Rev Helen Summers was ordained an Interfaith Minister in November, 1997, in the Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York. After her return to Australia, she founded The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne in 2000.
Helen brings over twenty-five years’ experience in interfaith programs and interfaith ministry. She served as Chair of the Arts and Culture Committee and as a Board Member of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, held in 2009 in Melbourne. She is a member of the Multifaith Advisory Group (MAG) which represents the voice of Victoria’s faith leaders (25+) to the Victorian Government through the Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion (MASC) Division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Helen volunteers as a Chaplain with the VCC: Emergencies Ministry and from 2017, is the Interfaith Chaplain at RMIT University Brunswick Campus.
In 2010, Helen was honoured as one of the 50 Interfaith Visionaries at the Temple of Understanding’s 50th Anniversary in New York for her work in arts and culture. Previous to her interfaith ministry, Helen lectured in English for Specific Purposes and language teaching methodologies at RMIT University. At the Sydney College of Advanced Education (SCAE) she was Head, Learning Assistance Centre and co-developed courses with the Centre for Aboriginal History and Culture. Later, Helen was an Assistant Professor in the School of Humanities, Bond University. Helen has a strong interest in the arts as a powerful medium for fostering understanding, respect and appreciation, between people of diverse religions and cultures.