Executive Committee 2024-25

President

Mr Roshan Menon

Representative – Canberra Hindu Mandir (CHM)  

Vice President

Mr Manohar Vemuri

Representative – Indian Australian Association of Health and Well-being (HaWAAI)   
Vice-President – Telugu Association of Canberra (TAC) (2010-2013)

Manohar originally comes from a Visakhapatnam in southern part of India and moved to Australia in 2001 to pursue Master of Information Technology at University of Canberra (UC).

Manohar has been socially active since university days. During post-graduation studies, Manohar was a student leader at UC, helping new overseas students with integration into the University community. Manohar was presented with Harmony day award by Vice Chancellor for his work as a student leader. Manohar has since continued his involvement as a volunteer with various professional associations and other community associations taking up various responsibilities for the betterment of the society.

Manohar promotes and encourages Health and Well-Being through sports and games among HAWAAI members and the wider Canberra community.

Professionally, Manohar is a Canberra based Cyber Security Advisor, running his own consulting practice.   

Secretary

Mr Praveen Jain

Representative – Canberra Jain Mandal (CJM)  

Since migrating to Australia in 2003 and settling in Canberra in 2006, Praveen found immense joy and fulfilment living in this vibrant, family-friendly city. It has been a privilege to see our children grow and thrive here. His wife and Praveen both work in the Australian Public Service (APS), while their daughter is an economist at a bank, and son is soon to embark on his career as a software engineer at a high-frequency trading (HFT) firm.

Praveen holds a Chemical Engineering degree from IIT Bombay (1991 batch) and a Master of Management from the Australian National University (ANU). His professional journey began in India, where he spent 12 years in the manufacturing sector. Currently, he works in the field of Intellectual Property.

Since 2019, Praveen has had the honour of serving as the President of Canberra Jain Mandal. This role has allowed him to channel his passion for community service, supporting various initiatives and helping those in need. His involvement extends beyond the Jain community, having actively participated in school programs, MensLink, and the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) initiatives.

Praveen feels now in a phase of life where he can dedicate more time to volunteering and giving back to the community. He is excited to contribute to the Federation of Indian Associations of the ACT (FINACT) and look forward to making a positive impact on the Indian diaspora in Canberra.    

Treasurer

Mrs Tess Manuel

Representative – Canberra Malyalees Association (CMA)  

Tess Manuel is qualified Chartered Practicing Accountant (CPA Australia) with a deep expertise in costing, financial modelling and business performance analysis. She has demonstrated capability in managing external and internal stakeholders and providing recommendations, reports and analytical insights to key decision makers.

Tess is an active member of Canberra Malayalees Association – acting as a committee member, organising teams to participate in cultural activities and choreographing dances. She has extensive board/committee experience with community and arts organisations including Koottukaaree, Craft + Design Canberra and Fitted for Work.

Tess finished her schooling in UAE and Kerala and completed her Bachelor in Technology ( Electronics and Communications) from TKM Engineering College in Kerala. Tess worked in UK and UAE and graduated with aMasters in Business Administration (Finance and Strategy) from Belgium before moving to Brisbane, Australia in 2008. Having lived in multiple countries outside India, Tess is passionate about promoting multiculturalism and creating a harmonious community where everyone feels included.

Public Officer

Mr Paramdeep Nrain

Representative –  Mehak Punjab Di Radio     

Since arriving in Canberra in 2013, Paramdeep has embraced the region as his home, dedicating himself to both professional growth and community service. His roots trace back to a family of farmers, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for hard work, resilience, and community values. These qualities have guided him throughout his journey, from his early days in IT to the current role in the Australian Public Service (APS).

As a media professional at Mehak Punjab Di, Paramdeep has channeled his passion for storytelling and community engagement into meaningful work that resonates with diverse audiences. His commitment to service has also seen him actively involved in organizing critical relief efforts during some of the region’s most challenging times. He led major bushfire relief projects and the largest COVID-19 relief initiatives in Canberra, providing vital support to those in need.

