Syed Atiq ul Hassan migrated to Australia in 1989 with his wife and young family, arriving as a skilled IT professional from Pakistan. From the beginning he balanced his professional work with a strong commitment to helping others, particularly supporting new migrants as they navigated settlement services and the practical realities of building a new life.

He worked to reduce social isolation and helped connect people with support networks.

Mr Hassan became an active contributor to multicultural and interfaith engagement. He believed that well planned community events can do more than entertain, they can bring people together, break down stereotypes, and create a sense of belonging.

In addition to large cultural events, he organised seminars and forums to encourage conversations about important community and global issues, helping people from different cultures and faiths to understand one another.

In the early 1990s, Mr Hassan and his wife organised a multicultural gathering in Lakemba that brought together people from different faiths and backgrounds around a shared meal. Building on this early work, he went on to establish the Chand Raat Eid Festival in Lakemba to recreate the joy of Eid ul Fitr and create a welcoming environment where broader communities could participate in a positive cultural celebration.

Over time, the festival has become one of the largest multicultural events in Australia, expanding to three cities and attracting more than 60,000 people.

In 1999, Mr Hassan launched Tribune International to strengthen multicultural media presence and expand community coverage. As an international journalist and writer, he authored more than 700 articles in English and Urdu and worked as a foreign correspondent for international television and radio outlets.

In 2015, Mr Hassan founded the first Halal Expo Australia, bringing together more than 100 exhibitors and around 10,000 attendees. This expanded to Melbourne and attracted international delegates, helping position Australia as a credible participant in the global halal economy.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, while undergoing cancer treatment, Mr Hassan mobilised volunteers and donations through a community organisation to support international students experiencing hardship.

Throughout his life, Mr Hassan was recognised for his leadership and contribution to multicultural communities, including receiving a Stepan Kerkyasharian AO Harmony Award (2014), the Lifetime Achievement Award for Media at the 2024 Premier’s Multicultural Communications Awards, and the 2023 International Award of Excellence in Media.