By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Divesh Sareen is an author, mentor, local businessman and one of the three candidates for Lyster Ward.
He’s the eldest child from Ludhiana, Punjab, grew up in a household where resources were scarce and financial challenges were a daily reality, motivated by a deep desire to improve his family’s circumstances, he began exploring opportunities both in India and abroad.
His ambition was fuelled by a determination to create a better future, not just for himself, but also for his family.
Mr Sareen migrated to Australia about 16 years ago to pursue his master’s in IT, since then, he’s been immersed in the world of corporate start-ups, where he’s worked as a mentor and coach, helping businesses improve by sharing the insights he’s gained along his journey.
“I’ve written a book about my experiences as a migrant to inspire others and to shed light on the challenges migrants face, in addition to that, I serve as a product and technology consultant, advising businesses on strategy and executing innovative ideas,” he said.
“Having lived in the hills for over a decade, I feel a strong desire to give back to the community that welcomed me – I aim to bring a fresh perspective, combining my expertise in IT and business with strong interpersonal skills, to add value to the local council and contribute positively to my community in the Hills.”
Moving to Australia came with both challenges and rewards, with adapting to a new culture and navigating unfamiliar systems tested his resilience, but these experiences prompted his personal growth.
“I’d say adaptability is the most important skill I’ve developed, moving to a new country means leaving behind your support network and facing numerous challenges with limited resources – you’re basically thrown into the deep end, where finding solutions becomes essential,” Mr Sareen said.
“Looking back, I realise how these experiences have equipped me to tackle challenges head-on – skills that are directly transferable to the council, they need individuals who are driven and passionate about making a difference and I believe I have that drive because from day one, I’ve been committed to improving processes and outcomes and I believe my ability to adapt and my proactive mindset can bring immediate value to the council’s work.”
If elected for Lyster Ward, some of the key issues he’ll be focusing on, includes road and parking problems, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times, as well as access to council resources – as a representative of the locals, he believes he can effectively address these challenges by engaging in open discussions with those who have experience in these roles.
“By gathering feedback and collaborating as a team, I can identify opportunities for improvement and develop actionable solutions, just as I have successfully done for other businesses in the past,” he said.
“My goal is to ensure that our community’s concerns are heard and that we work together to create meaningful change.”
Mr Sareen believes he’s already actively contributing to the community and has great connection with Australian well-known athletes like Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath.
He believes that his connections with famous cricketers will open up numerous opportunities for the youth in the Hills.
“I’ve been contemplating this for a while – my desire to give back to the community that welcomed me with open arms drove me to put up my hand for this election,” he said.
“I see a unique opportunity within the council for someone with my background in technology and product development and I believe I can combine these experiences to move the community forward and present tailored solutions that address everyone’s needs – my ultimate goal is to leverage my skills to make a meaningful impact and help the community thrive.”
“I want to emphasise that I’m available for discussions, if any community member would like to chat – whether over coffee or in a group setting, I’m here to listen to their concerns, I can help compile those issues and present them to the council, even before the elections.”
If you’d like to chat with Divesh, feel free to contact him at his mobile: 0413 291 782, or email him at d@afterthewhy.com
