President
A community leader with a strong commitment to creating space for migrant women to be seen, heard, and represented. She brings a practical approach to leadership, grounded in real community experience.
Professional Background
Seema brings more than 30 years’ experience across project management, strategy, and governance. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in Information Systems from the London School of Economics, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a certified Project Management Professional. She has served as a Councillor and Mayor at Greater Shepparton City Council and is an experienced board director, including as Chair of Goulburn Valley Regional Libraries and the Goulburn Valley Waste and Resource Recovery Group. She currently sits on the boards of Shepparton FoodShare and Greater Shepparton Secondary College School Council, and contributes to the Hume Regional Advisory Forum for the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Her work focuses on linking strategy to practical outcomes for communities.
Connection to The Door Bells
Seema founded The Door Bells with a simple idea to create opportunities for migrant women to connect, grow, and step into leadership. What started as a small initiative has grown into a strong and diverse network. Her focus is on building confidence, visibility, and pathways for women to take part in community and civic life.
Key Areas of Contribution
A Personal Note
“When one woman steps forward, it makes it easier for others to follow.”
Vice President
A mother, an educator and advocate devoted to empowering women from migrant communities to walk with confidence, strengthen their sense of self-worth, and thrive within the wider community.
Professional Background
An experienced secondary educator with over a decade of teaching and mentoring students, alongside active engagement in professional learning and leadership. Khadija holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy, a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary Education, and an MPhil in Education and Sleep. With an early career background in pharmacy, she brings a strong understanding of care, wellbeing, and community support. She currently serves on the School Council of Greater Shepparton Secondary College and chairs the Royal Australian Chemistry Institute Victoria Teacher Education Committee. She is passionate about empowering migrant women and has contributed as a spokesperson and panel member in multicultural forums, sharing lived experiences to amplify the voices of multicultural women..
Connection to The Door Bells
Khadija has always been committed to supporting migrant women to become more visible and confident in the community. This commitment deepened during COVID, when she saw many women, particularly from non English speaking backgrounds, facing isolation and communication barriers. She became a founding member of The Door Bells, contributing to its early development and continued growth. Today, she remains closely involved in creating opportunities for connection, confidence, and community participation.
Key Areas of Contribution
A Personal Note
“The Door Bells is deeply meaningful to me because it allows me to contribute towards creating real and lasting change for migrant women within our community. For me, true impact is seeing women grow in confidence, feel heard and valued, and become empowered to create better opportunities for themselves and their families.”
General Secretary
A passionate community member who believes in the power of connection, kindness, and uplifting women. Arpita loves creating spaces where migrant women feel welcomed, supported, and proud of who they are.
Professional Background
Connection to The Door Bells
The Door Bells is very close to Arpita’s heart. As a migrant woman herself, she understands how important it is to feel seen, heard, and supported in a new community. Being part of The Door Bells means creating a safe and positive space where women can build friendships, grow in confidence, and support one another through every stage of life.
Key Areas of Contribution
A Personal Note
“I truly believe that when women support each other, beautiful things happen and communities become stronger.”
Treasurer
A thoughtful and reliable member of the community who values connection, trust, and supporting women to feel confident and included.
Professional Background
Fauzia has a strong academic foundation with a Master’s in Economics and a postgraduate qualification in Accounting. She brings a sound understanding of financial management, organisation, and accountability. Her approach is practical and steady, with a focus on supporting community initiatives in a responsible and sustainable way.
Connection to The Door Bells
Fauzia is one of the co-founders of The Door Bells and has been part of its journey from the early stages. She is closely connected to its purpose of supporting migrant women to feel seen, supported, and confident. Her involvement reflects a strong commitment to building a space where women can connect, grow, and contribute to the community.
Key Areas of Contribution
A Personal Note