Rupert Murdoch, Samantha Kerr among among those honoured in UK Australia Day awards

News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch and Matildas captain Samantha Kerr have been recognised in the UK for achievements globally.

A soccer star, business leader and a media boss have been recognised for excellence in their chosen fields at this year’s Australia Day Foundation in the UK gala evening.

Captain of the Matilda’s national women’s soccer team Samantha Kerr was awarded Young Achiever of the Year in the UK for her outstanding achievements in football where she is recognised as one of the greatest players of her generation.

The 27-year-old currently plays for Chelsea in the English FA Women’s Super League but like all recipients was bestowed the honour virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions in London.

“It is humbling to be recognised alongside previous winners of this award who hail from a diverse range of backgrounds and who have all made great contributions to various areas of society,” she said in accepting the award.

Captain of the Matilda’s national women’s soccer team Samantha Kerr was awarded Young Achiever of the Year in the UK. Picture: AAP

“Socceroos great Harry Kewell was the first recipient of this award in 2005, so it is a massive honour for me to be recognised for my efforts in British football like Harry was 16 years ago.”

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson said Kerr was a fantastic ambassador for women’s football and he was very proud to have her showcasing Australian football on the world stage.

Philip Aiken AM, a former Group president of BHP Billiton’s energy business who has held several senior executive positions principally in the engineering and resources sectors, was named Australian of the Year in the UK for excelling in his long distinguished career and as a business ambassador for Australia.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, which has not been awarded for 14 years, went to News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch AC KCSG.

The last time it was bestowed was posthumously in 2007 to business and community leader Maurice de Rohan AO OBE.

Mr Murdoch’s citation recognised him as “an Australian pioneer who transformed the world’s media landscape”.

It noted his extensive career from early days in Adelaide with The News through his acquisitions and transformation of media and publishing companies in the UK, US and Australia.

“And he’s not slowing down, he’s just launched Times Radio here in the UK and he’s about to launch a television news channel called News UK TV that’ll keep the BBC on its toes,” the voiced citation notes.

Rupert Murdoch’s citation recognised him as “an Australian pioneer who transformed the world’s media landscape”. Picture: Supplied

It goes on to say he has had more of an impact on the wider world than any other living Australian.

Mr Murdoch, 89, who was in the UK earlier to receive the award said despite his global business forays and home in America, he had an undying love for Australia.

In a two-minute response he said whatever he had achieved from that smoke-filled Adelaide newsroom to today, would not have been possible without the love and support of his family.

And he said while the award had an air of finality about it, he assured there were many more goals to come and challenges to overcome and he was “far from done”.

“For those of us in media there is a real challenge to confront, a wave of censorship that seeks to silence conversation, to stifle debate and ultimately stop individuals and societies from realising their potential,” he said in a prerecorded acceptance.

“This rigidly enforced conformity aided and abetted by so-called social media is a straight jacket on sensibility. Too many people have fought too hard in too many places for freedom of speech to be suppressed by this awful woke orthodoxy.”

British Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss was named honorary Australian in the UK for her devotion to proactive negotiations with Australia for a free-trade agreement in the now post-Brexit UK.

Originally published as Rupert Murdoch, Samantha Kerr among among those honoured in UK Australia Day awards