Mayor and Deputy Mayor
At the Extraordinary Council Meeting of Wednesday, 16 October 2024, Councillor Ola Hamed was elected as Mayor and Councillor Michael Zaiter elected as Deputy Mayor. Meeting Minutes 16 October 2024
Councillor Ola Hamed (Labor) - Mayor
0405 070 007
Ola.Hamed@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Councillor Michael Zaiter (Liberal) - Deputy Mayor
0418 432 797
Michael.Zaiter@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Councillors
The following Councillors were elected in the 2024 Local Government elections held on 14 September 2024.
Granville Ward
Councillor Ola Hamed (Labor) - Mayor
0405 070 007
Ola.Hamed@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Hamed is a long-term Cumberland resident, who is proudly raising her two children with her husband in Merrylands. She has been involved in many community organisations, assisting families and their children.
Clr Hamed has a passion for social justice and equality and as a local resident, knows what is needed for the Cumberland area. Ola is committed to working with the community to make a difference.
Councillor Steve Christou (Libertarian)
0419 651 187
Steve.Christou@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Christou is now into his third term on Cumberland Council. Having been elected as part of the Inaugural Councillors when Cumberland Council was formed in 2017 Steve is a previous Mayor of Cumberland City Council and has worked for a Federal Member of Parliament for close to 10 years. Steve specialises in a large range of constituent matters. Steve has a good understanding of Policy, Logistics, and experience with most Federal, State, and Council matters namely Centrelink, Child Support, Immigration, Medicare, Family Law, Internet Connectivity, & Housing, Development Regulations.
Steve has a strong connection with local sporting clubs and regularly liaises with constituent groups, sporting organisations, Members of Parliament and Foreign Dignitaries along with relevant National Governing Bodies, to assist and provide desired outcomes for the residents of Cumberland and its organisations.
Councillor Joseph Rahme (Liberal)
0418 995 471
Joseph.Rahme@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Rahme holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce majoring in accounting and finance from the University of NSW. He is currently a Certified Practising Accountant, member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and JP.
Clr Rahme is a lifelong resident of Granville which he is passionate about. He continues to raise his young family in Granville and is committed to making the Granville Ward a better place for families and residents.
Greystanes Ward
Councillor Dr Diane Colman (Labor)
0400 279 200
Diane.Colman@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Councillor Dr Diane Colman, a lecturer at Western Sydney University, is passionate about ensuring equality for all Cumberland residents.
Diane has lived locally all her life, raised her two daughters here and understands our area. Clr Dr Diane Colman is a strong and influential voice for building a fair and thriving local community.
Councillor Eddy Sarkis (Independent)
0425 348 000
Eddy.Sarkis@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Sarkis is a proud father of 4 and a Greystanes resident for over 40 years. As a Councillor on the former Holroyd City Council and now Cumberland City Council, Eddy has been serving his local community for over 18 years.
Eddy is a local business operator who specialises in property and vocational training. Eddy is a keen advocate for the community in all local matters, no matter how small, simple or complex they may be.
Councillor Nadima Kafrouni-Saba (Liberal)
0447 605 158
Nadima.Kafrouni-Saba@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Kafrouni-Saba is a lifelong resident of Cumberland City and a former Councillor / Deputy Mayor of Holroyd City Council. She is now raising her young family in Cumberland. She holds a property law degree from Macquarie University.
Deeply passionate about her community, Nadima is dedicated to advocating for the Greystanes Ward, ensuring residents feel supported and receive the quality services they deserve.
Regents Park Ward
Councillor Enver Yasar (Labor)
0497 428 929
Enver.Yasar@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Enver Yasar has spent most of his life living and working in Cumberland, growing up in Auburn and remaining deeply connected to the suburbs of the Regents Park Ward. With over 15 years of experience advocating for the local community, Enver has developed a deep understanding of local issues and the diverse needs of residents. His experience includes years spent in various roles, where he gained valuable insights into navigating government processes and working closely with residents to produce positive outcomes.
Enver holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from UNSW, a Diploma of Project Management, and a Certificate of Engagement from IAP2 Australasia.
Councillor Helen Hughes (Our Local Community)
0400 264 534
Helen.Hughes@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Hughes is a life-long resident of Lidcombe, as teenager she volunteered at a range of organisations and groups, a passion that has carried into her adult life. Clr Hughes has a strong interest in community matters and is passionate about creating change.
