Founder/CEO – Tharini Rouwette
Tharini Rouwette is a systems architect, political strategist, and the CEO of COMPELL. She is the lead visionary behind the Road to Parliament Academy and the architect of Australia’s National Civic Capability Infrastructure.
Recognized for her work in resolving the structural “systems failure” within Australian democracy, Tharini specializes in building the pathways that translate diverse lived experience into institutional decision-making power. Her mission is to move beyond traditional representation and deliver the ACE (Australian Civic Excellence) Standard—a national benchmark for institutional literacy and civic resilience.
Strategic Expertise & Foundations
- Architect of Civic Capability Infrastructure: Tharini founded COMPELL to bridge the gap between civic participation and systemic influence. Her work provides a de-risked, evidence-based utility for institutions seeking to strengthen social cohesion and democratic legitimacy.
- Systems-Level Mobilization: With a proven capacity for large-scale operations, Tharini previously architected the remote mobilization infrastructure for the 2020 Bernie Sanders campaign, managing a global team of over 500 campaigners. This experience in high-stakes mobilization informs the scalable leadership pipelines COMPELL provides today.
- Strategic Media Mastery: Drawing on a background in digital strategy for global leaders—including Amazon, Google, Adobe, and Singtel/Optus—Tharini integrates cutting-edge strategic communication and data principles into the Academy’s framework.
- Institutional Advisor: Tharini operates at the intersection of policy and practice. She serves as a strategic advisor to political candidates and consults with elected representatives to enhance institutional engagement and long-term intercultural cohesion.
Strategic Advisor, Democratic Systems & Civic Design – Adam Jacoby
Adam Jacoby is a serial entrepreneur and innovator with a twenty-year global history of leading fast growth businesses in sport, information and media.
He is the Founder of global democracy movement MiVote which was a finalist in the 2016 Singularity University Grand Global Challenge Awards and featured in the book Democracy Squared.
He has also written two books, Mythocracy and Manmade (co-authored) and remains involved and sough=after, to advise on democratic developments around the world.
As a Strategic Advisor to COMPELL, Adam brings strategic expertise in entrepreneurship, democratic systems design, and civic leadership.
CFO – Rida Jafri
Rida Jafri is a finance leader with over 17 years of experience helping businesses navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence.
As a qualified Chartered Accountant, Rida began her career at EY and went on to hold finance roles across a wide range of industries – from retail and FMCG to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and the not-for-profit sector.
She’s worked with everyone from grassroots startups and social enterprises to iconic Australian brands like Target and Kmart (as Head of Commercial Finance), and global multinationals such as Unilever, GSK, and AkzoNobel. She brings a deep understanding of how to translate financial data into clear insights and confident decisions.
In her spare time, Rida is mother to an almost teenager (big job!), dreams about community living on a farm with her friends and is pursuing a Master of Economics of Sustainability through Torrens University and Modern Money Lab, in the quest to find a more equitable economic and political system for humanity.
Multicultural WHIP: Head of Power in Practice (PiP) Lab – Dr. Heena Sinha-Cheung
Heena’s advocacy is driven by a simple belief: representation matters, but capability changes systems.From early life challenges to national leadership, Heena has built a career focused on turning lived experience into lasting impact. Today, as VP of the Communities’ Council on Ethnic Issues (CCOEI) Victoria, she brings the voices of diverse communities into policy conversations and institutional decision-making.
Her work also focuses on translating lived experience into scalable, system-level solutions. Heena is the co-founder of the award-winning NDIS service provider My Second Home and the technology innovation initiative Simple AI, reflecting her cross-sector expertise across human services, social innovation, and emerging technologies.
Her experience as a former Independent Senate Candidate for Victoria informs her current role as Head of the Power in Practice (PiP) Lab for Multicultural WHIP. Through this program, she supports multicultural women to navigate the realities of political leadership — building visibility, resilience, and the practical skills needed to influence systems from within.
Heena is also a Gold Winner in Women Changing the World 2025 for AusMumPreneur and was named by Women Economic Forum as 2025 Woman of the Year, showcasing her leadership and impact in advancing equity, community empowerment, and social change.
Heena remains committed to ensuring multicultural women don’t just enter spaces of power — they are equipped to lead, influence, and transform the systems they serve
Strategic Advisor, Civic Education & Local Government Engagement – Dr Daniel Griffiths GAICD
Dr Daniel Griffiths is a policy academic, currently councillor at Whitehorse City Council, and the founder of the specialised publisher Civic House Press. He serves as a strategic partner in equipping the next generation of leaders with the tools to enable civic understanding and active citizenship.
Civic Engagement Education. Daniel acts as a strategic partner in community strengthening. Through Civic House Press – a specialist publisher dedicated to improving Australian public life – he focuses on bridging the gap between complex government systems and community understanding. His work ensures that future leaders are equipped with the institutional literacy required to not just participate in democracy, but to actively shape it.
Bridging Governance and Community. Daniel operates at the intersection of high-level policy and grassroots reality. As an elected Councillor and a Non-Executive Director for multiple not-for-profit organisations, he brings direct insight into governance and financial stewardship. He combines this with his experience as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and adjunct appointment at Monash University, where he translates research into government advice and real world impact.
Head of Youth Engagement Program (YEP) – Chamika Fonseka
Chamika Fonseka is the Head of Youth Engagement Program (YEP) at COMPELL, bringing an academic background in International Relations and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.
He is deeply committed to fostering inclusive community development and engagement, viewing these as essential tools for shaping meaningful policy discourse and driving positive societal outcomes.
Chamika’s approach is rooted in his passion for creating spaces where diverse voices can contribute to the decision-making process.
Beyond his professional dedication to advocacy and volunteer management, he is an aspiring cinephile who enjoys exploring the world of film. In his spare time, he also finds creative expression in the kitchen, experimenting with and trying out new recipes.
Advisory Council for the Australian Civic Excellence (ACE) Leadership Program
