Mr. Venkat Raman

Venkat Raman was born on January 26, 1949 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and was educated in Bangalore. He has postgraduate (masters) qualifications in Economics, Journalism and Advertising and Marketing. He has about 54 years of experience in journalism. He has worked for national dailies in India (New Delhi), Middle East (Bahrain), Monthly publications of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Word Travel Service and Gulf Air (Bahrain) and in New Zealand (The National Business Review, The NBR Rich List and Indian Newslink). Venkat Raman is married to Uma (Venkatram) and has a daughter, Ratna (Venkat). All of them are New Zealand citizens.

 

Career Highlights: Interviewed several Presidents, Prime Ministers, Heads of State, world leaders, movie stars, sports celebrities and others. Among them are Dr S Radhakrishnan, V.K. Krishna Menon, H.V.R. Iyengar, Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Khaleda Zia, Lee Kuan Yew, Mohammed Mahatir, the Emirs of Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar; President of UAE, King of Saudi Arabia, many Middle East Leaders including Yasser Arafat, Hafez Al Assad, Saddam Hussein, George Bush (Senior), Benazir Bhutto, Laisenia Qarase, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama many Cricket Stars including Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan Ian Botham. Conducted weekly interviews for one hour live with Helen Clark during her nine-year tenure as Prime Minister- stated to be a record.

Regular meetings and consultations including feedbacks of communities with Prime Ministers Helen Clark, Sir John Key, Sir Bill English and Jacinda Ardern, several ministers, Leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament. These meetings have helped the leaders to be assessed of public opinion on critical issues.

 

Created Business Awards, Lecture Series, Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards and Festivals of South India for Indian Newslink

Accompanied Heads of State and Prime Ministers on their overseas visits, especially to India, the Sub-Continent, AEAN, Europe, USA and the Middle East

Patron, Police Recruitment Wing 328 April 2019 to August 2019, Wellington

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Community Engagements

1. Member, Ethnic Advisory Board of the Police Commissioner since inception

2. Member, Asian Advisory Board of the Auckland City District Police since formation

3. Member, South Asian Advisory Board of the Counties Manukau District  since formation

4. Member, Ethnic Advisory Board of Waitemata District Police since 2018

5. Member, New Migrants Advisory Board, Massey University

6. Founder and Member of the Governance Board of Gandhi Nivas, an intervention programme to counsel male perpetrators and return them to their families. This Project, which has three safe houses in Auckland has government approval and official funding in Budget 2021

7. Patron, Aotearoa New Zealand Federation of Tamil Sangams: A national organisation based in Wellington

8. Advisor, Mana Andhra Telugu Association of New Zealand: Established this year to serve the Andhra Pradesh community

9. Working with the New Zealand Police and other organisations to address issues relating to family violence, crime reduction and other safety issues

10. Involved with all major community organisations including Auckland Indian Association which is celebrating its Centenary and organisations serving the various communities of the countries of the Sub-Continent including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

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