Panellist: Huss Mustafa

Huss Mustafa

Huss is a very proud Australian with a Turkish Cypriot heritage and humble beginnings.

He migrated to Australia with his family at the age of 10, during a time when you were expected to assimilate into the Australian way of life and not to be different.

Multiculturalism was not promoted then and he had very little support in learning the English language. Under these very difficult circumstances and in just over five years, Huss was able to learn the English and pass his grades. At the ripe old age of 16, he obtained his first job at the State Bank of Victoria, which would later merge with Commonwealth Bank in 1991.

Huss is now a Senior Executive at Commonwealth Bank of Australia and is the General Manager of Multicultural Community Banking Australia – a division of which he initiated the establishment in August 2016.

Huss has 44 years of service with CBA and has been supported by them in his return to part-time university. He currently holds:

  • A diploma of Business Studies majoring in Accounting
  • A postgraduate Diploma in Financial Services Management
  • Master of Management

Huss serves on a number of Government and non-government boards both in Victorian and NSW, is a fellow at the Institute of Public Accountants and is the Honorary Chair and Patron of the Australian Turkish Business Council – an organisation that he established and for which he served as president for 11 years. Huss has also served a four-year term as a Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission and in 2015 was appointed by the Victorian Government as an Australia Day Ambassador.

For over a quarter of a century now, Huss has been very active in promoting Cultural Diversity both in the community and his workplace. His position on CBA’s Cultural Diversity Steering Committee involves him in important initiatives surrounding promoting a work force that is reflective of the multicultural, multi-faith community in which we live.

Commonwealth Bank is a big supporter of the multicultural and multi-faith community of Australia; Huss has been instrumental in leading the way in both at Commonwealth Bank and the corporate world in promoting the benefits of a diverse workforce. Huss’ work was also acknowledged on the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours list and he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to multiculturalism and business.