New Delhi: Australia’s High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu invested Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Friday as an Honorary Member within the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division, according to a press release from the Australian High Commission on Saturday.
“The Australian government has chosen to bestow this honour on Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for her immense contribution in advancing Australia’s bilateral relationship with India,” Sidhu said.
An alumnus of Federation University Australia, Dr Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder of Biocon, one of India’s largest bio-pharmaceutical companies. She contributes immensely to promoting women in STEM through the joint research programs developed between Biocon and Deakin University, Australia, as part of her deep and long-standing commitment to gender equality.
Dr Mazumdar-Shaw—an Australian Global Alumni Ambassador—is also recognised for her sustained and significant contribution to industry academia collaboration between Australia and India. The ceremony was attended by representatives from Indian and Australian business, the diplomatic corps, and family, friends and peers of Dr Mazumdar-Shaw.
Speaking at the event, Sidhu added: “Dr Mazumdar-Shaw is a tireless champion of the commercial, educational, and people-to-people links between our two countries, and this award recognises her commitment to progressing the Australia-India partnership.” Honorary appointments in the Order of Australia are made to foreign nationals who have made an outstanding contribution to Australia or humanity at large. Dr Mazumdar-Shaw is the fourth Indian citizen to be awarded Australia’s highest civilian honour. This follows the conferment of superstar batsman Sachin Tendulkar in 2012, former Attorney General of India, Soli Jehangir Sorabjee in 2006 and Mother Teresa of Kolkata (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) in 1982.