Parmjeet Parmar MP immigrated to New Zealand from India in 1995, receiving a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland. Before being elected to Parliament as an ACT Party MP in 2023, Parmjeet worked as a scientist, businesswoman, broadcaster and community advocate before becoming the first Indian born woman to be a Member of Parliament at the 2014 General Election. Outside politics, Parmjeet served as the Chair of an NGO helping victims of domestic violence, a Community Representative on the Film and Video Labelling Body, a Families Commissioner and as a director and board member. She lives in Auckland with her husband and their two sons.