Current Board Members
Mona Afshar
Co-founder and Chair
Mona Afshar is an awardwinning Iranian–Australian internal audit and risk consultant, recognised for her professional excellence and based in Perth, Western Australia. Born in Tehran and migrating to Australia in 2009, she has built a distinguished career across the public and private sectors, specialising in internal audit, compliance, risk management, and governance. Her professional experience spans more than ten years and includes delivering assurance and advisory services to a wide range of Western Australian government agencies, ports authorities, and not for profit organisations.
Her qualifications include a Master of Professional Accounting (Advanced) from the University of Western Australia (UWA), a Bachelor of Law (Tehran Azad University), and ongoing progression
toward the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation.
Beyond her professional career, Mona is a passionate political activist and community advocate. She began her activism following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, a moment that ignited a global movement for justice and human rights. Since then, Mona has become a committed voice within the Iranian diaspora, advocating for transparency, accountability, and democratic reform in Iran. She strongly supports HRH Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi as the leader of the Iranian opposition and believes in a future where Iran is free, secular, and democratic.
Mona’s activism is grounded in her deep love for her homeland and her belief in the power of community mobilisation. She is dedicated to raising awareness about human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic, fostering unity among Iranian Australians, and promoting civic engagement and peaceful advocacy. Her work reflects a genuine commitment to community service, cultural pride, and the pursuit of justice.
With a professional foundation built on integrity and accountability, and an activist spirit driven by hope and resilience, Mona brings together her expertise and her passion to serve both her local community in Western Australia and the broader movement for freedom in Iran.
A detailed overview of Mona’s professional career and experience is available on her LinkedIn profile.
Mahsa Tolou
Co-founder and Secretary
Mahsa is an Iranian–Australian Childcare Manager based in Perth, Western Australia. She holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education (completed in 2014) and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Her professional background spans extensive experience in both business management and childcare leadership, gained in Australia and abroad.
Mahsa migrated to Australia in 2009 in the hope of building a safer and more promising future.
Although she left her life in Iran behind, her love for her homeland and her commitment to the Iranian people have remained steadfast. She continues to believe deeply in a future where Iran becomes a free, secular, and democratic nation, reflecting the aspirations voiced by many Iranians and supported by HRH Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.
Mahsa joined the Realm and Rally group to bring together her passion for community service and her enduring connection to her motherland. Through this work, she strives to foster peace and harmony within the community, strengthen cultural understanding, and raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic against the people of Iran.
Her dedication to advocacy, education, and community engagement reflects a genuine commitment to ensuring that the voices of Iranians are heard, respected, and supported within the broader Australian community.
Behnaz Bayat
Co-founder and Public Relations
Behnaz is an Iranian accounting professional and Client Tax Manager based in Perth, Western Australia. With more than ten years of accounting experience both abroad and in the Australian public sector, she brings a strong blend of technical capability, professionalism and client focused service to her work.
Her expertise spans tax compliance and financial reporting. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in ECO Insurance Management from Allameh Tabataba’i University and a Master’s degree in Accounting from Payame Noor University. In the years leading up to her move to Australia, Behnaz held senior roles in accounting and finance in Iran, including positions as Financial Manager and Head of Accounting across several companies. After relocating to Australia in 2023, she continued to build on her professional background and later returned to the accounting field, gaining local experience in Australian accounting and taxation.
Behnaz’s political engagement began in 2009, driven by her belief that meaningful and fundamental change within the Islamic Republic was essential for Iran’s future. She supports the Pahlavi family
and HRH Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, and advocates for a free, secular and democratic Iran where human rights, equality and dignity are upheld for all citizens.
Her commitment to community service led her to join Realm and Rally, where she contributes to strengthening unity among Iranians in Australia, raising awareness of human rights violations in Iran, and supporting peaceful efforts toward democratic reform. She approaches both her professional responsibilities and her activism with integrity, responsibility and determination.
Behnaz is recognised for her reliability, her principled approach to work, and her dedication to fostering informed, cohesive and compassionate community engagement.
Helia Singh
Co-founder and Treasurer
Helia Singh is an award-winning finance professional, entrepreneur, financial educator, business coach and community advocate with more than 25 years of experience across Australia’s financial services and business sectors. Originally from Iran, Helia migrated to Australia in 1996 and has since built an extensive career spanning finance, mortgage lending, financial planning, business ownership, education and coaching.
As Treasurer of Realm & Rally, Helia brings extensive financial and business expertise to the organisation, supporting sound financial management, governance and the sustainable development of its community initiatives.
Helia holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics and Finance from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), a Bachelor of Mathematics (Pure Mathematics) from Guilan University in Rasht, and a Diploma of Financial Planning from Deakin University. She is also a certified Results and Business Coach, combining her analytical and financial background with extensive experience in business development, leadership and mentoring.
Throughout her career, Helia has founded and led successful businesses, including building a financial services business that she operated for more than 16 years before successfully selling it. She has been recognised for her contribution to the finance industry and wider community, including receiving the prestigious MFAA Community Champion Award. She is also a TEDx speaker, educator and co-author of the internationally bestselling book The Power of Why. Her “Why Not?” philosophy encourages people to challenge limitations, embrace possibility and take meaningful action.
Beyond her professional achievements, Helia is passionate about community, education and creating opportunities for people to connect and contribute. Her own experience as an Iranian-born Australian migrant has given her a deep appreciation for freedom, belonging, cultural identity and the importance of building strong communities.
Through her role at Realm & Rally, Helia combines her financial expertise, leadership experience and commitment to community service to support the organisation’s growth and help build stronger connections within the Iranian-Australian community.
Helia’s involvement with the Iranian community began soon after she arrived in Australia in 1996, when she designed a computerised version of a community newsletter in Sydney. In Melbourne, she worked closely with the community as a founding member of the House of Iran and provided financial advice on the purchase and financing of a property for the community.
In Perth, Helia has continued to support Iranian and other communities through financial education workshops. She sees money as a tool to create opportunity and uplift others. Following the January massacre in Iran, she joined Realm & Rally to support its work and stand alongside her community.
A detailed overview of Helia’s professional career and experience is available on her LinkedIn profile.