Paramdeep’s contributions have been recognized at the highest levels, including being named a finalist in the ACT Multicultural Awards 2020. This acknowledgment reflects his dedication to fostering inclusivity and unity within the community.

Balancing his media career with a strong IT background, Paramdeep brings a unique blend of technical expertise and creative insight to every project he undertakes. Whether through his professional endeavors or volunteer work, he remains committed to making a positive impact on the community that has given him so much. Canberra is not just where he lives — it’s where he strives to make a difference every day.

Entertainment and Cultural Programs

Ms Roopa Rao

Sports Coordinator

Mr Sudheer Madnure

Representative –  Canberra Telugu League (CTL)  

President – Canberra Telugu League.
Treasurer – Canberra City & Suburban Cricket Association.
Founder Member of Canberra Rhinos Cricket Club
Secretary – Melbourne Falcons Cricket Club.

Sudheer is a passionate IT professional with a deep love for cricket, often referred to as the gentleman’s game. His extensive experience has been pivotal in elevating the CTL (Cricket Tournament League) to a highly professional standard by utilizing top-notch facilities and providing guidance alongside the Executive Committee members.

As the Treasurer of the Canberra Cricket and Sports Club Association (CC&SCA), Sudheer oversees all financial matters and ground bookings, playing a crucial role in organizing one of Canberra’s largest cricket tournaments. As a founding member of Canberra Rhinos CC, he offers his support whenever needed to ensure the club’s active participation in CCSCA events.

In the past two years, Sudheer has been instrumental in organizing the FINACT cricket tournament. Additionally, as Secretary of Melbourne Falcons CC, he manages two teams competing in the Mercantile Cricket Association, one of Melbourne’s premier turf cricket tournaments. Sudheer’s dedication and multifaceted contributions significantly enhance the cricket community in both Canberra and Melbourne.

AusIndia Fair

Mr Praneeth Galla

Representative –  India Australia Multicultural Sports Association (IAMSA)

Praneeth Galla hails from the Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana having spent majority of his time in Hyderabad.

He is a Human Resources professional that has worked with several internationally reputed organisations in India and in Australia. Ever since he moved to Australia in 2017, he has worked with several community organisations in various capacities. Praneeth is passionate about volunteering and community service works plays an active role in community activities.

Having worked in community services, health and Indigenous services organisations in Australia, he understands the matters impacting the community and the importance of supporting the communities and the individuals in need. He strongly believes in the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the World is One Family) and thus believes in cooperation and inclusiveness across communities and cultures.

Praneeth was previously associated with the Telugu Association of Canberra and has previously served as the Secretary and the Community Coordinator of FINACT. Praneeth has further been associated with ACT Region Crimestoppers as one of the Board Directors and with the Canberra City and Suburban Cricket Association as the Records Secretary. Praneeth works for one of the Consulting firms in Canberra. He likes cooking, photography and participating in spiritual activities. Praneeth intends to support the Indian diaspora in the ACT and in Australia in every way possible through FINACT.    

Chetna

Dr Pravati Panigrahi, MD

Representative – Pink Umbrella International
Vice President of ORIOZ (Orioz Inc., 2016-2019)  

Dr Pravati Panigrahi, MD, PG E Health (UQ Aus), PG Human Right (University of Ssydney), PGC-(Domestic abuse) QUT, UN Diploma

Founder and Director Pink Umbrella Intrenational (PUI) and FolkOart (a social enterprise to support unprivileged global artists and conducts exhibitions at various places in Australia) Nominated for ACT women of year, 2024.
Awardee as Emerging Women’s leader,Leadership Victoria,2017

She is a Medical professional, MD with special interest in creating awareness on women safety, social justice, mental health and domestic violence amongst immigrant community. She is the multicultural ambassador for mental Health Foundation Australia and Current Board members and advocate for White Ribbon Australia.

