Auspire - Australia Day Council of Western Australia.

Young Australian of the Year (WA) Finalist.
Suicide Prevention Advocate.

Ashlee Harrison is the 2016 Young Western Australian of the Year. She was recognised for her role as the CEO & Founder of mental health charity; zero2hero Inc. Ashlee is also the Director of social media company; Social Say and a safeTALK suicide prevention facilitator.

Ashlee created the Charity at the age of 21 before commencing her Commerce degree at Curtin, and during her 10 years working in the mental health sector has partnered with organisations such as Lifeline, Suicide Prevention Australia and Foundation for Young Australians.

Recently recognised by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s 100 Woman of Influence, Ashlee and a team of staff and volunteers reach over 80,000 young Western Australian’s every year.

Ashlee has also been awarded a Pride of Australia Medal in 2015, won the WA Youth Award for Education in 2013 and in the same year was also a Young Australian of the Year finalist.

Ben Popham is a 21-year-old Paralympic swimmer.

He won 2 golds and 1 silver medal at the recent Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Ben has Cerebral Palsy and speaks on how organisations and sporting clubs can become more inclusive of those from diverse backgrounds. Making his Australian debut in 2018, Ben picked up 2 gold medals at the Para Pan Pacific Games and then Swimming Australia’s AIS Discovery of the Year award.

In 2019, he collected a silver medal and 2 bronze at the Para World Swimming Championships in London. As a young child, Ben was selected as the ‘Little Telethon Star’ in 2011, playing a leading part in Western Australia’s annual Telethon fundraiser, which is the World’s largest per capita Telethon fundraiser.

Ben shares his experiences across a number of areas, including how organisations can be more inclusive of those from diverse backgrounds to ensure they maximise their potential, how individuals can approach goal setting to ensure they peak when it matters most, and achieving goals through everyday lived experiences. Ben provides a light-hearted take on his experiences as an elite para-athlete.

CEO of Millennium Kids

2022 WA Local Hero Finalist

For more than 25 years, Catrina (Cat) Aniere has empowered young people to use their voice to tackle the big issues the world is facing – including climate change, education, racism, sustainability or plastic waste. As CEO of Millennium Kids, a youth-led empowerment organisation based in Western Australia, Cat recognises that young people have the creative ideas, innovative thinking and problem-solving skills needed to face the challenges of the 21st century. However, they sometimes need a little support to be the innovators they are born to be.

From a foundation group of only a few school students and teachers in 1999, Millennium Kids has grown to involve several dozen schools and thousands of students around Australia. It now also has two branches overseas.

Adopting an approach of teaching ‘skills for life’, 59 year old Cat has inspired young people to become leaders; to activate change and use their voices within their communities to create a fairer, better future for us all.

Western Australia’s Local Hero, 2019

Founder:  Kaat, Koort and Hoops
Executive Director:  Pindi Pty Ltd

Wadjuk traditional owner, Curtin University Professor, children’s author and mother-of-three, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, is passionate about helping children build their confidence and improve their social, physical and emotional wellbeing – through sport.

In 2015, the ex-state and Women’s National Basketball League player launched the basketball lifestyle program Kaat, Koort and Hoops. Translating as head, heart and hoops, the after-school basketball lifestyle program aims to build sporting confidence – providing a boost to participants’ self-esteem. By 2018, 250 children had participated in the program.

A highly accomplished woman committed to social development, Cheryl completed a PhD in 2000 at Edith Cowan University, exploring urban Aboriginal children’s self-identity and self-esteem in the school sporting setting.

She is a voluntary member of not-for-profit Koya Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal-controlled and owned organisation, which provides services including training, employment, professional development and cultural security audits. In 2014, she founded Pindi Pty Ltd Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Wellbeing in 2014, where she is executive director.

Non-profit organization leader and workforce diversity specialist.

Conrad Liveris is an economist and non-profit executive. He holds leadership roles in non-profits on issues relating to access to justice, health, homelessness and more.

He is considered one of Australia’s leading employment and workplace experts, with an economics practice focused on jobs, wages and cost of living issues. He has made substantial contributions to gender equality, particularly on women in the workplace and in politics.

Conrad is a proud public school kid.

Cave Diver and Rescuer

Australian of the Year 2019

In July 2018, respected cave diver and retired vet Craig Challen was about to go on a caving holiday in the Nullarbor Plains, when he was called to help on a rescue mission in Thailand. Craig was part of the international team that successfully rescued 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Craig, who has dived some of Australia’s deepest wrecks and has set depth records in diving, was chosen for the mission based on his technical expertise. Working 10 to 12 hours a day in extremely dangerous conditions, Craig repeatedly risked his life as the children were swum, one-by-one, through the dark and narrow flooded caves.

Despite admitting he initially thought the rescue would be too difficult to accomplish, he played a leading role in this successful and heroic mission. Dr Challen was awarded the Star of Courage for his unwavering and selfless bravery following the successful rescue of the trapped soccer team.

In the year following him receiving the award Craig has visited hundreds of schools and community groups and shared his story and messages of resilience to thousands of students and community members.

Founder of Short Back & Sidewalks

2022 WA Local Hero

In 2015, Craig Hollywood came up with the idea of offering free haircuts to people experiencing homlessness. Calling it Short Back & Sidewalks, it has since grown into a national initiative that’s gone
from strength to strength.

Since the days of heading to car parks in the Perth suburb of Northbridge with a couple of cutters, Short Back & Sidewalks now has around 350 volunteers on its books. Over the years the organisation has positively impacted the lives of over 10,000 people in need across Australia.

Initially set up to help members of the community experiencing homelessness, Short Back & Sidewalks has now expanded its reach. It also supports young people at risk, women with lived experience of domestic violence and remote communities where a haircut isn’t easily accessible.

By giving free haircuts, Craig and his team are creating positive connections with vulnerable and marginalised community members, ultimately building a stronger and more inclusive community and helping people on their path home.

