East Hills Woman of the Year, Shannon Foster, with East Hills MP Kylie Wilkinson and Premier Chris Minns.
Founder and CEO of Community Support Services Inc (CSS) Mona Mahamed has been named Bankstown Woman of the Year, co-chair of the Australian Rohingya Women’s Development Organisation, Sajeda Bahadurmia has been named Canterbury Woman of the Year while Sydney D’harawal Saltwater Knowledge Keeper, educator and artist Shannon Foster has been named East Hills Woman of the Year.
Mona has worked in partnership with the philanthropy community to deliver education, employment and practical support for vulnerable and CALD communities, with CSS assisting Western Sydney families struggling with isolation, parenting, education, getting a job or simply making ends meet.
“Every day, we should use our social and political influence to support women,” Mona said.
“While we don’t do it for the accolades, it’s truly humbling to be acknowledged by community leaders for the work we do for our community.”
State MP for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis, commended Sajeda on the honour, recognising her passion and the positive impact she has made in the Canterbury area.
“This is a well-deserved honour,” Ms Cotsis said.
“Coming to Australia as a refugee, Sajeda has worked extremely hard to establish a new life here and devote herself to the betterment of our local community and schools in Lakemba.”
Shannon was appointed to the NSW Aboriginal expert advisory panel consulting on the ‘Designing with Country document’ and is a core member of the Connecting with Country cultural advisory panel for the ‘Connecting with Country Framework’.
State MP for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson, said: “Shannon supports our community by providing insight into the culture, stories and history of the local indigenous people.
“She cares deeply as demonstrated when she volunteered to perform a special healing ceremony for the opening of local women’s shelter, Biyani House.”
Canterbury Woman of the Year, Sajeda Bahadurmia, with Canterbuy MP Sophie Cotsis.
