Australia Day Ambassadors

Up to 100 inspirational Australians speak about what it truly means to be Australian at community events across NSW each year.

Each year, up to 100 remarkable Australia Day Ambassadors participate in Australia Day activities around NSW, inspiring communities, sharing knowledge and insights from their extraordinary and diverse backgrounds and stories of what it means to be Australian.

From celebrity chefs, elite athletes, mathematicians, world renown academics, environmentalists and farmers to creative arts advocates and local heroes, these high-achieving individuals will head to all corners of NSW on 26 January, volunteering their time and energy to support local festivities, and connect with communities encouraged to come together this Australia Day to Reflect, Respect and Celebrate the Australian spirit and our diversity.

Roles and responsibilities

The activities of the Ambassadors on Australia Day are as diverse as the communities and events themselves.

For over three decades, Ambassadors have generously volunteered their time and energy through the Ambassador Program to celebrate community spirit, inspire national pride in local communities and share their uplifting stories in celebrating our diverse culture.

Out in their communities, they participate in all manner of activities like hand out Australia Day community awards, judge lamington competitions, preside over thong-throwing challenges, help cook sausage sizzles and mingle with locals over a cup of tea. To visiting local libraries to do a special reading, join local community Australia Day sports matches or head to the community Australia Day pool party.

Ambassadors may also give an address that captures the spirit of being Australian and present certificates at awards ceremonies.

2024 Ambassadors

A full list of 2024 NSW Australia Day Ambassadors and the communities they will visit;

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.

LGA

Ambassador

Ambassador Credential

Armidale Regional Council - Armidale

Mr Michael James Crossland

Motivational Speaker, Humanitarian, International Best-selling Author

Balranald Shire Council

Mr Eren Incekara

Pilot – Little Wings

Bathurst Regional Council

 

Miss Lottie Dalziel

 

2023 NSW Young Australian of the Year/ Founder of Banish

 

Bega Valley Shire Council

Mr Warwick Nowland

World Superbike Champion

Blacktown City Council

Mr Brad Farmer AM

Australia’s Official Beach Ambassador

Bland Shire Council

Mrs Robyn Moore AM

Voice of Blinky Bill, Keynote Speaker & Voice Over Artist

Blayney Shire Council

Mr Ron Delezio

Co-Founder & Co-Director of Day of Difference Foundation

Bogan Shire Council

Mr Peter Wilkins

Former TV Presenter & Sports Commentator

Bourke Shire Council

Mr Andrew Lock OAM

Mountaineer

Brewarrina Shire Council

Mr Ronald Simpson

Jockey

Broken Hill City Council

Ms Catriona Rowntree

TV Presenter

Burwood Council

Ms Kath Koschel

Former Cricket Player and Founder of the Kindness Factory

Cabonne Council

Mr Keith Potger AO

Founding member of The Seekers

Camden Council

Ms Amar Hadid

Professional Skateboarder

Campbelltown City Council

Mr Bryce Collins

Junior International Athletics Champion - Hurdles

Canterbury - Bankstown Council

Mr Bob Turner

Sports & Business Executive

Carrathool Shire Council

Ms Debbie Watson OAM OLY

Olympic Medallist - Water Polo, Sydney 2000

Cessnock City Council

Mr & Mrs Roger & Lana Borg

Founders of Mama Lana’s Community Foundation, 2015 NSW Australia's Local Hero finalist

City Of Canada Bay Council

Mrs Samantha Hollier

Co-Founder, Tour de Cure

City of Parramatta

Professor Veena Sahajwalla FAA FTSE HonFIEAust CPEng

Inventor

City Of Ryde Council

Mr Christopher Cheng

Author

Cobar Shire Council

Ms Emma Rossi

Media Executive and Former TV Presenter

Coolamon Shire Council

Mrs Sandra Ireson

2017 NSW-ACT Rural Women’s Award Winner

Coonamble Shire Council - Coonamble

 