Clr Hughes is currently a corporate Governance Officer and has a history in local government, education, and board secretariat roles.
Councillor Steve Yang (Liberal)
0448 836 197
Steve.Yang@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Steve Yang is lifelong resident of Lidcombe with his family and a former Auburn Councillor and president of Lidcombe RSLSB. He holds a bachelor’s degree of engineering ( Mech’ & Hydraulic) and a Chartered CP Engineer/ The Institution of Engineers Australia and JP.
Clr Yang has a passion and integrity for improving the quality of safety, wellbeing, local infrastructure and urban projects for residents and communities, with his experience of being involved in many communities, serving the community and having strong connections.
South Granville Ward
Councillor Paul Garrard (Our Local Community)
0414 504 504
Paul.Garrard@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Garrard was born in Granville and was educated at Marist Brothers Auburn (now amalgamated as part of Trinity Catholic College). Clr Garrard was twenty-two years of age when he entered local politics. September 2024 marked Clr Garrard’s 50 years service as a local councillor. Clr Garrard has a wealth of experience in local government, having previously served six terms as Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, prior to the Council mergers that included the former Woodville Ward of Parramatta City Council as part of the new Cumberland Council. Clr Garrard has been elected on Cumberland Council since 2017.
Clr Garrard prides himself on being a specialist for all types of local matters and in particular is passionate about heritage matters and local history. He takes a particular interest in place-making and smart cities, having led such initiatives previously during his time as Lord Mayor of Parramatta. He is also passionate about local Councils delivering good core services such as waste services and roads, and prides himself on driving a well presented area by Council for the community. Clr Garrard is an advocate for a responsive, customer service driven Council to the community. Residents are welcome to contact Clr Garrard for any assistance relating to Council matters.
Councillor Ahmed Ouf (Independent)
0436 936 553
Ahmed.Ouf@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Married with three boys, Ahmed Ouf is a dedicated pharmacist who has called Auburn/Cumberland home for the past ten years.
He is passionate about being the Advocate for the forgotten, co-founding successful pharmacies and actively volunteering in local organisations to uplift our vibrant community.
Councillor Glenn Elmore (Labor)
0418 459 527
Glenn.Elmore@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Elmore is a long-term resident of Cumberland stemming from four generations of his family having also lived in the area. He was educated at a local school and the University of Sydney.
Clr Elmore is passionate about Cumberland and improving the quality of life by consulting with residents on decision making to improve the safety, wellbeing, and local infrastructure in Cumberland and providing employment opportunities for young people and services for seniors.
Wentworthville Ward
Councillor Michael Zaiter (Liberal) - Deputy Mayor
0418 432 797
Michael.Zaiter@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Zaiter is a chartered accountant with local government audit experience.
He has a degree in taxation and a Master of Commerce.
He served as a Councillor on Holroyd City Council and has been a Councillor on Cumberland City Council since 2017. He is passionate about ensuring that families and ratepayers receive value for money and the services that they deserve.
Councillor Suman Saha (Labor)
0419 546 950
Suman.Saha@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Clr Saha has lived in the Cumberland area since 2005 with his family. He was first elected as Councillor in 2017 and continues to work towards a diverse, inclusive, and active community.
With a degree in accounting, Suman understands the importance of strong economic management and works hard to keep the community’s assets from being sold off. He continues to advocate for local road safety improvements, improved service delivery, local parks and playground upgrades. As a father, Suman has a genuine interest in ensuring that his family and your family grow up in a safe, supportive and caring community.
Councillor Sujan Selventhiran (Greens)
0427 104 940
Sujan.Selventhiran@cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Sujan Selven has been a resident of the Cumberland area since 2000 and is a passionate advocate for community development, sustainable living, and social justice. With a background in telecommunications, Sujan combines his technical expertise with a strong commitment to grassroots advocacy.
As a dedicated human rights activist, Sujan has worked as a Tamil interpreter in immigration detention centres, supporting asylum seekers and refugees. He founded the Tamil Resource Centre in 2014 to provide vital legal and community services and established Upcycled Tech in 2019, a non-profit that delivers upcycled technology to disadvantaged communities in Australia and South Asia.
In recognition of his humanitarian efforts, Sujan was awarded the prestigious STARTTS Humanitarian Award in 2017. He continues to champion affordable housing, sustainable development, and a multicultural, inclusive Cumberland.
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