Shaun was adopted from Seoul as an infant and grew up experiencing international schools abroad before settling down in regional Victoria for high school. He relocated to Melbourne for university and has resided there ever since. 

 

Throughout adulthood Shaun developed an increasing level of interest in connecting with the adoptee community, understanding a diverse but often relatable set of challenges growing up in Australia as an intercountry adoptee. Shaun has returned to Korea on more than four occasions, gradually building confidence to explore his Korean roots in further depth. He's been invited to share his story and experiences through various channels including SBS Insight and Adoption Victoria information sessions.

 

As someone who experienced a great sense of belongingness from connecting with other adoptees, Shaun is passionate about continuing to grow and support the community. With a professional background in strategy and business development, he takes great pride in leading KAIAN into the next chapter. In his tenure as President, he aims to mature organisational planning and increase Australia's voice within the global adoptee network.

Carly was born in Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, and was adopted from Korea when she was four months old. She grew up in Perth with her older sister, also a Korean adoptee, and younger brother.

 

Through participating in the GOA’L First Trip Home program, Carly reunited with her Korean parents and siblings in 2013 and has since maintained connections with others in the Australian and international Korean adoptee community.

 

Carly is passionate about providing support, information, and resources to other adoptees across different stages of identification and birth family search. She currently lives in Perth and works as a lecturer at Curtin University. She also works as a clinical psychologist with a special interest in the areas of anxiety and trauma, and supporting people affected by adoption.

Maya was born in Incheon, South Korea and adopted at four months old. 

She grew up on the Sunshine Coast as an only child to her Australian mother and French father and now resides in Brisbane. 

 

Maya met her birth family for the first time in 2013 and has visited South Korea a total of four times to visit her birth parents, three biological sisters, niece and nephew. 

 

She first became involved in KAIAN after attending the gathering in Sydney in 2017 and attended the IKAA Gathering in 2019. She is active within the Australian Korean adoptee community and has been involved in several research and art projects lead by adoptees.

 

Maya enjoys connecting with her Korean heritage through language, food, music, film/tv and culture and arranges regular social events for other Queensland adoptees. Her goal is to help connect adoptees to support and services and spread awareness about adoption in the wider community.

Ra is a Melbourne-based actress/writer who was adopted from Busan, South Korea at the age of four and grew up in regional SA. She has returned to Korea five times and met her birth father four years ago while in Korea, and she continues to work on a relationship with him.

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Ra has works across stage and screen, her most recognisable role being Kim Chang in the television program Wentworth.

 

She is currently writing her first play which explores the experience of growing up in a white Australian family and facing life’s challenges, unique to being an inter-country adoptee.

 

She enjoys and values her work with fellow adoptees and adoptive families through various programs in collaboration with Permanent Care Australia (PCA) Families, Post Adoption Support Services - Relationships Australia SA (PASS-RASA) and Korean Adoptive Families (KAF) Han-Ho.

Kiri was born in Chollabuk-do and adopted when she was 6 months old.

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She grew up in Sydney and went to the Seat Byol Korean School with her parents as a young child. 

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In 2016 after watching Twinsters and finding out about the international Korean adoptee gathering that happens every 3 years in Seoul, she went back to Korea for the second time to attend the IKAA gathering. Since then she has been very engaged in the Korean adoptee community joining the KAIAN committee and played a key role in getting the inaugural Australian Korean adoptee gathering in Sydney hosted. 

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Kiri hopes her involvement in KAIAN will support and engage other adoptees in Australia. 

Ellie Freeman is a digital communications professional. Ellie was born on Geoje Island in South Korea and was adopted to Australia when she was four months old. She grew up in Brisbane for most of her life and now lives in Melbourne. 

 

In 2013, Ellie visited Korea for the first time with the Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link (G.O.A.L) via the First Trip Home program. She met her birth parents and siblings. Between 2014-2015, Ellie returned to Korea to get to know her birth family and teach English in Jeonju as part of the Teach and Learn in Korea (TALK) program.

 

Ellie has published writing and radio documentary about her adoption and birth family experience. She is managing KAiAN’s website and social media presence. 

Jade was born in Gyongsangnam-do province in South Korea and was adopted at 4 months of age.  She was adopted to Jabiru in the Northern Territory to a family with 3 brothers who are biological to her adoptive parents.  She grew up in mostly regional communities but has lived all across Australia and currently resides in Melbourne, Victoria.

 

Jade connected with the KAIAN community in 2018 after meeting another adoptee at a Korean language class in Brisbane.  Jade has returned to Korea and taken part at the IKAA Gatherings in 2019 and 2023 meeting an extended Korean adoptive network from across the world which gave her an appreciation for the importance of shared experiences.  Jade has begun her birth family search which is ongoing, and enjoys exploration of her Korean heritage, culture, food and language.

 

As a KAIAN committee member, she hopes to continue expanding the adoptee network and strengthening connectivity.  Jade is looking forward to engaging with other adoptees at future events and supporting those on a similar journey.