Dynamic team in Quebec

"Bringing dynamism to the board and the Montreal community” is the new team of office bearers of the Zoroastrian Association of Quebec (ZAQ) under president Faranak Firoozi. Others assisting her on the executive board for 2009-2011 are vice president Farzad Behboodi, secretary Zareen Hakim Austin, treasurer Kelly Gheyara, assistant to treasurer Rohinton Marolia, liaison to investment committee Zach Moos, and members at large Mitra Bahrami, Ervad Gev Karkaria and Dolly Dastoor.

Specializing in hospital pharmacy and pharmacoepidemiology (the study of the use and effects of drugs in large groups of people) Firoozi has been living in Montreal with her husband and little daughter. Born in Tehran, Firoozi enjoys "the small (in number) but great (in spirit) Zarathushti community of Montreal,” mentions Dastoor who on Parsiana’s request sent a brief introduction to each of her team members.

Also born in Tehran was Behboodi who migrated as a teenager to England and from there to Canada which he has made his home for the last three decades, being an active member of the Montreal, Toronto and Seattle Zarathushti communities. A registered professional engineer practicing in the field of aerospace, he has three daughters.

Quebec board (standing from left): Gev Karkaria, Farzad Behboodi, Dolly Dastoor, Mitra Bahrami, Faranak Firoozi, Zareen Hakim Austin, Kelly Gheyara; (sitting) Rohinton Marolia and Zach Moos

A graphic designer originally from New York, Hakim Austin resides in Montreal with her husband and two children. Active in various religious programs she had participated in the North American and 2000 World Congresses.

A professor of accountancy at Concordia University, Gheyara will be lending his financial acumen to the new board. He has been active with the Montreal Zarathushti community for several years.

Former vice president of the Association, Marolia has been volunteering for all community events in Montreal. A chartered accountant by profession he was on the committee of the Zoroastrian Association of Singapore in the late 1980s.

Yet another chartered accountant on the board is Montreal born Moos who is the investment advisor for the association. An active member of the Montreal Zarathushti community this father of two young boys was formerly vice president and treasurer of ZAQ.

A clinical dietician by profession Bahrami too has been an active member of the Montreal community. Born in Iran, she is a mother of two girls.

Volunteering as a mobed for all community events Karkaria has been the president of ZAQ and chair of the CARE committee of the Quebec association. A chartered accountant by profession he is the treasurer of the North American Mobeds Council.

Past president of ZAQ as also the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), Dastoor is currently editor of the quarterly FEZANA Journal. A clinical psychologist, she specializes in the assessment of dementia.