Melbourne Asia Game Changer Awards

Few in Australia can boast the culinary credentials of this accomplished food and travel writer, food media consultant, radio broadcaster, television presenter, MC and cookbook editor. 

In 2020, she become the first female Judge and Co-host of network TEN’s all new MasterChef to critical acclaim. 

She is in demand for numerous roles and events, most importantly however, this first-generation Singaporean Australian isn’t afraid to eat anything at least once. 

She is an avid speaker, sharing her learnings at BMW, Pausefest and on a panel discussion alongside Ela Gandhi (Human Rights activist and Granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi).

She has worked and volunteered Tanzania working on social impact projects, Thailand as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development assisting in legal aid for refugees and to the Himalayas in India to resolve her quarter-life crisis through meditation.

She's currently on a mission to squeeze in writing a memoir and building a social movement to empower South Asian women through Bold Punjab and Australian South Asian Centre.   

On the "professional" front at the age of 21 she served on the board of directors for Australia’s largest Community Bank company (NSX: CSH) and at 22 was appointed to lead Deakin University’s entrepreneurship programs for over 60 000 students. The initiative, SPARK Deakin has since invested in 87 founders and engaged 10 000 people in their community events. Daizy has also developed the Australian Digital Job Accelerator, which increases women’s confidence and ability to generate an income through freelancing.  

Her research and commentaries help inform policies and enrich public understandings about international students’ socio-cultural, educational, diplomatic and economic contributions to Australia.

Spanning higher education, VET and secondary education, Ly’s research has been featured in multiple languages and by more than 100 media outlets in Australia and Asia, including the ABC, SBS, the Australian Financial Review, China Daily, East Asia Forum and VietNamNet. She has written well-read commentaries on international education in the Australian, BSB, the Conversation, University World News and Campus Review.

For her work on Liminal, she has been named a Victoria nominee for Young Australian of the Year; one of Forbes Asia's 30 under 30; and recognised as one of Asialink's 40 under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians. 

Sally began her career as a Solicitor, after completing Law (Hons) and Commerce degrees at the University of Melbourne. 

Sally has held senior roles at both KPMG and ANZ, and she took the small business she co-founded to the ASX. Most recently she was Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. 

A passionate Magpies supporter, in 2004 Sally made history as the first female board member of Collingwood FC. She is involved in a number of charities, currently sitting on the board of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, the Mary Jane Lewis Scholarship Foundation and the Melbourne University Faculty of Business and Economics. 

Sally is portfolio lead for City Transport, Infrastructure and Operations, and Aboriginal Melbourne. For more details see Councillor portfolios.