Aziz in top spot

By Bridget Cook
BEING voted in as the mayor of the City of Casey on Monday night had a “very profound” meaning for councillor Sam Aziz.
His election to the top job was not only a lifelong dream come true, but a reflection of the country’s equal opportunity policy.
The Springfield Ward councillor was unanimously voted in as the new mayor of the City of Casey- taking over the role from Cr Shar Balmes – a role that would not have been possible in his place of birth.
River Gum Ward Cr Wayne Smith was elected to the position of deputy mayor.
Cr Aziz was born in Cairo, Egypt.
His Coptic Christian family migrated to Australia in 1983 to escape persecution and the decades-long denial of rights to Christians, a practice that has continued to this day.
“Once again tonight, I salute with awe Australia – the most magnificent country on earth, which gives its citizens opportunities based on merit and not based on any exclusionary considerations as other countries do, including religion, race or gender,” he said.
“The position to which I have been elected tonight is not a position that would have been possible for me as a Christian in my own country of birth.
“Australia has given me some amazing opportunities and has entrusted with so much even though I was not born inside its borders.”
Cr Aziz said he looked forward to the year ahead.
“This is a position that has a tremendous meaning for me, both personally and professionally,” he said. “I look forward to this challenge and to driving many of the policy imperatives that make Casey the number one place to live, work and raise a family.
“In my mayoral term, I will focus on maintaining our rates to be one of the lowest in metropolitan Melbourne; continuing investment in community infrastructure to the highest level among Victorian municipalities and remaining diligent in delivering all the actions required to continue creating local jobs for residents. I will also respond to the challenges that stifle our transportation network, which can, in turn, inhibit growth.”
Cr Aziz thanked his colleagues, the community and his family following his election.
“I am confident that the things that bind us as we work hard to do the best for our constituents, are much more important and much more enduring than the things that divide us.”
Since migrating to Australia, Cr Aziz has been an active member of the Casey community and had many outstanding achievements.
He completed his secondary schooling at Joseph Banks Secondary College in Casey, where he was an active participant in the civic affairs of his college.
This led to his election as the college board president at the age of 18 following his VCE studies.
In that year also, Cr Aziz began his tertiary education at Monash University. He was appointed by the Victorian Government in June 1991 as a member of the Youth Policy Development Council, advising the then Minister for Community Services and Youth Affairs.
In recognition of his community service, Cr Aziz received a number of awards and medallions, including the Rotary Youth Leadership Award in 1991 and was nominated for an Australia Day Award and the Channel 10 Young Achiever Award in 1992.
Cr Aziz completed a university degree in political science in 1993, an Honours degree in political science in 1995 and, in 1998, he completed a Masters Degree in defence and strategic studies at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Upon completion of his university degree in political science, he became the youngest person to be elected president of the Australian Egyptian Association at 21 years of age.
During his professional career, Cr Aziz has worked across a range of Federal Government departments and is currently a director with Customs in Victoria, with responsibility for national policy, as well as an operational focus on the protection of the Australian border.
In November 2008, Cr Aziz was elected as a councillor to the City of Casey and has been chairman of the Planning Committee since 2009.
Cr Aziz is very proud to be a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church, where he serves in an honorary role as an adviser on Public and Government Affairs to His Grace Bishop Suriel, the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions.
Cr Aziz is married to Dr Nesrine Aziz and they have two children, Emmanuel and Nicholas.