Politics in colour: candid conversations series

Facilitated by Politics in Colour's Kat Henaway and Marcelle Hoff, in partnership with Women for Election Australia, this Candid Conversation reveals what it’s really like to be a marginalised woman in local government leadership in Australia today. Councillor Sera Yilmaz was first elected as a Councillor in September 2016.  She was admitted as a Solicitor in 2013  in the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia.  Councillor Nadia Saleh is believed to be the first female Councillor in Australia to wear a hijab.  She has also served one year as Deputy Lord Mayor at City of Canterbury Bankstown Council.  Clr Charishma Kaliyanda of Liverpool Council was named one of Australia’s rising political stars by Marie Claire,and twice nominated as a candidate for NSW Parliament before she turned 30.  

Politics in Colour: Candid Conversations – On being a Woman of Colour Councillor in NSW 

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Clr Sera Yilmaz – Fairfield City Council

Councillor Sera Yilmaz was first elected as a Councillor in September 2016.

Clr Yilmaz was born in Fairfield and lives in Bonnyrigg. She attended  St Johns Park Public School, St Johns Park High School and Western  Sydney University (WSU), graduating with a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of  Social Science (Honours Distinction Level), and a Graduate Diploma in  Legal Practice with a major in Criminology and a Sub-Major in  Humanitarian and Peace Studies. She was admitted as a Solicitor in 2013  in the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia.

Before working as an adviser to the Federal MP, Clr Yilmaz worked in  several sectors, including as a volunteer solicitor and legal assistant  at Salvos Humanitarian and Redfern Legal Centre, in higher education,  taxation, and research. Clr Yilmaz serves on and chairs many Council committees, including  the Multicultural, Arts, Aboriginal and Youth Advisory committees as  well as the Bonnyrigg and Wetherill Park Town Planning Committees.  Due to her diverse work experiences, her passion involves creating more  services, engagement and opportunities for youth in the area, fairness  for our elderly, and equity for services regarding individuals of all  multicultural and financial walks of life.  

Councillor Nadia Saleh - Canterbury Bankstown 

Nadia is currently serving as a local Councillor for the City of Canterbury Bankstown. Nadia was elected as the Deputy Mayor in September 2017-2018 and is an executive member on the Board of Australian Services Union. She received the Local Woman of the Year Award in 2018 for her contributions to the community and continues to dedicate her skills and passion to serve and empower her community.

Nadia is believed to have made history as the first hijab-wearing woman to be elected into local government in Australia. The news made headlines around the world after Mrs Saleh, a Labor candidate, secured a seat on Canterbury-Bankstown Council — the largest council area in NSW.

Clr Charishma Kaliyanda – Liverpool City Council

Charishma Kaliyanda is an elected Councillor for Liverpool City Council and a registered Occupational Therapist. She is currently the Community Engagement Officer for headspace Campbelltown, working to build awareness of and reduce stigma around mental health and well-being so that young people can access the help they need.

Charishma was raised in Liverpool after migrating to the area with her family as a young girl. Charishma is a champion for diversity in sport, as a Multicultural Ambassador for Hockey NSW (and a keen footballer!). She has been a guest speaker and panellist for UN Youth, Y Vote, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the Asian Australian Studies Research Network. Although Charishma is proud to be one of 11 women elected to Council in Liverpool's 144-year history, and one of the youngest, she hopes that many, many more women are elected in the next 144!