Founder – Regions of Africa

Cynthia is a Social Entrepreneur, a Social Care Corporate Manager, and founder of the social enterprise Regions of Africa (RoA) and its partner organisation CaLD Impact. Cynthia is currently a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a publisher of various articles on Resilience, Migration, International Education, and Aged Care.

Cynthia is passionate about creating a positive impact in the world by creating leaders. Her success in her Career and Business comes down to her ability to build and maintain partnerships and collaborations; Cynthia’s success in business and in life is attributed by the connections she creates with others and the extent to which she can give and receive. She has created success in her roles as Clinical Consultant in Corporate Australia, with eleven years’ experience in the Aged care industry and five years in Business Management. Outside her Social care passion and channelling in her creative space, Cynthia has also created success roles as Chief Operating Officer of the skilled Migrant Professional Magazine with over 13K subscribers, editor-in-chief of Australia’s very first African fashion magazine “Face of Africa Australia Magazine”; creative director in collaboration with numerous well-known Australian fashion photographers, models, and modelling agencies; and in community engagement welfare programs such as “Education in the Shoes of a Humanitarian Student”. She is the 2016-2017 Chairperson for the Organisation of Zambians Living in Western Australia (OZALIWA) with 4500 Zambians in WA.

Cynthia is described by her peers as driven, dynamic, and professional. Her strong leadership is strengthened by collaborating with other passionate and focused individuals. Her leadership is strengthened by her communication and negotiation skills as well as her ability to remain calm under pressure. She manages multiple teams and leads with a focus to motivate and empower by creating more leaders, change makers, listening, and discussing new ideas.

Since beginning ballroom dancing as a six-year-old, Darryl Davenport went on to become a State, Australian and New Zealand Professional DanceSport Champion. He has successfully coached multiple State and Australian Champions.

In 2017 after working together with disability, senior citizen and aged care sector service providers, Darryl established Ballroom Fit, providing dance and active participation opportunities for people with a range of abilities. All Abilities Dance, a DanceSport initiative recognised by the Special Olympics, is now being offered to those living with an intellectual disability and/or autism. Vision Impaired Dance, with the support of VisibilityWA, is providing similar opportunities for those living with vision impairment. Chair Dancing is also offering seated dance classes for those in the community and at aged care centres with mobility issues. Darryl has also expanded the opportunity to include Para Dance, a Paralympic Sport for wheelchair dancers which, although available in many other countries, had not previously been offered in Australia. As a founding member of Para and Ability Dance WA, Darryl has worked tirelessly to support dancers with a disability and for many years has served as a Committee Member and Chairman of each of the associations.

In 2021, Darryl received the Community Citizen of the Year Award from City of South Perth.

Community Citizen of the Year 2021
Founder of GOSAC - Give Our Strays A Chance

Dean Morris is only 19 years old and has already accomplished more than some will in a lifetime.

Dean founded the award winning charity GOSAC - Give Our Strays A Chance when he was 10 years old to raise awareness and donations for animals in need. 9 years later and GOSAC has raised over a million dollars in donations and supplies. Saved countless lives and won many awards.

Dean helps animal rescues and regional shelters with life saving supplies. Wildlife hospitals with medical and surgical items, homeless people and struggling families with pet care packages.

He works with businesses, legislators, hospitals, the community, and the media to gain support and donations and increase awareness for animal welfare issues.

Dean studies a double major in Engineering and Management at UWA, lives at Trinity Residential College on campus, works at Stantec in Project Controls. He is a director at the Canning Vale Community Bank (branch of Bendigo Bank), a professional associate of Rotary Perth. He flies airplanes and received a NASA scholarship to SpaceCamp USA.

At 18, Dean published his first book; Saving The World - One Stray At A Time and crosses our state speaking at schools and libraries about youth leadership and how everyone, no matter of age, can change the world.

For more information, visit www.gosac.info

Global Diversity & Inclusion Strategist

Award Winning Social Justice Advocate

Fadzi Whande is an award winning Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and Social Justice Advocate. Her work primarily focuses on addressing systemic and institutionalised barriers held towards historically underrepresented groups. She has worked across the not for profit, government and business sectors in Africa, Australia, UK and USA. She currently works as the Principal Consultant Workforce Diversity for the Public Sector Commission.

Over the course of her career Fadzi has received both international and local recognition for her efforts to champion inclusion and diversity including the 2019 Social Impact Award from the Organisation of African Communities, a finalist in the 2018 Western Australian of the Year and a recipient of the 2016 International Racial Equity Leadership Award in the USA.

Fadzi sits on the Board of Volunteering WA, the Museum of Freedom and Tolerance and is an Ambassador for 100 Women.

Fadzi is an alumna of the 2019 Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Senior Leadership Program, UK the 2017 HIVE Global Leadership Program, USA and the 2017 Leadership WA Signature Program. She received an Executive MBA and Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from the University of Western Australia.

Burns Expert

Professor Fiona Wood’s journey of over 3 decades treating people with burn injuries is a story about her passion, dedication and belief in striving for excellence to improve the outcomes of patients by bringing science to the bedside.

Fiona is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon specialising in the field of burn care, trauma and scar reconstruction.

As Director of the WA Burns Service of Western Australia she is consultant at Perth Children’s and Fiona Stanley Hospitals.

As director of burns research she leads an interdisciplinary team with broad collaboration focused on translation to improve clinical outcomes.

She has been the recipient of the 2003 Australian Medical Association ‘Contribution to Medicine’ Award and an Order of Australia Medal for work with Bali bombing victims. As a National Living Treasure and Australian Citizen of the Year in 2004. she received the honour of being named Australian of the Year in 2005.

Fiona and Marie Stoner, co-founders of Clinical Cell Culture, now Avitamedical, won the 2005 Clunies Ross Award for their contributions to Medical Science in Australia.

