Our Team
Our team is a rich melting pot of passionate, highly skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds and faiths.
Andrea Hogg - Education Officer
Andrea is an experienced professional with a strong background in education, administration, and business management. She has a solid foundation in secondary education as a Business Education teacher and has also lectured in tertiary enabling programs. Her career includes a range of administrative, coordination, and leadership roles, including serving as Head of Department.
Andrea has also contributed to the not-for-profit sector, having worked as Chaplaincy Coordinator for UnitingCare Queensland. In this role, she managed projects and provided support to chaplains across aged care and hospital settings.
She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. In 2021, Andrea published an autoethnographic paper examining her experiences as a caring educator in the International Studies in Widening Participation Journal.
Based in Queensland, Andrea balances her professional commitments with personal interests in music, film, reading, and spending quality time with her husband and two young children.
Annette Schneider - Chief Executive Office
Annette brings over 20 years of experience in educational leadership, both in Australia and internationally. She began her career as a classroom teacher and went on to hold leadership roles in values-based education and youth development with organisations such as the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, UNICEF, the Council of Europe Youth Directorate, and Amnesty International.
After many years based in Europe, Annette returned to Australia and continued her work in education across Sydney schools before joining Together For Humanity. She holds a Master’s degree in Intercultural Education and a double Bachelor’s degree in Education and Arts (International Studies).
With a multicultural background and a career spanning diverse communities around the world, Annette brings lived experience and deep insight into the importance of intercultural education and dialogue. Her work is grounded in a commitment to inclusion, respect, and empowering young people to build a more just and understanding society.
At home, Annette is kept inspired and accountable by her three young children, who remind her daily of the importance of creating a future where diversity is celebrated, and every person is treated with dignity and respect.
Dr Beau Hu - National School Partnerships Manager
Dr. Beau Hu is the National School Partnerships Manager at Together For Humanity. He is passionate about equipping young people and educators with the skills to navigate an increasingly complex and diverse world.
At TFH, Beau leads the Intercultural Understanding Partnership Program, working closely with school communities to co-design projects that address cross-cultural challenges and promote inclusion.
Before joining TFH, Beau was the Education Programs Coordinator at the Asia Education Foundation, University of Melbourne. He authored the Environment Scan of Intercultural Understanding (2020-2022) commissioned by the Department of Education South Australia, and was the principal researcher for the Department of Education Victoria’s Sister School Partnerships review.
With over a decade of teaching experience in both school and university settings in Australia and the UK, Beau brings a rich background in language education and intercultural learning. He previously trained as a broadcast journalist and holds a PhD in Education. His doctoral research focused on the multilingual experiences and identity formation of Australian-born Chinese children.
Ben Thurley - Education Manager
Ben is an experienced educator and committed advocate for social justice, environmental sustainability, and global equity. Originally from Tasmania and now based in Sydney, he brings a strong personal and professional commitment to building a more compassionate and inclusive world.
With a background in teaching, Ben has worked in culturally diverse school settings and supported young people facing mental health challenges. Over the past 20 years, he has contributed to a range of organisations in Australia and Nepal, focusing on community development, public health initiatives, and advocacy related to global justice and environmental issues.
Ben’s approach is grounded in empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and long-term community engagement. Outside of work, he enjoys singing in choirs, reading, writing, and taking long walks. He also has a quiet enthusiasm for exploring hidden and underground spaces—though he may not always admit it.
Josh Ahmat - Indigenous Education Officer
Josh is a proud Torres Strait Islander man with strong ancestral connections to Badu and Erub Islands. He is deeply committed to improving educational outcomes—first and foremost for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and for all young people, regardless of cultural heritage or faith background.
Grounded in his Christian faith and identity as an Indigenous Australian, Josh brings a lived experience and perspective that inform his eight years of work in education. He is passionate about transforming educational systems to be more inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive.
Josh advocates for a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and educators are empowered, supported, and celebrated. His work is driven by a vision of education as a unifying force—one that bridges differences in culture, faith, and worldview to create a more just and inclusive society for all.
Kate Xavier - Professional Learning Lead
Kate is the Professional Learning Lead at Together For Humanity (TFH), where she is dedicated to supporting teachers and school communities in creating inclusive environments that foster a sense of belonging for all students.
