QWINBIZ, and the Latin Kids Fiesta which grew from 800 to 2,000 attendees. Through her platform The Daring Collective, she has reached over 100 active members and hosted 18 events in 2025 alone. She has performed the Argentine national anthem at Suncorp, Parramatta, and Townsville stadiums to combined audiences exceeding 60,000, taught Spanish to over 700 Redlands College students, and now volunteers as Brisbane representative for Professional Migrant Women. Solange is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for sustained, multidimensional contribution across culture, community, and women's leadership.
Founded four years ago to empower Latina migrant women across Australia, Somos Reinventadas has grown into a national network with presence in more than seven cities, delivering more than 150 virtual and in-person events that have engaged over 10,000 women. The organisation provides practical education in business strategy, marketing, leadership, and financial empowerment, while creating connections often difficult for migrant women to access. A landmark achievement is the Leading Latina Convention, the first national convention in Australia dedicated to celebrating Latina leadership in business. Recognised by the Ausmumpreneur Australia Awards and supported by Business Bureau Australia, Somos Reinventadas is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for building infrastructure where Latinas no longer need to translate their identity to belong.
Founder and Managing Director of Y&S Accounting, Yaritza Salazar has built a nationally recognised accounting and business advisory firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, plus a fully integrated digital platform. Since 2008, the firm has supported more than 73,000 individuals, families, and businesses, providing services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to ensure equitable access for multicultural communities. Her team of 34 includes Latin talent both within and outside Australia, with a particular focus on creating remote work opportunities for single mothers. During COVID-19 she launched initiatives such as Step Up for Latinos and Step Up for Students. Yaritza is a finalist for Outstanding Latino of the Year for transforming accounting into a tool for migrant economic empowerment.
Recognising non-Latino individuals and organisations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to supporting, promoting, and advocating for the Latin American community in Queensland.
After more than five years volunteering with the Australia-Latin America Emerging Leaders Dialogue (ALELD), including as Vice President and Secretary of the Governance Board, Dominic de Moura McCarthy has established himself as a sustained advocate for the region. Married to a Brazilian, fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, and a Brazilian permanent resident, his connection to Latin America is both personal and professional. He served as Program Manager for the 2024 DFAT-sponsored Australia Latin America Young Leaders Dialogue in Melbourne, and has represented youth perspectives at the OECD Latin America and Caribbean Ministerial Summits in Brazil and Colombia. Dominic is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for sustained, multidimensional engagement that builds genuine bridges between regions.
A senior executive advisor with over 20 years of experience and credentials including MAICD, CAHRI, CMgr, and FIML, Eric Allgood has used his leadership platform to actively uplift Latin women in business. As a Strategic Growth and Legal Compliance Mentor with QWINBIZ 2025, he contributed his time and expertise generously, with mentees consistently highlighting his clarity, practical insights, and genuine investment in their success. He has confirmed continued support for QWINBIZ 2026 and has extended his guidance to emerging Latina entrepreneurs at the Leading Latina Melbourne 2026 Convention. A White Ribbon Ambassador and Mental Health Advocate, Eric is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for using executive expertise to create meaningful opportunities for Latina women in business.
From the day LatinOz QLD was created, Gigi Lacey has worked behind the scenes to ensure the organisation operates with transparency, compliance, and strength. A specialist in legal and governance support, she has provided strategic guidance and frameworks that allowed a multicultural not-for-profit to safely scale. Her ongoing mentorship within the QWINBIZ program supports more than 30 migrant women each year as they navigate the Australian legal and corporate landscape, demystifying compliance and risk management with warmth and clarity. Through her consultancy Instinct Organisational Development, she works with people as experts in themselves. Gigi is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for the structural support that has helped Latin organisations and entrepreneurs thrive.
One of the very few professionals providing legal support in Spanish to Latino clients across Australia, Jaehee "Sofia" An works at Littles Lawyers, supporting Latino clients in personal injury and motor vehicle accident claims. Recognising that many in the Latin community are unaware of their legal rights or hesitate to pursue claims due to language barriers, she bridges that gap by providing trusted communication in Spanish. Through her Instagram platform @sofia_lawiary, with over 14,000 followers, she collaborates with lawyers and migration agents to share accessible information, and volunteers with Latino seniors at a Community Hub. Sofia is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for filling a critical gap as one of the few Spanish-speaking allies supporting Latin clients in the Australian legal system.
Founder of Willy's Beans in 2023, Jayson Mathiou has built a direct bridge between Australia and Colombia at every level: environmental, cultural, economic, and human. As an official representative partner of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, he operates with rare institutional recognition. His direct trade relationship with Manantiales del Frontino, a Rainforest Alliance and Taza de Excelencia certified farm in QuindÃo, pays farmers at the start of the harvest, providing financial security that protects families and conservation. In collaboration with the Robert Farah Foundation, he has contributed to reforestation across coffee-growing regions. Jayson is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for using his business to challenge stereotypes and tell Colombia's story with depth and respect.
Since September 2022, Joshua van der Hoek has contributed his time, skills, and energy to the Latin American Community of Australia (QLD) Inc. and other community organisations across Queensland. His professional expertise has been especially valuable at Brisbane Fiesta Latina, where he has organised the festival's electrical infrastructure including power for food vendors, stage equipment, and lighting. He also supports the Latin American Film Festival Brisbane and the Crowd Choir during Queensland Seniors Month. Beyond formal events, he has opened his home to Latin families during Australia's housing crisis and supports newcomers through Latin social media platforms. Joshua is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for showing that allyship is built in the practical, generous moments others rarely see.
For more than two decades, Rob Whiddon has played a defining role in advancing Australia-Latin America relations. As Managing Director of Trade and Investment Queensland from 2008 to 2014, he supported the establishment of Queensland's first dedicated trade and investment office for Latin America in Santiago, Chile. He has been a Director of the Australia Latin America Business Council since 2016 and Vice Chair Queensland since 2020. Beyond business, he has actively supported the Latin American Film Festival, Queensland Parliamentary Friends of Latin America, and Hola Networking Business Expo, often providing introductions, guidance, and advocacy behind the scenes. Rob is a finalist in the Latin Ally Award for sustained, principled leadership that has elevated Latin America's place in Australian institutions.