Sandhya Reddy, a Telangana-origin immigration lawyer and alumna of Osmania University, has been elected the 73rd Mayor of Strathfield Council in Sydney, Australia. Elected on Tuesday, 30 September, she will serve a two-year term, becoming the first person of Indian origin to hold the office of mayor in Australia, according to reports.

From Vikarabad to Strathfield

Reddy traces her roots to Mellareddygudem village in Vikarabad district, Telangana. She completed her education at Osmania University and Stanley College in Hyderabad before relocating to Australia in 1991. She holds a Bachelor of Law, a Master of Anthropology, and a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law from the Australian National University, according to a report by The Australia Today.

After settling in Strathfield, Reddy built a career as an immigration lawyer and simultaneously ran an education and migration services practice while raising her family. Her professional trajectory drew her steadily into civic and political life.

A Steady Climb Through Local Government

Reddy — also known as Sandy Reddy — was first elected as a Strathfield councillor in December 2021. In September 2023, she was elevated to Deputy Mayor, becoming the first Indian woman to be elected to that post. She successfully retained her council seat in September 2025 before being elected mayor. Her ascent through local government over four years reflects a deliberate and sustained engagement with community affairs rather than a sudden political entry.

What Reddy Said After Her Election

Speaking to Australian media following her election, Reddy described the honour with measured pride. “I am pleased to get the opportunity to serve the Strathfield local government area,” she said. Her remarks underscored a focus on public service over personal milestone — a tone consistent with her years of civic involvement.

Strathfield's Significance and Political Reactions in India

Strathfield is Sydney’s most culturally diverse local government area, spanning approximately 14 square kilometres in the city’s inner west with an estimated population of around 46,000. Its demographic character makes Reddy’s election both symbolically and practically significant for the Indian-origin community settled there.

Back in India, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K. T. Rama Rao congratulated Reddy in a post on X. “Hearty congratulations to Sandy Reddy garu on being unanimously elected as the Mayor of Strathfield, Australia. Sandy Reddy, a Telangana native, holds the distinction of being the first person from India to be elected as a Mayor in Australia. Wishing Sandy Reddy a successful tenure in public service. May she continue to achieve greater heights and bring pride to Telangana through her service and leadership,” Rama Rao wrote.

Reddy’s election is being watched closely by the Indian diaspora across Australia, and her two-year tenure will be a test of how effectively she can translate community credibility into governance outcomes for one of Sydney’s most diverse municipalities.