Biography - Current Team
Mr. Raveen Annamalai
President
Raveen Annamalai is a dynamic person who has vast experience and a no-stranger to non-profit organizations and charitable causes in New Zealand and abroad. Raveen Annamalai is the President of Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangam Inc (ANTS) and is its principal founding member as well. Raveen is actively involved in engaging with Tamil communities all over New Zealand. His advocacy in this space includes the active encouragement for Tamil communities to be socially connected in their respective local regions through the establishment of Tamil societies and for Tamil communities all over the country to be united and represented under the umbrella of ANTS.
He is also the current President of Wellington Muthamizh Sangam, past Vice President of The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils and Ambassador of White Ribbon New Zealand.
Born in Malaysia, Raveen has now made New Zealand his cherished home. Raveen has good leadership capabilities and a reflective listener who carefully considers viewpoints. He encourages others, is always positive and is highly regarded in the community.
Raveen is happily married to Shanthy and is blessed with three lovely children. In his free time, Raveen loves to do yoga and do volunteer work to promote Tamil.
Mr. Vai Ravindran
Vice President
Vai Ravindran President of Auckland Tamil Association Inc. He arrived in New Zealand in 1996. He wanted to create a community to help our Tamil people who hail from India with lots of hope and dreams. That is why he started the Muthtamil Sangam in 2001 for which he was the founding member and later became the President. He was also a Past President for the Hindu Temple Society and a Past Vice-President for the Vedanta Educational Society.
In the year 2014, with a small group of like-minded people, he started something bigger with more inclusivity and that is when Auckland Tamil Association was launched. Auckland Tamil Association is not just for Tamil people, it has diverse group of people with similar aspirations. The main objectives were to promote Tamil and its various culture through our festive activities and regular events. It promotes the language, and provide a base for the younger generation in sports, media and art. In addition, ATA also provide career advice and support services for new Tamil and Indian immigrants.
This year, ATA started an initiative for the wellbeing of Women under the name “Wahine”, planning for a cricket tournament for youngsters and a short film competition under the ATA banner.
He is married to Latha, who is also very active in community activities. Blessed with a son Keerthanraj who is studying in Auckland University.
Ms. Malini Yugendran
Secretary
Malini Yugendran is a PhD candidate with Auckland University of Technology, specialising in minority identity navigation and negotiation in media. Having traversed the holy trinity of broadcasting:, Malini has helmed a radio Station in Sri Lanka (Swarnaoli 102.2FM) and worked in Singapore’s radio-Oli96.8FM, Vasantham television and Tamil MURASU the newspaper. She has fronted television programs in India, not excluding Airtel Super Singer on Vijay Television, Sun Tv, Sun Music, Jaya Tv, Vasanth Tv, and Raj Tv.
She has more than 50,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and more than 60,000 followers in her Facebook page. She runs an events company together with her playback singer husband Yugendran Vasudevan called Rambutan Media Works Nz ltd. Her company received an award for “excellence in cultural events organisation’ in the Indian Newslink’s 7th Annual sports and culture awards ceremony in 2021.
Mr. Srinivasan Jaganathan
Treasurer
Srinivasan Jaganathan is a committee member of Tamil Society Waikato since 2018 and President of Tamil Society Waikato since December 2020. He is also a Trustee of Hamilton Sri Balaji Temple Trust since 2018.
Born and brought up in a small town called Rasipuram in Tamil Nadu, India, he moved to New Zealand in 2005 with his family. Before moving to New Zealand, he lived in Singapore for a few years. He has Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical from Madras University, India and Masters of Science in Supply Chain and Logistics management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Srinivasan is currently working as a SAP Consultant in Fonterra Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand.
He is a very happy husband and a proud father of a son and daughter. During his tenure in Tamil Society Waikato, he is actively involved in arranging many cultural events and sports activities. He was also a Tamil language teacher for children at the Tamil School for the past few years. He favorite past time include reading Tamil literature books, travelling and making new friends.
Favorite quotes:
“என் கடன் பணி செய்து கிடப்பதே” – திருநாவுக்கரசர்
“உள்ளுவ தெல்லாம் உயர்வுள்ளல் மற்றது தள்ளினுந் தள்ளாமை நீர்த்து.” - திருவள்ளுவர்