Raising the standard for diversity, equity and cultural inclusion training for local government
Designed by council officers, informed by our community and your workforce
At Inaivu, we believe diversity, equity and inclusion is not a compliance exercise. It is the foundation that makes all other work possible. When done with intention, it strengthens teams, reduces conflict, deepens trust, and allows local governments to serve their communities with clarity and confidence.
Shankar Kasynathan
Director of Community Insights & Systems Change
"Let’s close the gap between intent and experience. When we understand how workforce, systems and community realities interact, we’re better equipped to lead with confidence, respond to complexity, and create outcomes that genuinely serve the people we’re working with and supporting."
Shankar Kasynathan brings more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of local government, multicultural policy, and community engagement.
At Inaivu, Shankar works with councils to strengthen relationships with multicultural communities, embed cultural safety into everyday systems, and support staff to lead with confidence in complex social environments.
Shankar has served as a Commissioner for Multicultural Affairs, an expert adviser to the Australian Human Rights Commission on anti-racism education, a Director at LGPro Victoria, the Migrant Workers Centre (a community legal service) and was Senior Policy Adviser to the ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs. These and other roles have given him a deep insight into how policy, workforce, and communities interact. He currently teaches at Victoria University, where he facilitates programs linking human rights, community leadership, and lived experience.
Carrying a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Management, and a degree in Economics with Honours, Shankar has been shaped by the fundamental program facing all councils: how do we serve the growing and complex needs of many, from limited resources? Shankar supports councils to create environments where community wisdom informs decision-making and no one’s contribution is overlooked.
Desh Balasubramaniam
Director of Workforce Capability & Learning
“Communities do not need fixing. They need systems that see them, hear them and trust their wisdom. Dignity is what carries us forward.”
Desh Balasubramaniam brings over 15 years of experience working in and alongside local government, education systems, community organisations to strengthen equity, cultural inclusion and workforce capability.
At Inaivu, desh supports councils to build culturally safe, community-informed workplaces; helping staff navigate complexity, lead with empathy, and engage meaningfully with diverse communities. His work focuses on co-creating, workforce development, and justice-oriented practice, ensuring that policy intent translates into everyday practice.
As a Human Rights Lawyer, Lecturer at Victoria University and Founder of the humanitarian initiative Ondru and the international peace-building initiative Nūl, desh brings something no standard training provider can offer: lived experience grounded in the realities of local government and shaped by years of community-based practice.
He has held senior roles within the Victorian Government, including the Department of Education and Training, where he led large-scale equity and community development initiatives focused on inclusion, leadership and organisational capability. His work across peace-building, community building and inter-cultural dialogue strengthens this foundation, informing approaches that centre dignity, participation and the conditions that allow communities to thrive.
Desh’s teaching in community building, conflict resolution and ethical leadership at Victoria University directly shapes Inaivu’s reflective, experiential and justice-oriented facilitation style. With qualifications that include a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Victoria University of Wellington, a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) from the University of Waikato, and a Masters in Applied Research (MRes) from Victoria University (completion in March 2026), he brings a balance of legal insight, strategic rigour and human-centred practice to his work, supporting teams to embed cultural safety and create environments where community knowledge is trusted and staff feel equipped to lead meaningful change.
Our Network
Beyond our core team, Inaivu works with a network of trusted collaborators, including cultural consultants, mental health professionals, facilitators with lived experience, and subject matter experts across a range of fields.
We bring in the right people for each project, ensuring that our programs are enriched by diverse perspectives and grounded in expertise.
Want to work with us?
We are always looking to connect with passionate people who share our values. Whether you are interested in collaborating, contributing, or just having a conversation, we would love to hear from you.