Erica Hendrawan was born into the rich heritage of Taoism and Mahayana Buddhism. Her qualification as a CPA has led her to work in an operational and management capacity in professional services. She has applied her skill and dedication, extending her commitment to various social and non-profit organisations. Erica is closely aligned with Rainbodhi and Theravada sanghas. She seeks to harmoniously blend business acumen with a compassionate ethos inspired by Buddhist Theravada teachings.
Sherene Tan grew up in a Buddhist family, influenced by both her paternal and maternal grandmothers, who had respectively practised Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. As a child, along with her younger brother, she used to regularly follow her paternal grandmother, to the Thai Buddhist temple near home, and later on, she was involved with Sunday pindapata at Brickfields Sri Lankan Temple, for many years. Sherene volunteered as a Dhamma teacher for the Year 2 children for 6 years, when both her sons were attending Dhamma School at Lankarama Buddhist Temple Schofields from 2009 to 2017. She combines both her religious interests and broad skills to contribute to the Board of BCNSW. Professionally, she is a Fellow of CPA Australia, was Director of Finance for 14 years before becoming Hotel General Manager. Sherene is also an NSW Justice of the Peace and a non-executive director/ secretary at another community organisation.
Gawaine Powell Davies has had an interest in Buddhism since reading Christmas Humphrey’s book Buddhism at the age of thirteen, and studying Eastern philosophy. It all makes much more sense to him since he learnt to meditate and became involved in the Insight Buddhist community. He has been a member of Bluegum Sangha for ten years. In his other life he has recently retired as a primary health care research at the University of NSW, and is looking forward to being able to engage more fully in the Buddhist community.
Glenn Sloan has been a Buddhist for over 30 years. He has taken refuge in the Tibetan Kagyu lineage with H.E Ayang Rinpoche and is currently secretary of Amitabha Foundation Australia, a dharma centre focused on the teaching and practices of the Kagyupa lineage. On retirement Glenn trained in Buddhist SRE teaching and Chaplaincy with BCNSW. He served as general manager of BCNSW 2016-2017 and has taken up the role again in a voluntary capacity.
Sourina Simmalavong is the founder of Lao Dhamma School, a Sunday school conducted in English for children of all nationalities based at the Lao Buddhist Temple, Wat Phrayortkeo Dhammayanaram, Edensor Park. Sourina believes that by showing our children how to live Buddhist values from an early age they will grow into being responsible adults with a positive outlook on life, armed with resilience for any challenges they may face. With a legal background Sourina is an active in the development of the Lao community in NSW. She served as a volunteer director of the board of the Lao Community Advancement (NSW) Co-Operative Ltd for 15 years and has been a member of the Lao Buddhist Society of NSW Inc. since its inception. She has an interest in community development, advocacy, youth, women and cross cultural issues.
Shienny Liauw was brought up in a family who follow the distinct Chinese Indonesian Buddhist tradition which amalgamates Taoist, Mahayana and Theravada teachings. She has practised Buddhism much of her life. As a Buddhist Council Board members she has the opportunity to give back to the very organisation that facilitated the formation of Indonesian Buddhist Society of NSW, her first connection to the Indonesian community in Australia. She is particularly drawn to one of the Council’s aims which is to promote the interests and ideals of Buddhism amongst the community at large. Shienny’s professional background is IT service delivery and office operation in not-for-profit and banking sectors.
Tonto Kaewsatuan is digital marketing professional with a focus on acquisition and performance. He works for Torrens University to drive student enrolments through digital strategies and planning. He is a former member of the Macquarie University Buddhist Society – MacBuddhi.
Heather is an ordained interfaith interspiritual minister. She ordained in New York in 2009, and took refuge in Buddhism in 2007. She is also Buddhist chaplain and coordinating chaplain at Canterbury Hospital. Her inspiration is interfaith dialogue to promote peace and harmony. She has been a leader in presenting the annual International Interfaith Prayers for Peace for Canterbury/Bankstown Council. She has served on the Multicultural NSW faith affairs committee, representing the Buddhist Council for some years. Heather completed the Foundational Unit of CPE (400-hours) and is an accredited disaster recovery chaplain. She works as a spiritual counsellor mainly around palliative care, death and dying.