With extensive experience in education, Kate has delivered professional learning and consultancy services to schools, helping to develop whole-school approaches that promote belonging, resilience, and respect. Prior to joining TFH, she worked at the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, focusing on building positive school cultures.
A NESA-accredited teacher, Kate has 15 years’ experience teaching Human Society and its Environment (HSIE), with a specialization in Studies of Religion. Her professional interests include anti-racism education, countering far-right extremism, amplifying student voice, and implementing culturally responsive pedagogies.
Kate is also deeply committed to community building and interfaith solidarity. She currently serves as Chair of the Interfaith Commission, is a member of the NSW Faith Affairs Council, and contributes to the Abraham Conference organising committee.
Margaret Hepworth - Victorian Education Coordinator
Margaret is a dynamic educator and communicator with extensive leadership experience across educational and community sectors. She has held key roles including Head of House at Caulfield Grammar School, Head of Campus at Preshil School, Executive Officer at Initiatives of Change Australia, and is the founder of The Gandhi Experiment, a peace education initiative.
Margaret integrates the principles of ethical leadership, inclusivity, belonging, conflict transformation, and intercultural understanding into her work, delivering these values in an engaging and constructive manner. She is the author of The Gandhi Experiment: Teaching Our Teenagers How to Become Global Citizens and Collaborative Debating, and the creator of the Positive Reality methodology, reflecting her passion for fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Throughout her career, Margaret has worked with thousands of students and educators and has been a keynote speaker across Australia, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China. Her contributions have been recognised with the Sir John Monash Award for Inspirational Women’s Leadership and the IABC Community Achievement Excellence Award.
Margaret is deeply committed to fostering interconnectedness and humanity through education and leadership.
Nicky Sandler - Head of Communications
Nicky is an accomplished communications professional with over 15 years of experience in marketing strategy, communications management, and content creation. She has a proven track record in designing effective marketing and communication strategies, managing large-scale projects, and producing compelling, authentic content that resonates with diverse audiences.
In addition to her professional work, Nicky is a passionate educator, having taught communications, management, and English as a Second Language at several universities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and French, a Master’s degree in Communication Management, a Cambridge CELTA certification, and a Certificate IV in TESOL.
Bilingual in French, Nicky is inspired by partnering with bold organisations to craft stories that engage and inspire. Outside of work, she enjoys her love of the French language and fromage equally.
Rianna Burgess - Executive Assistant
Rianna is an experienced and highly skilled Executive Assistant and administration professional. While new to the not-for-profit sector, she brings extensive expertise in administrative support, technical proficiency, and systems management, developed through senior roles in the corporate environment.
Rianna is passionate about contributing to Together For Humanity’s growth and mission to enhance interfaith and intercultural understanding. Her calm and measured approach plays a vital role in ensuring the organisation’s smooth and efficient operations.
Tanja Hagedorn - Queensland Education Coordinator
Tanja brings over 20 years of experience in health, youth development, community engagement, and volunteer coordination across the US, South Africa, and Australia. As a skilled facilitator and mediator, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive processes within community settings, with a particular focus on interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
Her extensive facilitation work reinforces her conviction in the transformative power of authentic dialogue, creative and spiritual practices, and quality education to empower individuals, families, and communities. Tanja is passionate about challenging biases and societal norms, promoting critical thinking, and supporting people to navigate conflict towards peaceful and sustainable resolutions.
Outside of her professional commitments, Tanja enjoys travelling, reading historical fiction, and spending quality time with her husband and three children. In her spare moments, she can often be found training at her local community boxing gym.
Rabbi Zalman Kastel AM - Dean and Founder
Rabbi Kastel was raised in the ultra-Orthodox Hasidic tradition in the racially divided Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, New York. Originally viewing the world through the lens of his community’s traditions, his perspective transformed in 2001 following meaningful encounters with Christian and Muslim communities.
As a Hasidic Rabbi, Rabbi Kastel continues to teach Bible study at Chabad House North Shore in Sydney. He was ordained after extensive study in the UK, Australia, and the US, and holds a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of New England, Armidale.
His journey of interfaith cooperation has been marked by moments of laughter, challenge, and growth, as he works to bring positive experiences of diversity to young Australians. In recognition of his significant contributions to interfaith and intercultural understanding, Rabbi Kastel was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2020.