Kɔc
Nhial Deng
Co-Founder/ Program Coordinator
Nhial Deng is a co-founder of Mät Foundation. Through his work with Mät and beyond, Nhial facilitates cultural education, cultural safety training, culturally responsive practice training and trauma-informed care training for schools, services, and community organisations.
Nhial brings to the work his lived experience as a South Sudanese refugee and deep community connection within Australia. He spent several years as a child between Kakuma and Ifo Refugee Camps in Kenya. Nhial holds a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences and has worked across Victoria’s youth justice and public education systems for nearly a decade as a leadership coach, fitness education teacher, cultural educator, and wellbeing mentor. He also led the development of the Umoja Program, a culturally responsive initiative supporting students of African descent within Victoria’s youth justice system.
His mission is to achieve systemic and long-term change for South Sudanese communities.
Nhial has also played football at the highest levels of NPL Victoria and has proudly represented South Sudan at international level, including in World Cup qualifiers and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ziggy Razuki
Mindful Development Coach + Wellness Advisor
Ziggy Razuki has been working in wellness and personal development for the past decade. Having trained extensively in yoga and meditation, as well as completing a postgraduate degree in psychology, Ziggy uses his unique blend of experience and expertise to support others in living a life they feel is fulfilling, engaging and meaningful.
His work centres around inner connection and coherence; building ourselves into someone we are proud of and using that as a baseline to positively affect others and the world around us.
Ziggy has also played elite-level soccer for the past decade, captaining teams at the highest level in Victoria which has informed his understanding of teamwork, community and leadership.
Nyong Piot Deng
Nyong Piot Deng, known to many as Martin, arrived in Australia as a young person seeking safety and a better future, having left behind his home, family, and everything familiar. Coming to a new country on his own was one of the most challenging periods of his life, shaping his resilience, independence, and determination.
With time, support from community, and his own persistence, Martin rebuilt his life in Australia. Soccer has remained a constant thread throughout his journey, helping him connect with others, stay positive, and build a strong sense of belonging.
Today, Martin is a mentor and coach who supports young people through sport and community engagement. Drawing on his own lived experience, he is passionate about guiding others, building confidence, and creating inclusive spaces where young people feel connected and supported.