Dame Susan Devoy DNZM CBE
Patron
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About
Our team
The people who guide and deliver our work, from our patron and board to the team supporting families every day.
Patron
Board of Trustees
Roshni Chadha
Trustee / Chairperson
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Jeet Suchdev QSM JP
Trustee / Secretary
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Dr Camille Nakhid
Trustee
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Pratima Ramesh Soma JP
Trustee
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Garima Singh
Trustee
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Board Advisors
Dr Anil Channa
Advisor · Mental Health
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Dr Vikas Sethi
Advisor · Medical Health
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Bennet Castelino
Legal Advisor · Barrister and Solicitor
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Tahseen Sultana
Sign Language Specialist
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Ghouse Majeed
Board Member
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Leena Kalburgi
Board Advisory Member
Leena Kalburgi, born on 1 August in Kamatagi, Karnataka (India), is a resilient and community-driven leader known for her dedication to social service, cultural development, and community empowerment across India, the UAE, and New Zealand. Raised in a business family facing financial hardship, Leena demonstrated determination and academic excellence from an early age. Despite societal and familial challenges regarding women's education, she pursued her studies with strong support from her mother and mentors, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Sociology. She later enhanced her qualifications in New Zealand with diplomas in Business Studies and Construction Management.
Leena began her professional journey in India and later moved to the UAE after her marriage to Lingappa Kalburgi in 1979. During 15 years in the UAE, she played a vital role in supporting her extended family, helping with education, businesses, housing, and family responsibilities, while raising her two sons, Lohit and Lokesh. In 1994, Leena migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, where she became a foundational figure in building strong Indian and Kannada-speaking communities. She co-established key organisations such as the New Zealand Kannada Koota, Vedanta Education Society, and Basava Samithi networks, contributing significantly to their growth and outreach.
A committed community leader, Leena served as President of the Basava Samiti New Zealand Chapter for six years, where she strengthened partnerships with government bodies and delivered impactful initiatives. Her work includes socio-cultural programs, election awareness campaigns, health and well-being workshops, elder abuse awareness, and environmental sustainability initiatives through circular economy projects. Her leadership was particularly notable in 2023 when she successfully organised the international launch of Basava Samiti of Asia Pacific (BSAPAC) under challenging circumstances. She has also actively supported multicultural engagement through the Auckland Indian Association and contributed to public health efforts, including large-scale mask distribution during COVID-19, earning recognition from the Auckland District Health Board. Known for her strong logical thinking, communication skills, and compassion, Leena continues to inspire through her lifelong commitment to community service, empowerment, and cultural preservation.
Our staff
Roopa Suchdev QSM
CEO / Operations Manager
She had been working for more than 20 years with the victims of family harm and abuse within the South Asian Community. Her incredible and indomitable spirit has taken RAA to a well-known, dependable, trusted, effective and efficient organisation for not only stopping domestic violence in numerous families but also creating awareness and educating the South Asian Community to fight against every type of domestic violence.
Since the time of its establishment, RAA has been significantly and continuously changing lives for many and has been successfully bringing transformation in the attitude amongst people in this community. Today RAA is a symbol of dignity in human living, focusing on every aspect of its activities, a testament to Roopa's strength of mind and her passion for dignity.
Roopa Suchdev QSM did not restrict herself to only one specific cause but has gone beyond the horizon and boundary to provide unique learning experiences for the children in her weekend school. As an educator par excellence, she thoughtfully imparts Indian cultural values to young minds to make them better citizens for a better New Zealand. Her tireless striving to serve mankind has even led her to create a platform for today's young graduates searching for jobs through her workshops. Her active involvement in organising national and cultural festivals has brought smiles and happiness to many hearts lost in the loneliness of their existence in our busy society.
Roopa Suchdev's contribution cannot be summed up in a few lines. She has a larger than life image, and describing her briefly is only an attempt to provide a glimpse of her truthful existence as a versatile humanitarian activist.
Rani Singh
Victim Support Manager
More details coming soon.
Sakina S Ali
Registered Counsellor & Social Worker
Sakina is a registered Counsellor and a full member of NZAC. She is also a registered Social Worker with full membership of ANZASW and SWRB. She has a Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Auckland and a Diploma of Professional Counselling. She has worked with various age groups and has extensive experience in Counselling and Social Work for the past 14+ years.
She supports and respects the client's views, and helps the client find solutions to their problems in a confidential environment. She is multi-skilled and deals in several areas of counselling, empathetic and non-judgemental, listens with intent to understand, is multilingual, and supports clients toward long-term enhancement and self-actualisation.
Gurpreet Kaur
Admin Assistant
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