Two Greek Australians of Cypriot heritage have been acknowledged for their life’s work during an award ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus on 28 July.
Professor Maria Kavallaris AM and Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian AO have been awarded a Republic of Cyprus President’s Medal at the World Conference of the Cyprus Diaspora by the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades.
Pr Kavallaris was awarded the President’s Medal for Outstanding Contributions for her research in cancer biology and therapeutics. The accolade come on top of her being listed as a finalist for the prestigious Eureka Prizes, Australia’s most important science awards.
She has worked at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, U.S.A., as an IARC Cancer Research Fellow where she made significant contributions towards understanding the role of cytoskeleton proteins in tumour growth and cancer cell survival.
Pr Kavallaris receiving her medal at the award ceremony next to Mr Nicos Anastasiades. Photos: Australian High Commission Cyprus/Supplied
Pr Kavallaris receiving her medal at the award ceremony. Photos: Australian High Commission Cyprus/Supplied
Pr Kavallaris holding her medal at the award ceremony. Photos: Australian High Commission Cyprus/Supplied
Pr Kavallaris posing with other attendees at the award ceremony event. Photo: Australian High Commission in Cyprus/Supplied
Pr Kavallaris then returned to Australia to work at the newly opened University of New South Wales’ Children’s Cancer Institute in 1984, where her research focuses on childhood cancer. This has involved using nanotechnology to develop cancer therapies, and to determine mechanisms which lead to anti-cancer drug resistance. She is a founding Director of the Australian Centre for Nanomedicine that she established in 2011. She is also the Head of the Translational Cancer Nanomedicine Theme at the University of New South Wales’ Children’s Cancer Institute. She is co-Chair of the Australian Institute for Policy and Science, and past President and Life Member of the Australian Society for Medical Research. In 2019, she was appointed a member of the Order of Australia. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (FRSN) and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. She has received the Young Tall Poppy Award (2004), Australian Museum Eureka Prize (2007), Knowledge Nation 100 Award (2015), The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Award (2015), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2016), Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (2019), NSW Premier’s Science and Engineering Prize for Leadership in Innovation (2017), UTS Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award (2019), UTS Alumni Excellence Award – Science (2019), Lemberg Medal ASBMB (2019), Member of the Order of Australia (2019), NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Award (2020) and the Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology (2021).
Dr Kerkyasharian receives his award by the President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades. Also pictured High Commissioner Mr Fotis Fotiou. Photo: Supplied
Mr Anastasiades with Dr Kerkyasharian. Photo: Supplied
Dr Kerkyasharian receives his award by Mr Nicos Anastasiades. Photo: Supplied
The recipients of medals at the reception on the occasion of the World Conference of Overseas CypriotsThe President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, hosts a reception on the occasion of the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots, during which the President of the Republic awards overseas Cypriots for their overall contribution. Photo: Supplied
The former long-standing leader of NSW’s major multicultural agencies, Stepan Kerkyasharian, has also been awarded the Medal of Outstanding Contribution.
Mr Kerkyasharian was recognised for his pivotal role in fostering multiculturalism in Australia, championing debate and policy change to improve the well-being of under-represented communities on issues like religious practices, immigration law, refugee settlement, migrant qualifications and community relationships thus becoming a major influence in shaping community harmony. Most notably he was awarded for his long-standing contribution to the Cypriot Community in Australia, giving migrant voices a national platform.
Dr Kerkyasharian was the Chair and CEO of the Community Relations Commission of NSW from 1989 to 2014. In his concurrent roles as President and CEO of the Anti-Discrimination Board from 2003 to 2016 he advocated for minority groups, and became a major influence in shaping community harmony. From 1980 to 1989 he was the foundation head of SBS Radio and was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1992, received the Gold Cross in the Order of Merit of Poland in 1990, the Olympic Order in 2000 and the Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa from the University of Sydney. In 2011, Stepan was elevated from the AM to an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2011 for distinguished service to the Australian Community through a range of multicultural and anti-discrimination organisations, development and implementation of public policy and to the promotion of an inclusive society. The IOC conferred the Olympic Order on him in 2000. In 2013, Stepan was also awarded the Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa from the University of Western Sydney and the NSW Government created ‘The Premier’s Stepan Kerkyasharian Award for Community Harmony’ to recognise outstanding efforts of individuals working to make Australia a fairer and more tolerant place to live.