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Stepan Kerkyasharian awarded UWS honorary doctorate
27 September 2013
http://www.uws.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/more_news_stories/stepan_kerkyasharian_awarded_uws_honorary_doctorat e_for_his_service_and_support_of_multicultural_aus tralia
Stephan Kirk
Former head of SBS radio and Chair of the NSW Community Relations
Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, has been recognised by the University of
Western Sydney with an honorary doctorate.
The University of Western Sydney recently awarded Mr Kerkyasharian an
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, honoris causa at a UWS graduation ceremony,
where he also delivered the occasional address to graduands.
Stepan Kerkyasharian has been the Chairman and Chief Executive of the
Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW and its predecessor,
the Ethnic Affairs Commission, since 1989. He will stand down as Chair after
September after almost 25 years in the role.
He has also been the President and Chief Executive of the NSW
Anti-Discrimination Board since 2003.
UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, paid tribute to Mr Kerkyasharian
and his outstanding service to public life.
"Whether it has been his pivotal role leading SBS radio and providing a
voice for ethnic communities, or being at the helm of the NSW Community
Relations Commission for over two decades, Stepan Kerkyasharian has been a
leading light when it comes to multiculturalism in this country, helping to
make Australia a more understanding and more tolerant place," says Professor
Reid.
"Today the idea of Australian citizenship readily and naturally incorporates
the concept of cultural diversity and our nation benefits enormously from
that. Stepan has played no small role in bringing that about.
"On behalf of the University, it is an honour for me to confer the award of
Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, on Stepan Kerkyasharian, in recognition of
his distinguished service to multiculturalism in Australia."
Migrating to Australia from Cyprus in 1967, Mr Kerkyasharian began a
life-long career and commitment to the service and support of
multiculturalism within Australian society.
Through the 1980s, he headed SBS radio and played a major role in
establishing ethnic broadcasting as a major national resource and feature of
Australian cultural diversity.
In his role as chairman of the Community Relations Commission he has been at
the forefront of public policy-making and debate on issues affecting ethnic
communities, including areas such as migration law, refugees, religious
practices, educational qualifications of overseas born migrants, and
community and police relationships, to name but a few.
In January 2011 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. He was
also recognised with the Olympic Order for Services to the International
Olympic Movement for his contribution to the harmonious running of the
Sydney 2000 Olympics.
27 September 2013
http://www.uws.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/more_news_stories/stepan_kerkyasharian_awarded_uws_honorary_doctorat e_for_his_service_and_support_of_multicultural_aus tralia
Stephan Kirk
Former head of SBS radio and Chair of the NSW Community Relations
Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, has been recognised by the University of
Western Sydney with an honorary doctorate.
The University of Western Sydney recently awarded Mr Kerkyasharian an
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, honoris causa at a UWS graduation ceremony,
where he also delivered the occasional address to graduands.
Stepan Kerkyasharian has been the Chairman and Chief Executive of the
Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW and its predecessor,
the Ethnic Affairs Commission, since 1989. He will stand down as Chair after
September after almost 25 years in the role.
He has also been the President and Chief Executive of the NSW
Anti-Discrimination Board since 2003.
UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, paid tribute to Mr Kerkyasharian
and his outstanding service to public life.
"Whether it has been his pivotal role leading SBS radio and providing a
voice for ethnic communities, or being at the helm of the NSW Community
Relations Commission for over two decades, Stepan Kerkyasharian has been a
leading light when it comes to multiculturalism in this country, helping to
make Australia a more understanding and more tolerant place," says Professor
Reid.
"Today the idea of Australian citizenship readily and naturally incorporates
the concept of cultural diversity and our nation benefits enormously from
that. Stepan has played no small role in bringing that about.
"On behalf of the University, it is an honour for me to confer the award of
Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, on Stepan Kerkyasharian, in recognition of
his distinguished service to multiculturalism in Australia."
Migrating to Australia from Cyprus in 1967, Mr Kerkyasharian began a
life-long career and commitment to the service and support of
multiculturalism within Australian society.
Through the 1980s, he headed SBS radio and played a major role in
establishing ethnic broadcasting as a major national resource and feature of
Australian cultural diversity.
In his role as chairman of the Community Relations Commission he has been at
the forefront of public policy-making and debate on issues affecting ethnic
communities, including areas such as migration law, refugees, religious
practices, educational qualifications of overseas born migrants, and
community and police relationships, to name but a few.
In January 2011 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. He was
also recognised with the Olympic Order for Services to the International
Olympic Movement for his contribution to the harmonious running of the
Sydney 2000 Olympics.