Founder & CEO of Financially Empowered

Assisting women and the migrant community to build their financial confidence, giving them the ability to interpret their financials and upskilling them to become financially independent.
Grace Mugabe (CPA GAICD) is an experienced Management Accountant who is passionate about the economic empowerment of women, particularly those who are disenfranchised.

Following her tenure as a Senior Accountant at Rio Tinto, Grace started Financially Empowered, a for-purpose enterprise driven by the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development – (5) Achieving Gender Equality.

Financially Empowered provides small business CFO services to women led enterprises. Her financial literacy workshops attract government, schools, boards, private industry, and community clients. In 2018, she developed Money Matters for Migrants to help reduce barriers to accessing financial literacy resources by providing free interpreter and child care services.

A committed advocate for community involvement, Grace has served on numerous boards. She is also the ambassador for Behind the Brands, a platform for female entrepreneurs in Australia.

In 2020, Grace was named in the top 50 small business leaders by Inside Small Business. She was a finalist in the 2019 Women in Finance Awards for the ‘Women’s Community Program of the Year’, recognizing her Money Matters for Migrants initiative which has also been awarded grants from the Layne Beachley Foundation and the YGAP First Gens Program. In 2017, she was a finalist in the United Nations Association of Australia (WA) ‘Excellence in Gender Equity Promotion’ Award.

She is highly sought after speaker and MC who has been featured in various media platforms as a Financial Literacy and Budgeting expert. Grace is known for her ability to connect, engage and contribute greatly to her clients.

WA Senior Australian of the Year 2016.
Veterans’ Advocate.

While serving in Vietnam in 1970, Hon Graham Edwards AM was hit by an exploding mine. Both his legs had to be amputated, but he never let his disability get the better of him. Returning to civilian life, he battled the aftershocks of war and fought discrimination before moving into public affairs and politics.

Spending 14 years of service in the WA Legislative Council, including as a senior minister and nine years in the federal parliament, Graham actively contributed to defence, disability services and veterans’ policy.

More recently, as State President of the Returned & Services League of Australia, Graham oversaw a membership base of 10,000 people, sat by bedsides, lobbied government for funding and organised large events to commemorate the sacrifice made by many, particularly for the 2015 Centenary of Gallipoli.

A board member of the Australian War Memorial, Graham is ensuring that the nation’s war heroes gain the recognition they deserve.

Finalist, WA Local Hero 2020

Child Protection Advocate

For more than 35 years, Managing Director of Safe4Kids Holly-ann Martin has helped keep Western Australian children safe from childhood sexual abuse. As a volunteer at a school for children with special needs in 1985, Holly-ann and her colleagues realised the children were vulnerable to sexual abuse, so they taught them about body safety.

Later, in 1995, Holly-ann received formal training while working as a teaching assistant in the US-developed Protective Behaviours program. This further ignited her desire to dedicate her life to protecting children. So in 2007, she resigned from the WA Education Department to pursue her passion. She and her husband founded the new business by re-mortgaging their home, using part of these funds to produce educational resources for parents and teachers.

Safe4kids now works to protect children all over the world developing quality, up-to-date child-abuse prevention education resources. Inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame in 2016, Holly-ann’s whole-of-community approach to child abuse prevention is inspiring. Holly-ann also received an Order of Australia Medal for service to child safety in 2022.

2022 WA Senior Australian of the Year

Past President of Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA

Janice (Jan) Standen is president (2019-2022) of the volunteer-run charity organisation, Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA (GRGWA). In this role, she advocates passionately for grandparent carers. Jan joined GRGWA in 2013 when her three grandchildren came to live with her,and has since driven its rapid expansion.

She created a structure for the organisation and secured a fit-for-purpose premise, raising GRGWA’s profile and increasing membership and outreach by more than 50%. Under Jan’s stewardship, GRGWA offers free legal and counselling support, a Ozharvest pick-up centre, a donations distribution service and an op shop providing free clothing and toys.

Co-founder, No Limits Perth

WA FINALIST LOCAL HERO 2023

Janine Wood is co-founder and Chair of No Limits Perth, a not-for-profit that supports vulnerable people in metropolitan Perth and its surrounds.

The organisation rescues pre-loved household items from landfill and helps people in crisis, start over.  They also provide food hampers, toiletries, linen, stationary, and other essential items to people doing it tough – including those escaping domestic violence, the homeless, pensioners, new-comers to the country, low income earners and the homeless.  It also gives care, love, dignity, respect and hope to those seeking help.

What makes No Limits Perth unique is that all the donations received, are supplied to a number of other charitable and government organisations free of charge without expecting anything in return. With no ongoing financial support, it’s Janine and her dedicated volunteers who keep it running.

In June 2022, Janine collaborated with the Fortuna Foundation on its free “Positive Spin” mobile laundry van, so vulnerable people in the community can clean and dry their clothes. She has also set up a new mobile community outreach van called “Heart of the Street”, and a team, with mental health first aid training, to distribute essential items to people who are homeless and sleeping in vehicles, parks and tents.

Janine was the 2019 Westfield Whitfords Local Hero. They also won the Community Group of the Year in 2020 and were the runners up in the Wanneroo Business Awards in 2021.  Her compassion and kindness have created an inclusive environment, placing value and non-judgement as the foundation to those isolated, encouraging all members of the community, to come together to build new friendships and experience a sense of belonging.

WA Young Australian of the Year Finalist 2018.
Social Entrepreneur and Humanitarian.
Founder of DrawHistory.

Jeffrey Effendi is a communications strategist whose work is propelled by a singular belief that the stories we amplify can shape the conversations we have in society and impact real human lives. 

From driving Google’s global PR to build a more inclusive internet in emerging nations to leading Change.org in Asia where more than 500 million people campaign on its platform to take civic action, Jeffrey has built brand experiences and campaigns with over 150+ brands fiercely determined to bring equity and fix injustices. Many of these efforts have come from DrawHistory, the strategy and design consultancy he founded for social change teams in the Asia-Pacific. DrawHistory’s clients include UNICEF Australia, Centre for Social Impact, and NSW Government.

