It was a pleasure to represent our Vice Chancellor Barney Glover and the Western Sydney University at 2019 AFL Ramadan Iftar Dinner at WestConnex Centre in Sydney Olympic Park. Plenty of good speeches, including from the NSW Premier and excellent food!

Australian Football and sport generally play a very important role in fostering inclusion and acceptance of diversity in broader Australian community. We look towards organisation of a session on the role of sport during the 3rd Advancing Community Cohesion Conference – the Way forward to be held at 1 PSQ Building in Parramatta City in February 2020 – Dr Michelle O’Shea of Business School has agreed to be a coordinator of this session. See: www.advancingcommunitycohesionconference.com.au for more information about the Conference, including the Conference themes.

I write to pay my tribute to Bob Hawke, the 23th Prime Minister of Australia, who has played a pivotal role in advancing and defining Australian multiculturalism. Between 1987 and 1996 I have had the privilege of working under the leadership of Professor Peter Shergold in the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) created by Prime Minister Hawke in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

OMA was responsible for development of a range of multicultural policies and programs. In particular, I wish to acknowledge Hawke’s Government adoption of the National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia and of the Access and Equity policies. Hawke’s government made federal policies and programs more reflective of Australia’s diversity.

My thoughts are with his family at this time.

Vale Bob Hawke.

I am pleased to say that WSU sponsored International Conferences on Human Rights Education have won an international acknowledgement. I was informed recently that I, as ICHRE Foundation Convener and Series Coordinator, have been nominated as a potential recipient of the 2019 Tällberg / Eliasson Global Leadership Prize. The Tällberg / Eliasson Global Leadership Prize is given annually to outstanding leaders from any country and any discipline whose work is global in application, based on universal values, innovative, optimistic and courageous. An international jury will review the nominations in mid-August and select the people who, in their judgment, best exemplify the types of leaders needed today.

Last Saturday 4th May 2019 I have delivered an Occasional Address at a graduation ceremony at The University of New England in Armidale. It is almost like a full circle. In March 1976 we arrived here, with my wife Hanna and son Adam, to take up my Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship! It was beginning of my professional life in Australia. Time flies!

For my speech see: UNE Graduation 2019 – Occasional Address

The video can be accessed here: UNE Graduation 2019

Affinity Intercultural Foundation invites you and your partners to attend Affinity’s annual NSW Parliament Friendship and Dialogue Ramadan Iftar Dinner on Thursday, 23 May from 4:00pm in the Strangers’ Lounge, NSW Parliament House.

Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset to break the fast that occurs during Ramadan, and is a symbol of friendship, understanding and social harmony. Affinity’s annual Iftar dinner aims to foster positive relationships between the Australian Muslim community and our non-Muslim counterparts. Through the simple act of sharing a meal, Muslim and non-Muslim guests will have the opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen connections and friendships.

The dress code is business attire. To RSVP, please register your attendance by clicking here before 5pm Friday, 16th of May.