Friends of Goethe Australia

Sandya Athukoralalage is aPhD candidate from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at The University of Queensland. She is working on developing materials with a remarkable synergy of antimicrobial and antibiofouling properties designed for advanced surface coatings. By modifying cellulose sourced from sugarcane trash, her research aims to address urgent sustanability needs in infection control, particularly crucial during pandemics.

LinkedIn Sandya Athukoralalage

Dr Khalia Primer holds a PhD in biochemistry and cardiovascular medicine from the University of Adelaide and is currently undertaking medical training at the University of Melbourne. Her research aims to understand the underlying biology of vascular issues caused by diabetes, and discover new ways to treat them. During her PhD, she identified a gene therapy-based treatment that could improve diabetic wound healing by enhancing new blood vessel growth. Dr Primer als serves as an elected Board Director of the Australian Society for Medical Research.

LinkedIn Khalia Primer

Isabella Alvaradois an Architectural Graduate working in Melbourne, Australia. Her current work focuses on education design and community projects. Her portfolio includes Early education design, Primary Schools, Secondary schools and Community Centres.

Since graduation, she has been an active sessional tutor at Monash University teaching foundation year studios, the combination of designing teaching spaces and teaching design has encouraged an interest in pedagogies concerned with creativity, play, exploration and care.
 

Andy Butler is an independent curator, writer and artist. His writing has been published to wide acclaim, in outlets includingfrieze,The Saturday Paper,Art+ Australiaand more. He was previously the curator and Artistic Director at West Space, Melbourne.

He has delivered workshops, talks and mentorship programs with institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, ACCA, QAGOMA and the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2022 he was the recipient of the Parramatta Artist Studios x Powerhouse residency, to research elements of the Powerhouse Asian Art collection.

is Director of Goethe-Institut Australia. He has been working for the Goethe-Institut in Munich, Tokyo, Washington, Wellington and Boston and returned to “the Pacific” in 2021. In the spirit of the “patron” ( J.W. v. Goethe) Christoph believes in the balance of “Natur und Kunst” (Nature and Art), being equally attracted by the rich cultural fabric of Australian cities as well as by the amazing outdoor possibilities of this beautiful country.

The “Friends of Goethe Australia” give us a wonderful opportunity to get advice, opinions and support from experienced experts from our local community. The fruitful dialogues broaden our view and the projects created through the “Friends” are a perfect addition to the work of the Goethe-Institut”.

is Head of Curatorial at the Powerhouse Museum where she heads up an interdisciplinary program spanning applied arts, design, architecture, science, technology and contemporary culture. She has previously held senior leadership roles at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australian War Memorial and National Gallery of Victoria and is internationally recognised for her exhibitions and publications including Icons: from the collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, The Mad Square:Modernity in German Art 1910-37, Giacometti and Rembrandt.

About "Friends of Goethe Australia":
The Friends of Goethe Australia provides an incredible opportunity to further expand cultural and scientific exchange between Australia and Germany through offering programs to talented and passionate people keen to make a difference. It is a pleasure and honour to offer strategic perspectives that support the delivery of initiatives generated by the Friends of Goethe Australia.

is a Partner at HWL Ebsworth Lawyers, having previously been a Partner and on the Board of Partners at TressCox Lawyers. Matthew is also a Rotarian (and a Paul Harris Fellow) and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Matthew practices in corporate and commercial law, wills and estates, private clients and charities / not-for-profits law. Matthew's clients include SMEs, family groups, directors and officers, company boards, private companies, professional associations, not-for-profits and charities. Matthew is an experienced company director and company secretary, having been a director, secretary and committee member of a number of charities, not-for-profits and private companies for more than 15 years. Over that period Matthew has also acted as Honorary Solicitor to numerous charities and not-for-profits.

About “Friends of Goethe Australia”:
It is an honour and privilege to be able to help create and shape a charity. Friends of Goethe Australia is well placed to help empower and support young Australians while promoting German language and culture, through cultural and educational projects.

has been leading FROEBEL Australia, a not-for-profit provider of early childhood education and care services in Sydney and Melbourne, as Managing Director since 2009. FROEBEL is focussing on immersive language learning (with German and Spanish being introduced to its children), inquiry-based early STEM learning and education for sustainable development for children from birth to 5 years of age. Since 2013, Olde and his team have also been bringing Germany’s largest early childhood professional development program, Haus der kleinen Forscher, to Australia, supported and funded by the Australian Government since 2016. Olde is a solicitor by trade and practised law for 5 years in Berlin before relocating to Sydney. He has a strong interest in architecture and design for education, and has been a judge for a range of relevant design awards in Australia for a number of years.

About "Friends of Goethe Australia":
“I have always been admiring the work the Goethe Institut is engaging in around the globe. It plays such a vital role in Germany’s “public diplomacy” and opens so many windows into German culture and societal debate beyond the many stereotypes. Being a Friend is a real honour. It presents a rewarding opportunity to contribute to meaningful intercultural exchange and to help emerging talent from Australia to further their professional knowledge through scholarships and studies overseas.”