LEMBIT SUUr
ChairmanLembit joined the ECFA Board in 2022. His recent Estonian community roles include as a board member of The Australian Council of Estonian Societies in Australia and Chair of the Sydney Estonian Parents’ and Friends’ Association Board (Sõrve Sõbrad). A resident of Canberra since the early 1980s, Lembit was active in the Sydney Estonian community in his youth. He attend the Saturday language school, scout camps and summer camps for many years, and sang in and conducted various choirs, including the Sydney Estonian youth and mixed choirs. He edited a bilingual journal, Küü-ii, and was involved in organising Estonian youth and national cultural festivals.
Lembit had a long career in the Australian Government, including as a diplomat and as a leader of public administration and financial management reforms. He is a past chair of the OECD’s Senior Budget Officials Performance and Results Network, and is currently the independent chair of the audit and risk committees of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the National Recovery and Resilience Agency. He undertakes various consultancy roles for the Australian Government, the OECD and in the private sector. Lembit has degrees in politics, law and management. He completed the Stanford Business School’s 2003 Executive Program and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Kristi Barrow
Deputy ChairmanSince 2002, Kristi has been digitally embracing her Estonian heritage (her mother was born in Estonia) after founding the eesti.org.au website for all things Estonian in Australia and volunteering at the Estonian Archive in Australia.
Kristi runs Kritikality, a digital analytics consultancy specialising in scalable digital analytics implementations to meet business needs, which she founded in 2019. She helps clients maximise the value from their Martech stack. She specialises in the Financial Services, Travel, Retail & Media sector. Previously, she has worked in various digital and management roles at Optus, Expedia, Macquarie Group, Suncorp and the Australian Football League (AFL). Kristi holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Sydney.
DR Siiri Iismaa, phD.
Secretary Siiri joined the ECFA Board in 2025. She has been active in the Estonian community since her teenage years, participating in folk and choral singing, and in folk dancing. Siiri became a certified practising Estonian<->English translator/interpreter after interpreting for Estonian sports teams at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Siiri has served as a Board member of the Australian Council of Estonian Societies in Australia, the Sydney Estonian Parents’ and Friends’ Association (Sõrve Sõbrad), was Camp Leader for two Sõrve Estonian Childrens’ Summer Camps and is currently a member of the Board of the Estonian Society of Sydney, Inc. She is a founding member and committee member of the Australian-Estonian choir Kooskõlasand has sung at Estonia’s Song Celebration (Laulupidu) in 2014, 2019 and 2025.
Siiri is a highly regarded and internationally recognised scientist. She graduated from the Australian National University with BSc (Hons I) and the University Medal, followed by a PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology. Siiri began her scientific career at the University of California, Irvine as a US Biotechnology Program Fellow, before moving to Sydney to the Heart Research Institute as a National Health and Medical Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, and then a Senior Scientist at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. She has had decades of experience running a research laboratory that studies heart disease; applying for, managing and evaluating Government and philanthropic grants for research in the medical sector; and publishing over 100 articles in leading scientific journals. Highlights of Siiri’s scientific career include showcasing her research to Princess Diana of Wales and to Princess (now Queen) Mary of Denmark (twice); and being interviewed on the Estonian television program Püramiidi tipus (excerpts of which are used in the Estonian school science curriculum) and the Estonian podcast series Globaalsed Eestlased.
Elen ELLERVEE
TreasurerElen was born in Estonia and moved to Australia in 2015. She has built her career in Assurance and Audit Services, most recently at Senior Management level. Her professional experience spans more than 15 years with Big4 firms EY and KPMG. In these roles, she worked in Estonia, Germany and Australia, providing external audit and financial services to clients across multiple countries. Elen is a qualified CA and a passionate talent and leadership facilitator, committed to developing people and fostering inclusive organisational cultures.
Beyond her professional career, Elen is a dedicated cultural advocate. Since 2021, she has been running the Sydney and Newcastle Estonian playgroups, helping children and families maintain Estonian language, traditions and cultural identity. She has also served as a teacher and advocate at Sõrve Summer Camp since 2018, fostering intercultural exchange and youth engagement.
Elen actively gives back to the Estonian community through voluntary treasury services and grant support for organisations including Sõrve Sõbrad and Parents Association, Kooskõlas mixed choir and Virmalised dance group. Her commitment to fairness, renewal and inclusion is central to her role as Treasurer and Board Member of the ECFA.
