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Sri Lankan-Victorian Azmeena Hussain awarded OAM in Australia
Ms. Azmeena Hussain, a Sri Lankan-Victorian Muslim domiciled in Australia was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for her service to the Community and Multicultural Affairs and to the law of Victoria, on January 26 to mark Australia Day.
Born in the South East suburbs of Melbourne, she says that her ambition from a very young age was to be a lawyer.
‘It was the only career I have ever considered. Access to justice for all is my passion in life and everything I do is driven by this”, she enthused.
“I love our Victorian-Muslim community because we are committed towards making a difference in the world we live in. I love Victoria because of the generosity of ordinary Victorians, and the passion to advance social justice is incredible and inspiring. No individual should walk this earth without a platform to be heard and an ability to contribute to society; this is a basic human right that unfortunately, not all of us have in this current day and age”, Ms. Hussain continued.
She said that fighting for this is probably the easiest reason to get out of bed and come to work each day. “I have hope because of the incredible individuals I work with, whether in my career or in my community”.
“When we speak to one another, we see that we all want the same things – happiness, security and a sense of belonging. This sense of togetherness drives me to want to bring the best out in others and myself”, she added.
Ms. Hussain serves as Chairperson & Director, Islamic Museum of Australia, since 2016. She is the Deputy Chair, InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, 2012-2020, former Director and Trustee, Victorian Women’s Trust, Advisor, Youth Activating Youth, since 2018, former Vice President, Office for Women at the Islamic Council of Victoria and former Executive Advisor, Australian Multicultural Foundation, 2005-2010.
She also worked as former Director, Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, 2013. Law, Principal, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, since 2010, former Human Rights Advisor, Victoria Police, Chief Commissioner’s Strategic Advisory, former Taskforce Advisor to the Victorian Minister for Crime Prevention. Sport, Non-Executive Director, Football Victoria, since 2019, former AFL Multicultural Ambassador & Multicultural Advisor and former Advisor, The Huddle, North Melbourne Football Club.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
