Perth Dialogues

He was a team lead in India. In Australia, he had to start over as a junior developer — and rebuild his way to Chief Data Officer. In this episode, Harpreet Khalsa — Chief Data Officer at a Perth university and author of The Data Playbook — joins Nirmal Singh to trace a 20-year journey from web developer to enterprise data and AI leadership. Harpreet shares his journey of restarting a career as a...

Australia took 2 million migrants in 25 years after World War II. In the last five years alone, we've taken another 2 million. Same number — one-fifth the time. Is our multicultural framework built for that pace?"Multiculturalism has turned into a dogma — something that cannot be questioned." When the editor of a new book on immigration dares to ask the hard questions, the answers ar...

Garth Davis turned a $1,000 property deposit into $170,000 in equity — and he's spent the last 20 years helping everyday Australians do the same. Garth Davis is the Founder and CEO of Property Powerhouse, who emigrated from Zimbabwe to Perth in 2002 and has spent over 20 years helping more than 500 mum-and-dad investors build property portfolios across Australia. In this conversation, Garth an...

Australia is $1.05 trillion in debt, taxing you at nearly 47% — and the government wants more. Jordan Woodhams, President of the Libertarian Party of WA, joins Nirmal on Perth Dialogues to make the case for a 20% flat tax, smaller government, and why Australia's red tape is now worse than India's corruption. They also reveal a surprising truth: once welfare transfers are included, the bott...

His family arrived in New Zealand from India with $1,000. His mum stitched curtains. His dad took years to find work as an engineer. By 36, PK Gupta owned a $27 million property portfolio and never has to work again. Today he tells me the whole story — the banker years, the data system, the real mistakes, and why he says if the government axed every property tax concession tomorrow, he'd actua...

Western Australia is a wealthy state. It also has mothers giving birth on the side of the road after being turned away from hospital. How does that happen — and who is being held accountable? In this episode, health advocate Suresh Rajan joins us to expose the systemic failures quietly costing lives in WA's public health system: ignored bypass protocols, cultural and communication barriers, a...

Why are record numbers of Australians abandoning the major parties for One Nation — and what does that tell us about the state of our democracy? In this episode, Simon Mohiuddin joins Perth Dialogues to share his political journey, his support for One Nation, and his views on the issues he believes mainstream politics refuses to address honestly: voter trust, national identity, migration policy, a...

Australia's maternity system has one of the highest caesarean rates in the developed world — yet women still feel unheard, unsafe, and unsupported. Alicia Staines, founder of the Maternity Consumer Network, joins Perth Dialogues to explain why, and what genuine reform looks like. Whether you're pregnant, a midwife, a policymaker, or simply someone who cares about how women are treated in o...

In this conversation, Jen Fleming outlines how the current Australian Childcare system doesn’t include parents in its design, or gives any kind of choice to parents. Jen is a mum to two young daughters and has firsthand experience of the difficulty many Australian families face in trying to fit rigid childcare arrangements around work and family life. Her frustration with the existing system, whic...

In this conversation, Sergio Famiano outlines the historical roots of the rise and later unravelling of the Australian Housing Dream and how decades of decisions shape today’s problems. Sergio Famiano is an expert in Town Planning and leader in the planning and delivery of complex projects and author of the book ‘The New Australian Dream: Rethinking our homes and cities to solve the housing crisis...

In this conversation, Rash Dhanjal, a top-performing real estate agent and director at The Agency in Perth, Western Australia, delves into the current state of the housing market in Western Australia. With median house prices soaring to a million dollars and a housing crisis looming, he sheds light on the factors driving these changes and how buyers can still buy their first home. Join Rash Dhanja...

Sergio Famiano is an expert in Town Planning and leader in the planning and delivery of complex projects and author of the book ‘The New Australian Dream: Rethinking our homes and cities to solve the housing crisis’. In this conversation, Sergio delves into the Australian housing crisis, exploring its historical roots, economic impacts, and potential policy solutions. The discussion highlights the...

