He is lawyer, Susai Benjamin, a member of the Executive Council of NSW Ethnic Communities Council since 1980.

Mr Benjamin is also a member and former president of NSW Multicultural Arts Alliance Inc.

He and some volunteers set up Toongabbie Legal Centre to offer free legal advice to residents and Australian Multicultural Forum in 2007 to encourage community dialogue.

The Forum focuses on culture, discrimination, employment, political participation and religion matters.

He is also involved with migrant resource centres in Blacktown and in Parramatta as a member and deputy chairman of the management committee.

Mr Benjamin said he was honoured to be appointed to advise the Federal Government on cultural, religious, diversity, social and matters relating to new migrants.

`` I am looking forward to its first meeting this month,'' he said.

``These are many important areas that Australia has to tackle to ensure our society would be in harmony.

``I am interested in hearing views and ideas from individuals and organisations for presentation to the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council.''

They can send them to him at P O Box 33 Toongabbie NSW 2146 or E-mail on susai@bigpond.com