2011 AMAA Winners Announced
Winners Announced at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards (AMAA 2011)
Hosted by Mission of Hope in an effort to recognise 16 individuals for their tireless efforts in the community, the much-anticipated AMAAs were held on Saturday 17th December 2011 at the University of Melbourne. Mission of Hope President, Hanan Dover said that the Awards are instrumental in raising the profile of Australian Muslims, both at an individual and organisational level and promoting their achievements.
“These Awards celebrate the important role that Australian Muslims have played in Australia’s past and present and will continue to play in the future.”
Dr Joanne McKeown - Australian Muslim Woman of the Year
In their sixth year running and sponsored by National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies Australia, the AMAAs are more than just a celebration of the ‘who’s who’ in the Muslim Community. The AMAAs also recognised the efforts of non-Muslims who have helped foster mutual respect and understanding by awarding Jewish Rabbi and National Director of Together for Humanity, Rabbi Zalman Kastel, the prestigious Abyssinian Award.
Amongst the 16 celebrated award categories announced at the ceremony, the most anticipated categories included ‘AMAA Woman of the Year’, awarded to Dr. Joanne McKeown and the ‘Australian Muslim Lifetime Achiever Award’, awarded to community leader and founder of the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF), Dr. Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad.
Lawyer and author Randa Abdel-Fattah was thrilled to be named Winner of ‘Role Model of the Year’.
“I hope I’ll always have the humility not to seek to be a role model and the wisdom to behave as one,” she said as she accepted her award for the event.
Moustafa Fahour - Australian Muslim Man of the Year and Australian Muslim Volunteer of the Year
Moustafa Fahour, co-founder of the Islamic Museum of Australia and prominent business figure, was awarded the prestigious Man of the Year award, as well as Volunteer of the Year.
WINNERS for 2011
Winners of the 2011 AMAAs
Awards:
Best new community project of the year – Islamic Museum of Australia (VIC)
Business of the Year – Crescent Times Newspaper (WA)
Media Outlet of the Year – MuslimVillage.com (NSW)
Sportsperson of the Year – Walid Yassine (NSW)
Community Organisation Award – Islamic Museum of Australia (NSW)
Professional of the Year Award – Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal (VIC)
Dr Bulent Hass Dellal - Professional of the Year and Australian Muslim Researcher of the Year
Abyssinian Award – Rabbi Zalman Kastel (NSW)
Role Model of the Year Award – Randa Abdel-Fattah (NSW)
Creative Artist of the Year Award – Peter Gould (NSW)
Researcher of the Year – Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal (VIC)
Event of the Year Award – Auburn Community Development Network- Ramadan Iftar Program 2011 (NSW)
Volunteer of the Year Award – Moustafa Fahour (VIC)
Youth of the Year Award – Amna Karra-Hassan (NSW)
Man of the Year Award – Moustafa Fahour (VIC)
Woman of the Year Award – Dr Joanna McKeown (WA)
Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad (NSW)
Comedian & Entertainer Extraordinaire, Khaled Khalafalla