Rachel Bracken has been deeply engaged in community life since arriving on the Northern Rivers last year, and has stepped into a volunteer role as Events Coordinator for NRFR.
Rachel is a funeral director and marriage celebrant working out of Ballina. While living in Sydney she had been involved with Inner West for Refugees, and was looking for an opportunity to connect with her new Northern Rivers community.
“I went to the Community Connections Expo in Ballina, and that’s where I encountered NRFR,” she says.
“It’s incredibly concerning how refugees and asylum seekers are treated in Australia, and I’ve found NRFR to be such an engaged and active group, settling people in the community.
“I love the way the Northern Rivers embraces and welcomes people.”
NRFR President Marilyn Leeks said Rachel was a welcome addition since coming on board in February: “In the short time since then, Rachel’s considerable skills have made a significant contribution to our work.”
Rachel’s professional life has always been anchored in people, stories. She has held positions with organisations such as the Sydney Swans and American Express, where she delivered major events and high-profile experiences.
She later founded her own successful event agency, further honing her ability to bring people together in meaningful and memorable ways.
Rachel says her new volunteer role with NRFR reflects her strong values of inclusion, dignity, and empathy, and her belief in the importance of welcoming and supporting people who are building new lives in the region.
