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Who we are

ABC International Development employs about 25 staff, based in Australia and around the world.

We are part of Australia's only national, non-commercial broadcaster, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

 

Domenic Friguglietti

Head, ABC International Development

Domenic Friguglietti is Head, ABC International Development. He is responsible for overseeing the management and strategic direction of ABC International Development. Key to his role is coordinating the ABC’s relationships with fellow broadcasters, media-related organisations and donor agencies worldwide. Domenic has worked in the media for more than 24 years directing, designing, implementing and reviewing projects; negotiating contracts and managing relationships. Prior to his work in the development sector, Domenic was Manager Commissioning and Co-productions for the ABC’s New Media Division and was responsible for the development of new media initiatives with state and federal screen agencies.

In 2012, Domenic was appointed to the position of Honorary Fellow to the School of Culture and Communications, Melbourne University. Also in 2012, Domenic was awarded the Royal Order of Sahametrei  (Commander Class) by the Kingdom and Government of Cambodia. The medal acknowledged his contribution to the development of media in Cambodia. The medal is conferred primarily on foreigners who have rendered distinguished services to the King and to the people of Cambodia, particularly in the field of external relations and diplomatic services.

Domenic holds a Master of Business degree; a Graduate Diploma in Media, Communications and IT Law; a Graduate Diploma Organisation Behavior; and a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Psychology.

Wendy Highett

Manager, Program Design and Delivery

Wendy provides overall operational management of ABC International Development. Of key importance in this role is maintaining contact with the variety of projects International Development has running and ensuring continuous improvement in how the unit goes about its business. Wendy is also closely involved in the design of new projects to ensure they meet counterpart and funder requirements. Wendy has worked for the ABC for 20 years in roles ranging from sports broadcaster to managing the Corporation’s planning and governance functions.

Ellie Sakell

Manager Finance and Operations

Ellie joined ABC International Development in 2010 to advise on financial management and governance across all projects. Ellie is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years experience in Professional Practice and Industry.

Vipul Khosla

Research Manager

Vipul is responsible for delivering ‘Insights and Impact’ and design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities for our projects. Before joining the ABC in 2011, Vipul worked with BBC World Service Trust in London, where he managed a research project funded by the UN in Mozambique, Viet Nam and Peru. He has supported and managed international research projects in more than 10 different countries in Asia and Africa. He has a Master of Science in Media and Communications from London School of Economics.

Rob Batten

Program Director

As Program Director of our projects in PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Rob is responsible for program leadership, strategic planning and performance oversight.  Rob is a highly experienced media executive, leader and project manager. During his 38-year career at the ABC Rob held a number of positions, including 10 years as State Director, Tasmania. Rob also operates a farm outside Hobart Tasmania and has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2005.

Jo Elsom

Manager Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

Jo is a senior communications professional and manager. She has worked with non-government organizations, the private sector and federal government – including Australia’s international development agency, AusAID. Jo’s expertise spans external, internal and stakeholder communications, and communication for development. Jo is a passionate advocate for strategically using communication processes and techniques to support development and reduce poverty.

Akina Mikami

Research Officer

Akina joined International Development in August 2011. She is working as a research officer across our projects, with a focus on baseline research and M&E for PACMAS. Akina is also a part-time PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne in the field of media and communications and international development. Her research interests include Communication for Development, media ethnography, the politics of ‘voice’ and anthropology of citizenship.

Tanya Scott

Project Manager, Learning Design and Delivery

As the Project Manager, Learning Design and Delivery, Tanya works across the department to implement and manage learning and training activities within our projects. Tanya was the National Learning Adviser and Manager International Training (People and Learning Division) before she moved to ABC International Development in 2006. She holds a Bachelor and Masters degree in Education, the latter by research, specialising in International Education.  Her Masters’ thesis was bilingual English/Indonesian and analysed the role of media as a public educator in the international space.

Project Management Staff

Emma Walker

Vanuatu

Emma works from Melbourne, but keeps in close contact with project staff at Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation in Port Vila. She works closely with the Vois Blong Yumi team to monitor project progress and provide support, feedback and advice. Before joining the ABC in 2010, Emma worked at Fairfax Media as as Newsroom Manager, where she was responsible for managing the administrative support staff for The Age newspaper.

Jessica Douglas

SOLMAS

Jessica is the Project Manager on SOLMAS. She works closely with Honiara-based staff to make sure the program is running smoothly. She also engages advisers, reports to donor agencies on progress and manages the project budget. Jessica has worked in the ABC’s International Division for almost a decade, giving her insight into working with other cultures to build relationships and improve broadcasting internationally.

Kate Raseta

PACMAS

Kate’s role includes liaising with PACMAS staff to ensure the project is on track and resolve any issues. She engages contractors; reports to donor agencies on progress; and manages the project budget. Prior to joining ABC International Development, Kate worked as a journalist and digital content specialist at ABC International, and is interested in C4D and the role of social media in development.

Team Leaders

Corallie Ferguson

Program Manager, Solomon Islands

Corallie holds a supportive and advisory role to strengthen the reach and quality of public, commercial and community media in Solomon Islands. To achieve this, Corallie meets regularly with the many stakeholders involved in the project. She is also involved in implementing workshops with counterparts, attending training courses, assisting counterparts to provide information for funding submissions, and discussing media legislation or spectrum issues with government representatives.

Francis Herman

Program Manager, PACMAS

Francis manages the implementation of the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), which works across 14 Pacific Island nations, to support better governance in the region. His role is largely related to the development of public interest broadcasting. Francis believes that understanding the unique needs of each Pacific Island country and their national ethos is the key to effectively assisting them to identify and implement strategies to strengthen their respective organisations.

Jaldeep Katwala

Team Leader, Papua New Guinea

Jaldeep joined ABC International Development in 2010 to work with NBC, PNG’s state broadcaster. He works closely with staff on activities ranging from installing a satellite distribution network to human resource reforms and journalism training. He has worked previously as a reporter and producer in broadcast journalism, a university lecturer, a manager of media development projects in Nigeria and Serbia, and with United Nations peacekeeping missions in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Merana Kitione

Team Leader, VBY

Merana Kitione is a  broadcast journalist who has worked in editorial, program production and management in radio and television. She is the former Manager Training and Development for Fiji Television Ltd. Merana oversees the implementation of our Vois Blong Yumi program, which works with Vanuatu’s national broadcaster to strengthen its overall organisational capacity and develop its radio service, Radio Vanuatu.

Ta Rath

Team Leader, Cambodia

Ta has a strategic, coordinating and advisory role, acting as a technical resource and support for the establishment and implementation of the DfGG Project with Radio National of Kampuchea (RNK). Ta works with RNK to strengthen its institutional capacities and support the development of its programming. Previously, Ta spent more than 10 years as Executive Producer of ABC Radio Australia’s Khmer service in Melbourne.