Australia’s Stellar South Asian Women Awards proudly celebrates the stellar contributions of South Asian women who have made a difference in their communities.
South Asian women are achieving phenomenal success, and our goal is to shine a spotlight on these incredible role models right here in Australia. While South Asians make up one of the largest ethnic demographics in Australia, representation of South Asian women in leadership, media, and community spaces is still limited. We’re here to change that narrative and elevate their visibility.
Join us in honoring exceptional women across nine categories: Arts & Culture, STEM, Business & Entrepreneurship, Sports, Global Impact, International, Journalism & Literature, Community & Advocacy, and Content Creators. This year’s theme is “Reach Out & Rise,” the awards embody the spirit of generosity and collaboration that leads to success.
5:30pm – 10:00pm, please arrive on time.
Finalists will be announced below and on our social media so follow us over on Instagram & Linkedin.
Dress code: South Asian wear – re-wear, borrow, rent & up-cycle. In the spirit of minimising our footprint let’s be conscious about our consumerism.
This category celebrates women who harness the power of digital platforms to build and strengthen communities. They may do this through advocating for culturally responsive services and amplifying the voices of Australian South Asians in social causes. These visionary creators may also be entrepreneurs and content creators who challenge norms through their authenticity, using their platforms to engage, educate, and inspire. By crafting content that raises awareness, mobilises support, and fosters spaces where the community can connect with their culture, they enrich the sense of belonging in Australia while driving meaningful change.
Jasmine Babbar, artist and entrepreneur, is the founder of Babbar House Entertainment and Awaara. Based between Melbourne and Mumbai, she has produced content for Sony and Disney Plus Hotstar and has led major shows like Indian Idol and KBC. Jasmine uses her storytelling to create safe spaces and make a meaningful impact.
Manisha Dagore, visionary behind ManishaDChoreo and a renowned Bollywood dance teacher in Melbourne. Manisha’s content has garnered over 800 000 followers on social media. Her workshops have transformed lives, fostering friendships and uplifting spirits. More than just a dance instructor, she is an inspiration to many, instilling confidence in countless young women.
Sara is a disability and diversity advocate, creator, speaker, model, and healthcare professional. Drawing on her professional, educational, and lived experience, she amplifies the strengths and challenges of disabled people from South Asian backgrounds, working to break barriers and dismantle stereotypes within both Australian and South Asian communities.
Nikhita Paul is an Engineer, Actor, and Content Creator with a passion for storytelling. She is an advocate for international students and runs an online community of over 1,100 students. She mentors grad students as an IBM panellist and speaker at the Australian Computer Society. Breaking barriers for South Asian women in tech one step at a time. She’s driven to open doors for students and women in traditionally male-dominated fields.
This category honours women who have made significant contributions to community-building, social justice, and advocacy.These leaders work tirelessly to support marginalised groups, raise awareness, and drive positive change through grassroots efforts, policy influence, public speaking, community programs or a combination of activities like these.
Joanna Abraham is the first migrant and South Asian President of Victorian Women Lawyers. With a strong background in refugee and migration law, she advocates for intersectional diversity and champions inclusive policies. Joanna’s leadership focuses on creating equitable opportunities for women in law and providing a voice for underrepresented communities in Australia’s legal landscape.
Nitasha, founder of TashMakeupHair, uses beauty as a tool for transformation, she helps women rediscover their worth and break free from cultural norms that normalize red flags, which often escalate into serious domestic violence, mental health challenges, and body image issues. Trained in domestic violence prevention, Nitasha advocates for body positivity, mental health awareness, and guiding women toward resilience and lasting empowerment.
Yasmin Khan is the Director of The Bangle Foundation, an unfunded voluntary domestic abuse support service for South Asian women. The organisation services up to 1000 women a year across Australia and South Asia. Yasmin is a tireless campaigner and advocate for South Asian women and domestic abuse and is highly regarded in this space. She is heavily involved in forums, conferences and political advocacy and representation. The domestic abuse service celebrates 10 years of operation this year.
Shweta is a passionate human rights advocate commited to gender equity and social justice. She has worked in India, Indonesia and Australia in communications, education and community development. Currently based in Melbourne, she drives community led initiatives for prevention of gendered based violence especially for migrant and refugee women.
Celebrating women who integrate community service into their business practices, this category recognises entrepreneurs who prioritise social responsibility, ethical practices, and community engagement, using their ventures as platforms for positive social impact.
Manpreet Sekhon, the “Curry Queen,” is the acclaimed chef and restaurateur behind Elchi, Masti Fitzroy, and Eastern Spice Geelong. Her restaurants redefine Indian cuisine with bold flavors and vibrant atmospheres: Elchi redefines modern Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist, Masti Fitzroy celebrates adventurous flair, and Eastern Spice is known for its commitment to authenticity while providing stunning waterfront views.
