Gary Lee Oam (Ieaa-Sf) Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

From international student to advocate, Gary Lee found his niche as an international education advocate leading him to be presented with the 2018 IEAA ‘Distinguished Contribution’ award.His work is dynamic and visionary and spans across high level strategic planning and design; policy development and advice; and the design and delivery of complex projects including festivals and arts programming, student wellbeing programs, community grants and volunteer management.Currently, he leads the international education portfolio at the City of Melbourne in delivering the Council Plan 2021–25 and the Economic Development Strategy 2031. He also oversees City of Melbourne’s collaboration with State Government on the International Education Recovery Plan 2025. Driven by programs and outcomes that are co-designed by students and practitioners, Gary has led, partnered and delivered high impact, award-winning initiatives including the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome, Student Welcome Desk (Vic), the ‘Act of Translation’ theatre project and the EDGE International Student Leaders’ Program (now known as the Melbourne International Student Conference, MISC).From an early age, Gary has learnt that if he wanted to create impact, he had to rattle some cages, take risks, be courageous and go for the bold. ‘I am okay living outside the mainstream – I always have. I was never going to give up or buckle to peer pressure’ – Gary Lee.Gary sits on The Huddle Advisory Committee and the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Council. (RAC), a member of the ISANA Vic/Tas Committee and an alumni of the Asialink Leaders Program. Previously, he also served on the board of Multicultural Arts Victoria.

Melbourne, Australia

Gary has over 20 years’ experience working in the international education field have a myriad of awards under his belt for his work in the industry. Currently, his team leads the work behind the City of Melbourne 'Experience Melbourne' program and leading the way in advocating for the extension of the Post-Study Work (PSWR) visas, an initiative that would enhance the value of an educational experience in Australia’s international education sector and in doing so, enhance Australia’s attractiveness as a study destination.Gary led the coordination and implementation of the 'Our Shout' - food voucher program for international students. This $2million dollar program supports over 10,000 international students to purchase fresh food and produce from the Queen Victoria Market during the challenging times of COVID-19. In 2021, his team also reactivated the award winning ‘The Couch - International Students Centre’ in partnership with the Salvation Army. In a short period, The Couch has collaborated with over 20 partners and has hosted over 3,500 students.In 2017 he managed the Student Welcome Desk program and played a significant role in the development and implementation of the 'Act of Translation' project that was presented a Victorian Multicultural 'Community Innovation Award' 2018. In 2020, he is looking forward to progress some significant projects including the City of Melbourne Internship Program and the Act of Translation exhibition at Immigration Museum.He is an advocate for many grassroots programs including the Welcome Dinner Project and the AFL Multicultural Community Program.In addition to his substantive position, Gary is also the Deputy Municipal Recovery Manager at the City of Melbourne and Member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Committee (RAC), providing support and insights about the issues that matter to multicultural communities.

Melbourne 3000

Gary spent almost a decade developing best practice programs and events for international students in Melbourne including the development and implementation of the Lord Mayor's Student Welcome events, curation of projects for the Salvation Army - The Couch, facilitation of the Melbourne Youth Services Forum (MYSF), the EDGE International Student Leaders' Program, Melbourne International Student Conference (in conjunction with Meld Magazine), as well as many other health and wellbeing projects and activities.Gary Lee was awarded the Victorian Multicultural Awards (VMC) for Service Delivery to Multicultural Community by Individuals Award for his work in community services and a separate award for the International Student and Youth program he runs at the City of Melbourne in 2010. In 2012, the EDGE International Student Leaders’ Program and in 2013, the Salvation Army – The Couch also received the same accolades from the Victorian Multicultural Commission.In addition, the City of Melbourne Welcome to International Students (now known as the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome) was awarded the Best Practice/Innovation in the Field of International Education by the IEAA in 2009. Gary was also the team that developed and established the Essendon Football Club GLoBALL – ‘Engaging Communities through Sport’ Program. GLoBALL aims to promote a sense of belonging, social inclusion and celebrate diversity. GLoBALL was featured in ‘Examples of good practice in assisting international students to integrate with Australian students and the wider community’ publication produced by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.In 2016, Gary was awarded the Australia Day Council 'New Australian of the Year' and in the same year, presented with a national recognition as the 'AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year 2016.'

City Of Melbourne

In this time frame, Gary facilitated the Empowering Women Program as part of the African-Australian Community Partnership Program and worked with about ten inspirational women leaders across the municipality to develop strategies, programs and activities that will benefit their communities. Gary also assisted in the development of the City of Melbourne Refugee Welcome Zone Action Plan and Cultural Diversity Statement.Other projects include the promotion of the Anti-Hate campaign, the GLoBALL Program and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (finalist at the 2015 Melbourne Awards).

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Invited by Study Gold Coast to lead the student engagement campaign during the Commonwealth Games for Study Gold Coast. This included hosting the Human Rainbow event at Kurrawa Beach, assist with the programming of activities at the Gold Coast Student Hub and being on the panel for ‘Trade 2018 – Diversity for Business Growth’.

Victoria, Australia