Welcome Merchant

22/09/2026

Introducing the new Welcome Merchant Director, Anna Itkonen !
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Anna is a creative dreamer with a strong practical streak, a communicator and storyteller, and a committed advocate for the things she believes in. She loves bringing people and ideas together and⁠
finding practical ways to turn good ideas into action.⁠
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She cares about doing work that has a purpose and makes a difference. For her, that means listening to people, building genuine relationships and creating opportunities for people and communities to be seen, heard and included.⁠
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Anna has more than 20 years’ experience across not-for-profit leadership, communications, partnerships, operations and community advocacy. I have worked with charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises across environmental, humanitarian and social impact areas.⁠
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Much of her work has been about taking an idea or ambition and working out how to actually make it happen through good planning, strong partnerships, clear communication and a practical approach.⁠
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She is very proud to be joining Welcome Merchant and excited about what comes next. She looks forward to getting to know the people and communities around Welcome Merchant, building on the great work already being done, and using her experience to help create more⁠
opportunities, connections and impact.

Let's all give Anna a warm welcome!

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05/07/2026

A special Thank You to Fenton Farmhouse for being excellent hosts! Naarm/Melbourne folks, if you're looking for a lovely, intimate space in Carlton to put on your next event, the folks at Fenton will help you out.



VD: Marjorie and Aheda standing together, inside Fenton, talking to the camera.

26/06/2026

Walima وليمة Moments captured by Tom Munn last Saturday 20th June, on World Refugee Day at Fenton Farmhouse in Carlton. Walima means feast in Arabic, and Chef Aheda Amro certainly put on a special multi-course feast for us, accompanied by a DJ set by MZRIZK.

Across two sittings, 52 diners ate stuffed vine leaves, fattoush with baba ghanouj and hummus, tabbouleh for entree. Then they witnessed the famous maqluba flip, served with lamb and another one with just vegetarians. For dessert, guests were treated to baklava with icecream and marzipan with vegan icecream.

This feast was a fitting way to cap off Refugee Week. Thank you to those who came for community, connections and genuine allyship. Thank you again to the Fenton team for hosting us, and a very big thanks to the WM Events Volunteer Crew for ensuring the night ran smoothly.

22/06/2026

Some magical moments at Walima - a Palestinian Feast to Celebrate Refugee Week, with Aheda Kitchen and Fenton Farmhouse .

Thanks Chef Aheda for sharing your culture with us and a special thank you to Rajbir and the rest of Fenton team for hosting us again.

Thanks to the 52 legends who celebrated Refugee Week with us, this is genuine allyship.

A very big thank you to the events volunteer team who made sure the night ran smoothly.

Photos from the night will come soon.

Please continue to support -powered businesses this Refugee Week and beyond.



VD: Chef Aheda from the kitchen, camera pans to plates of food, people eating at long tables

17/06/2026

And this is how a Council should welcome refugees! The City of Sydney Council has recently unveiled its new campaign, with their Refugees Are Welcome Here banners proudly on display on Williams St, near Hyde Park, a major thoroughfare in Sydney. The artwork on each banner was designed by a refugee artist, as part of their Refugee Week campaign. ⁠
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'Refugee Birds' by Muhammad Akbar Farhad represents birds that have left a cage in search of freedom, symbolising the journey of refugees who leave their homeland to escape hardship and pursue a better life. The birds represent hope, courage and the desire for a brighter future.⁠
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The other artwork, 'Part of the Picture' by Tabarak Abdel Latif, highlights refugees as neighbours, workers, parents and professionals, whose dreams, talents, skills and contributions enrich our shared community.⁠
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The third artwork that was commissioned is a set of sculptures (not pictured) by Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi,who said that the sculptures reflect his personal journey as a refugee and his connection to both Iraq and Australia. ⁠
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This refugee-powered campaign is a genuine example of representation beyond optics. We hope other organisations will follow suit.⁠
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VD: Banners with Refugees Are Welcome Here printed next to an artwork, hanging from poles next to a museum located on a major road.

17/02/2026

Last Sunday 15th, we held our 3rd event at iconic . Thank you to those who supported our Summertime Refugees & Friends Pop-up Market, despite the heat.

Look at these lovely merchants posing - .crafts .accessories.au .collection.jo & Hajat. Thank you for collaborating with us. We also sold bottles of and copies of book on behalf of on the day!

This is real social cohesion - coming together to support artists and artisans who weave their culture into the amazing products they sell.

Reel by Emma Spiteri for Welcome Merchant

Thank you Section 8 for hosting us again!

welcomemerchant

VD: Merchants posing under a big yellow, rectangular banner, hung on a chain link fence. Market stalls.

15/12/2025

Thank you to this hero for saving lives.

This is another hero from yesterday’s disgraceful anti-semitic shooting in Bondi. This hero is a refugee without a permanent visa. Our client's name isn’t publicly available so we are using AB. They are the person circled in red in the left of the photo.

AB ran towards the shooting when it started and gradually worked his way to the bridge where the shooting was taking place. He knew the shooter on the bridge would need to reload and he waited for this opportunity. When the shooter was hit, this hero ran up the bridge and kicked away the gun the shooter was still holding. Other bystanders misunderstood his intent and kicked him, but AB didn’t fight back and a detective helped make it clear that AB is a civilian who was brave enough to step in and help.

The photo above shows the moment AB commenced running up the stairs to the bridge to disarm the shooter.

07/12/2025

Cute moments from our final event this year in Narrm/Melbourne, our Christmas Ho-Down Market at in Brunswick.

Thank you to those who came yesterday despite the rain. Thanks to for bringing the beats, and to these excellent merchants, give them a follow to find out how you can buy from them directly and when their next market will be:

⭐️Uzay Ceylan via
⭐️ - you'll find them at next
⭐️ .crafts
⭐️ .kape
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⭐️.naray
⭐️ .accessories.au
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⭐️ at Werribee Market next
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⭐️ .collection.jo
⭐️ Drinks from & .au
⭐️ Erica Pearl Fashion

Reel by Emma Spiteri.

Photos by .irba coming soon.

Thank you to the Balam Balam Place for hosting us!



VD: Market scene, stallholders waving to the camera, smiling, customers around

30/11/2025

Full film is here now - Story of Power featuring Arad Niksefat from . A beautiful & poignant film by .

Arad's Mum, affectionately called Aromatic Woman, is the inspiration behind his business. Every spoonful of the Tira Jam or Brekkie pouch honours Arad's memory of his late mother. You can order via: persiaspantry.com.au

Thank you to for supporting this film.

If you watch this film, we'd love for you to like and/or comment below. You can watch our other refugee-powered films here or on our YouTube, links in bio.



VD: Skies over Tasmania, Arad talking about his mother, his food memories, Arad at his Salamanca Market stall and at the Cygnet Market stall, Arad making his products, showing his storage

24/11/2025

Food is memory on a plate! Full episode of , Season 2, Episode 3 featuring Arad Niksefat of is OUT NOW on our YouTube channel, link in bio.

Arad is a former pathologist from Iran, now making delicious sweets inspired by his mother, the "Aromatic Woman" in the beautiful lands of Melukerdee and Lylequonny people (Huon Valley, south-east Tasmania). His work is a testament to the love he has for his late mother. We hope you enjoy this beautiful film by as much as we have.

Thank you to for supporting this project. Thank you to in Cygnet and in Hobart for allowing us to film Arad there. You can catch Arad's stall at these markets, he's at Salamanca every weekend and he's at the monthly Cygnet Market if time permits.

Thank you Arad for sharing your story with us, once again. Please watch the full film on the link in our bio.