Ms Carolyn Mee

Founder of Sound Scouts

Coonamble Shire Council - Gulargambone

Mr Michael Tomalaris

SBS Journalist

Cootamundra Gundagai Council - Cootamundra

Mr Ethan Butson

Scientist and Inventor

Cootamundra Gundagai Council - Gundagai

Mr Mark Warren

Commentator

Cowra Shire Council

Ms Viv Kartsounis

Founder of Shoes for Planet Earth

Cumberland Council

Ms Amelia Farrugia

Opera Singer

Dubbo Regional Council - Dubbo

Mr Sam Cawthorn

Motivational Speaker - Empowering Enterprises

Dubbo Regional Council - Wellington

Mr Rhys Muldoon

Actor

Dungog Shire Council

Mr David Hall OAM

Wheelchair Tennis Player

Fairfield City Council

Ms Kumud Merani

Former Producer SBS Radio, Premier's Multicultural Media Award Winner 2013, Freelancer Actor

Federation Council - Corowa

Mr Anupam Sharma

Film Director

Forbes Shire Council

Mr Paul Featherstone BM ASM

Senior Instructor For NSW Ambulance Scat Team

Georges River Council

Ms Amanda Rose

Founder - Business Women Media, Trainer, Business consultant & Keynote speaker.

Gilgandra Shire Council

Mr James Pittar

Endurance Swimmer

Glen Innes Severn Council

Mr Corey Payne

NSW Young Australian of the Year 2013 & Former NRL Player

Greater Hume 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

Griffith City Council

Ms Susanne Gervay OAM

Childrens Author

Gunnedah Shire Council

Mr Todd Mckenney

Singer/Dancer/'dancing With The Stars Judge'

Gwydir Council - Warialda

Ms Isabella Bain

Nominee 2021 Young Australian of the Year, Co-Founder of Ambient and Co and World Champion Athlete

Hawkesbury City Council

Mr Ricardo Goncalves

Journalist and SBS News Presenter

Hay Shire Council

Mr Andy Paschalidis

Sports Presenter & Soccer Commentator

Hilltops Council - Boorowa

Mr Greg Donovan

Founder of Born to Run, Motivational Speaker

Hilltops Council - Harden

Ms Promilla Gupta OAM

Premier's 2018 Multicultural Regional Community Medal Winner

Hilltops Council - Young

 

Mr Peter Cousens AM

Actor / Singer

 

Hunters Hill Council

Ms Ange Clarke

Founder of Where there's a Will ltd, Fred Hollows Humanitarian recipient

Inverell Shire Council

Mr John Wearne AM

Bingara Community Leader

Junee Shire Council

Ms Sonia Gandhi

Director, Gandhi Creations, Board Member of Multicultural NSW

Kempsey Shire Council

Mr Philip Lee OAM

Writer / Historian

Ku-ring-gai Council

Mr Nic Newling

Motivational Speaker and Mental Health Advocate

Kyogle Council - Kyogle

Ms Mel Thomas

Journalist, Author & Founder of the KYUP! Project

Kyogle Council - Woodenbong

Mr Joe Snell

Architect and TV Personality

Lachlan Shire Council

Mr Khushaal Vyas

Multicultural NSW Youth Medal Winner/ Solicitor and Youth Advocate

Lane Cove Municipal Council

Mr Jason Sotiris

Founder - Super Tee

Leeton Shire Council

Ms Lyndey Milan OAM

Celebrity Chef

Lismore City Council

Dr Clio Cresswell

Mathematician/Writer/Media Personality

Lithgow City Council

Mr Bruno Efoti

Founder of Tradies in Sight

Liverpool City Council

Mr Terrence O'Connell OAM

2016 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Finalist

Liverpool Plains Shire Council

Mr Gary Dawson OAM

Keynote Speaker and Golfer

Lockhart Shire Council

Mr Craig Goozee OAM

Ultra Marathoner

Mid-Western Regional Council

Professor Ronald McCallum AO

Professor In Industrial Law

Mosman City Council

Mr Warren Kermond OAM

Entertainer

Murray River Council

Dr Cindy Pan

Media Doctor, Author, Columnist & Radio Presenter

Murrumbidgee Council

Mr John Harper

Founder of Mate Helping Mate (Mental Wellbeing Awareness)

Nambucca Valley Council

Mr Rob Caslick

Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Two Good Co

Narrabri Shire Council

Mr Clyde Campbell AM

Founder, Shake It Up Foundation

Narrandera Shire Council

Mr Doug Hawkins

2020 NSW Local Hero Nominee

Narromine Shire Council

Ms Michelle Leonard OAM

Founder and Artistic Director of the not-for-profit, Moorambilla Voices

Oberon Council

Mr Peter McLean

Executive Officer of the Australian Organics Recycling Association. Former NSW CEO of Keep Australia Beautiful

Orange City Council

Ms Joanne (Jo) Taranto

Director and Co-founder of Good for the Hood. Sustainability Engagement Consultant and Speaker.