Professor Matthew Ogilvie is an Australian theologian and academic known for his work on Catholic identity, education, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. He serves as a professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia and has previously held leadership roles such as dean within its School of Philosophy and Theology. Prof Ogilvie is also the Chair of Friends of Israel WA and a...

Vern Hughes is an Australian civil society advocate, social entrepreneur, and political organiser known for his work in community-based reform and centrist politics. He has been active for several decades in efforts to strengthen citizen participation and rebuild trust in democratic institutions. Join Vern Hughes at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vern-hughes-92341119/ Know about the host, Nirmal Sing...

Mark Ratcliff is a Communications Specialist and Educator with a background in systems thinking, content creation, mentoring and teaching. With qualifications in Sustainable Development and International Aid, and broad theoretical and practical experience, he understands the importance of honest and effective communication for any individual growth, organisational change or sustainable venture. Ma...

Melissa Molinari is an Inglewood resident in Perth who has become a prominent community spokesperson about safety and social housing issues around the Ninth Avenue and Beaufort Street public housing complexes. She has appeared in radio and TV segments, as well as council processes, to raise issues about crime, antisocial behaviour, and the design and management of nearby social housing. Know about...

Alan Dolphin is the Vice President of Free The Hounds and a true champion for the greyhounds of WA. He's a tireless advocate and a key figure at Free the Hounds, a group dedicated to ending greyhound racing and finding loving homes for these gentle giants. It's a mission that's personal, passionate, and, as we'll hear, absolutely necessary. Join Free The Hounds at https://www.freet...

Adam Barry is a Perth-based property developer and the founder and Managing Director of Develop Capital, a company specialising in value-adding residential projects, including renovations, subdivisions, and medium-scale developments in Western Australia. In 2025, Adam lost 19 Kgs in 6 months and gained a 6-pack abs physique through his holistic and dedicated regime. Know about the host, Nirmal Sin...

Surya Ambati is a prominent leader and professional based in Perth, WA with over 30 years of experience in railway engineering, operations, and project management. He has held senior roles with major Australian mining and infrastructure projects—including Roy Hill, BHP, Fortescue, and Rio Tinto—and was previously General Manager (Projects) at Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd. in India. Surya has recent...

Dillon Kanbi is an astute investments and research leader with a background in economics and finance. He has worked in research roles at institutions such as the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) and contributed to economic policy and market analysis, particularly related to property and housing sectors in Western Australia. Kanbi’s experience spans research, investments, acquisit...

Tejinder Pal Singh is a Darwin-based Sikh community leader known for his selfless service through the Sikh Food Van. Originally from Punjab, India, he moved to Australia in 2006 and began operating the food van in 2012 after a racist encounter inspired him to break down cultural barriers and promote understanding of his faith. His efforts have received widespread recognition including the 'Aus...

Fabio Mastrocola is an experienced recruitment professional and business development manager based in Perth, Western Australia. With over 20 years of expertise, he specialises in connecting top talent with leading organisations across various industries, focusing on recruitment analysis, freelance recruitment, job coaching, and marketing analysis. In this conversation, Fabio shares his tips and in...

The 2025 Pahalgam attack was an attack on tourists by five armed militants near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, India in which 26 civilians were killed on 22 April 2025. The militants mainly targeted Hindu tourists, though a Christian tourist and a local Muslim were also killed in the attack. This incident is considered the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Subsc...

Amardeep Singh is the Chair of Young Sikh Professional Network (YSPN) guiding its development, expansion and programs for the last 8 years. YSPN is a non-profit organisation that focuses on promoting Sikhism's values in the modern working world. It bring together professional development skills and networking to enrich the community with Sikh values of equality, selflessness and servant leader...

Vern Hughes is the Convenor of Democracy First and a prominent figure in Australian civil society reform movements. Hughes emphasises "sensible conservatism" and civil society empowerment, positioning Democracy First as a balance-of-power alternative to major parties. His work critiques career politicians and promotes institutional accountability.https://democracyfirst.org.au/ #Democracy #TwoParty...