The through-lines of who Jeffrey is today has also been shaped by pit stops in civic spaces, from leading the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers to being part of an impact fellowship at University of Cambridge through Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Trust.

For this work, Jeffrey has been recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Listmaker and a Young Australian of the Year nominee.

Finalist, WA Senior Australian of the Year 2020

Theatre Maker and Innovator

Jenny Davis OAM is the founder and Artistic Director of Agelink Theatre, a company making theatre works that affirm the value of senior citizens, celebrating their wisdom and experience.

With a passion for arts innovation and championing the lives of seniors, Jenny has combined theatre, education and community health, through a pioneering intergenerational theatre program that engages younger and older people. By interviewing seniors and creating stage shows based on their memories, she records local histories and provides stimulus for those living with dementia.

Agelink also creates stimulating workshops for people with dementia and celebrates them on stage, giving them a platform to share their stories with the next generations. Seniors shows are performed in theatres and at libraries, schools and senior centres.

Jenny has received many accolades for her tremendous contribution to the seniors and arts communities, including an Order of Australia Medal, Centenary of Federation Medal, 2017 WA Champion Senior of the Year and WA Women’s Hall of Fame induction.

Entrepreneur

Jenny was born in Queensland, raised in Sydney and later moved to WA with her family and has been here 15 years.

She is a dynamic entrepreneur and as of August 2018 is the business owner of 5 businesses she started by herself. Generation Marketing Group (GMG), Generous Foods, CustomerCare, Jenny Lam Network and the popular Vietnamese eatery located in Leederville, Bunn Mee.

Having graduated high school in 2006 and earning a placement at UWA to begin her commerce degree, Jenny embarked on a journey to climb the corporate ladder to carve out a successful career for herself in marketing and advertising. After two years at university she realised that university wasn’t the path for her, she wanted something more hands on, fast paced and that allowed her to call the shots. She started working for a direct sales and marketing company working on commission only and 12 months after her stint in the company, she decided to take the plunge and open up her own marketing company. Fast forward nine years GMG has gone from a small start up to working with international, billion dollar clients like Alinta and now specialises in marketing consultancy for other well established businesses and clients.

Having successfully navigated her way through the marketing and sales industry, GMG’s best year turning over $11,000,000, in 2017 she decided she was ready to follow another passion of hers – FOOD & COOKING. Joining the 13,000 people that auditioned for Masterchef Australia 2018, she became a part of Season 10’s top 24.

Since leaving MasterChef, she’s worked as a full-time chef at Perth’s acclaimed Wildflower, gained work experience at Long Chim all whilst managing her businesses and writing her Vietnamese cookbook – Eat Like a Viet, which is due to be released in November 2019.

Jenny’s values are to always spread joy, educate, coach and inspire others in both food and business. Her ultimate goal is opening up her own cooking school, which will be built on a big property in the Swan Valley, where she will also farm all her own produce by 2025 and achieving a spot on the Forbes 40 Under 40 List.

185John Newnham was the 2020 Senior Australian of the Year. He is an obstetrician, medical researcher, husband, father and grandfather. For more than 30 years, he and his wife Susie have also been part-time farmers at Rosa Glen near Margaret River.

Throughout his career in medicine, John has been fascinated by life before birth and how events before we are born can determine our future health and disease. More recently, he founded and continues to lead an Australian-wide program designed to safely lower the rate of preterm birth across our nation. Being born too early is the single greatest cause of death in young children and one of the major causes of life-long disability.

In 2014, John initiated a program across Western Australia that safely lowered the rate of preterm birth across our state, making WA the first geographic region in the world to achieve such a result. The success in WA then led the Australian Government to support national roll-out of the program, which is in progress right now. Early results show the success observed initially in WA is being replicated in several regions of eastern Australia. The program is on-track to make Australia the first nation in the world to strategically and successfully lower its rate of preterm birth, saving many lives and preventing disability for thousands of children and their families.

John was born and bred in WA and grew up with strong links to farming and the bush. He inherited from his ancestors a deep appreciation of the role played by regional Australia in our national story, and, in particular, the vital role played by our many volunteer organisations. John is very appreciative of the honour to be an Ambassador for Auspire.

Finalist, WA Local Hero 2020

Founder of Happiness Co and public speaker

Happiness Co was inspired by the devastating loss of Julian Pace’s father and best friend – both taking their own lives. Following his road back to happiness, Julian brought Happiness Co to life in 2017, and has made it his mission to make the world a happier place ever since - a tribute to his family and others going through life’s challenges whilst overcoming hurdles and dark periods.

It’s his belief that ownership and individual responsibility can play an integral part in creating a happier world.

With an authentic, raw approach, whilst sharing his own deeply moving story, Julian has become a world-renowned speaker, presenting in 10 countries to a cumulative audience of approximately 100,000 people. Through his perspective altering and life changing strategies, Julian teaches how mental health and happiness is determined by decision making and everyday choices.

Thousands of individuals, companies and schools around the world have worked with Julian, and he hopes to reach many more as he continues to share his message and mission.

Julian was a finalist in the 2020 WA Australian of the Year Local Hero Award and a recipient of the 2020 Community Citizen of the Year Award for the Town of Victoria Park.

Founder of Blue Tree Project

2022 WA Young Australian of the Year

Kendall Whyte is the founder and CEO of Blue Tree Project, a grass-roots charity making an impact across Australia. Its mission is to help spark difficult conversations and break down the stigma of mental health, by giving dead trees ‘a blue lease on life’.

The Blue Tree Project is inspired by the tragic loss of Kendall’s brother, Jayden, after taking his own life in 2018. The blue tree that was once painted as a practical joke now acts as a beacon of hope for those struggling, with over 700 trees now painted across Australia and the world.

