King’s Birthday Awards: add on an AO and two AMs to the Jewish list
It is not unusual for readers to reach out when members of the community who are recipients of the King’s Birthday honours have been omitted from our list. Here three more:
OFFICER [AO] IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
The Honourable Kevin Harcourt BELL AM KC, Balnarring VIC 3926
Kevin Harcourt Bell
For distinguished service to the judiciary, to the law, and to human rights through education and reform.
Law and Justice
- Commissioner, Yoorrook Justice Commission, 2021-2023.
- Co-Chair, National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy Steering Committee, National Mental Health Commission, since 2021.
- Judge, Supreme Court of Victoria, 2005-2020.
- President, Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, 2008-2010.
- Queen’s/King’s Counsel, Victorian Bar, since 1997.
Monash University
- Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, since 2022.
- Professor of Practice, Faculty of Law, 2020-2022.
Castan Centre of Human Rights Law, Monash University
- Director, 2020-2022.
- Academic Member, since 2022.
Forensic Leave Panel, Department of Health Victoria
- President, 2015-2020.
- Member, 2014-2020.
Awards and Recognition include:
- Finalist, Human Rights Medal, Australian Human Rights Commission, 2021.
- Member, Order of Australia, 2017.
Kevin Bell views his award as recognition for the work he has been doing for over a generation for human rights and which he and others continue to do.
“With over 15 years as a judge of the Supreme Court I wrote mainly foundational judgements which appear to have contributed to the improvement of human rights in Australia.
The idea of justice for the individual, and the means by which I have been able to help achieve this, has been what informs my work to the maximum extent.
“Working for human betterment is deeply embedded in me” said Kevin Bell.
He is proud of his Sephardic Jewish ancestry which is a constant source of inspiration to him. He can trace his forebears back to the 16th century when his family left Portugal for Amsterdam and then moved on to London.
MEMBER [AM] IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Conjoint Professor Jacqueline Eve CURTIS, NSW
Jackie Curtis
For significant service to medicine, particularly as a mental health clinician and researcher.
Mental Health Research and Education
- Inaugural Executive Director, Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, since 2020.
- Conjoint Professor, School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, since 2022.
- Chief Investigator, three funded grants, National Health and Medical Research Council, since 2017.
Prince of Wales Hospital
- Staff Specialist in Psychiatry, since 1996.
- Local Coordinator, Registrar Training, 2000-2002.
- Committee Member, Registrar Training, 2000-2008.
- Member, Medication Committee, 2008-2017.
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
- Clinical Director, Youth Mental Health and Early Psychosis Program, 2014-2020.
- Chair, Keeping the Body in Mind District Working Group, Mental Health, 2015-2019.
- Member, Linking Physical and Mental Health (LPMH) Committee, 2009-2012, and Chair, 2011-2012.
Orygen and Headspace
- Steering Committee Member, Australian Early Psychosis Research Network, 2014-2018.
- Psychiatry Advisor, Headspace National, since 2022.
Mental Health – Other
- Clinical Lead, Anxiety Disorders Clinic, Wesley Private Clinic, 1999-2002.
Mental Health – Invited Committee Memberships
- Member, Health Expert Advisory Group, Physical Health in Mental Health Policy revision, NSW Ministry of Health, since 2019-21.
- Steering Committee Member, RANZCP Special Interest Group in Youth Mental Health, 2011-2012, and Co-Opted Member for NSW, 2013-2015.
- Working Group Member, NSW Health Linking Physical and Mental health, 2010-2011, and 2014-2015.
- Co-Chair and Co-Founder, International Physical Health in Youth Stream (iphYs), since 2010.
- Member, W.H.O Guideline Development Group, 2017-2018.
Equally Well
- National Steering Committee Member, since 2021.
- Member, Expert Advisory Group, National Mental Health Commission: National Consensus Statement on Identification and Care for the Physical Health of People with a Mental Illness, 2015-2017.
Commonwealth Department of Health
- Steering Committee Member, Healthy Mind Healthy Body, 2019-2023.
