Dr. Ruchika Ojha is a Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow at RMIT University's School of Science in Melbourne, Australia. An accomplished inorganic chemist and electrochemist, she specializes in developing advanced materials for biomedical and energy applications. Her research focuses on synthesizing gold-based anticancer compounds, particularly targeting drug-resistant ovarian cancer. Dr. Ojha's work extends beyond the laboratory, reflecting a deep commitment to community engagement and cultural preservation. As Vice President, she leverages her scientific expertise and leadership skills to foster connections within the Rajasthani diaspora, promoting cultural heritage and social cohesion. Her dual dedication to cutting-edge research and community service exemplifies the values of innovation and cultural stewardship.
Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Dr. Mahendra Goyal has had a distinguished academic and professional career spanning over four decades. After completing his PhD from the University of Rajasthan, he held academic posts in New Zealand and across Australia, including at the University of Otago, University of Sydney, Monash University, and others. In 2001 he co-founded RAJKOV (Rajasthani Kutumb of Victoria) — one of the earliest platforms for uniting the Rajasthani diaspora in Australia — and went on to serve as one of its early Presidents, helping shape the organisation that today anchors much of Melbourne's Rajasthani cultural life. Dr. Goyal currently resides in Melbourne and is also the Director of a company. His enduring passion for community service and cultural preservation continues to inspire younger generations.
Sury Prakash Soni has been engaged in community service for over 15 years since arriving in Australia as an international student in 2005. An IT professional with expertise in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Sury is a past President of RAJKOV (Rajasthani Kutumb of Victoria) and is currently involved in several community and multicultural organisations, including the Mental Health Foundation Australia, where he serves as a Multicultural Ambassador. He is a dynamic, young leader known for his dedication to empowering young professionals and fostering cultural engagement within the Indian-Australian community.
Parth Sharma is a finance and defence professional based in Melbourne, originally from the Mewar region of Rajasthan. Since migrating to Australia in 2006, he has pursued academic and professional excellence, completing a Bachelor of Business from Victoria University and currently undertaking an Honours year in Psychology. His career spans financial management, project scheduling, and human behaviour research, primarily within the Australian defence sector. Trained in classical Indian music and influenced by his father's legacy—Mr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, a former Assistant Commissioner in the Rajasthan Foundation—Parth remains committed to preserving Rajasthani culture and values.
Vinod Kumawat is the Community Outreach Director of the Rajasthan Foundation Melbourne Chapter, formally nominated in April 2026. He is the founder of Rajasthani Dhaba in Werribee — a cultural embassy where Rajwadi Baithak floor seating, the tilak welcome, the safa offered to guests, and authentic Dal Baati Churma and Ghewar keep Rajasthani sanskriti alive 14,000 kilometres from home. Beyond his business, Vinod has been a tireless community builder — organising the Rajasthan Diwas celebration in Melbourne, sponsoring Rajasthani cultural events bringing together 200+ community members, supporting the Australian Federal Police Association, and giving freely back to his village in Rajasthan: funding a career guidance seminar for 100+ village school students and providing free academic coaching to 60+ government school students. In his Community Outreach role, Vinod builds the chapter's networks through the most universal language — food, hospitality, and unforced cultural warmth.
Deepti Shukla is a classical artist of standing and the Founder-Director of Abhivyakti Fine Arts Academy, Melbourne — an academy of music and dance now in its sixth year, serving the Indian community across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and the CBD. She holds a Master’s in Music Vocal (Hindustani Sangeet), is a certified Bharatanatyam instructor, choreographer and classical vocalist, and trained under Guru Nishtha Sharma, a disciple of Guru Shri Shreedharan Nair. Across fifteen years of teaching — twelve in India and in Melbourne since 2014 — her curriculum has spanned Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Hindustani vocal, Indian Ballet and the folk traditions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Bengal, Odisha and Garhwal. In September 2025 she co-hosted the Indian Dance Workshop with the Consulate General of India, Melbourne, and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (ICCR), and her signature annual production Kala Utsav marked its sixth year in August 2026. As Head of Culture & Heritage she leads the chapter’s cultural programming and artistic direction, safeguards Rajasthani folk dance, music and craft within the diaspora, and mentors the next generation of NRR children through structured cultural training.
Khushi Valecha is a communications strategist and a Master of Education candidate at the University of Melbourne, blending corporate public relations with professional event hosting to build presence and drive engagement. As Head of Public Relations she stewards the chapter across four functions — building and running our digital presence across platforms, deepening connections with the Pravasi Rajasthani community and our wider partner ecosystem, leading media engagement and representing the chapter in public forums, and heading the chapter’s flagship Rajasthani Classes Initiative. That programme — free classes running from September 2026 through the summer of 2026–27 across Mount Cottrell and Bentleigh East — sets out to teach and preserve the Rajasthani language among children growing up in Australia, together with the culture, traditions and local dialects that travel with it. It is the chapter’s most direct answer to the question of how a language survives 14,000 kilometres from home.
Avinash Rain brings to the chapter a combination of discipline and warmth. A yoga teacher whose practice is built on strength, discipline and mindfulness, he counts the completion of 108 Surya Namaskars among his milestones and spends his weekends hiking and trekking. Professionally he works in operations with a German lubricant company, where technical expertise meets a focus on operational excellence — the same organising instinct he brings to community work. A keen sportsman, he plays cricket, badminton and table tennis, and outside work is drawn to rhythm, creativity and shared experience. His bond with Rajasthan runs deep: he speaks of it as far more than a destination — captivated by its majestic forts and royal palaces, its timeless architecture, colourful festivals and soulful folk music, the serenity of the Aravalli hills, the vast desert landscapes and the warmth and hospitality of its people. For Avinash, Rajasthan is “an emotion, a source of inspiration and a place that always feels like home” — one he returns to not just to travel, but to reconnect, learn and feel inspired. As Head of Community Programmes & Partnerships he leads the chapter’s recurring member activities — wellbeing sessions, sport and cultural gatherings — and builds the relationships with host venues, temples and community organisations that make those programmes possible, working alongside our Community Outreach Director.
Nitin Bharara brings more than fifteen years of experience in IT operations, infrastructure and cybersecurity. Currently serving as Deputy Manager, IT Operations & Cybersecurity at a leading company in Melbourne, he manages critical infrastructure, security and support for a national operation while mentoring teams across the region. His expertise spans Microsoft 365, Azure identity, endpoint protection, firewalls, disaster recovery, cloud technology, business intelligence and automation, supported by ITIL and Microsoft credentials and a Bachelor of Information Systems. As Head of Technology, Nitin leads the chapter’s digital backbone — including its website, online presence, member systems and communication platforms — with a strong focus on reliability, security and responsible governance. He comes from a family with a proud tradition of serving the country through the defence and government sectors, values that have shaped his commitment to responsibility, integrity and community service. His long-standing connection with Rajasthan has grown through treasured family ties, enduring friendships and sisterly bonds. He is proud to serve a community whose culture, values and spirit have always felt close to his heart.
Ankit Chawla is a finance and banking professional based in Melbourne, originally from Delhi. Having settled in Australia in 2006, he has built a 16-year career in banking and finance, specialising in the assessment of business and personal financials for lending. He currently serves as Director of Sponsorships and Commercial Partnerships for the Rajasthan Foundation, Melbourne Chapter, where he drives economic engagement between Rajasthan and Australia — forging trade, investment, and sponsorship partnerships that support the Foundation’s mission of connecting the Rajasthani diaspora with opportunities for mutual growth.