Within just two years, the Blue Tree Project has helped facilitate better understanding of mental health, while providing free education seminars and creating engaging community events within regional Western Australia.

Kendall’s work is helping spread the message that “it’s ok to not be ok”. By speaking openly and authentically, she’s helping break down the fear of judgement that stops people seeking help for mental illness.

Founder of Telethon Community Cinemas

2022 WA Local Hero Finalist

For over 21 years, Ken Gibbons and Telethon Community Cinemas have delivered a unique cinema going experience while also raising funds for children’s charities.  His initiative has been supported by many sponsors and thousands of volunteers who’ve dedicated their time to helping the cause.

Born with a stutter and experiencing bullying at school ignited in Ken a passion to help children living with a health challenge.  Starting first at age 9 with garage sales and puppet shows, and other fundraising activities from school years onwards, in 2002 he first established Movies by Burswood now known as Telethon Community Cinemas.  The updated name reflects the ongoing patronage of Western Australia’s biggest children’s charity fundraising event.

From its first cinema in the Burswood Parklands, it now has four metropolitan locations and recently acquired a mobile cinema unit and has raised more than $11 million for over 65 children’s charities and community groups.

Despite the impact on screenings of COVID-19 these past years, the organisation still raised over three quarters of a million dollars this past financial year.

There is a deliberate policy of providing parkland settings for its cinemas to enable families and friends to socialise and reconnect in a picnic environment.

In addition, whilst not having changed its admission prices since 2011, there is a recognition that financial pressures impact upon families widely.  Each year Telethon Community Cinemas provides around 50 free screenings funded by its sponsors.

Through his work, 68 year-old Ken continues to put the wants and needs of the community first whilst bringing back the magic of the movie-going experience or, as he puts it, dong good through movies.

Principal Policy Officer and Human Rights Advocate
Finalist – WA Young Australian of the Year 2012 & 2015

A Noongar woman, Krista Dunstan is a human rights and reconciliation advocate in her community of Perth. Krista believes in giving back to the community and is passionate about ensuring that all Australians are given a “fair go”.

Krista grew up in Esperance and relocated to Perth in 2008 to undertake a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Western Australia. Having completed her degree, she practiced as a solicitor for 5 years before moving to the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage as a Principal Policy Officer. Krista devotes her spare time to mentoring youth and developing and participating in forums which bring Australians together to generate new ideas for the success and sustainability of our communities.

Krista is a board member of Celebrate WA, the WA Cricket Association’s Aboriginal Cricket Advisory Committee, Noongar Charitable Trust and Richmond Wellbeing. In recognition of her hard work and commitment to community issues, Krista was inducted into the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011, awarded the Human Rights Awards Young People’s Medal in 2012, listed in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence Young Leader category in 2013 and a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in both the Corporate & Private and Young Business Woman categories in 2015 and received lawyer of the year awards in 2017 and 2018.

Krista has also represented our great state in international forums including the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Program in 2015, Child Rights Taskforce and UNICEF delegation to the United Nations reporting on Australia’s progress under the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2011; as an Australian delegate to the Harvard Model United Nations (Harvard MUN) in the United States in 2010.

In late 2013, Krista completed a 134km trek of the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea as a Youth Leader on the Kokoda Youth Leadership Trek for Clubs WA.  This is one of her proudest achievements as her grandfather served in Papua New Guinea and the track itself was both physically and mentally challenging.

Australian of the Year (WA) 2015.
Scientist.

For Professor Lyn Beazley, science has been a lifelong passion. After graduating from Oxford and Edinburgh Universities, Lyn has dedicated more than 30 years to the field of neuroscience.

As Chief Scientist of Western Australia from 2006 to 2013, Lyn advised the state government on science, innovation and technology as well as fulfilling the role of science ambassador both in Australia and internationally.

Professor Beazley was an inaugural inductee of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and is also a recipient of the Governor’s Award for Giving in recognition of her enthusiastic philanthropy promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the WA community.

Lyn was also honoured to be inducted into the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame. Lyn’s goal is for every Australian child to learn and love science.

WA and National Young Australian of the Year (Environment) 1999

WA born Nahrel grew up in East Arnhem Land, NT, and South West, WA. Her love of nature’s diversity set her on a path of protecting the environment and supporting sustainability.

After graduating from University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Commerce and travelling the length of New Zealand, she returned to WA in 1996 and became SW (WA) Regional Recycling Co-ordinator for 12 local governments. She has been a leader in the waste industry ever since.

In 1999, Nahrel received a Young Australian of the Year Award for her role in establishing award-winning waste measures including development of the first recycling collection system for a regional grouping of local governments in Australia.

Nahrel was also WA’s first State Waste Education and Promotion Coordinator, served a seven-year term as an Australian Conservation Foundation Councillor and for a decade was the liaison between conservation groups across Australia and onshore and offshore oil and gas developments nearby Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. She has also been a catalyst for projects and sourcing significant funding for not for profit, community and local government.

At 27, Nahrel established environmental and communications business, Dallywater Consulting, which has now been operating for around 20 years.

CEO, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

Nilesh Makwana is a technology CEO and entrepreneur dedicated to making a social impact through his business and community activities. He focuses his efforts on workplace diversity, social inclusion and digital literacy. Nilesh works tirelessly to improve business and social causes through collaboration and diplomacy. Perhaps his greatest strength is identifying how business, government, academia and community can collaborate in mutually beneficial ways.

Nilesh is the CEO of illuminance Solutions, a national technology company he co-founded with his business partner, Vincent Lam. The company is a Microsoft Gold Partner for Social Impact and provides technology consulting and professional services throughout Australia. Under Nilesh’s leadership, illuminance has created software products to fill a gap in support for those living with disability, Indigenous Native title trusts and corporations, and the elderly.

