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                    Melburnian of the Year

                    Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Melburnian of the Year 2023 Kon Karapanagiotidis
                    The Melburnian of the Year is an inspirational role model who has made an outstanding contribution to the city in their chosen field, as well as a significant impact to the Melbourne community.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​In 2023, the City of Melbourne is pleased to introduce the Young Melburnian of the Year, celebrating a young person who has a demonstrated desire for excellence, an exemplary influence and positive effect on the community.

                    Finalists and winners are selected through a comprehensive judging process which is designed to be fair, transparent and independent of the City of Melbourne. The se​​lection committee consists of judges who are experienced and respected in their fields and represent a variety of industry sectors. The winners of the Melburnian of the Year​ and Young Melburnian of the Year will be announced at the Melbourne Awards Gala Ceremony held on 11 November, 2023.  ​

                    Making a nomination

                    Eligibility criteria

                    To be eligible the candidate must have: 

                    • made a significant impact within the City of Melbourne municipality. 
                    • citizenship or Permanent residency status in Australia. 

                    Note that:

                    • the award will not be granted posthumously
                    • groups of people or couples may only be eligible in exceptional circumstances
                    • regard will be given to the nominee's achievements in the year immediately prior to the receipt of the Award, as well as their past achievements
                    • a person may win the Award again in subsequent years if they make a further contribution or new achievement but may not win in consecutive years
                    • nominees aged 18 to 30 years will be considered for the Young Melburnian of the Year Award* 
                    • ages are as of 1 November of the Awards year.*

                    *Young Melburnian of the Year specific eligibility

                    In ensuring that the Melburnian of the Year recipients are representative of our diverse nation consideration may be given to: 

                    • gender 
                    • age 
                    • ethnicity 
                    • field of expertise.

                    Selection criteria

                    Selection criteria for Melburnian of the Year will take into account the following: 

                    1. Has a public profile and is an inspirational role model for Melbourne. 
                    2. Demonstrates excellence in their field of endeavour and has ‘put back’ into their field to benefit others. 
                    3. Has made a significant contribution towards a sustainable, equitable and prosperous city 
                    4. Has made a contribution which enhances people’s lives.

                    ​Previous Melburnians of the Year

                    • 2023 Melburnian of the Year

                      Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM is the founder and CEO of the largest independent refugee organisation in Australia, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
                    • 2022 Melburnian of the Year

                      Antoinette Braybrook is a Kuku Yalanji woman born in Victoria on Wurundjeri country.
                    • 2021 Melburnian of the Year

                      Peggy O’Neal is the President of the Richmond Football Club, and serves as a board member for Women's Housing Limited, Australia Dementia Network Limited and Fulbright Australia.
                    • 2020 Melburnian of the Year

                      Douglas Hilton is the sixth director of Melbourne medical research institute WEHI, the Lorenzo and Pamela Galli Chair in Medical Biology and head of the Department of Medical Biology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
                    • 2019 Melburnian of the Year

                      Bronwyn King is a radiation oncologist, tobacco free lobbyist and an acknowledged world leader in the fight against big tobacco investment.
                    • 2018 Melburnian of the Year

                      Co-founders of SecondBite, ​Simone and Ian Carson established SecondBite after watching too much good food go to waste while too many people went hungry.
                    • 2017 Melburnian of the Year

                      Susan Alberti AC is one of Australia’s pre-eminent philanthropists, having donated millions of dollars to medical research and other charitable causes over her successful business career.
                    • 2016 Melburnian of the Year

                      Neale Daniher AM is the Patron and Vice Chairman of FightMND. Following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease, he has been inspirational in selflessly dedicating himself to raising funds and awareness for the disease.
                    • 2015 Melburnian of the Year

                      Bryan Lipmann AM is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Wintringham Specialist Aged Care, which celebrated its 26th anniversary in 2015. He is an economics and social work graduate who has vast experience working with socially and financially disadvantaged older people.
                    • 2014 Melburnian of the Year

                      The 2014 Melburnian of the Year was awarded to Professor Sharon Lewin, an infectious diseases physician and researcher into HIV/AIDS and other diseases. She is internationally renowned as one of the leading scientists aiming to find a cure for HIV.
                    • 2013 Melburnian of the Year

                      Major Brendan Nottle was named Melburnian of the Year in 2013 in recognition of his compassionate and tireless efforts to help homeless and disadvantaged people.
                    • 2012 Melburnian of the Year

                      Melbourne music icon and entrepreneur Michael Gudinski was named Melburnian of the Year at the 2012 Melbourne Awards gala ceremony.
                    • 2011 Melburnian of the Year

                      Prominent businessman and philanthropist Harold C Mitchell AC was named Melburnian of the Year at the 2011 Melbourne Awards Gala Ceremony.
                    • 2010 Melburnian of the Year

                      23 April 1966 (Dublin, Ireland) – 20 March 2012 (St Kilda) Co-founder of the Reach Foundation and AFL great, Jim Stynes was named the Melburnian of the Year at the 2010 Melbourne Awards Gala Ceremony.
                    • 2009 Melburnian of the Year

                      As the founder and director of Lighthouse Foundation, Susan Barton AM has cared for over 1000 children and homeless young people.
                    • 2008 Melburnian of the Year

                      John Bertrand is a businessman, international sportsman, and philanthropist.
                    • 2007 Melburnian of the Year

                      Lyn Swinburne is a courageous and inspirational member of the Melbourne community. A breast cancer survivor herself with a background as a primary school teacher, Lyn has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of thousands of women and their families affected by the disease.
                    • 2006 Melburnian of the Year

                      Champion football player, coach and long-time Melbourne ambassador, Ron Barassi is a highly valued member of our community.
                    • 2005 Melburnian of the Year

                      Four time Olympian and champion basketball player, Andrew Gaze is a Melbourne icon. Andrew Gaze is not only recognised for his on-court success but for his contribution to the Melbourne community.

                    Contact us

                    Contact name
                    Melbourne Awards Coordinator, Events Melbourne
                    Address
                    City of Melbourne
                    PO Box 1603
                    Melbourne VIC 3001
                    Telephone number
                    03 9658 945103 9658 9451
                    Fax number
                    03 9658 9352
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