Gala event winners and presenters -more photos to follow

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Community Development and or  Advocacy

This award acknowledges the individual having contributed to the benefit of their community and more broadly to the wider community in a profound way, to being an exceptional role model and as such, has made a significant difference to others

Presented by: Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald is currently CEO of SCOPE has a Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Physiotherapy), Graduate Diploma of Physiotherapy (Neurology), a Master’s in Business Administration and a Doctor of Physiotherapy.  

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Service to the Australian People

 This award acknowledges the individual as having contributed to the benefit of their community, education, university, public service and emergency services

Presented by Professor Bonyhady who is a disability reformer, economist, one of the key architects of the National Disability Insurance   Scheme (NDIS) and was the inaugural Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) from 2013 to 2016 . 

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Human Rights

This award acknowledges the individual as having made a significant contribution to their community and to the wider Australian community, to show by way of courage and conviction what is possible, they possess a capacity to reach and convince others to do their best for others.

Presented by: Professor Gillian Triggs Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection United Nations Geneva  

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Law:  This award   acknowledges the individual as having contributed to the application of law in a profound way, to being an exceptional role model and as such has made a significant difference to others.

Presented by: Hon. G Tony Pagone: The Honorable Tony Pagone QC was appointed as Commissioner to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety on 13 September 2019.Was a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 2013 until 2018, and was the national co ordinating judge of the Federal Court's Taxation National Practice Area. Before that, he was a judge of the trial division of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the judge in charge of the Commercial Court of that Court. 

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Medicine

This award acknowledges the individual as having made a significant contribution to medicine and or research and to challenging perceptions about what a medical practitioner or researcher can achieve, to breaking down barriers and overcoming obstacles, and have contributed to the greater benefit of the Australian community and to being an exceptional role model and as such has made a significant difference to others.

Presented by Dr. Jane Tracy Centre for Developmental Disability Health  (CDDH). On Behalf of Jennifer Williams AM In addition to her Northern Health role she is Chair of Yooralla, and on the boards of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, InfoXchange, the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority and Barwon Health.  

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Medical Research

This award acknowledges the individual as having made a significant contribution to research and to challenging perceptions about what a medical researcher can achieve, to breaking down barriers and overcoming obstacles, and have contributed to the greater benefit of the Australian community and to being an exceptional role model and as such has made a significant difference to others 

Presented by Dr. Jane Tracy Dr Jane Tracy Centre for Developmental Disability Health  (CDDH). On Behalf of Jennifer Williams AM In addition to her Northern Health role she is Chair of Yooralla, and on the boards of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board, InfoXchange, the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority and Barwon Health.  

Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in Small Business

This award acknowledges the individual as having made a significant contribution to business  and advocacy and is seen by his peers to be innovative and a leader in business 

Presented by:  David Coogan . Partner PricewatehouseCoopers specialising in financial services with a focus on superannuation and investment management . Over 40 years as a Chartered Accountant working both locally and overseas 

 Prestigious Winner:   Individual Best Achievement in Sport award. 

This award acknowledges the individual as having contributed to the benefit of their sporting community and more broadly to the wider community in a significant manner, to being an exceptional role model and as such has made a significant difference to others

Presented by:  Cate Campbell, OAM (born 20 May 1992) is a   Malawian-born Australian competitive swimmer, and a   current multiple world record holder, who won two bronze medals at the 2008   Summer Olympics, a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics and a gold and a   silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

 TAC FOR THE BEST VICTORIAN INDEPENDENT ACHIEVER AWARD  

This award is only for Victorians and recognises someone who is playing a pivotal role in opening new doors, advocating for greater independence and creating broader community awareness for people living with a disability.

Presented by Liz Cairns Acting Head of Strategy TAC

Prestigious Winner:  Individual Best Achievement in the Arts (performance)

This award acknowledges the individual as having contributed to the artistic and cultural world in a moving and significant way, to being exceptional role model and as such has made a significant difference to others

 Presented by Louise Herron CEO of the Sydney Opera House: In mid-2012 Louise Herron was appointed Sydney Opera House's seventh CEO and is the first woman to hold the position. Trained as a lawyer and corporate advisor, Louise has held senior roles in law, business and the arts. She chaired Belvoir Street Theatre from 2002 to 2012, leading the company through a period of unprecedented change. Louise retired from Belvoir to chair the Australian Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council (MPAB), which administers government funding of the country's flagship state and federal theatre, dance and opera companies, a position she left to take up the Opera House appointment. 

 Prestigious Winner: Individual Best Achievement in the Arts (visual):  This award acknowledges the individual as having contributed to the artistic and   cultural world in a moving and significant way, to being exceptional role   model and as such has made a significant difference to others.

Presented by  Louise Herron CEO of the Sydney Opera House: In mid-2012 Louise Herron was appointed Sydney Opera House's seventh CEO and is the first woman to hold the position. Trained as a lawyer and corporate advisor, Louise has held senior roles in law, business and the arts. She chaired Belvoir Street Theatre from 2002 to 2012, leading the company through a period of unprecedented change. Louise retired from Belvoir to chair the Australian Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council (MPAB), which administers government funding of the country's flagship state and federal theatre, dance and opera companies, a position she left to take up the Opera House appointment.  

Prestigious Winner:  Individual Best Achievement in Literature

This award acknowledges the individual has having contributed to the benefit of their community and more broadly shifting perceptions about what is possible, to break down barriers and to encourage the wider community to accept what is possible, to being an exceptional role model and as such has made a significant difference to others

Presented by: David Marr  is an Australian journalist, author and progressive political and social commentator. His areas of expertise include the law, Australian politics, censorship, the media and the arts. He writes for The Monthly, The Saturday  Paper and Guardian Australia. He also appears as a semi-regular panellist on the ABC television programs Q&A and Insiders.

Kurt Fearnley is our MC: https://www.kurtfearnley.com/  well know host of the ABC  One Plus One Kurt Fearnley is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist and two time Commonwealth Games gold medalist. He has won over 40 marathons, including New York, Chicago and London in a career spanning more than 20 years. In 2009 Kurt crawled the Kokoda track, in Papua New Guinea, to raise awareness of men’s health. Kurt was also a member of the winning Sydney to Hobart yacht crew, Investec Loyal, in 2012. He is New South Wales Australian of the Year for 2019.