Nilesh’s community activities are driven by a focus on empathy and creating social impact for the betterment of society. He has worked tirelessly to eliminate the digital literacy gap in Indigenous communities and throughout regional Western Australia by providing countless hours of free technical training. Nilesh is the founder of West Tech Assemblage, an event for tech leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators to promote cross-industry collaboration. With his wife, Lene, he co-founded Borderless Gandhi, a non-profit organisation promoting Gandhi’s message of peace, equality and nonviolence through various artistic reflections and social media.

To fulfil his personal philosophy of “living life with purpose every day”, Nilesh dedicates time to several boards and committees, speaks frequently on the topics of workplace diversity and social inclusion, and participates in diplomatic activities to bring Australia and his home country of India closer together. Nilesh is also a frequent media commentator in local, state, and national publications.

Founder of Surf Online Safe

2022 WA Australian of the Year

In the last five years of his career as a police officer in Western Australia, Paul Litherland worked in the force’s Technology Crime Unit. While there, he became acutely aware of just how vulnerable kids were on the internet. He also felt frustration at the lack of legislation available to help fight internet crime.

In response, Paul began conducting cyber safety presentations at schools. By 2014, he’d turned his passion into a business – founding Surf Online Safe to educate teachers, students and parents about internet awareness and safety.

Today he’s one of Australia’s leading experts in the field. A highly sought-after speaker, Paul has spoken at more than 850 schools and organisations across the country, sharing his cyber safety educational presentations with over half a million people.

Paul experienced a terrible motorbike accident in 2004 where he was initially told he’d never walk or work again. Despite this, he defied the odds and has gone on to be an inspiration to many.

Lawyer, Charity Fundraiser.

Patti Chong studied law at the University of Western Australia and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws in 1980. Patti was articled to the Director of Legal Aid and was admitted to practice in December 1981.

In November 2004, Patti was appointed the inaugural General Counsel to the Corruption and Crime Commission.She held this appointment until December 2005 when she returned to the Office of DPP.

Patti had been involved extensively in fund raising for the Leukaemia Foundation, sat on a number of Law Society Committees and was, for a number of years, on the Committee of Women Lawyers’ Association.

On behalf of the Women Lawyers’ Association, Patti was instrumental in organising the collection of pre-loved clothes from women lawyers and staff for donation to the Banksia Pre-release Centre to assist women prisoners prepare themselves for job interviews, attendance in Court and release upon prison, by having appropriate clothes for such occasions.

In 2005, Patti was named as one of Lotterywest’s 21 Inspirational West Australians. In 2006, Patti was appointed the Ambassador of the Leukaemia Foundation. Patti was one of Western Australia’s inaugural Australia Day Ambassadors when the program launched in 2008.

Paralympian.

Despite Priya Cooper having cerebral palsy, she is undoubtedly one of Australia's leading Paralympians.  She began swimming as a means of therapy at an early age, only later realising her potential as a competitor.  By 1995, at the age of 21, she held the world record for the 50m and 100m freestyle events and in 1996 the world record for the 400m and 800m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

At the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona Priya won three gold and two silver medals (the most of any Australian athlete), set two world records and was the flag bearer for the Australian team at the closing ceremony.  This was her first international competition.
On her return to Australia she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her services to sport.

She followed this with even greater success at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, where she was co-captain of the Australian team, won five gold medals (plus a silver and a bronze), set another three world records and was again the flag bearer for her country.

In 1998 Priya competed in the British National Swimming Championships, winning four gold medals, a bronze medal, and setting a world record.

At the Sydney 2000 Paralympics she won a gold medal in the 400m Freestyle and three bronze medals, despite having recently recovered from major shoulder surgery.

Priya has been given the keys to the City of Sydney, appointed a member of the State Government committee, established to co-ordinate the Western Australian celebrations for the centenary of Federation in 2001, named Australia's 1995 Paralympian of the Year and inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions in 2006.  In 1999, Priya was named The Young Australian of the Year for Sport over Pat Rafter and Ian Thorpe, both finalists for the title.

In October 2015 Priya was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Priya is a truly dynamic speaker, with a strength and vision that is nothing short of inspirational.  Her presentations frequently elicit standing ovations from audiences.  She reminds us that any dream, large or small, personal or corporate, can come true with the strength of sheer determination.

In 2022, Priya was appointed as Chair of the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

Priya is proud to have been an Australia Day Ambassador since 2009.

Filmmaker

2019 WA Young Australian of the Year Finalist

Radheya Jegatheva is a Perth-based Australian filmmaker who was born in Johor, Malaysia, to parents of South Korean, Japanese, Indian and Malaysian ancestry. Radheya is passionate about the arts, and his skill set covers a range of areas including writing, directing, animation, editing and music composition.

Radheya is passionate about the value of using film and animation in educational and social development contexts. He has spoken to thousands of school students over the years with an aim of inspiring and encouraging young people about getting into the arts, and his works have been used as an educational tool in schools and universities around the world.

WA Australian of the Year 2010.
Alzheimer’s Expert.

Professor Ralph Martins AO is well-known and highly respected both nationally and internationally as a prominent researcher in Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

In recognition of his outstanding research achievements, Professor Martins was awarded a number of very prestigious accolades, including the Melvin Jones Award from Lions Club International Foundation USA in 2010 (which is the highest Award that Lions can bestow recognising outstanding service to the community and being one of only two recipients of this award by the Club in the last 25 years), the WA Australian of the Year in 2010, the Western Australian Citizen of the Year in 2011, the Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club in 2011, Member of the Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem (KSJ) in 2013 and the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division in 2013.

Professor Martins is very proud to have been an Australia Day Ambassador since 2011.

Founder of Plastic Free July

2021 WA Local Hero

Rebecca Prince-Ruiz is the founder of a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution.

Ten years ago, Rebecca became concerned by the amount of plastics going into landfill and encouraged her family to go plastic-free for the month of July. Her idea is now a global initiative, with an estimated 326 million people participating worldwide.

