Australia Day Ambassadors

Australia Day Ambassadors are inspirational Australians from a variety of backgrounds invited each year to speak about what it truly means to be Australian at community events across NSW.

Australia Day Ambassadors are inspirational Australians from all walks of life, who demonstrate excellence in their chosen fields. They are role models and leaders who make positive and significant contributions to their communities, our state and the nation.  

Since its inception over three decades ago, the Australia Day Ambassador program has grown to become one of the longest-running and most successful national Australia Day programs. The NSW Australia Day Ambassador program is the largest in the country with a cohort of close to 100 Ambassadors.

Each year the Australia Day Council of NSW invites Ambassadors to take part in local Australia Day events across NSW to tell uplifting stories of their personal journeys, share knowledge and insights from their extraordinary achievements, and speak about what it truly means to be Australian. These handpicked Ambassadors immerse themselves in the communities they visit, celebrate our diverse culture, promote community spirit, encourage participation and inspire national pride. 

Roles and responsibilities

 

Australia Day Ambassadors come from a variety of fields and backgrounds from previous Australian of the Year Award recipients, celebrity chefs, elite athletes and Olympians, astronomers, world-renowned academics, environmental warriors, and authors to charity founders, social justice advocates, entertainers and local heroes. 

These high-achieving individuals generously volunteer their time and energy to travel to all corners of the state, from Bega Valley to Broken Hill from Tamworth to Tumut, to support Australia Day ceremonies and festivities on January 26. They take part in a variety of events to connect with communities and encourage locals to come together on Australia Day to Reflect, Respect, and Celebrate the Australian spirit.

Their roles and activities are as diverse as the communities themselves. Ambassadors participate in all manner of activities from delivering the official Australia Day Address, presenting Australia Day community awards, and participating in citizenship ceremonies welcoming new Australians. To joining more uniquely Australian traditions like judging lamington competitions, and thong throwing challenges, sheep shearing, and cooking sausage sizzles. Ambassadors can even be seen taking to the field for the annual City vs Country cricket match, taking on the stage to sing the national anthem or perform at the evening's Australia Day concert, reading to children at the local library, visiting local hospitals and nursing homes and connecting with locals over a cup of tea.

Whatever the engagement, Ambassadors become part of the community, sharing in their kindness and hospitality, learning their stories, taking their experiences to the people they meet to help shine a light on these communities and regions. 

2025 Ambassadors

Thank you to our 2025 Australia Day Ambassadors! 

