Canberra Citizen of the Year
2022
Mohammed Ali
SOURCE: ACT Government
Mohammed Ali was recognised as Canberran of the Year for 2022 for his dedication to supporting vulnerable members of our community through his roles with HelpingACT, the ACT Multicultural Advisory Board, ACT Refugee Asylum Seeker and Humanitarian Coordination Committee and Companion House.
Mr Ali moved to Canberra in 1991 from Karachi, Pakistan, where he was a university lecturer in biochemistry. He came with his wife Nasim and their two sons, while a third son was born in 1995.
Mr Ali, a retired biochemist who previously worked with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), is a former Multicultural Volunteer of the Year. Mr Ali founded HelpingACT in 2018 from his Franklin garage, to provide food security to Canberrans who need it, particularly homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers, and international students. He also started Forum Australia, a thrice-yearly panel on issues that concern Australians.
During the 2019/20 bushfires, HelpingACT partnered with Slabs for Heroes to donate goods to fire-affected areas in the Canberra region. The organisation also prepared meals for families who needed support at evacuation centres set up in Canberra.
In the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021 HelpingACT were active throughout Canberra in support of local families struggling to purchase food and other items, or who were in isolation.
HelpingACT support the work of other local community organisations, including Havelock House, the Early Morning Centre, Woden Community Service and a number of local street pantries. Mr Ali and his team of 30 volunteers work to fill any need at any time.
Mr Ali’s own charitable works began while he was still working at the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) when he and a group of colleagues set up ‘Curry Lunches’ to raise funds in the wake of the deadly tsunami of 2004.
As Citizen of the Year and head of HelpingACT, Mr Ali wants to increase awareness of culturally appropriate food provision for different communities in Canberra.
Mohammed Ali’s mission in life and charity can be summarised in his own words: “This is hope. This is care. This is love … We must carve out a collective policy of how we will challenge ourselves to make things better”.
Select Bibliography
Barr, Andrew (15/03/22). Canberra Citizen of the Year 2022. Media Release. https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/barr/2022/canberra-citizen-of-the-year-2022-mohammed-ali
Fejer, Lish (17/08/21). Community Spirit Awards: Community All Star Finalist Mohammed Ali https://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/breakfast/community-all-star-finalist-mohammed-ali/13498936
Fuller, Nick (15/03/22). Mohammed Ali named Canberra Citizen of the Year 2022. https://canberraweekly.com.au/mohammed-ali-named-canberra-citizen-of-the-year-2022/
Neale, Hannah and Lindell, Jasper (15/03/22). Mohammed Ali named 2022 Canberra Citizen of the Year https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7658458/mohammed-ali-named-canberra-citizen-of-the-year/
Twyford, Lottie (16/03/22). ‘I don’t deserve it’: Canberra’s most humble, helping man voted Citizen of the Year https://mygungahlin.com.au/i-dont-deserve-it-canberras-most-humble-helping-man-voted-citizen-of-the-year/9442/