Rebecca has worked with state governments and business leaders on reducing single use plastics and is on the board of the government’s Container Deposit Scheme – a new recycling program for WA. At a local level, Rebecca engages with community groups by hosting presentations and workshops for schools, aged care facilities and other community groups.

Rebecca has appeared on the ABC show ‘War on Waste’ to increase awareness of the plastics issue and the solutions available. She has published a book on the Plastic Free movement and has created a vast social media following – inspiring countless others to do more for the planet.

Diversity and Inclusion Business Advisor Eurasia Pacific – Chevron Office of Global Diversity and Ombuds

Rishelle Hume is a proud Noongar Woman with traditional ties to the Whadjuk, Ballardong and Gnaala Karla Boodja peoples. She is the current Diversity and Inclusion Business Advisor Eurasia Pacific with the Chevron Corporate Office Global Diversity, Inclusion and Ombuds.

Rishelle has over 25 plus years’ experience in Aboriginal engagement ranging from employment, education, justice and health. She is actively involved in the Aboriginal community within the Perth region. Rishelle has added value to Aboriginal advancement in WA by demonstrating Aboriginal leadership and is seen as a professional figurehead within WA to approach to engage the Aboriginal communities and coordinating approaches in dealing with these state Aboriginal matters.

Rishelle is a recipient of the 2016 Western Australian of the Year Award – Aboriginal Category Winner, an inductee into the 2017 Little Athletics Australia Roll of Excellence (Hall of Fame) in the Achievers Category, an inaugural inductee on the 2018 WA Roll of Excellence in the Achievers Category for Little Athletics WA. 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours Roshelle was appointment a Member of the Order of Australia AM division. In 2019 she was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame for her service to the Aboriginal community and received the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy 2020 Outstanding Woman in Resources Award and recently was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Edith Cowan University.

Australia Day Ambassador

A Harvard alumna who migrated from Singapore to Perth in the mid-1990s, Sandy has built a wealth of experience advising businesses around the world and guiding female entrepreneurs and youth start-ups.

There is no doubt that Sandy will be the perfect fit for the role of Auspire ambassador. Not only was she South Perth Community Citizen of the Year 2020, but she is also the first Asian woman to be elected as President of the United Nations Association of Western Australia (UNAAWA), of which Auspire is a member. She is also the first Asian person to be appointed to the Board of the WA Indigenous Tourism Council (WAITOC), Chair of the ASEAN Business Alliance, and was recently appointed Adjunct Professor at Curtin University of Technology.

Other accolades include the 2020 Stevie® International Business – Executive of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, 2019 Asia’s Top Sustainability Women of the Year, and the 2016 Singapore Management Consultant of the Year.

In addition to serving on the advisory board for a female-led start-up in Silicon Valley, Sandy is an International Mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Global Ambassador for the Inspiring Rarebirds, Ambassador for the Valuing Children Initiatives, and Working Group Member of the Special Olympics World Games.

“It is an honour to serve as an Auspire Ambassador, to support its mission for Australia to become one of the most inclusive nations in the world,” said Sandy. “With 7 years to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, we need to act now as global citizens, achieving peace and prosperity for all, and leaving no one behind.”

Marathon Swimmer and Business Speaker.

To most West Australians Shelley Taylor-Smith is known for her amazing athletic achievements. But she is much, much more.

Regardless of being tagged with ‘no natural ability’, ‘disabled’ and ‘nothing above average’, 7-time World No.1 Women’s Marathon Swimming Champion Shelley Taylor-Smith is the only woman to achieve No.1 world ranking for both men and women in the history of any sport worldwide.

A 2-time West Australian-Australian of the Year Finalist and nicknamed ‘Dangerous When Wet’ by her competitors (and apt title of her biography); Shelley believes anyone can achieve the impossible with the right combination of Mindset, Motivation & Mental Toughness.

Down to earth, energetic, bubbly, passionate and patriotic is how Shelley is known. Her inspirational message is living with conviction in life, both personally and professionally and how to create our own Champion Mindset with focus, self belief and attitude.

Some of her remarkable achievements include:

• 1991 World No.1 Ranked International Marathon Swimming Champion for men & women
• 7-consecutive years World No1 Ranked Women’s Marathon Swimming Champion 198-1995
• 5 time winner of the 48km Manhattan Island Marathon Swim
• Holder of 15 World Race records (of which 9 still stand today!)
• 1st West Australian to swim the English Channel
• Induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame – the first and only Australian Marathon Swimmer to achieve this feat!
• Induction into the Inaugural West Australian Women’s Hall of Fame and named amongst the 50 Iconic Australian Women

And still the only West Australian swimmer, male or female, to win a gold medal and be crowned World Champion at FINA Swimming Championships

Shelley’s greatest personal achievement is not a title or an award. It is the result of her achieving the No.1 world ranking for both men and women that lead to the international governing body FINA creating equal prize money for men and women and separate rankings that is her global legacy for women.

Dedicated out of the water as she was in it; Shelley gives back as Patron of The Swim Thru Perth in WA, and has served as Board member for Swan River Trust & Burswood Park and the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming, Swimming Australia Limited & Swimming WA committees.

Youth Advocate.

Steph got her first taste of advocating for her peers in high school, and she hasn’t stopped advocating for young people since.

As a participant in the annual Western Australian YMCA Youth Parliament program, Steph experienced the empowerment and confidence that comes from being able to speak up for what you believe in.

Steph is involved in a number of youth and community initiatives, and particularly likes to use her infectious enthusiasm to bring other young people in on things she’s involved in.

Steph has also been a member of the judging panel for the Australian of the Year Awards.

Broadcaster

Steve Mills is one of Perth’s leading broadcasters, having worked with 6PR for more than 17 years.

Steve will find an alternative view on the latest news with his razor-sharp wit and a healthy dose of humour. He started his broadcasting career on 6KG in Kalgoorlie and has a passionate interest in the racing industry.