In addition to her governance role, Elen is one of the main organisers bringing to life EP2027, the nationwide 100‑year Estonian cultural celebration in Australia. This landmark event will unite communities across Australia in honouring Estonian heritage, language and traditions.
Elen’s blend of professional expertise, people development and cultural dedication makes her uniquely positioned to ensure ECFA’s financial sustainability while championing its mission to preserve and celebrate Estonian heritage in Australia.
Maie Barrow
DirectorMaie has been involved with the Estonian community in Australia for most of her life. Growing up in Adelaide she did all the usual things, Estonian school, guides, folk dancing sport and participating in the activities at Estonian House. Since coming to live in Sydney she has taken an active interest in the Estonian community. A qualified archivist, she has been the honorary archivist of the Estonian Archives in Australia for more than 20 years. She and her team of volunteers have created a valuable resource for preserving the Estonian heritage in Australia. Maie has curated many exhibitions in other cities and lectured on the lives of Estonians in Australia both here and abroad.
Maie was a director of the Estonian House Co-operative Society for 16 years and the chairman of the Estonian Festival in Sydney in 2000. She was the Chairman of the Council of Estonian Societies in Australia (2015-2018 ). She graduated from Adelaide University with a B.Sc (Hons) in Organic Chemistry and later worked at University College, London for 7 years on the staff as a research assistant in the School of Chemistry. On her return to Australia she completed a B.A. in French and later a M.Sc in Chemistry. After being appointed as the honorary archivist for EAA she completed a Masters degree in Information Management. Maie served on the UNSW University Council for two years, as deputy chair of the Kensington Colleges for the same time and on the U Committee, a charity committee of UNSW for 34 years, including 5 as President.
DR Juho Looveer
DirectorJuho has been a Director and Secretary of the ECFA from 2017. Growing up in Sydney, Juho was involved with Estonian dancing, singing, Estonian school, scouts, volleyball, etc. He has been playing volleyball for over 50 years, and has had a long career as a coach, referee, and administrator. Apart from his doctorate, Juho has a Masters in Human Movement (Sports) Sciences. Now retired, Juho started out as a high school teacher, and then worked as a psychometrician in Australia and internationally, consulting with various governments.
Through his career, Juho has held many positions, including President of the Institute for Senior Educational Administrators; President of NSW Volleyball; Director on the Board of the Sydney Estonian House Co-Op; President of the NSW Baltic Committee.
He continues to sing with Lõke and the Australian-Estonian choir Kooskõlas, and has sung at the last two Laulupidud (National Song Festivals) in Eesti (2014, 2019)
Dr Peeter Muttik
DirectorPeeter has been a member of ECFA Board since 2004. He is also a long serving member of the Board of the Estonian Society of Sydney, Inc., Chairman of the Organising Committees for the 2005 and 2012 Eesti Päevad Australia-wide Estonian Festivals and is a past long-standing performing member of the Sydney Estonian Folk Dancing Group, ‘Virmalised’.
On a professional level he is currently a part-time consultant to Grid Solutions (GE Grid Australia Pty Limited). He is a member of the Institution Of Engineers Australia (CP Eng (PER), Institute Of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Standards Association of Australia Committee EL34 (Power Quality) and an Observer to CIGRE Australian Panels B4 (HVDC and SVC) and C4 (Interference).
Ave Nukki
Director Ave is the current President of the Sydney Estonian Society (Sydney Eesti Selts) and has previously served as its Treasurer. She joined the ECFA Board in 2024 and brings with her a strong commitment to community building and cultural preservation.
Originally from Estonia, Ave grew up immersed in Estonian traditions before pursuing her studies abroad. She holds a degree in International Business and Economics from TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology) and also studied at Jönköping International Business School in Sweden, gaining valuable international experience and a global perspective.
Professionally, Ave has worked across various sectors and countries, with one of her most exciting roles being Events Manager at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London. Her background in event management and international business adds valuable insight and energy to her community leadership.
Through her role on the ECFA Board, Ave is passionate about strengthening the Estonian-Australian community and ensuring its vibrant cultural heritage continues to thrive
Hillar Ranniko
DirectorHillar has always supported Estonian cultural activities & hopes to continue to do so well into the future. He has been a member and a director of the ECFA for 9 years. Hillar was a member of the Australian volleyball team for several years which culminated in him representing Australia in the World Cup in Argentina in 1982. Having moved to Sydney in the early 1980s, Hillar then established his own construction business and has been involved in the building industry for over 30 years. Hillar is also a director of the Estonian House Co-Operative Society Limited.