The appointment makes Pandey the first-ever Indian-origin person to hold the position in the Greater Western Sydney suburb
Our Bureau
Sydney
The city of Parramatta Council elected Sameer Pandey their new Mayor on May 22, 2023. The appointment makes Pandey the first-ever Indian-origin person to hold the position in the Greater Western Sydney suburb. Sameer. Pandey was first elected to the council in 2017 and in 2022, became the City’s first Deputy Lord Mayor from the Indian subcontinent.
Pandey was elected as Donna Davis stepped down from the role following her election as the State Member for Parramatta in Australia’s New South Wales state.
Asserting that it was a privilege to lead the council of one of the fastest-growing centres in Australia, Pandey said, “The City of Parramatta is the geographical heart of Greater Sydney and a major economic powerhouse as well as the best place in Sydney to live.”
“Parramatta is home to a vibrant and diverse community, and I’m excited to lead the City as it cements itself as Sydney’s second CBD (central business district) and the focus of some of its most exciting opportunities,” he was quoted as saying in the press release.
A small business owner with a background in IT, Pandey “is passionate about ensuring the council delivers what community and local businesses need and positioning the City of Parramatta as a smart city,” the press release said.
Some of the initiatives he has advocated for include making Parramatta accessible to all, addressing the needs of the visually impaired, expanding non-English collections in city libraries, installation of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the city, and improving shared usage of council-owned parks, and reserves and sports grounds.
Aside from his political endeavors, Pandey is a small business owner in the areas of technology and education and has previously served as head of IT for an international health research company. He serves on several city committees including Parramatta Light Rail, Sydney Central City Planning Panel, and Policy Review Committee among others.
