Joseph Haweil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History, an Honours degree in History and a Master of International Relations degree, all from the University of Melbourne. Additionally, he is a graduate of the prestigious Australian Institute of Company Directors, having successfully completed the corporate Company Directors course. Professionally, Joseph has worked as a Federal Australian Civil Servant including in the fields of Immigration and Border Protection, Social Services and Home Affairs. His operational and policy roles have focused on border security, legislative decision making and most recently in settlement policy. In 2016 at the age of 27, he was elected to Hume City Council (one of the largest municipalities in Victoria) as one of the state’s youngest municipal Councillors, for which he has worked actively in leading on areas such as multicultural affairs, arts and culture, community development, gaming reform. Joseph has been particularly active on supporting the settlement, integration and empowerment of new and emerging communities to reach their full potential. In addition, Joseph’s international experience includes offshore government postings, Masters degree level studies including an overseas intensive course at Indonesia’s Universitas Gadja Mada and youth cultural exchange program in Moscow hosted by the Russian Orthodox Church. His experience also includes a previous Regional Youth Interfaith Forum hosted by the European Union and Australia, and he has represented Hume in a local government delegation to the Republic of Timor-Leste focused on decentralization, aid and development and enhancing cultural ties between municipalities and peoples. He is actively engaged with numerous local Australian institutions including the Victorian Multicultural Commission where he provided strategic and thematic advice on issues of multiculturalism and citizenship as an advisor appointed to a Regional Advisory Council.