2026 Premier’s Harmony Dinner Program
Welcome to Country
This evening’s Welcome to Country will be delivered by Uncle Brendan Kerin, in Sydney on Gadigal Land.
Uncle Brendan Kerin is an Arrernte and Barkindji Elder and prominent member of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Program
Welcome
Welcome to Country – Binowee Bales
Opening performance
Federation Children’s Choir – National Anthem, Brighter Days
MCs – Janice Peterson and Adam Liaw
Opening address
Speech – The Hon. Steve Kamper MP, Minister for Multiculturalism
Official proceedings and award presentation
Introduction of the Multicultural Honour Roll – The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW
Presentation of Multicultural Honour Roll Inductees
Speech – The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW
Performance
Bondi Tribute featuring performance by Ben Adler and Paul Khodor from CHUNTNEY band, appearing courtesy of SHIR, the Australian Jewish Music Festival
Interview with Joseph La Posta, Coordinator General, Bondi Community Response, together with Bondi Community Hero, Ahmed Al Ahmed
Interlude
Performance
HALO Ensemble
Presentation of Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals
Community Harmony Medal sponsored by Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Lifetime Community Service Medal sponsored by SBS
Regional Unity Medal sponsored by My Guardian
Community Languages Teacher Medal sponsored by NSW Department of Education
Interpreters and Translators Medal sponsored by NAATI
Multicultural Health Medal sponsored by the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service on behalf of NSW Health
Sports Medal sponsored by Sydney Thunder
Interlude
Presentation of Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals
Arts and Culture Medal sponsored by Powerhouse
Multicultural Not for Profit Medal sponsored by NSW Department of Communities and Justice
Multicultural Youth Medal sponsored by the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)
Best Report in Multicultural Media sponsored by SSI
Multicultural Publication of the Year sponsored by Anti-Discrimination NSW
Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by Village Plaza
Feature Performance
Cle Morgan
After Party Performance
DJ LaVida
Special Guest - Ahmed Al Ahmed
Ahmed Al Ahmed was one of the many heroes of the Bondi attack, after his valiant act of bravery to disarm one of the gunmen went viral around the world. Ahmed was shot multiple times and has spent the last three months recovering from his injuries.
Ahmed will join Multicultural NSW CEO Joseph La Posta on stage for his reflections and so we can honour his selfless act of heroism.
One Mitzvah for Bondi
To continue to show solidarity with those devastated by this tragedy, you can take part in a simple act of kindness for our ‘One Mitzvah for Bondi’ initiative.
A mitzvah is an act of kindness, compassion, and moral responsibility. It can be as simple as checking in on a neighbour, volunteering time, supporting a local charity, or donating blood.
Submit your act of kindness on the One Mitzvah for Bondi website
Masters of Ceremonies & performances
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Janice Peterson
Janice Petersen has worked as a cross platform journalist and news presenter for two decades and currently presents SBS World News five nights a week.
Janice brings to SBS a strong background in journalism after many years at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where she reported on and covered breaking news events.
In her current role, she regularly interviews leading news makers and has contributed live updates on major national and international news stories. She’s travelled across the globe to countries including Iceland, South Africa, Taiwan and Singapore to report on the ground.
Janice has been at the helm of landmark SBS programs including forum series Insight, international current affairs programme Dateline and Go Back To Where You Came From.
Janice is the host of popular small business podcast, The Company You Keep and is the voice of SBS Chill. She has also hosted numerous high-profile events, including the ANU Crawford Leadership Forum, Australia Day Lunch, the Australian Open Inspirational Series with Anna Wintour and INAS Global Games.
Adam Liaw
Adam Liaw is a cook, writer, and broadcaster. One of Australia’s most in-demand media personalities, Adam has hosted dozens of food, travel and documentary television programs such as the award winning Destination Flavour (SBS) travel series, Adam & Poh’s Great Australian Bites (SBS), The Cook Up with Adam Liaw (SBS), currently in it’s 9th season with over 900 episodes proeduced, a panelist on Tomorrow Tonight (ABC), Who The Bloody Hell Are we? (SBS) and Good Food Kitchen (Nine).
