Arman Abrahimzadeh OAM

In September 1997 at the age of 10, I migrated to Adelaide with my family from Iran. During my secondary school and university studies, I worked at a café on O’Connell Street in North Adelaide (formerly known as Najjar's Cafe) for almost six years.

In 2009 I graduated from Uni SA’s School of Art, Architecture and Design (located on Hindley Street) and have since been working for a number of construction firms, including my own design and construction practice. I live and work in the Adelaide CBD and I’m currently employed by the State Government as a program manager.

Besides design and construction, I am also passionate about gender equality and social inclusion. In 2015 alongside my sisters, I established Zahra Foundation Australia in my mother’s honour, after her public death at the Adelaide Convention Centre in March 2010. I am an ambassador for Our Watch, a leading national charity working in the violence prevention and gender equality sectors. I’m also a Board member for the Australia Day Council of South Australia, a not-for-profit that celebrates achievements of extraordinary South Australians.

I’m fortunate that my work in domestic violence prevention and gender equality advocacy has been acknowledged; in 2016 as SA’s Young Australian of the Year and in 2018 as a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

I enjoy keeping active, be it a jog through our beautiful Park Lands or a swim at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. My family and friends are important to me and I try to spend as much time with them as possible.