Science Educator

2020 WA Local Hero

Suzy Urbaniak wants young people to understand how to apply science to the real world and advocates for students developing a greater appreciation of our Earth and the resources it provides to sustain our everyday life. Suzy says “If you want to fix the Earth, you have to understand how it works!”

The former Newcrest geoscientist, WA science teacher and mentor developed and leads her own earth sciences program, the Centre of Resources Excellence (CoRE).

An innovative science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) program, CoRE brings together education, industry, community and government to create meaningful careers in the resources and additional Industry 5.0 sectors. The CoRE program builds on Suzy’s years of practical geology and education experience, which includes more than 150 national and international field trips. Suzy is leading the CoRE School Expansion Program and its new Gamifying Earth Science Initiative across Australia.

Her work as an educator was recognised with the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools in 2016.

Suzy is an engaging and inspirational speaker and she was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 and in 2021 was a finalist in the West Australian of the Year.

Young Community Citizen of the Year 2019

Thea is a chemical engineer with experience working in mining, start-ups, health, and consumer goods industries across Indonesia, U.S.A and Australia. Currently, she is a Senior Business Analyst at Hatch, working with a diverse team to supply engineering, project management, business transformation and sustainable energy services across various major projects and sectors across Australia and internationally.

Outside of work, she is an active volunteer and STEAM advocate with organisations like Engineers Without Borders and Millennium Kids, an environmental not-for-profit empowering young people to become eco-leaders in their local communities and beyond. Thea is also the founder of TEDxUWA, WA’s only fully youth-run TEDx organisation. TEDxUWA events reach 500+ live audiences across Australia and over 1.3 million people globally with their online talks published on TED.com and YouTube. Thea leads her team to deliver cutting-edge events that provide a platform to showcase local innovation on the world stage. More importantly, TEDxUWA aims to increase accessibility for young people to actively participate and share their ideas in global conversations.

Thea’s work has been acknowledged in Forbes Under 30, Asialink Business and the Young Community Citizen awards, twice. On International Women's Day 2022, she became one of the youngest inductees into the WA Women's Hall of Fame for her extensive contributions to the community. Growing up in Asia and Australia, Thea believes in the importance of connecting people, cultures, and countries, and supporting the next generation of leaders with a "can do” approach to spark positive change.

Cross of Valour recipient.

On 12 October 2002, following a terrorist bombing in Bali, Constable Timothy Britten placed his life in danger by repeatedly entering the burning Sari Club to rescue a seriously injured woman and to search for survivors.

Constable Britten remained at the site helping Indonesian police and security guards, and only when he felt assured that emergency workers had the Sari Club site secured did he return to his hotel. On that night, Constable Britten selflessly placed himself in constant danger, sustaining burns to his arm, deep cuts and abrasions to his feet from explosion debris, potential injury from gas cylinder explosions, and exposure to deadly infection from blood-borne diseases.

By his actions, Constable Britten displayed most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

Tim Britten has been an Australia Day Ambassador since 2016.

Finalist, Australian of the Year 2012 (Victoria)

Since the age of 14, Tori Anderson has seen injustice and inequality as personal challenges that must be tackled and overcome. Whilst still at university she joined the Australian Chapter of an international youth leadership organisation called AIESEC, and then went on to establish and become national president of AIESEC in Pakistan. Confronted with oppression and poverty, Tori’s passion for the rights of women and children was ignited.

This determination to drive change took her to Afghanistan to support gender diversity, to India where she developed micro-credit schemes for women and to Canada and the United States. Her experiences prompted her to establish a not for profit organisation that campaigns against the sexual exploitation of children. Moving to Bangkok, Tori began a global awareness campaign which included funding and producing the documentary Corridors of Children exposing the rampant child sex-trade industry operating across South East Asia.

She is a Rotary World Peace Fellow and was a 2012 Victorian Australian of the Year Finalist.

Tori has recently returned to Perth and is the Director of Philanthropy and Enterprise at Anglicare WA.

Journalist

Tracy Vo, who has been part of the Nine News team since 2007, is the weekend news presenter for Nine News Perth. She is also a senior reporter in the newsroom. While completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Curtin University, her journalism career began in radio in Sydney on 2SM in 2004. After almost 10 years in Sydney, it was time to head home to Perth, where she continued to cover stories overseas. They include the death of Nelson Mandela, Schapelle Corby’s release, the mystery of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and abandoned baby Gammy in Thailand.

In 2014, Tracy became a published author, telling her family’s story in Small Bamboo. In 2016, Tracy took on the role of presenter for Today Perth News, before moving to the Nine Live Perth chair at 4pm in 2018. She is also a familiar voice on radio 6PR.

Since leaving school to become a butcher at the age of 14, Vince Garreffa has lived a life of service, becoming one of Western Australia’s best known and most successful butchers – and a major fundraiser.

Italian-born Vince appreciates everything he has but gets even more joy from helping others. Vince and his volunteers have raised more than $1 million for a variety of charities and over $4 million for Lifeline WA over the past 25 years. All funds have gone towards mental health care.

Vince also supports many smaller charities as chair of non-profit organisation Mondo Community Warriors. And through COVID-19 he provided care packages for elderly customers who were isolated and vulnerable.

The philanthropist is an enthusiastic foodie and vocal advocate for Australian farmers, independent butchers and the food and wine industries.

WA Australian of the Year 2015 Finalist.
Eye Researcher.

Despite a childhood of extreme hardship, Professor Yogesan Kanagasingam has become a world-renowned scholar, innovator and champion, who is bringing eye care to the doorsteps of under-served populations.

Today, as the Research Director of the Australian e-Health Research Centre at the CSIRO, Yogi is changing the way eye care is delivered around the world.

A ‘serial inventor’, Yogi holds more than 30 patents and is the creator of a number of low-cost diagnostic imaging technologies for early detection of conditions, ranging from those that directly threaten sight, through to stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.
His team is the first in the world to research and develop an eye test for Alzheimer’s disease.