Nandeeta Maharaj is the founder of Goods for Good, a platform that makes it easy for Australians to shop with purpose. With firsthand experience in a social enterprise, she saw the powerful impact these businesses have on communities. Driven to support them, Nandeeta created Goods for Good, enabling consumers to make a difference with every purchase.
Priya is the founder and CEO of award winning purpose driven social enterprise Punar. In 2024, Priya was recognised as the top 25 Success Magazine change makers worldwide. Punar supports individuals, brands and organisations align with their social responsibility, sustainability and gender equality goals through ethical luxury gifts, textiles and customisable products made by women artisans.
Rachel Castelino founded Blume, a prebiotic soda brand offering a healthier, fibre-rich beverage option. Born in Mumbai and raised in New Zealand, Rachel now calls Australia “a second home”. She’s committed to building a brand that aligns with her values while connecting with and inspiring other South Asian founders.
Meet Ruhee – the powerhouse and firecracker with a purpose. When she’s not running Allied Collective (Australia’s first inclusive facilitation & wellbeing agency) or teaching Yoga, she’s championing diverse voices at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. With 12+ years of public speaking and a knack for challenging the status quo and asking great questions, she’s proving that everyone deserves to be well.
This category celebrates women who use sports and fitness as tools for community development. These women and go beyond personal achievements to foster inclusivity, promote health and wellness, and empower others through their community-focused initiatives. They break stereotypes and serve as role models, inspiring a new generation of South Asian women to pursue fitness, excel in sport or consider careers in the sports and fitness industry.
Meet Akeisha, a passionate soccer player who began at age 6, representing New South Wales and Victoria. Her dedication earned her a spot on the U19 Australian national team. Recently she embarked on an exciting journey overseas, honing her craft in the competitive soccer leagues of Czechia’s competitive leagues and has captained and coached teams, inspiring players at all levels.
In 2016, Purva founded Diet Yumm in Melbourne, growing it from one location to 15. She promotes sustainable, evidence-based health practices and is a strong advocate for the South Asian community’s well-being. As a media spokesperson for Dietitians Australia, Purva actively works to improve health outcomes through community engagement and reliable nutritional guidance.
Aesha has integrated elements of yoga, energetics, and somatic practices to create a holistic method that promotes nervous system health, relieve stress and promote overall well-being. A fiercely strong and inspiring woman helping others to heal by coming back into their own bodies and authentic self. Her own personal journey of resilience, alongside her background in combat sports enriches her ability to hold space for deep work with individuals who have had truly challenging lives.
This category recognises women who use the power of words to drive social change, honouring journalists, authors, and writers who shine a light on critical community issues and amplify underrepresented voices. It celebrates those whose courageous and innovative storytelling challenges stereotypes, alters perceptions, and fights misinformation—particularly through coverage of culturally and racially marginalised communities (CARM). This category also highlights creative writers who are redefining what it means to be an author in Australia, paving the way for others to pursue careers in writing and journalism.
Alicia Vrajlal is a journalist and daughter of Fijian Indian immigrants. Previously Senior Culture Editor at Refinery29 Australia and Editor at HuffPost Australia, she is now the founder of Draw Your Box, a news media company covering experiences of and issues impacting South Asians. She is also the Editorial & Partnerships lead at women’s media company, Missing Perspectives.
As Melbourne Content Creator for Indian Link, Lakshmi’s wide portfolio of reportage deftly captures the kaleidoscope of voices constituting the South Asian identity. Best known for her monthly youth segment ‘Cutting Chai’ and her award-winning historical video series ‘Linking History’, Lakshmi is also a highly proficient arts journalist, selected for ArtsHub’s Amplify Collective in 2023
Saman Shad is a writer, editor, journalist and teller of stories. Much of her work is inspired by her experiences as a third culture kid, growing up and living in Pakistan, the Middle East, the UK and Australia. Her writing credits span mediums, including radio scriptwriting for the BBC in the UK and the ABC in Australia, and playwriting, with works commissioned by theatres in London and Sydney. She is a regular writer for several news publications. Her debut novel The Matchmaker was released by Penguin Australia in 2023.
This category celebrates women who extend their community service beyond borders, working on global initiatives that tackle pressing issues such as poverty, education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, thereby making a difference on an international scale.
Dr. Gita Pendharkar has made a global impact by guiding women around the world toward success in their careers. She has inspired countless local and international students, women, and new migrants to pursue higher education, and she continues to do so. In recognition of her strong advocacy for women, Dr. Pendharkar was honored with the “Women in Industry” award in 2018.
Irfana Zargar, known as the Padwoman of Kashmir, founded Eva Safety Door to empower women through menstrual hygiene education and access to sanitary products. After witnessing the need for hygiene resources post-2014 floods, she dedicated her life to this mission. Irfana’s initiatives promote dignity and safety for women, creating spaces where their health and empowerment are prioritized.
