Rita Nehme Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I am appointed by the Victorian Government's Office of Women in Sport and Recreation to drive inclusion, diversity, and equity for women to fully participate, and advance Sport at all levels. My particular focus is on culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTQIA+ women.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Midsumma is Australia's premier LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural organisation. Midsumma champions LGBTQIA+ cultures, conversations, and events with a strong strategic focus on intersectionality. The organisation has repositioned itself as a globally-relevant cultural influencer with artistic and thought leadership, learning, and diversity at its heart.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I lead, design, and manage Richmond Football Club’s social impact and environmental sustainability strategies and initiatives. This includes the Club’s inaugural 2022-2024 Environmental Sustainability Action Plan, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, community programs, and Richmond Green initiatives.I build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including corporate businesses, community organisations, and educational institutions. I also identify and scope new impact opportunities with partners such as the recent establishment of the Pride Ally Network and the collaboration with Swinburne University on climate action projects.I work with the Club departments and its subsidiary businesses to ensure sustainable practices and social impact are supported, embedded, and delivered across the organisation while driving staff engagement and education.I align Richmond Football Club’s strategies and action plans to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) allowing the Club to deliver and report on this framework’s targets and indicators.I evaluate and report on the Club’s social impact and sustainability initiatives and programs.I also hold cross-organisational responsibilities as a member of the AFLW working group, the Inclusion Audit committee, and the Child Safety committee.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I lead and develop Richmond Football Club’s internal and external Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and programs as part of the Club’s Community and Social Impact Strategy.I oversee the Club’s multicultural programs, the all-abilities programs including Richmond Wheelchair Football, and LGBTIQ+ initiatives including the Club’s partnership with Midsumma, Australia's premier Queer arts and cultural organisation.I lead the development and implementation of the Club’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, ensuring strong collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders.

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

I was the focal point for Sustainability at Perth Rectangular Stadium and was responsible for the successful delivery of all sustainability-related measures and actions throughout the tournament.I implemented and facilitated sustainability initiatives and actions in the following priority areas: ● Accessibility including mobility assistance, sensory rooms, and audio-descriptive commentary.● Cultural engagement with First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. ● Environmental and climate action projects including sustainable waste management and recycling, and biodiversity awareness projects.● Human rights and anti-discrimination including diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and child protection.● Tobacco control across the venue.I liaised and coordinated with internal and external stakeholders including venue staff, FIFA functional areas, service providers, volunteers, and tournament HQ to ensure sustainability initiatives and measures are successfully implemented.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Bicycle Network is Australia’s biggest bike riding organisation, with nearly 50,000 members nationwide. Bicycle Network aims to make bike riding accessible for all community members through advocacy, behaviour change programs and campaigns, membership support and services, and large scale cycling events.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I led the implementation and creation of FYA's education strategy. I oversaw and managed key FYA programs that support diverse young people across Australia to create social and environmental impact while building their skills and capabilities (i.e. Innovation Nation, $20 Boss, NDIS Economic Participation project, Future Communities Challenge, and Unleashed).I led FYA's Education team, managed program budgets, developed and managed key strategic relationships with educational institutions, industry, community and corporate partners, and set operational plans and priorities to deliver and report on program outcomes.

Melbourne, Australia

I led the development and implementation of FYA's integrated industry engagement strategy. I managed the industry engagement team and oversaw multiple programs (i.e. Innovation Nation, Higher Pathways, and Unleashed) that aim to bring together industry and educational institutions to support the learning journey of young people.I held cross-organisational leadership roles including Chair of the Duty of Care committee, member of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee, and member of the Operations Group.

Melbourne, Australia

I delivered and scaled FYA's Innovation Nation program, expanding its reach from 390 to 1430 young people over three years in Melbourne and Sydney communities. The program supports young people to generate new ideas, models and approaches to solving social and environmental challenges, whilst building their skills and ability to navigate the future.I managed the delivery of the annual Unleashed Awards event, bringing together FYA’s ecosystem (e.g. social entrepreneurs, NGO and community leaders, industry and philanthropic partners) to connect and celebrate young people’s contribution to society.

Melbourne, Australia

I managed and led the design and delivery of FYA's Innovation Nation program and adapted the program in school environments mapping it to curriculum and piloting it in the Greater Western Sydney area.Innovation Nation is an accelerator program that provides young Australians with the skills, coaching and seed funding to develop innovative initiatives that tackle social, environmental and economic challenges facing their communities. Innovation Nation is delivered outside of schools (for young people 18-29 year old) and in schools as an enterprise learning program.I supported a collaboration between FYA, JP Morgan and PwC working on a new employment pathways initiative for the South Australian government.

Melbourne, Australia

I oversaw all aspects of Steer North's strategy and activities, including the Steer North leadership development and training program, health promotion projects, and fundraising initiatives and events. I also established relationships with community, corporate, and academic partners. As a board member, I participated in strategic planning and budgeting initiatives.Steer North is a registered health promotion charity whose purpose is to inspire people to live healthy, active and creative lives. Our health promotion programs are delivered to local communities across Australia through epic cycling journeys. We donate the majority of our fundraising to critical medical research, education and patient care.Our signature event is a 4000 km cycling journey from Melbourne, Victoria to Cairns, Queensland. By cycling through regional and rural Australia, Steer North creates a mobile community that cultivates capacity, inspires ideas, stimulates action and advances health from the grassroots up.

Melbourne, Australia

I delivered consulting projects for government, corporate and NFP clients around the future of: cities, democracy and work. Projects I was involved in included co-design, entrepreneurship, innovation in education and business development.As part of my role, I have worked with the Gippsland Tech School, the Department of Education and Training Victoria, Yarra Ranges Shire Council, La Trobe City Council and Dandenong City Council.

Melbourne, Australia

I was responsible for community development as part of the 'Count Me In' project. 'Count Me in' is a project that aims to promote sport participation for refugee and migrant young people to foster social inclusion, increase social networks and improve overall health and wellbeing.I supported refugee and migrant families and developed partnerships with schools, clubs and local councils in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

Melbourne, Australia

I delivered theory and applications of GIS (geographical information systems) and GPS (global positioning systems). I introduced students to how remotely sensed data is collected, processed and interpreted to be used in a wide variety of applications such as policy making, health and environment.

New Delhi Area, India

I studied and analysed physical inactivity trends in South-East Asia using evidence across demographic and socio-economic background. I developed appropriate road maps to raise physical activity at the policy level in the South-East Asia Region.I also worked with relevant WHO units to develop and analyze surveys aimed at assessing WHO staff physical activity level. Using survey data, I develop recommendations for healthy workplaces.I participated and contributed to the Health Impact Assessment meeting in Paro, Bhutan with WHO and Ministry of Health of Bhutan.

Austin, Texas

I conducted geological and geochemical research and analysis to study oceanographic and environmental conditions and controls in multiple geological formations.I operated X-Ray Diffraction and X-Ray Fluorescence instruments and their respective softwares.

Master Of Science, Geological Sciences

Activities and Societies: Graduate Student Executive Committee - Geological Leadership Organization for Women - Evaluation Committee.

Graduate Certificate In Social Impact

Recipient of the 2020 Centre for Social Impact (CSI) Board National Scholarship.

Executive Education (Leadership), New Leaders Developement Program

Recipient of the Give for Good Scholarship for not-for-profit leaders.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Athlete in the Women Basketball Varsity Team - United Nations Club - Chemical Engineering Student Association.