Victoria University [VU] has congratulated the current director and former director of the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre [SZCC] for being honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.
The current executive director, Nyadol Nyuon, received a Medal of the Order of Australia [OAM] as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours announced on Monday, June 13.
She arrived in Australia as a refugee from South Sudan at the age of 18 with the dream of studying law in her heart, after meeting with lawyers while in Ethopian and Kenyan refugee camps.
She has since become an award-winning advocate for human rights and multiculturalism.
“This award is not just about me, but what it represents for other women of colour,” Ms Nyuon said.
“It shows they are also capable of creating a world for all of us.”
Professor Kathy Laster was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia [AM] as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours.
Born in Hungary, she was the director of the SZCC for six years from 2015 until 2021 and is now the chair of the Victorian government’s Interpreting and Translating Service Language Loop service.
She has continued to work part-time on special research projects at the SZCC as part of her career as a academic, law reformer and public policy-maker.
Matthew Sims