Jassi Sangha is an Assistant Director, Researcher, and Writer. She is recognized for her work as a writer and director of the narrative short film “Yeh Kaisi Sharafat,” which has been screened at the River Film Festival in Italy and the International Film Festival of South Asia. She has also collaborated with renowned directors such as Imtiaz Ali, Terrie Samundra, and Jatinder Mauhar. Her writings have been featured in several publications, and her debut book in Panjabi language, titled ‘Moh Varhe’ was recently released.
Nakshathra Suresh is a cyber criminologist, academic, public speaker, responsible technology advocate and co-founder of eiris, a safety technology consultancy. Through education, advocacy and storytelling, Nakshathra has encouraged and lead numerous local and global conversations surrounding artificial intelligence, immersive realities, stalkerware and other emerging technologies to create safer online experiences.
Honouring women who leverage the arts to enrich their communities, this category celebrates creators and cultural advocates who use their talents to highlight social issues, preserve cultural heritage, and inspire collective action through artistic expression. These women are storytellers for change, breaking barriers and holding the ladder for others by creating opportunities for more South Asian folk to enter and thrive in spaces where they have historically been underrepresented
Writer, and playwright in English as well as in Hindi language. She also has a few films to her credit. She has received awards, the most recent being Dr Sarojni Naidu International Award for Working Women 2024. She has also been recognised as a ‘Successful woman’ by PHD Chambers and BIMTEC India. She is also a Hindi Producer at SBS.
Neha Kumar founded Artful Yoga Gallery in 2021 in St Kilda – a space dedicated to advancing health through art, community, and holistic healing. In almost 3 years since being established, AYG has hosted 491 events for the community and 31 art exhibitions supporting emerging and often under-represnted artists.
Parvyn is a multi-disciplinary artist who’s career has spanned over 25 years from touring the globe with her family band Dya Singh, being front-woman of psychedelic hit band The Bombay Royale to being ARIA- nominated for her own solo project. Her music encompasses genre-drifting flow-state pop melds with classical Indian raga melodies, soul and jazz.
Priya, formerly Canberra Dholis, is one of the few female dholis in Australia, having shared the stage with global icons like Panjabi MC. A former NCAA Division 1 soccer player and a pulmonary embolism survivor, she now leads Dholwali, a solo project that celebrates Indian culture through dhol, driven by her resilience and passion.
This category recognises women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics who dedicate their expertise to their field and in doing so have contributed to furthering social justice. Whether by mentoring and helping women build successful careers in STEM, uplifting Women of Colour in the field, or advocating for inclusive practices, these innovators are committed to empowering the next generation of professionals in STEM.
Onisha Patel, a structural biologist was key member of a Melbourne based startup team that discovered Momelotinib, now approved by the FDA for Myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer. She is now working in business development and entrepreneurship, helping other scientists take their discoveries beyond the lab and into the clinic.
Priyanka, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, computationally models the influence of behavioural dynamics on the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Previously, she led health data projects at the Doherty Institute and Melbourne Data Analytics Platform, and chaired committees advancing computational sciences in infectious disease. A 2021 Superstar of STEM, Priyanka is committed to impactful, data-driven health research and science communication.
Sonia is a registered architect and co-founder of Andever, an award-winning architecture firm. She is an industry thought leader and fierce advocate of the value culture brings to design. She has mentored many WOC over the past decade whilst advocating for diversity in Architecture.
Sonia hopes to inspire the next generation to design and materialize culturally-rich spaces for our communities.
Associate Professor Sonika Tyagi works in the Data Science and AI discipline at RMIT University. Her research focuses on developing innovative AI tools to predict and forecast disease risk This helps doctors make informed dicisions for personalised care for patients.
Recognized for her impactful contributions, she was a finalist for the 2022 Women in AI Awards (AI in Health) and named among Brilliant Women in Digital Health 2023.
For young women (from 16 – 22 years of age) who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service. This category honours rising stars who demonstrate servant leadership, innovation, and a passion for creating positive change in the community. We want to celebrate the impact you have made by taking the initiative to solve a problem, address a challenge, further inclusion or change the status quo.
Kainaat Ali Sukhera is a passionate advocate for human rights, intersectional feminism, and cultural justice. She has worked with NGOs, NFPs, UN Youth Australia, NSW Greens, and policymakers to support marginalized communities. Founder of Watan Kids Foundation, Kainaat provides humanitarian relief to refugee children from Palestine to Ukraine, with programs such as the toy drive, fundraising and initiatives on mental health and trauma recovery from war-affected regions.
Neerja is a first-year university student and founder of an emerging not-for-profit based in Melbourne’s western suburbs. She works with organisations such as Victorian Government Youth Congress, Raise Our Voice Australia, CMY, and the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Shapers. Neerja is passionate about amplifying youth voices and advocating for inclusive projects and policies that create positive change across Australia.