Alumni of Human right& Social justice sector, she works passionately for CALD communities on social justice for women and mental health awareness issues. She has many credits towards community commitment, public awareness talks & volunteering. and currently engaged with various projects towards women empowerment.

She started and hosted Australia s first ODIA Radio program, Vibration ODIA in 2018. 

She is a certified trainer, advocate for domestic violence prevention and men’s engagement program, Caring Dad.

Women Representative

Mrs Priyanka Mishra

Representative – Bihar Jharkhand Sabha of Australia & New Zealand (BJSM)
Secretary & Treasurer & Cultural Co-ordinator – Albury Wodonga Indian Association (2012-2020)
Committee Member – Gateway Health Wodonga – Project for Health & Wellbeing of Women from Ethnic Community  

Priyanka is born and brought up in the state of Bihar, India. She moved to Australia in 2009. She has been associated with AWIAA, Albury Wodonga in organising many community events, acting in different positions in co-ordination with local councils.

She is passionate about working for Women’s health and wellbeing and have been part of few committees. After living in Albury (NSW) moved to Canberra in 2022 to work in APS. She likes gardening, cook for her family, and meet new people. She looks forward to work for the Indian community and their welfare in Canberra now.    

Senior Citizens Representative

Mr Vijay Kumar Puri

Representative – Indian Senior Citizens Association  

Shri Vijay Puri has managed India Australia Association of Canberra as President and organised Indian festivals during this responsibility. This gave him enough knowledge of the pulse of the multicultural communities. He took over and still continues as President of Indian Senior Citizens of ACT and has enough knowledge of the requirements of the Seniors community.

He has arranged various speakers to talk and guide the seniors concerning their mental Health, Dementia and the rules and regulations to avail the facilities provided by the Federal and the ACT Government for aged care.

Last but not least he serves as Justice of Peace for the multicultural Community in Canberra and feels he can serve their interest better if he is part of the Multicultural forum to help the ACT Government to guide with the needs of the multicultural community and help the forum to take care of what is needed by multicultural communities to make the annual festival a big success.

Youth Representatives

Mr Mihir Pandey

Representative – Indian Students Association (INSA – ANU)  

Mihir Pandey is a dynamic student pursuing a Bachelor of Advanced Computing at ANU, focusing on Artificial Intelligence. Recognised for his academic excellence with scholarships from ANU, he also leads as the President of the Indian Students’ Association at ANU.

Mihir’s skills span programming, database management, and UI/UX design, demonstrated through projects like creating user-centered interfaces and developing a social app for international students.

His leadership extends beyond the classroom. He holds the position of President within the organisation, which suggests he is a respected leader within the Indian Student Association at ANU. His role likely involves overseeing the organisation’s activities, coordinating with members, and representing the association in various capacities. Mihir’s involvement in significant events like the flag hoisting ceremony indicates his active participation and commitment to the student community, contributing to cultural and national celebrations among Indian students in Australia.

At FINNACT, he carries out the role of student leader.

Mr Sanjeevan Suresh

Representative – University of Canberra Indian Association (UCIA)

Past President

Dr Harjinder Dhindsa

Representative – Canberra Punjabi Sports and Cultural Association (CPSCA)  

Dr Harjinder Singh Dhindsa is a strong advocate of oneness, acceptance (not tolerance), harmony and inclusiveness. Dr Dhindsa has been involved in community service in Australia from 1991 and is a member, founder member, patron and life member of various community organisations and has held various positions. He believes in empowering multiculturalism and embracing and celebrating diversity.

Dr Dhindsa is associated with FINACT since 2014 and has worked with all the committees since then to make FINACT a responsible and representative voice of the Indian diaspora in the ACT. Dr Dhindsa initiated the concept of an inclusive event which developed into the signature event of FINACT, the AusIndia Fair, and he has been actively involved in organising all the AusIndia Fairs pre-COVID.

With a PhD in Plant Pathology from the Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Dhindsa also completed a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology from the Canberra University. After working for more than 22 years in the Australian Public Service, Dr Dhindsa retired in 2019.