He also presents the podcast “How Taste Changed the World” for Audible.
He is the author of ten cookbooks, the #1 recipe writer for Good Food, a weekly columnist for Sunday Life magazine, and summer columnist for The Guardian.
Adam’s social media following exceeds 1.5 million followers across his channels.
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Opening performance
Federation Children’s Choir
Established in 2011 by Dimitra Tsodouris, the Federation Children’s Choir brings together over 20 students from Community Language Schools to celebrate cultural diversity through the power of music. Choir members represent a wide range of languages and cultures, with many of them having performed at major venues like the Sydney Opera House and Town Hall.
Beyond showcasing their vocal talents and colourful traditional and folkloric costumes, the choir embodies its mission of fostering harmony, cultural richness, and unity across communities. This year, the choir welcomes its new choirmaster, Yehansa Dahanayake. As a former member of the Federation Children’s Choir herself, Yehansa brings her bilingual identity and passion for music to lead with energy and vision.
Bondi Tribute Performance
CHUTNEY unplugged appearing courtesy of SHIR, the Australian Jewish Music Festival
Violinist Ben Adler and pianist Paul Khodor founded award-winning klezmer fusion band CHUTNEY in 2020, with whom they have toured nationally and globally. Their debut album, Ajar, won a triple Gold Medal in the 2024 Global Music Awards in San Diego.
Ben and Paul appear tonight as ‘CHUTNEY unplugged’, a classically influenced side project of the main seven-piece band. Their live duo recordings, born out of necessity during COVID, have garnered over half a million views across social media.
CHUTNEY recently performed at the Bondi Beach terror attack vigil and at Australia Day Live on the Opera House Forecourt as part of SHIR, the Australian Jewish Music Festival, which Ben also directs. Ben and Paul are driven by the belief that music can heal and bring us closer together.
Cultural performance
HALO Vocal Ensemble
The Halo Vocal Ensemble brings the spirit of the Pacific through powerful music, storytelling, and cultural expression. Formed by artists from the islands of Samoa and Tonga, Halo Pasifika is one of Melbourne’s most renowned cultural movements in the local music scene.
The ensemble shares the voices of their ancestors through traditional songs, rich harmonies, and heartfelt performances. Singing in the languages of their heritage, they celebrate identity, history, and community.
Feature Performance
Cle Morgan
Cle Morgan is a Jamaican-Australian vocalist celebrated for her soulful tone, powerful delivery, and commanding stage presence.
She gained national recognition as a standout contestant on The Voice Australia, captivating audiences with emotionally charged performances and heartfelt storytelling. Influenced by gospel, classic soul, R&B, and contemporary pop, Cle’s sound reflects her upbringing between the Caribbean and Australia.
Tonight, she performs a custom version of Vumaala’s song ‘Show Me’ alongside the Halo Vocal Ensemble.
After party performance
DJ LaVida
DJ LaVida is a Sydney-based, Hispanic open-format DJ with over 12 years of professional experience.
Born in Costa Rica to Guatemalan parents and raised in Australia, and being fluent in Spanish, she brings a vibrant Aussie-Latina identity. Known for her versatility and intuitive crowd reading, LaVida has performed for global brands, major sporting events, and luxury venues across Sydney and Singapore.
Tonight, she will deliver a high-energy, crowd-focused set featuring feel-good classics and global hits from Sweet Caroline and ABBA favourites, and everything in between.
Judges
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Judge
Simon Chan AM
Judge
Soraiya Fuda
Judge
David Giang
Judge
Lorraine Jokovic
Judge
Julie Lim
Judge
Mark Painting
Judge
Isobel Scouler
Judge
David Terrazas
Judge
Dionissia Tsirigos
Judge
Khushaal Vyas
Judge
Lisa Woodland
Multicultural Honour Roll Inductees
TopThe Multicultural Honour Roll is a posthumous recognition commemorating the legacy and impact the recipient had on influencing an inclusive, resilient and peaceful society for all.
Inductees of the Multicultural Honour Roll are remembered in a permanent public record for their lasting contribution to the community in New South Wales that extends beyond their passing.
