The present ABA Executive team is very thankful for the contributions made by the past members. Our past 2016 - 2018 executive team members include:
President Dr Naresh Parajuli
General Secretary Nandalal Bhandari
Treasurer Puspa Acharya
Public relation officer Narapati Dhimal
Cultural coordinator Devendra Gautam
Sports coordinator Parsu Acharya
Women’s coordinator Smriti Dhungel
Youth coordinator Hemanta Acharya
General welfare coordinator Govin Gautam
Press and publicity coordinator Nawal Khatiwada
Senior advisors
- Dr Om Dhungel
- Om Dhungel
- Nakul Budathoki
Dr Naresh Parajuli, MBBS, MIPH, MM, FRACGP President
Dr Parajuli is one of the founder members of the Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA), Sydney. He served as Advisor to the Association until he was elected as President to the Organization in January 2015. He is a practising GP based in Penrith, Sydney. His areas of interest include mental health of the community and cancer awareness. He has recently published a book on cancer called 'DO I HAVE CANCER?'' which is intended to increase public awareness on cancer prevention, treatment and screening. Website: www.doihavecancer.info
Om Dhungel, FAICD, JP, MBA, B.Sc. Engg.
Senior Adviser
Om Dhungel is the founding President and currently a senior Advisor of ABA Sydney. Having worked in the government, private and the NFP sectors, Om is a consultant and a practitioner of Strength-based approach to refuge settlement and community development. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, in the recent past, Om served as a Director on the Boards of Settlement Services International (SSI), Sydwest Multicultural Services and MTC Australia. Om is a current Westpac Social Change Fellow and a recipient of 2016 Community Service Lifetime Achievement Award and 2012 National Volunteer Award. Om was head of Planning & Development in Bhutan Telecom before fleeing the country in 1992. For further info: www.omdhungel.com
Dr Om Dhungyel, PhD
Ex-President and Senior Advisor
Dr Om Dhungel came from Bhutan to Australia on a FAO Fellowship for his Masters degree in Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney in 1990. After completion of Masters he did his PhD and has been working as a Senior Research Scientist at the same university. Dr. Dhungyel has been a key member of very successful Australian funded collaborative research projects in various countries. He has published his research publications in prestigious international journals and has travelled widely for his research presentations. He is internationally recognized for his field of research in animal health.
From the very early days of his life in Australia Dr. Dhungyel has been a very active and dedicated member of local communities. He is passionate about social work and promoting culture and has been instrumental in establishing and is a founding member of the Association of Bhutanese in Australia, Sydney. For his dedicated service to the community Dr. Dhungyel was awarded 2015 Australia Day Award for community service by Penrith City Council. He very much enjoys and takes as a privilege working for social and cultural community organizations.
Hemanta Acharya, RN, UWS graduate
Youth Co-ordinator
Hemanta has been actively involved in community volunteering since 2008. She has played significant role on establishing women’s football in the community and founded a dance academy “Fun Fighters Academy”. In parallel to Nursing and community volunteering, Hemanta works as a TV presenter at My Nepal Television (MNTV) Australia. She represented Australia in a junior Football World cup in 2010 in South Africa and now works as a Football Coach at Football United organisation. Hemanta was awarded a Jim Anderson Scholarship in 2013 to pursue her university degree. Hemanta has been awarded ABA Talented Artist of the year 2016, based on her skills and interests in various fields such as drawing/painting, writing poems/stories, dance, soccer and television.
Parshu Acharya
Sports Co-ordinator
Parsu Acharya is a current Sports Co-ordinator of ABA Sydney. Parshu is a strong advocate of "sports for social development" having previously worked as a football coach and a referee. Since his arrival to Australia, he has been actively involved in organising and participating in sporting events within the community and has played a key role to collaborate ABA community teams with broader Australian community.
Parshu Acharya is an Electrical Engineer by profession graduated from Western Sydney University with honours degree. Due to his key role in forming and driving Druk Football Club and Druk Rising Stars Cricket Club he has been awarded ABA Sports Person of the Year 2016.
Puspa Acharya
Treasurer
Puspa Acharya is a Treasurer of Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA), Sydney. He has held this portfolio for three consecutive terms. He is a volunteer worker and was awarded ABA Volunteer of the Year 2016 for his selfless contribution to ABA, Sydney.
Puspa also works with Sydwest Multicultural Services ,Blacktown as Community Engagement Case worker and Senior Support Worker with Nepean Migrant Access, St. Mary.
The present ABA Executive team is very thankful for the contributions made by the past members. Our past executive team members include:
President
Dr Om Dhungel
Om Dhungel
General Secretary
Tulsiram Sharma
Suman Chhetri
Padam Kafley
Women's Co-ordinator
Pabitra Kafley
Damanta Kafley
Januka Acharya
General Welfare Co-ordinator
Hari Khatiwada
Tulsiram Adhikari
Kalyan Dhungel
Cultural Co-ordinator
Narapati Dhimal
Bhakti Khatiwada
Treasurer
Dukka Pokhrel
Youth Co-ordinator
Damber Dhungel