Sue Advani – making a difference in the community
By Rekha Rajvanshi
This year, on International Women’s Day, a prominent women leader of Indian community, Mrs Sue Advani was awarded 2017 Woman of the Year Award for Strathfield. The award was conferred on her at the Women’s NSW International Women’s Day Function at International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour.
During the award ceremony Mrs Jodie Mckay, MP Strathfield said, “Sue is awarded for being an active and much admired ambassador of Australian Sub-Continent Community, a steadfast champion and advocate for women’s issues, raising awareness about domestic and family violence and gender equality and for various fundraising activities such as White Ribbon and Cancer Research”.
Sue migrated to Australia 37 years ago, a mother and a grandmother, she holds a Master’s Degree in Transport Economics (Macquarie University) working as a qualified Project Manager. She is the Director of SGA Management Consulting Services Pty Ltd which provides project management services for major rail infrastructure projects.
Sue Advani is one of the founding member of United Indian Associations of NSW (UIA Inc.) and has been actively involved in community projects over the past 21 years. She is a Past President of Sydney Sindhi Association, a post she held for several terms. She is also past President of UIA and founding Chair of UIA Women’s Steering Committee, a position she has held for more than 10 years. She works closely with Indian Consulate and other state government service providers to manage domestic violence cases within the Indian community. She has held several information sessions on domestic violence and has organised fundraising events to support White Ribbon movement ”“ taking the message to both men and women ”“ helping to break the silence within the community.
Sue has also organised several fund raising events to support Westmead Children’s Hospital, Cancer Council, Pink Ribbon and charity organisations in India such as Narayan Sewa Sansthan, SIMAid and Jeev Seva Sansthan.
Sue also works as a project co-ordinator with Seva International Inc, a non-profit, non-religious, non-political NGO, committed to addressing the growing social welfare needs of the rapidly expanding Australian South Asian community in Sydney. With SEVA, Sue has worked on several community projects funded by Department of Social Services, Local Councils and Multicultural NSW and NSW such as Mentoring South Asian Women and Empowering Community Champions.
Sue has also represented the Indian Community as a member of the former Federal Indian Sub-Continent Multicultural Committee.
She is also a public officer of the newly formed Lean In Inc and Haathi In the Room Inc. – two new associations inspired from her Empowering Community Champions Workshop ”“ the first aiming to support new migrants to assimilate in their new environment and the other with an aim to start the conversation on Mental Health within the community.
Says Sue about the honour, “I am deeply humbled by this recognition. The credit goes to all those who have accompanied me on this journey of mine. This award only encourages me to continue to serve the community with even greater rigour and perseverance.”
The community needs dedicated workers such as Sue and we are lucky to have her in our midst someone who has continued to work come what may ”“ a woman who has made us proud as a community.
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