The Indian Minority Education Society of Australia Inc (IMESA) held its Annual Victoria Dinner on 13 June 2026 at Laila Reception in Brunswick, Melbourne. The event attracted a full house of doctors, professionals, business leaders, philanthropists, and members of the South Asian Muslim community, all gathered to support educational opportunities for underprivileged Muslim children in India.
Masters of Ceremonies Dr Nisa Sheriff and Ms Saheem Wani welcomed guests, including Sheikh Alaa Elzokm OAM, Mayor Mohammed Semra, Mr Yianni Zaparas of Zaparas Lawyers, and Mr Fawaz Chawk, Editor-in-Chief of Al Wasat Magazine. They also welcomed IMESA’s Sydney team members, including Mr Zahid Jamil and Mrs Mona Zahid, Dr Syed Aslam Shaheer and Mrs Erum Shaheer, Mr Shahnwaz Ali and Mr Asad Farouk.
The evening began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an, followed by an address from Sheikh Alaa Elzokm OAM, Imam of Elsedeaq Mosque and a member of the Australian National Imams Council.
Sheikh Elzokm Yianni Zaparas
Sheikh Elzokm highlighted the importance of education in Islam, noting that the first Qur’anic revelation began with the command “Read” (Iqra). He emphasised that supporting the education of disadvantaged children creates lasting change across generations. He also praised the leadership displayed by the female MCs and reflected on the cultural similarities between India and his homeland, Egypt.
Dr Aejaz Sheriff formally welcomed attendees and thanked event sponsor Zaparas Lawyers for its support. He also commended IMESA’s commitment to transparency, ethical governance, and effective use of donor funds. A video presentation showcased IMESA’s work and featured beneficiaries from its educational projects across India.
IMESA’s programs currently operate in Bengaluru, Boisar, Dehradun, Dinajpur, Hyderabad, Lucknow, New Delhi, Patna, Saharanpur, Vadodara, Tonk, Nuh (Mewat), and Srinagar, with future projects planned in Chennai and Assam.
Mr Yianni Zaparas of Zaparas Lawyers also addressed the gathering, expressing his pleasure in supporting the event and IMESA’s educational mission. He further demonstrated his commitment by making a generous contribution during the fundraising appeal.
Dr Nisa Sheriff delivered a moving presentation on the impact of child labour. Drawing on her childhood experiences in India, she described witnessing children begging, selling goods on the streets, and working as domestic helpers. She contrasted these realities with the opportunities enjoyed by children in Australia and recounted the story of Pakistani child labour activist Iqbal Masih, whose advocacy against exploitation cost him his life at the age of 12.
The newly elected Mayor of Maribyrnong, Mr Mohammed Semra, shared his own journey as the son of Sudanese refugees. He described overcoming significant speech difficulties through expert treatment which helped him excel in education. He reflected on the racism and barriers he encountered while growing up. Mr Semra described education as “the great equaliser” and credited it for his success as one of Australia’s youngest mayors.
Mohammad Semra
He spoke about the importance of representation, diversity, and authentic leadership, recalling advice he once received to change his name to improve his political prospects. Instead, he chose to remain true to his identity.
Mr Semra praised IMESA’s work, noting that the students supported today may become tomorrow’s professionals, leaders, and community advocates.
A fundraising appeal followed. Mr Shahnwaz Ali highlighted how donations are distributed and the growing impact of IMESA’s programs, Dr Zaffar Ghouse and Ms Saheem Wani added inspiring words of encouragement. Patrons responded generously, impressed by the organisation’s achievements and the stories shared throughout the evening.
An auction featuring works by local Melbourne artists, including Sohail Yamin, Dr Luqman Bilgrami, Dr Fayyaz Wani, Fatima Rajap, and Shaista Banu, added a cultural dimension to the fundraising effort.
In his vote of thanks, IMESA founder Mr Zahid Jamil expressed gratitude to volunteers and teams in both India and Australia. He gave special recognition to Dr Talath Sheriff and Dr Aejaz Sheriff for their contributions to organising the event and thanked patrons for their generous support of educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in India.
Guests concluded the evening enjoying Indian cuisine and praised the organisers for delivering a successful and professionally managed event.
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