Leadership

First elected to City of Parramatta Council in 2017, Cr Sameer Pandey served as Lord Mayor and is the City's first Lord Mayor from the Indian subcontinent.

A small business owner with a background in technology and law, Sameer is passionate about ensuring Council delivers what community and local businesses need. Building on the work done by Council over many years, Sameer's vision is for a healthy, liveable, smart, sustainable and inclusive City. Sameer is focused on ensuring Parramatta continues to thrive as a major economic powerhouse and as the best place in Sydney to live, work and play. Sameer also served as Deputy Lord Mayor from January 2022 – May 2023 and represents the Parramatta Ward. Sameer has served on a number of committees within City of Parramatta, Currently, he is also the chair of Council's Finance Risk and Governance standing committee. Sameer is also the Chair of NSW South Asian Advisory Forum.

As a founding member of Artha, Sameer's vision to is to ensure that Artha provides everyone with a platform to reach their full potential.

Murali Sagi is an accomplished senior investigator and executive with extensive experience leading complex and sensitive investigations across government and local councils. He has successfully managed reviews and fact-finding processes involving multiple respondents, including complaints against judicial officers and governance matters for NSW Government authorities.

A qualified lawyer, electronics engineer, and change management professional, Murali brings over 25 years of experience working across both government and private sectors. His career includes senior executive roles at the Judicial Commission of NSW, where he developed and implemented internationally recognised sentencing support and judicial research systems that continue to contribute to judicial excellence.

Murali's expertise lies in investigations, conduct reviews, governance, and ethical leadership. He is also skilled in business transformation, policy development, and learning and development. Known for his analytical thinking and integrity, Murali has a strong record of achieving practical and sustainable outcomes in challenging environments. His commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement underpins his professional approach to every assignment.

Associate Professor Dhaval Ghelani is an esteemed clinician and academic, holding dual fellowships from the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia & New Zealand (FCICM) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (EDIC). With over two decades of experience in intensive care, he serves as Director of the Intensive Care and Deputy Chairman of Medical Advisory Committee at Norwest Private Hospital; and Senior Staff Specialist at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney. His leadership extends beyond clinical excellence to active involvement in research, education, and quality assurance—having led multicentre trials, chaired hospital committees, and served as an examiner for the College of Intensive Care Medicine. As an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Dr Ghelani is deeply committed to mentoring future medical professionals and advancing evidence-based critical care.

Beyond medicine, Dhaval Ghelani serves as President of SRMD Australia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to humanitarian service, mindfulness, and community wellbeing. Under his leadership, SRMD Australia has delivered impactful initiatives—from providing free food aid and medical relief to promoting holistic wellness through yoga and meditation. As an Advisor for the Artha Foundation, Dr Ghelani brings a unique blend of clinical precision, ethical leadership, and compassionate vision. His cross-sectoral insight—spanning healthcare, community development, and global collaboration—enables him to guide innovative, purpose-driven entrepreneurship that aligns with both human values and sustainable progress.

Sukender Jain is a seasoned entrepreneur in the recruitment and talent-solutions space. He is also the founder of Interpro, a specialist IT & technology recruitment firm based in Australia. Under his leadership, Interpro has grown to supply talent in areas such as Data, Cloud Apps, Development, Cyber Security and Project Services across Australia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Sunil Lal is a distinguished lawyer and visionary co-founder of Barker Henley Global, where he currently serves as Chairman. With over three decades of experience, Sunil has been instrumental in advancing bilateral trade and investment between Australia, India, and the broader Asian region. Recognised as a leading authority in international commerce, he has made significant contributions to strengthening cross-border business and legal relations.

Sunil has provided expert testimony to the Australian Federal Parliamentary Committee on Australia–India trade relations and serves as Patron of the Australia India Business & Trade Foundation. His strategic insights have supported major ventures, capital raising initiatives, and joint investments across regional markets. Notably, his efforts contributed to QANTAS resuming flights to Mumbai in 2004. At the request of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Sunil has represented Australia in delegations to China and India, sharing expertise in corporate governance and globalisation. A respected speaker on international business and intellectual property, he also dedicates time to philanthropic causes across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Sunil continues to serve on several boards and committees, reflecting his deep commitment to fostering global partnerships and community development.