Parkes Shire Council

Mr Graham Ross AM VMM

TV Presenter - Better Homes & Gardens

 

Parkes Shire Council

Mrs Liz Deep - Jones

 

TV Presenter, Journalist & Author, Product of the We Bleed the same Anti – Racism Exhibition

Port Stephens Council

Mrs Cheryl Koenig OAM

Author, Motivational Speaker and 2009 NSW Woman of the Year

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

Mr Ben Farinazzo

Veteran, Gold Medallist and Mental Health Advocate

Randwick City Council

Ms Anneke Van Den Broek

Businesswoman and entrepreneur / Winner 2020 NSW Business Woman of the Year Award

Shellharbour City Council

Mr Steve Widders

Motivational Speaker

Shoalhaven City Council

Mr Kumar Pereira

Celebrity Chef

Snowy Monaro Regional Council - Bombala

Ms Linda Sparrow

2024 Australia's Local Hero Finalist / Bangalow Koalas

Snowy Monaro Regional Council - Cooma

Mr Geoffrey Coombes OAM

Founder STRYDE4 | Co-Founder Tour de Cure

Strathfield Municipal Council

Mr Col Hardy OAM

 

Musician / Country Music Award Winner

 

Strathfield Municipal Council

Ms Maria Venuti AM

Entertainer

Tamworth Regional Council - Barraba

Mr John Lee OAM, PHF, BSocSci

Founder - You Have a Friend charity

Tamworth Regional Council - Manilla

Mr John Lee OAM, PHF, BSocSci

Founder - You Have a Friend charity

The Hills Shire Council

Ms Jo Brigden-Jones

Olympian - Sprint Kayaker / Motivational Speaker

Ulladulla Milton Lions Club

Mr Peter Herbert

Screenwriter & Producer (Acropolous Now, Skirts)

United Australian Lebanese Movement

Ms Amar Hadid

Professional Skateboarder

Upper Hunter Shire Council - Merriwa

Ms Christine Mastello

NSW 2022 Local Hero Nominee, Founder of Southlakes Inc and the Community Hair Project, 2023 NSW Local Hero

Upper Lachlan Shire Council

Mr Jay Allen OAM

Melanoma Crusader, 2018 NSW Australia's Local Hero Finalist, founder of Australian Skin Cancer Foundation

Uralla Shire Council

Ms Susie Elelman AM

Author, TV & Radio Broadcaster

Wagga Wagga City Council

Mr Alan Pottie

Wagga Wagga 2023 Citizen of the Year

Walcha Council

Mr Nicholas Gleeson

Adventurer / Motivational Speaker / Paralympian - Athletics

Walgett Shire Council

 

 

Warren Shire Council

Mr Tasman Cassim

Head of Partnerships at Black Dog Institute, Founder of the Superhero Walk

Warrumbungle Shire Council - Coolah Community

Mr George Ellis

Conductor, Composer & Musical Arranger

Warrumbungle Shire Council - Coonabarabran

Mr Warren Potent OLY

Olympian - Shooting, Rio 2016

Weddin Shire Council

Ms Jane Rutter

Flautist

Wentworth Shire Council

Mr Michael Goldman

TV Presenter

Willoughby City Council

The StarAbility Dance Performance Group (formerly Special Olympic Dance Performance Group)

The StarAbility Dance Performance Group

Wingecarribee Shire Council

Ms Robina Beard OAM

Entertainer/ Dancer /Actor

Wollondilly Shire Council

Mr Yianni Johns BFA, MA.

Artist

Yass Valley Council

Ms Tiffany Thomas Kane OAM

Paralympic Medallist - Swimming

 

Australia Day in NSW Partners