Active in Australia

"Our focus this year is to provide opportunities for community members to foster closer ties with each other through greater interaction and also get them to exhibit their talents and share their knowledge by participating in the various activities that we have planned throughout the year,” writes Seema Honarmand, the newly elected president of the Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA) of New South Wales.

The new team — including vice president Zubin Bilimoria, secretary Jerestene Saher, treasurer Avan Umrigar and members Nawzer Billimoria and Farhad Khurshed – came on board after the annual general meeting on October 18, 2009. They started "on a high note” with the unveiling of the statue of Cyrus the Great at AZA on October 29, 2009 to coincide with the anniversary of the first declaration of human rights. Among the other events planned until end 2009 were the Bingo and Bollywood dress-up night, AZA cricket match, Zarthosht-no-diso jashan/gahanbar and the AZA New Year party theme and masquerade ball with food on payment assured for every function.

"With the experience of an eventful and exciting year behind her,” Honar­mand who was the AZA secretary last year promises to keep the community, especially the youth "engaged, entertained and enlightened.” Arriving with her husband from Oman to Sydney about 10 years ago, Hona­rmand launched into a career in insurance. This was soon followed by motherhood. Holding a Mas­ter’s degree in Arts, Honarmand who was brought up in Bombay loves the outdoors, gardening and traveling across the country. Any e-mail communication is promp­tly addressed by the president who on Parsiana’s request dutifully sent an introduction to her new team members.

Clockwise from top left: New AZA committee members Seema Honarmand, Zubin Bilimoria, Avan Umrigar, Farhad Khurshed, Nawzer Billimoria and Jerestene Saher

Industrious and meticulous, level-headed Zubin Bilimoria with an eye for detail is excited at the prospect of serving the community. After starting his career in the hospitality industry he opted to take on the challenge of self-employment. Working in the transport industry for the last 10 years, he has a contract arrangement with Toll Priority, a successful transport company. Following his commerce gradua­tion at Bombay he came to Australia 16 years ago and is now married with two sons.

Known in the community for her delicious malido and other Parsi goodies, as also catering for the seniors’ lunch, the effervescent Saher with her "can do” attitude has made her mark in Sydney for the last six years. Working as process and compliance manager at SAP, Saher is additionally an accomplished Bollywood dancer having performed at the Holi Mela at Darling Harbour and the Independence Day fair at the Sydney Olympic Park. She is currently learning Bharat Natyam and plays tennis in her spare time. Born and educated in Bombay, Saher had spent seven years in Dubai before she migrated to Sydney.

"Watching over the AZA finances with a hawk’s eye,” Umrigar believes "it is exciting and a privilege to be a part of the AZA committee.” Working full time as an accountant, she is just a step away from completing her CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant) course. A commerce graduate from "her beloved Mumbai” she is now settled in Sydney for the past five years with her husband.

"I am not only keen for my committee to fulfill its basic objective of catering to the community’s requirements but also making a difference to the lives of the less fortunate people in whichever manner possible,” notes the one-time Bombay resident Nawzer Billimoria, a savvy lawyer specializing in construction law. An avid sportsman, particularly interested in cricket, he makes time for his wife and daughter too.

Having successfully taken on the role of editor for Manashni, the AZA newsletter, Khurshed is an exponential copywriting specialist. Being an ‘infopreneur,’ he helps small businesses generate leads using direct marketing and internet marketing strategies. Having done his masters in business administration and with a background in advertising Khurshed uses the experiences gained in India, Oman and Australia to pursue life, adopting a positive attitude and believing in the principle of Kaizen (continuous improvement). While he enjoys cricket, snooker and tennis, he also looks forward to traveling around the country with his wife and two sons.