Sandhya Reddy, a woman from Hyderabad, has made history as the newly elected mayor of Strathfield Council in Sydney, Australia. She is recognized as the first Indian-born woman to take on this mayoral role in the country.
Popularly known as Sandy, Reddy first entered the local government scene in 2021 when she was elected as an independent councillor. Her dedication to community service began in 2014 with the State Emergency Service, and she later became the deputy mayor in 2023.
Reddy is a qualified lawyer who was born and educated in Hyderabad, Telangana, before relocating to Australia in 2005. Since then, she has called Australia home.
Her recent election as mayor has been celebrated by the Indian community in Australia, who view her achievement as a “symbolic and significant” moment for the nation’s diverse cultures. The Indian community has now grown to be the largest group of migrants in Australia, surpassing British nationals.
In a show of support, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed his congratulations on social media, praising Sandy for her accomplishment. His Instagram post described her as a “proud daughter of Telangana” and wished her all the best in her new role.