LGA

Ambassador

Ambassador Credential

Albury City Council Ms Sonia Sadiq Gandhi Director, Gandhi Creations, Board Member of Multicultural NSW
Armidale Regional Council - Armidale  Mr Brad Farmer AM Australia’s Official Beach Ambassador 
Balranald Shire Council Dr Benjamin Veness Churchill Fellow and President of the Australian Medical Students' Association
Bathurst Regional Council Mrs Cheryl Koenig OAM Author,  Motivational Speaker and 2009 NSW Woman of the Year
Bega Valley Shire Council Ms Catriona Rowntree TV Presenter
Blacktown City Council Professor Veena Sahajwalla FAA FTSE HonFIEAust CPEng Inventor
Bland Shire Council Mr Warwick Nowland World Superbike Champion
Blayney Shire Council Ms Viv Kartsounis Founder Shoes for Planet Earth
Bogan Shire Council Mr Allan Sparkes CV OAM VA FRSN Former Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW / Author / Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Advocate
Bourke Shire Council Mr Khushaal Vyas Multicultural NSW Youth Medal Winner/ Solicitor and Youth Advocate
Brewarrina Shire Council Mr Isaac Gibbs Brewarrina Shire Council Local Ambassador
Broken Hill City Council Mr Mike Goldman TV Presenter, Journalist & Author, Producer of the We Bleed the same Anti-Racisim Exhibition
Burwood Council Ms Kumud Merani Former Producer SBS Radio, Premier's Multicultural Media Award Winner 2013, Freelancer Actor
Cabonne Council Mr Warren Potent OLY JP Olympian - Shooting, Rio 2016
Camden Council Mr Christopher Cheng Author
Campbelltown City Council Mrs Mary-Ruth Mendel CPSP Speech and Language Pathologist
Canterbury Bankstown Council Ms Renuka Fernando 2025 NSW Local Hero Finalist | Co-founder, ReLove
Canterbury Bankstown Council Mr Ben Stammer 2025 NSW Local Hero Finalist | Co-founder, ReLove
Carrathool Shire Council Ms Catherine De Vrye Author
Central Darling Shire Council Mr Craig Goozee OAM Ultra Marathoner
Cessnock City Council Mr Nic Newling Motivational Speaker and Mental Health Advocate
City of Parramatta Mr Bruno Efoti Founder of Tradies in Sight
Cobar Shire Council Mr Paul Featherstone BM ASM Senior Instructor For NSW Ambulance Scat Team
Coolamon Shire Council Mr Clyde Campbell AM Founder, Shake It Up Foundation
Coonamble Shire Council - Coonamble Aunty Glendra Stubbs OAM 2025 NSW Senior AOTY Finalist | Counsellor and First Nations Leader
Coonamble Shire Council - Gulargambone Mr Paul Fisher Coonamble Shire Council - Gulargambone Local Ambassador
Cootamundra Gundagai Council - Cootamundra  Mr David Hall OAM Wheelchair Tennis Player
Cootamundra Gundagai Council - Gundagai Ms Tiffany Thomas Kane OAM Paralympic Medallist - Swimming 
Cowra Shire Council Mr Ben Farinazzo Veteran, Gold Medallist and Mental Health Advocate
Cumberland Council Mr Christopher Cheng Author
Dubbo Regional Council - Dubbo Mr Anupam Sharma Film Director
Dubbo Regional Council - Wellington Mr Ron Delezio Co-Founder & Co-Director of Day of Difference Foundation
Dungog Shire Council Ms Therese McIntrye Dungog Shire Council Local Ambassador 
Fairfield City Council Ms Amelia Farrugia Opera Singer
Federation Council - Corowa  Mr David Bitton Chef
Forbes Shire Council Ms Ange Clarke Founder of Where there's a Will ltd, Fred Hollows Humanitarian recipient 
Georges River Council  Ms Amar Hadid Professional Skateboarder
Gilgandra Shire Council Dr Clio Cresswell Mathematician, Writer, Media Personality
Glen Innes Severn Council Mr Peter Herbert Screenwriter & Producer (Acropolous Now, Skirts)
Goulburn Mulwaree Council Mr John Thistleton Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Ambassador
Greater Hume Shire Council  Mr James Pittar Endurance Swimmer
Griffith City Council Ms Michelle Leonard OAM Founder and Artistic Director of the not-for-profit, Moorambilla Voices
Gunnedah Shire Council Mr Patrick Warmoll Gunnedah Shire Council Local Ambassador
Gwydir Shire Council - Warialda  Mr Gary Dawson OAM Keynote Speaker and Golfer
Hawkesbury City Council The StarAbility Dance Performance Group Formerly 'Special Olympic Dance Performance Group'
Hay Shire Council Ms Susie Elelman AM Author, TV & Radio Broadcaster
Hilltops Council - Harden  Mr Peter McLean Executive Officer of the Australian Organics Recycling Association , former NSW CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful
Hilltops Council - Young Mr Michael Tomalaris SBS Journalist
Hunters Hill Council Ms Diana Ryall AM Founder Xplore for Success / 2018 Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence
Inverell Shire Council Ms Jane Rutter Flautist