- Member, Youth Expert Panel, National Mental Health Service Planning Framework Toolkit Committee, 2019-2020.
- Member, Early Psychosis Youth Services Evaluation Reference Group, EY obo Department of Health, 2018-2020.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
- Fellow, since 1996.
- Member, Faculty of Adult Psychiatry, current.
- Member, Section of Youth Mental Health, current.
Professional Associations
- Member, International Early Psychosis Association, since 2006.
- Member, Society for Mental Health Research, since 2006.
- Member, International Association of Youth Mental Health, since 2010.
Editorial Reviewer roles include:
- Australasian Psychiatry.
- Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
- Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
- Medical Journal of Australia.
- New England Journal of Medicine.
- Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Awards and Recognition include:
- Margaret Tobin Award, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2023.
“I have been both overwhelmed and very proud to receive this Award, but also feel this is really for the work of a team” Jackie Curtis told J-Wire.
Being the daughter of Hungarian Holocaust survivors has informed her career and drives her work on social justice and human rights issues.
“Because of the work I have done with people living with serious mental illness and a life expectancy gap, I am driven to bring attention to what I can do something about – closing that gap.
It is an injustice that people with mental illness do not get the same level of physical care – good quality health care – as others.
There is a life expectancy gap for people with mental illness because they don’t get treated for things like, say diabetes or obesity. I want to bring awareness of the inequality of treatment for the physical wellbeing of people with mental illness” she said.
Leonard Stanley VARY, South Yarra VIC 3141
Leonard Vary
For significant service to the philanthropic sector, to the LGBTIQA+ community, and to the arts.
The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund
Chief Executive Officer, since 2011.
Committee and Advisory Roles
Director, Advisory Board, Kin Group, since 2014.
Board Member, Creative Partnerships Australia Ltd, 2019-2023.
Board Member, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, 2019-2022.
Former Judge, Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
Former Member, Creative Industries Strategy Expert Reference Group.
Member, Victorian Selection Panel, Australian of the Year Awards, 2018.
LGBTIQA+
Co-Chair, Equality Australia, current.
Member, Advisory Council, ‘Outstanding 50 Report’, Australian Financial Review, 2020.
Member, Judging Panel, GLOBE Awards, 2019-2020.
Advisor/Fundraiser, National Marriage Equality Campaign, 2016-2017.
Foundational Donor, Victorian Pride Centre, St Kilda.
Malthouse Theatre
Board Member, 2009-2017.
Chair, Nominations Committee.
Member, Audit and Risk Committee.
Centre for Contemporary Photography
Chair, 2011-2015.
Deputy Chair, 2008-2011.
Melbourne International Festival of the Arts
Vice-President, 2001-2007.
Former Chair, Nominations Committee.
Former Member, Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne
Member, Competition Law Advisory Board, Graduate Program in Law, 2007-2011.
Member, Strategic Advisory Board, Graduate Program in Law, 2001-2007.
Linfox Group of Companies
Executive Director, Fox Private Group, 2000-2011.
President, Human Resources, 2009-2011.
General Counsel and Company Secretary, 1994-2009.
Clayton Utz
Senior Associate, 1990-1993.
Solicitor, 1987-1990.
Other
Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Awards and Recognition include:
Named, ‘Outstanding 50 LGBTI role models’, Australian Financial Review, 2016 and 2018.
“Being a recipient of this Award means it is recognition of many decades of work in fields which bring me great satisfaction. So, it is rather startling that one is celebrated for doing things that are enjoyable.
“I love the arts, theatre and working for LGBTIQA issues and these have led to this delightful outcome” said Leonard Vary.
“These important parts of my life and work have come together longitudinally to my great personal satisfaction. I suppose my involvement with the push for marriage equality was something that gave me particular satisfaction” he said.
He is very happy to be included in the list of Jewish recipients which shows the myriad ways that Jews contribute to Australia in an open and transparent way.
Our apologies for the omissions.
