Councillor Bilal El-Hayek has been re-elected Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown, at an extraordinary meeting of Council last night.

During the meeting, Councillor Rachelle Harika was also elected Deputy Mayor. They will represent the City for a further 12 months, until the next Councillor-voted elections in September 2024.

Councillor El-Hayek, who has been Mayor for the past four months, and Deputy Mayor Harika were unopposed.

“I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for the trust they place in me to lead our City for the next year,” Mayor El-Hayek said.

“I have achieved much in the past four months, like hosting my own domestic violence summit and Mayoral Sleepout, and I can’t wait to do even more for the community of Canterbury-Bankstown.”

Mayor El-Hayek arrived in Australia in 1999, at the age of 12. Not speaking a word of English, he temporarily resided in Lakemba before eventually settling in Greenacre.

He was elected to the City of Canterbury Bankstown in September 2017 and has served twice as Deputy Mayor.

He has also served as a youth coordinator at Bankstown Police Citizens and Youth Club and is an active member on the Ramadan, Diversity and Inclusivity and Audit and Risk committees.

Mayor El-Hayek congratulated Deputy Mayor Harika on the new appointment, and said he looks forward to working with her over the next year.

Councillor Harika is a lifelong Yagoona resident and has been a Councillor for the Bass Hill Ward since 2017.

“I would also like to thank Councillor Clare Raffan, for the great job she has done,” Mayor El-Hayek said.