Nahed Soliman is used to handling pressure.
Before she and her husband made Australia their home in 1998, Ms Soliman, who is Egyptian-born, worked in Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf as a spontaneous translator for ambassadors and government ministers.
Ms Soliman said her present role as chief executive of St George Meals on Wheels is “also very challenging, but I love it”.
Her work for the organisation over the last 13 years led to her being named 2017 Oatley [electorate] Woman of the Year in the annual state-wide honours.
The award was presented by NSW Minister for Woman Tanya Davies.
“Nahed is an outstanding local woman, whose work assists frail, aged or disabled people to remain in their own home” Oatley MP Mark Coure said.
“She always has a smile on her face.”
St George Meals of Wheels, which is funded by the Department of Health, has 150 volunteers and 11 paid staff, including three chefs.
Volunteers help prepare meals and deliver them to clients across the district, making nine runs a day.
The service has a purpose-built kitchen in the basement of Peakhurst Bowling Club at Beverly Hills.
About 1000 meals a week are prepared and delivered.
Clients are offered a menu choice and the option of meals delivered hot, chilled for easy heating or frozen so delivery is not required daily.
Ms Soliman and her husband Mohsen (Zak) Zaklama, who have four children and four grandchildren, came to Australia as skilled migrants seeking “a better future for our kids”.
After settling in the St George district and while thinking about a career change, Ms Soliman started doing volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, helping with administration work.
When she was offered a paid position, she replied, “Maybe a couple of days a week”.
Before long, she was managing the service and helping it expand from just covering the Hurstville council area to Kogarah and Rockdale, as well.
For seven years, it has achieved an A rating in NSW Food Authority’s audits.