Sikh Awards

reviewed and assessed these nominations, selecting three finalists in each category. There were so many inspiring stories of achievement and selfless contributions that it was very hard to choose the winners”.

Network (YSPN), this national awards platform aims to recognise the contributions of unsung heroes from the Sikh community who have gone above and beyond in their contributions to the socio-economic development of Australia.

Hon Mark Buttigieg MLC, Parliamentary Secretary For Multicultural NSW said that the depth of talent within a community of 220,000 Australian Sikhs was very impressive and the community contributed well above its weight.

Spread across eight categories, the awards focussed on the significance of the contribution made by an individual in their respective category, and the impact of their efforts on the broader Australian community:

An independent panel of seven representatives from across Australia was established with diversity across geographies, professions, gender and age groups. Mr Tarandeep Singh Ahuja, Chair of the ASAE Panel, outlined, “we had an independent, national selection panel of distinctive leaders from across our society, who rigorously

In her address, Her Excellency Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand and Patron for ASAE said, “The highest congratulations go to those nominated and the winners of these Awards. It is inspiring to see the many different ways Sikh Australians making a positive impact to their communities and to Australia. May we all aspire to do the same”.

Excellence in Agriculture: Prof. Zora Singh

A highly acclaimed horticulture researcher and educator, has made ground breaking contributions to global food security. His research advancements have increased productivity, reduced postharvest losses, and improved sustainability in the horticulture industry. Prof. Singh’s cost-effective storage and disinfestation technologies have saved millions for the Australian economy. He is recognised internationally with numerous research awards

Excellence in Arts, Culture or Music: Sukhdeep Singh Bhogal

Known as “L-FRESH the LION”, Sukhdeep is an award-winning Sikh hip hop artist from Sydney, breaking barriers in Western hip hop with cultural appreciation. His album “Become” received industry accolades, including an ARIA nomination. L-FRESH performs globally and supports socially minded artists through his program ‘Conscious.’

Excellence in Community Service: Tejinder Pal Singh

Tejinder Pal Singh has been selflessly serving the Darwin community, using personal funds to feed locals in need for the past 13 years. Recognised with awards, he established the Sikh Family Food Van Trust, inspiring others to provide free food and support diverse communities in need.

Excellence in Leadership: Jasbir Singh Randhawa

Assistant Director at the Australian Hydrographic Office, advances hydrographic surveying, boosts Australia’s reputation globally. He plays a vital role in capacity- building, charting standards, and upholding Australia’s status in the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO).

Excellence in a Professional Field: Prof. Jaswinder Singh Samra

A highly respected surgeon and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, Jaswinder Singh Samra leads the renowned Royal North Shore pancreatic surgery unit, co-founded the Australian Pancreatic Centre, and is a pioneer in robotic surgery and liver resection.

Excellence in Sports: Jason Jaskirat Singh Sangha

An accomplished Australian cricketer and captain of the Sydney Thunder Big Bash team. He holds records as the second-youngest player to score a century against England and leading run-scorer in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Sangha actively engages with Australian youth through charity events and school visits.

Australian Sikh Woman of the Year: Dr Parwinder Kaur

An award-winning scientist and professor, inspires the next generation of diverse scientists. She leads biotechnology research, founded DNA Zoo Australia, and established Ex Planta Pty Ltd. Dr. Kaur received prestigious awards, promotes gender equity, and fosters Australia-India relationships.

Young Australian Sikh of the Year: Sukhjit Kaur

A trailblazer in the arts sector, is an awardwinning Young Australian Sikh known forher spoken word poetry and theatre productions. Her acclaimed show “Fully Sikh” highlights her Australian Sikh story. Sukhjit has achieved national recognition as a finalist in Australian Poetry Slam, semi-finalist on “Australia’s Got Talent,” and TEDx speaker, earning Young Australian of the Year and Mona Brand Writing Award.

About Sikh Youth Australia

Sikh Youth Australia is a volunteer run, notfor-profit charitable organisation established in 1999 to service the social, cultural and spiritual needs of Sikh youth and new migrants. We are recognised as the peak organisation representing Sikh youth in Australia. From humble beginnings, SYA has grown to be the largest youth organisation representing Sikhs in Australia with chapters in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria,

South Australia and Western Australia.

Over the past 24 years, Sikh Youth Australia (SYA) has been a progressive, national organisation enriching the lives of Australian Sikh youth and families by empowering Sikh youth, young adults and parents to understand and enjoy their identity and positively contribute to the social and economic development of Australia.

Starting from its flagship Summer Camps, SYA has slowly built a full suite of programs focusing on the spiritual, charitable, cultural and leadership development of the Sikh community. Today, these activities have impacted over 100,000 lives across Australia. This has included initiatives such as the Future Leaders Program, Young Sikh Professional Network (YSPN), Culture Care, Sikh to Give, Women in Leadership, Spiritual and Self-Development Workshops, Natural Disaster Assistance, ANZAC Day Parades, as well as multifaith collaboration events.

To learn more, visit: https://www.sikhyouthaustralia.com

Young Sikh Professionals Network (YSPN)

YSPN was established in 2012 by SYA youth leaders to empower the Australian Sikh community to achieve professional excellence. Today, YSPN engages thousands of Sikh professionals across the world and has five permanent chapters at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Auckland. YSPN’s aim is to develop ethical Sikh leaders to positively impact the organisation they work in as well as the communities they live in.