Our Team

Name: Hershad Jairam

Employment History:

Governance Experience:

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

Community & Voluntary Service:

Awards:

Name: Harshad k Patel

Employment History:

Governance Experience:

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

Community & Voluntary Service:

Awards:

Name: Dhiru Bhikha

Marital Status: Married (2 Adult Children)

Employment History:

• Ownerand Managing Director, Horners Confectionery Ltd, Kiwiland Confectionery Ltd and the Kiwi Goodness Company Ltd. (38 years)

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

• Yes (commercial)

Community & Voluntary Service:

• Auckland Indian Association Executive Committee (15 + years)
• Board of Trustees, Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust( 9 years)

Name: Puspa Lekinwala

Marital Status: Married

Employment History:

• Self-employed,Legal Agency (38 years)
• Legal Executive with Russell McVeagh Solicitors (17 years)

Governance Experience:

• Chair, NZICA Women's (9 years)
• Board Member, MGC Trust (7 years)
• Chair, NZICA Health & Welfare (4 years)
• Vice President, Auckland Indian Association (2021)
• Assistant Secretary, Auckland Indian Association (2005-2007)
• Chairperson, Auckland Indian Association Mahila Samaj (2001,2002,2014)
• President,Darji Samaj (2000)
• Executive Committee member,Auckland Indian Association (Since 1998)

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

• Yes (Residential)

Community & Voluntary Service:

• Justice of Peace since 1991 (30 Years)
• Marriage Celebrant since 1994 (27 years)

Awards:

• Life Member NZICA (Since 2013)
• QSM for service to the community (2005)

Name: Ashok Darji

Marital Status: Married

Employment History:

• Inland revenue department
• University of Auckland
• ANZ bank
• Kiwi self-storage
• Owner–operator business

Governance Experience:

• Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

• Yes (Private and commercial development)

Community & Voluntary Service:

• Covenor,NZICA Gala Awards (2021-2022)
• Chair,Auckland Indian Association Constitution (2009-2021)
• Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust (2011-17;2020-21)
• V-President,Crime Prevention Group (2017-2018)
• V-President,NZ Asian Society (2018-19)
• Rotary Club Auckland Harbourside Exe (2014-15)
• Selwyn College,Business Judge (2008)
• President,Darji Mandal Auckland (1999 to 2001; 2009–2011; 2018-2019)
• President,Auckland Indian Association (2012to15)
• President of NZICA (2004 to 07)
• Justice of the Peace (appointed 2004)

Awards:

• Indian Newslink Award (2018)
• Kiwi Bank Hero (2012)
• L/m of Auckland Indian Association (2011)
• L/m of NZICA (2009)
• Cert.Of Appreciation Push for India (2008)
• Cert.Of Appreciation MIA (2008)
• Member of nz order of merit (2005)

Name: Dhansukh Lal

Marital Status: Married (2 Adult Children)

Employment History:

• Owner and Director of Minbhav Investments Ltd (2017 till date)
• Owner and Director,Braydenz Developments Ltd (2017–date)
• General Manager,Mitre 10,Henderson(1989 to 2017)
• Retail Shop, Fij

Governance Experience:

• President,Auckland Indian Association (2021-)
• Elected Chairman,Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust (2016–2020)

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

• Yes(ResidentialandCommercial)

Community & Voluntary Service:

• VicePresident,Auckland Indian Association (2017-2021)
• Mandir Committee,Business Committee and Enter tainmen tCommittee,Auckland Indian Association
• Deputy Chairman,Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust (2014–2016)
• Trustee,Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust (2014)
• Donor Member, Auckland Indian Association (Since 1989)
• General Secretary,Lautoka Chamber of Commerce (1988–1989)
• National Secretary,Fiji Gujarati Sports association( 1985–1986)
• National Secretary,Fiji National Youth Council (1984 to 1989)

Awards:

• Awarded the New Hardware Journal's Hardware Retailer of the Year (2015)
• Nominated to attend a week long Business Administration Course,Monash University in Melbourne (2013)

Name: Barwant Bhikha

Employment History:

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

Community & Voluntary Service:

Awards:

Name: Parshotam Govind

Marital Status: Married (3 adult children)

Employment History:

• Self-employed: Retail Grocery,Service Station and Stationery-Lotto (33 years)
• Storeman / Dataentry: Mega Mitre-10 and Computer consumable (5 years)

Governance Experience:

• Board of Trustees,Auckland Indian Association Inc. (6 years + Current since 2013)
• President,Auckland Indian Association Inc. (6 years)

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

• Yes (Private)

Community & Voluntary Service:

• Auckland Indian Association Inc. (38 years)
• Auckland Indian Sports club Inc. (8 years)
• Secretary,Auckland Indian Association Inc.(7 years)
• President,Auckland Indian Association Inc. (6 years)
• Executive, Auckland Regional Ethnic Council (6 years)
• Executive, New Zealand Indian Central Association Inc (6 years)
• Justice of the Peace Since 2004

Awards:

• QSM (2018)
• New Zealander of the Year Local Hero (2017)
• N.Z.F.M.C Community Service Award (2015)
• Life Member Auckland Indian Association Inc. (2011)
• NZICA Merit Certificate

Name: Ramesh Bhagwan

Marital Status: Married (2 adult children)

Employment History:

• Tailor,Mayur Tailors (15 Years in India)
• Owner Operated Dairy Businesses (8 Years in Wellington; 10 Years in Auckland)
• Tailor,RembrandtSuits,(1 Year in NZ)
• Owner Operated Indian Restaurant(1 Year)
• Project Management(Private Development)(1 Year)

Governance Experience:

• Body Corporate Committees (16 Years)
• Auckland Indian Association Board of Trustees (1 Year)

Experiencein Privateor Commercial Development:

• Yes (Commercial and Private)

Community & Voluntary Service:

• Auckland Indian Association Catering Committee (11 Years)
• Auckland Indian Association Maintenance Committee (11 Years)
• Auckland Indian Association Temple Committee (3 years + 8years as Chairman)
• Auckland Indian Association Entertainment Committee (6years + 1 yearas Chairman)
• Papatoetoe Swaminarayan Temple Volunteer (4Years)