Marisa Vedar is a distinguished Filipino Australian community leader based in Melbourne, widely acknowledged for her impactful contributions to social development, multicultural engagement, and emergency response initiatives. Since relocating to Australia in 1992, she has been a dedicated force in community service.
Ms. Vedar earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Ateneo de Manila University and brings a diverse professional background spanning advertising, human resources, organizational development, banking and finance. Her career has encompassed roles in training, Human Resource, and organizational strategy, and corporate communications, mortgage lending and funds management.
She currently serves as Deputy Chairperson and Director of Gawad Kalinga Australia(GKA), a non-profit organization committed to alleviating poverty and homelessness in the Philippines. In recognition of her leadership in community emergency response, she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2022.
Marisa Vedar’s journey exemplifies a lifelong dedication to building inclusive communities and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Her work continues to inspire meaningful change across both the Filipino Australian diaspora and the wider Australian society.