Awarded to those delivering upon the mmvllen vision, that “young people are confident, capable and on their way to success in work and life.”
Sue Fowler was the inaugural CEO of mmvllen from 2001 to 2015. She established the organisation and its identity as a caring, supportive and empowering force for local young people, especially those with barriers to education, training and employment.
Investment in new mentoring and research projects, partnerships with local government and key community stakeholders drove Sue’s vision of the organisation into a reality.
Sadly, Sue Fowler passed away shortly after her retirement as CEO of mmvllen. In 2022, the mmvllen Committee of Management resolved to honour her legacy and the impact she made through the establishment of an award in her name.
2023 Award Winner Roberta Zekic, Western English Language School
The third recipient of the Sue Fowler Award is Roberta Zekic, teacher and transition coordinator at Western English Language School (WELS).
In her role at WELS, Roberta has supported hundreds of newly arrived students from diverse backgrounds, guiding them and their families in their transition to secondary schools and other pathways. Roberta goes above and beyond to assist these young people, working with a network of community partners in and around Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley to make sure they feel supported on their journey. A number of graduates contributed to the nomination, describing Roberta’s compassion, capacity for listening, and ultimately the impact she has on their lives.
The award was presented at mmvllen’s annual celebration event at Djerring Flemington Hub in May 2024. Roberta gave a lovely speech reflecting on her own pathway to this position, and former student Semer shared a few words about her own journey and the impact Roberta has had on her life as she established roots in Victoria.
Congratulations to Roberta, and all of the nominees.
2022 Award Winner Dan Kingham, Essendon Keilor College
The second winner of the Sue Fowler Award is Dan Kingham, Careers and Pathways coordinator at Essendon Keilor College.
Dan was nominated by the parents of a former student, and the nomination illustrated a careers coordinator who goes above and beyond to listen to students, to engage with their interests and see them confidently find and move towards their goals. While the parent spoke highly and in detail about Daniel’s efforts with her children and others, the award also reflects the work of all careers staff at Essendon Keilor College.
The award was presented at our annual celebration and AGM event in May 2023 at Phoenix Youth Centre.
2021 Inaugural Award Winner Braybrook College
The inaugural winner was Braybrook College. The careers team at Braybrook College demonstrated considerable resilience through COVID-19 lockdowns and engaged with a variety of stakeholders including mmvllen to assist students to remain engaged and achieving. The award was received by Kelly Panousieris, Principal of Braybrook College at our 21st anniversary event in May 2022.