Junee Shire Council Mrs Liz Deep-Jones TV Presenter, Journalist & Author, Producer of the We Bleed the same Anti-Racisim Exhibition
Kempsey Shire Council Mr Mark Morrison OAM Kempsey Shire Council Local Ambassador 
Ku-ring-gai Council Ms Bobby Redman BA MA Finalist 2020 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Dementia advocate
Kyogle Council - Kyogle Mr John Lee OAM, PHF, BSocSci Founder - You Have a Friend charity
Kyogle Council - Woodenbong Mr Rhys Muldoon Actor
Lane Cove Municipal Council Mr Nicholas Gleeson Adventurer / Motivational Speaker / Paralympian - Athletics
Leeton Shire Council Ms Robina Beard OAM Entertainer/ Dancer /Actor
Lismore City Council Mr Geoffrey Coombes OAM Founder STRYDE4 | Co-Founder Tour de Cure
Lithgow City Council Mrs Astrid Alice Hocking Foster carer advocate and anti-violence campaigner, 2023 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Finalist 
Liverpool City Council Miss Lottie Dalziel 2023 NSW Young Australian of the Year / Founder of Banish
Liverpool Plains Shire Council Mr Steve Widders Motivational Speaker
Lockhart Shire Council Mr Victor Kovalenko OAM Australian Sailing Coach
Mid-Western Regional Council Ms Joanne (Jo) Taranto Director and Co-founder of Good for the Hood. Sustainability Engagement Consultant and Speaker. 
Mosman City Council Mrs Samantha Hollier-James Co-Founder, Tour de Cure
Murray River Council  Ms Gwenda Darling 2025 NSW Senior AOTY Finalist | Dementia and Aged Care Activist
Murrumbidgee Council Mrs Lana Masterson Nominee 2021 NSW Local Hero
Nambucca Valley Council Mr Corey Payne NSW Young Australian of the Year 2013 & Former NRL Player 
Narrandera Shire Council Ms Emma Rossi Media Executive and Former TV Presenter
Narromine Shire Council - Narromine and Trangie Mr Gerry Tatrai Ultra-Marathon Cyclist
Oberon Council Mr Angus Olsen 2024 NSW Local Hero | Illustrator, I Draw Childhood Cancer
Orange City Council Mr John Stanley Radio Presenter - 2UE
Parkes Shire Council Mr Tasman Cassim Head of Partnerships at Black Dog Institute, Founder of the Superhero Walk
Port Stephens Council Ms Ruth Wilson Port Stephens Local Ambassador
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Ms Kristy Tai (Giteau) Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Local Ambassador 
Randwick City Council Ms Jo Brigden-Jones Olympian - Sprint Kayaker / Motivational Speaker
Shellharbour City Council Ms Ange Clarke Founder of Where there's a Will ltd, Fred Hollows Humanitarian recipient 
Shoalhaven City Council Mr Andy Paschalidis Sports Presenter & Soccer Commentator
Snowy Monaro Regional Council - Bombala, Jindabyne & Cooma Mr Ethan Butson Scientist and Inventor
Snowy Valleys Council - Tumut Mr Bob Turner Sports & Business Executive
Strathfield Municipal Council Ms Kumud Merani Former Producer SBS Radio, Premier's Multicultural Media Award Winner 2013, Freelancer Actor
Tamworth Regional Council - Manilla and Barraba Ms Mel Thomas Journalist, Author & Founder of the KYUP! Project
The Hills Shire Council Dr Cindy Pan Media Doctor, Author, Columnist & Radio Presenter
Upper Hunter Shire Council - Merriwa Mr Doug Hawkins 2020 NSW Local Hero Nominee
Upper Lachlan Shire Council Ms Isabella (Bella) Bain Nominee 2021 Young Australian of the Year, Co-Founder of Ambient and Co and World Champion Athlete
Uralla Shire Council Ms Susanne Gervay OAM Childrens Author
Walcha Council Mr Terrence O'Connell OAM 2016 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Finalist
Warren Shire Council Ms Alexandra Moore Dual Commonwealth Games Medalist
Warrumbungle Shire Council - Coolah Ms Taylor Corry Paralympian - swimming
Warrumbungle Shire Council - Coonabarabran A/Prof HY William Chan 2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year Finalist, Architect and UNICEF Young Ambassador
Weddin Shire Council Ms Karen Stuttle Weddin Shire Council Local Ambassador
Wentworth Shire Council Mr Sam Bramham OAM Australian Paralympic Swimmer
Willoughby City Council Ms Anneke Van Den Broek Businesswoman and entrepreneur / Winner 2020 NSW Business Woman of the Year Award
Wingecarribee Shire Council Mr Damien Leith Radio Announcer, Singer
Wollondilly Shire Council Ms Promilla  Gupta OAM Premier's 2018 Multicultural Regional Community Medal Winner

* Please note this information was current at the date of publishing but may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Local towns who are hosts to Ambassadors are notified separately of any changes to their assigned Ambassador. 

Australia Day in NSW Partners

Presenting Partner

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