The late Dr. Tony Pun OAM was former Chair of the NSW Government’s Ethnic Communities Council, Multicultural Communities Council of NSW, and President of Chinese Community Council of Australia.

Dr. Pun was committed to bringing communities together to prevent injustice and racism and advocate harmony. He was a central figure in Australia’s decision to grant residency to Chinese students, in the wake of the crackdown that led to the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989.

From the moment he arrived in 1964, Dr. Pun made it his life’s mission to bring communities together to prevent such incidents in his adopted home, Australia.

Born in Malaysia, whilst it was still under British colonial rule, Dr. Pun moved to Australia in 1964. After gaining a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of New South Wales, he became chief research scientist at St. Vincent’s hospital, serving in that role for 19 years.

Dr. Pun served two terms as chair of the NSW government’s Ethnic Communities Council. He was also a member of the federal government’s Immigration Review Tribunal and the Equal Opportunity Tribunal of NSW, and a founding member of the Chinese Australian Forum.

Dr. Pun played a pivotal role as founding President of the Chinese Community Council of Australia (CCCA) and remained an active voice in the Chinese community long after his retirement.

Dr. Pun was one of the most highly regarded ethnic community leaders in Australia. He was a passionate advocate for the Chinese Australian Community and a courageous fighter for social justice for all ethnic, migrant, and indigenous communities.

He was a three-time recipient of the NSW Premier’s Award for Community Service and spent nine years as an Australia Day Council Ambassador. In 1997, Dr. Pun was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Dr. Pun retired with 31 publications on blood transfusion, haematology survey, clinical laboratory computing and bone marrow transplantation to his name.

He also wrote extensively for, John Menadue’s public policy journal, Pearls and Irritations, and distributed weekly opinion pieces to ethnic community leaders from across the country up until his passing in May 2023.

Dr. Pun’s recent passing is a great loss to all Australians. He is survived by his wife Juliana, his two sons, Andrew and Leon and grandchildren.