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How Italians Have Shaped the Australian Political Culture and Community.A panel conversation with Victorian Parliamentarians
Aiv Puglielli, Jade Benham, Daniela Di Martino, Evan Mulholland. Introduced by On. Marco Fedi. Presented by Davide Pantalone
Event in English / Evento in lingua inglese
Tuesday 21 April 2026, 6:00-8:00pm
CO.AS.IT., 199 Faraday Street Carlton
Free entry. Registration essential here
This event will be streamed live on Facebook on the pages of CO.AS.IT. and Project Milvia
CO.AS.IT. is proud to host an evening that brings together Italian Australians from across the political spectrum to engage in discussion on matters of significance to the Italian Australian community in Victoria and Australia. Conceived and organised by Project Milvia, this event offers a unique platform for dialogue, connection, and the exchange of ideas on the issues shaping our community today and into the future. The evening will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear from and engage directly with a dedicated panel of Victorian Parliamentarians who have strong ties to the Italian Australian community. Presented by Mr Davide Pantalone from Project Milvia and introduced by On. Marco Fedi, the event will bring together community members, leaders, and representatives to foster meaningful dialogue on issues of importance to the community. Key topics for discussion will include: the future of the Italian language in Victoria and across Australia; the relationship between Australia and Italy, with a particular focus on Victoria and Lombardy, and the opportunities it presents; and the ongoing evolution of the Italian-Australian community and its influence on contemporary Australian politics.
PANELLISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES
Aiv Puglielli
Aiv is a young Italian Australian, LGBTQIA+ artist, and the Greens MP for the North-East Metropolitan region. Prior to entering Parliament, Aiv was an artist, composer and producer working across the independent arts community in Australia. Coming from a background in classical trumpet and composition, he trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) receiving a Diploma of Music Theatre, before jumping across the continent to complete a bachelor's degree at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Following his graduation, Aiv returned to North-Eastern Melbourne, where he grew up, to work alongside fellow artists to cultivate better industrial conditions and drive new productions on the Australian east coast. Aiv’s artistic work always had a progressive political bent. However, when the pandemic struck, Aiv saw his community of artists and cultural workers left to fend for themselves after the arts sector closed nearly overnight. The devastating impacts of government refusing to provide adequate structural and social supports to the arts drove him to join the Greens and enter politics. While Aiv is eager to see urgent action on a range of issues including the climate crisis, social inequality and housing affordability, he has a particular passion for issues affecting young people (a voice he notes is often completely excluded from Parliament).
Jade Benham
Prior to entering Parliament, Jade did many things and has had a pretty colourful life thus far. Jade worked in media for 13 years before escaping and going to live in a tree on Lake Michigan. She ended up staying in the United States for an extended period, before moving to the UK to take up a position at the Global Digital Media Agency. When her tenure was done there and she had all of this new knowledge, she returned to regional Victoria to set up her own business to assist small regional businesses with digital communications and marketing. Jade has travelled, worked in corporate and owned a small business. She was also a Councillor and Mayor before being tapped on the shoulder and asked if she would ever consider a career in politics. Jade has always been taught not to whinge about things if you are not willing to change them, which is why she ran for local government in the first place. During the pandemic the regional discrimination regional and rural Victorians suffered was amplified, and she decided she had to try to do something about it. This is what prompted her to run for Parliament. The main passion and priority Jade has as a member of Parliament is regional healthcare. Jade believes your postcode should not dictate your health outcomes, but it certainly does if you do not live in the city. Jade is passionate about promoting the food producers in her region, which produce everything – grain, meat, nuts, fruit, vegetables. Jade believes her region is feeding the nation and a few others, and she wants growers to know that they are valued and respected for that. Jade is passionate about roads and believes it is getting harder for food to get to market and port with little rail freight, and roads crumbling away before her very eyes.
Daniela Di Martino
Daniela De Martino is the State Member for Monbulk in the Victorian Parliament, elected in 2022. A former teacher, small business owner and union representative, Daniela brings a strong understanding of education, working families and community advocacy to Parliament. She currently serves as Acting Speaker and is Deputy Chair of the Ethics Committee, as well as a member of the Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee. Daniela is passionate about education from early childhood through to TAFE and University, health services, emergency preparedness, supporting volunteer organisations and easing cost of living pressures. She lives locally with her husband Mike and their family.
Evan Mulholland
Evan Mulholland MP is the Liberal Member for the Northern Metropolitan Region and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. He also serves as Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Shadow Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Affairs. Prior to being elected to Parliament Evan earned a Bachelor of Arts from La Trobe University, and worked as a consultant in the tech sector, government adviser and a communications professional. Evan is the proud grandson of Calabrian migrants, Teresa and Domenico Caruso, who arrived in Australia in the 1950s with little more than a suitcase, and started a life for themselves and their family in Melbourne’s north. Evan lives locally with his wife Brigid, their son Teddy and daughters Cece and Frankie.
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Marco Fedi
On. Marco Fedi is widely recognised for his long-standing commitment to representing Italian communities abroad and strengthening the relationship between Italy and its global diaspora. Born in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, he migrated to Australia in the 1980s, first settling in Adelaide and later in Melbourne. From his early years in Australia, he became deeply involved in community organisations, building a career spanning community advocacy, public service, and national politics. Through this work, he contributed to initiatives in social services, multicultural integration, education, and community representation, earning recognition as a strong advocate for migrants and a bridge between Italian institutions and communities overseas. In 2006, Fedi was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies representing the Africa–Asia–Oceania–Antarctica overseas constituency, one of the districts created to provide parliamentary representation for Italians abroad. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2013, serving three consecutive terms and becoming one of the most experienced parliamentary representatives of the Italian diaspora. During his time in Parliament, he promoted policies supporting Italians abroad, including the protection of citizens’ rights, the strengthening of consular services, and the promotion of Italian language, culture, and education internationally. He consistently advocated for the recognition of Italians overseas as an integral part of Italy’s social, cultural, and economic fabric, encouraging stronger engagement between younger generations of Italian descendants and Italy. After concluding his parliamentary mandate, Marco Fedi served as Chief Executive Officer of CO.AS.IT. Melbourne from 2018 to 2026.
Davide Pantalone
Davide is an Italian Australian, based in Melbourne. He is the founder and moderator of Project Milvia. He is developing Project Milvia to facilitate and promote greater dialogue between Australia and Italy: connecting, discussing and discovering the potential that cultural, economic and social engagements and interactions offer for both nations.
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Event Venue
COASIT Melbourne, 189-199 Faraday Street,Melbourne,VIC,Australia
Tickets
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