Australia Day

26 January 2014

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Ambassadors

Mike Zafiropoulos AM

Mike Zafiropoulos AM Location : Doveton

Mike Zafiropoulos AM has had more than 40 years involvement in community affairs in a wide range of fields, covering the arts, sport, health, welfare, local government and philanthropy. His contribution is broad and includes local, state, national and international activities. His past service includes:

  •   Establishing in 1973 Multicultural Arts Victoria (then Festival of All Nations) and serving as its Chair for a  decade
  •  Chair of the Greek Festival (now Antipodes) for seven years (1976-81)
  •  Member of the Victorian Soccer Federation Appeal Board (1981-91)
  • Honorary Consultant, Victorian Council of Churches, Living Faiths & Community Relations Commission (1985-88)
  •  Elected to the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (1992-2004), including four years as Deputy Chair
  • Mayor of the City of Fitzroy (1992-93)
  • Regional Convener, Salvation Army, Red Shield Appeal, (1992-96)
  •   Board Member of the Melbourne Community Foundation (1999-2008)
  •  Chair of Regional Arts Victoria (2003–2009 - RAV Board 1999-2009; Life Member since 2009)
  •   Harmony Day Ambassador (2006)
  •   Mentor, Centre for Multicultural Youth, Multi-faith Leadership Project (2007-09)
  •   Member of the Australia Day Committee (2003-2010)

Mike has been a judge in several award-granting organisations, such as:

  • Melbourne Press Club’s Quill Awards (2002-2007)
  • Melbourne Awards (Panel Convenor since 2003)
  • Australian of the Year, Victorian Selection Panel (2006-2008)
  • Diversity@Work Awards (2004-2005)
  • Channel 31 Antennas (2005-2006)
  • Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, 40th Assembly, Istanbul (Awards Panel Chair, 2003)
  • Rotary Community Service Awards (Chair of Judging Panel, 2010, 2011)

He has also served as a member of a number of advisory committees, such as Australia’s Bicentennial Celebrations, Victoria’s 150th Anniversary, the Immigration Museum of Victoria, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Social Inclusion Committee, Latrobe University’s Centre for Dialogue, Swinburne University’s Institute for Social Research, Monash University’s 12th International Metropolis Conference, Victorian Electoral Commission, Victoria Police Counter Terrorism & Culturally Diverse Communities, National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters, and St Vincent’s Hospital Community Advisory Committee.

His current activities include:

  •  Member of the Executive of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Chair of the Social Needs Committee (LMCF Board since 2003)
  •   Board Member of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (2003-2011)
  •   Chair of Multicultural Arts Policy Advisory Committee (2006-2011)
  •   Australia Day Ambassador (since 2003; Life Ambassador since 2008)
  •    Board Chair, Channel 31 (since 2010, Board Member in 2009)
  •    Chair, Fronditha Care (a multi-facility aged care community organisation – since 2010)

In 2002, Mike was awarded "Victoria's Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs", in 2005 he received a Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) Award for his contribution to multiculturalism and in 2010 he received the Order of Australia (AM) “for service to the community through executive roles with a range of arts, multicultural, charitable, media and local government organisations, and as an advocate for cultural diversity and harmony”.

Mike served in senior positions in the Public Service and between 1995 and 2007 he was the General Manager of SBS in Melbourne. He has had a long association with SBS, including winning in 1980 the very first SBS award, a SAMMY for Best TV Documentary.