Major partnerships
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With over a hundred years of supporting communities across Australia, CommBank is committed to building a brighter future for all.
From designing products and services that are accessible to everyone, supporting local not-for-profit organisations, to fostering a diverse workforce – we’re here for our community.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia is the sponsor of the Community Harmony Medal.
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For over 50 years, SBS has been inspiring all Australians to explore, respect and celebrate our diverse world, contributing to an inclusive and cohesive society.
SBS delivers multiplatform content and essential services across TV, audio and online in more than 60 languages, and is the home of National Indigenous Television.
SBS is the sponsor of the 2026 Lifetime Community Service Medal.
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My Guardian is a leading Aged & Disability Care provider with over 10 years of experience providing caring and compassionate home and community care services across Australia.
We offer a wide range of services including Aged Care, Support at Home, Disability Care, SDA & SIL, Residential Care, iCare and Retirement Villages.
My Guardian is the sponsor of the Regional Unity Medal.
Sponsors
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Empowering students across NSW to embrace their heritage language by fostering a strong sense of identity and belonging.
NSW Department of Education is the sponsor of the Community Languages Teacher Medal.
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NAATI is the national standards and certifying authority for translators and interpreters in Australia. We certify people wishing to work as a translator or interpreter.
Learn more about our national awareness campaign about the importance of NAATI-certified interpreters in healthcare settings, “We all deserve to be understood.”
NAATI is the sponsor of the Interpreters and Translators Medal
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NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) is a NSW Health state-wide service with expertise in communication and community engagement with multicultural communities.
NSW Health is committed to providing person-centred care that supports equity and inclusion in designing and delivering services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Multicultural Health Communication Service on behalf of NSW Health is the sponsor of the Multicultural Health Medal.
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Sydney Thunder is a professional cricket club competing in the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Proudly representing Western Sydney, we are passionate about our communities and improving the lives of those people. Driven by a relentless commitment to win on and off the field, we strive to make a positive impact across the Thunder Nation.
Sydney Thunder is the sponsor of the Sports Medal.
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A museum of applied arts and sciences, Powerhouse is Australia’s largest museum group. It sits at the intersection of the arts, design, science, and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues.
Our new flagship museum, Powerhouse Parramatta, is currently under construction and will open later this year.
Powerhouse is the sponsor of the Arts and Culture Medal.
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The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to working together for a stronger, safer and fairer NSW.
We work with children, young people, adults, families and communities to support vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities.
DCJ is the sponsor of the Multicultural Not for Profit Medal.
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For over 35 years, STARTTS has provided specialist clinical support and community development for over 93,000 survivors of torture, trauma and persecution. By evolving our long-standing culturally safe counselling with modern, neurobiology-informed treatments, we have helped people heal and rebuild across the state.
We are proud to support a resilient, harmonious New South Wales.
STARTTS is the sponsor of the Multicultural Youth Support Medal.
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SSI is a not-for-profit organisation working alongside communities facing the biggest barriers to equality, including refugees, migrant communities, people with disability, families, youth, and children from all backgrounds across Australia.
SSI works for equality of life in Australia. For decades, we’ve helped people from all backgrounds settle, thrive, and fully participate in Australian life—while pursuing the fair, inclusive society that benefits us all. When you support SSI, you’re helping create a country where everyone has equal opportunities to contribute and belong.
SSI is the sponsor of Best Report in Multicultural Media Award.
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Anti-Discrimination NSW strives to eliminate discrimination in NSW by resolving enquiries and complaints, raising awareness about discrimination and its impacts, and taking action to influence change.
They administer the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) and the civil complaints scheme under the Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 (NSW).
Anti- Discrimination NSW is the sponsor of the Multicultural Publication of the Year Award.
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Nestled near the picturesque wharf, Village Plaza beckons with its unique charm and curated selection.
Showcasing the latest trends to specialty shops offering unique treasures, there’s something for everyone. With ample parking and a welcoming atmosphere, our shopping centre is your ultimate destination for leisure, entertainment, and retail therapy.
Village Plaza is the sponsor of the Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year Award.
Corporate table sponsors
