Natasha Malani: Politics my way

Meet a politician who is equally passionate about promoting Indo-Oz business interests, as creating an Indian niche in Adelaide

Her familiarity with India has led Natasha to developing private business interests centred on fostering business partnerships and links between South Australian and Indian businesses

BY AVI CHANDIOK

Some may consider humanity with politics to be a contradiction in terms, but even a short while spent with Natasha Malani gives one the impression that it may not be so, after all! A welcoming smile and an engaging manner followed as we talked in her office, set in the grandeur of the Adelaide Town Hall where Natasha is a Councillor in the Adelaide City Council.

Born in Adelaide of an Indian father and Australian mother and growing up in an Englishspeaking household, Natasha does somewhat regret not having learned Hindi, her father’s language. But she is proud of being the very first female politician in local or state government in South Australia with an Indian background.

Natasha’s love affair with India started with a visit to the country in 2004 when she realised that it had triggered something, inherently filling a piece of her that seemed to be missing. Since then she has been passionately interested in India, with Mumbai feeling like a second home where she has many friends and family.

“I love the smells, the buzz and I feel very relaxed there,” says Natasha referring to Mumbai. “I realised India is the key to who I am and how I think”.

After graduating in Tourism, Natasha’s interests diversified towards professional services and advice. This, together with her familiarity with India, has led Natasha to developing private business interests centred on fostering business partnerships and links between South Australian and Indian businesses. She has been able to provide invaluable expertise in this field to the Australia India Business Council (AIBC-SA), and she is on their Committee. Her Council are looking at ways to improve bi-lateral trade with India, and one of Natasha’s initiatives is to set up space for a concept of ‘Little India’. This would bring in visitors, celebrate Indian culture and put the country on the economic radar. She is clearly serious about doing business with India.

Speaking to Natasha (38), it seems obvious that she thrives on all the challenges and activities she takes on. Often people can feel overwhelmed by their commitments, but not so with Natasha.

“The incentive has always been for me to work out what are my passions and incorporate them into a career and business. I’ve never compromised for myself in what makes me happy,” reveals Natasha. Her passion for Adelaide, business, India and tourism are all part of her working life and I don’t think many would be able to come up with a better formula for managing their life.

Natasha’s commitment to Adelaide, the city she was born and bred in, led her into local government. Talking about politics she says, “I found something that I love with a passion. I’m quite good at understanding the process and how it works…the politics of it. There are always two sides to everything and 9 times out of 10 common-sense sits in the middle”. Her aim is to improve the wellbeing of the city.

Thus her decisions to favour developments of the Adelaide Oval, Rundle Mall and Victoria Square were all based on the premise that they would increase visitor numbers to the benefit of her council area, even though it did appear that public opposition to the projects was fairly vocal.

One of her favourite sayings is ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’ in that no matter what you plan, you need the people to go with you.

So what’s next for this confident, intelligent Councillor who loves to cook, is a staunch supporter of cyclists, plays some touch football and listens to a variety of music as she does the housework? Clearly, a second four-year-term starting in 2014 is very much on the cards. Whether Natasha will run for a seat in State politics or even eventually join the Federal scene is too early to say. For my part, I would not bet against her moving into higher echelons. Natasha sees herself as the next generation of politicians who will be handed the reins of looking after the welfare of Adelaide. But then as she says her love of her business interests also needs to be kept in mind.

As we near the end of our conversation, Natasha reverts back to her father and his influence on her. “My father had an extraordinary life and I constantly reflect on what he achieved,” she says. “My Indian heritage has been a big driver in my success and I owe so much of that to him”.

I present Natasha with this quote from Barack Obama: “A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things”.

She turns thoughtful and replies in a slow and measured tone. “So many people make a contribution to this country. I see myself as a do-er; I see myself as someone not necessarily happy with the status quo, and I see myself as someone who can make a difference. I think I would be unhappy not to give all of what I am capable of,” she says with conviction.

One can’t ask for more. I think we may well have this sort of ‘ordinary’ person in our midst!

Natasha’s love affair with India started with a visit to the country in 2004 when she realised that it had triggered something, inherently filling a piece of her that seemed to be missing