Meet our Committee Members
Afrooz Rahimian
President
Afrooz is a committed community leader with over seven years of active contribution to the Iranian community in Victoria and beyond. With strong networks and experience serving on advisory committees across different levels of government, she brings informed community perspectives into policy, engagement and advocacy spaces. Backed by a background in Business Management, she brings a strategic and practical mindset to her work, with a genuine heart for community. Guided by her passion for strengthening the community, Afrooz has worked to unlock community potential, foster social cohesion and create a genuine sense of belonging. She believes that meaningful community work is built on trust, cultural sensitivity, consistency, and a strong commitment to the collective good above individual interests. As President of the Australian Iranian Society of Victoria (AISOV), she is committed to AISOV’s framework of building solidarity, strengthening mutual respect, developing networks and referral pathways, nurturing culture, and promoting human rights, equality, dignity and respect for all. She has demonstrated strong leadership in delivering successful, high-impact and meaningful initiatives and large-scale community events, with a clear focus on inclusion, connection and lasting community outcomes.
Kambiz Razmara
Vice President
Kambiz Razmara is a lawyer, community advocate, and experienced board member with over two decades of leadership across the not-for-profit, government, engineering, and commercial sectors. He currently serves as Vice-President of AISOV, where he contributes his legal and governance expertise to help the organisation grow in a structured, accountable, and community-centred way. He has served and continues to serve as a director, board member and adviser across a number of privately owned and community focused boards and advisory committees, reflecting a sustained commitment to multicultural communities and civic participation.
Kambiz understands the challenges faced by migrant and refugee communities and his involvement with AISOV reflects a genuine desire to give back — supporting the Iranian-Australian community through governance, legal knowledge, and community leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Engineering Science, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Course. Kambiz brings to AISOV not just professional expertise, but a shared cultural identity and a heartfelt commitment to the community’s wellbeing, dignity, and future.
Houra Zare Lavassani
Secretary
Houra Zare Lavassani is the Manager – Settlement Services at the Migrant Information Centre, where she has been supporting migrants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds since 2017. With over nine years of experience, Houra assists newly arrived migrants and refugees in accessing essential services in Melbourne, including education and employment pathways, housing, mental health support, understanding citizenship rights and responsibilities, and navigating the Australian system. She has led and contributed to numerous projects at MIC, including the Asylum Seekers Program, Women’s Project and the Working Together project, a family violence prevention initiative.
As a volunteer on the AISOV Management Committee since November 2024, and Secretary from November 2025, Houra has helped develop collaborative projects with both local settlement and mainstream service providers, expanded AISOV’s referral system, and delivered workshops for the Persian community, including Digital Literacy for Persian Women and the Living in Australia program. She has actively advocated for the needs of the Iranian community at both government and non-government levels. Houra also represents AISOV and MIC at the Knox Multicultural Advisory Committee, amplifying community voices, and played a key role in the 2025 Persian Fire Festival, which welcomed over 10,000 attendees and celebrated community participation.
Leila Zivdar
Treasurer
Leila Zivdar has been the Supervisor and Coordinator at Mothers Love Family Day Care since 2014. She is committed to providing children with a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment that supports their learning, development, and successful transition to kindergarten and school.
Leila is passionate about delivering high-quality educational programs that reflect each child’s individual interests, developmental needs, and cultural background. She believes in creating an environment where every child feels valued, respected, and supported.
Having lived in Australia for over 26 years, Leila has been actively involved in community volunteering. She has contributed to a range of cultural and charitable events, including the Persian Fair, Persian Fire Festival, Sizdah Bedar, Yarra community events, R U OK? Day activities, and Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council.
Leila joined the Australian Iranian Society of Victoria (AISOV) as a Board Member in 2024 and currently serves as the Treasurer. She is proud to support initiatives that strengthen community connections, celebrate Iranian culture, and make a positive impact through community service.
Esmat Amirahmadi
Golbang Editor-in-Chief
Esmat is the Website Manager at MS Plus, where she works to strengthen communication, accessibility, and community engagement. She is a warm and dedicated community advocate who cares about supporting and empowering others. For more than eight years, she has been active in the Persian community, giving her time and knowledge to initiatives that build connection, inclusion, and wellbeing.
Two years ago, Esmat joined the Australian Iranian Society of Victoria (AISOV) as a Board Member to take a more active role in community work and advocate for the needs of the Iranian Australian community. Her leadership and volunteering support programs and events that bring people together and celebrate Persian culture and heritage.
As Editor-in-Chief of Golbang, AISOV's official magazine, Esmat shares cultural, social, and educational stories that inform and inspire readers, keeping the community connected.
Esmat is also a Teacher Assistant at the Iranian Cultural School, where she helps migrant students learn Farsi/Persian. She loves working with young learners and looks for creative ways to help them embrace their heritage, language, and culture.
Through her work and volunteering, Esmat helps people feel supported, informed, connected, and proud of who they are.