Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022: Residents of Sydney’s east recognised

Men and women across Sydney’s east have been recognised for their community contribution with a Queen’s Birthday Honour. See who made the list.

In special act of recognition, the Governor-General has announced Queen’s Birthday Honours for 992 Australians, including 669 in the general division of the Order of Australia.

Recipients in Sydney’s east include man who survived a double organ transplant and now is a tireless advocate for organ donation, an immigrant from Israel who has devoted herself to the local community and the founder of an impact investment firm that has lifted millions out of poverty.

Here’s the full list:

Dr Andrew Kuper, Bronte – AO

For distinguished service to the impact investing industry, to global business leadership, and to financial inclusion.

Dr Andrew Kuper is chief executive of Leapfrog, a private equity firm focused on positive impact investing. Image: supplied

Founder and CEO of private equity firm Leapfrog, Dr Andrew Kuper, has lifted millions of underprivileged people out of poverty by growing the purpose-driven investment sector in Australia.

“We started as a misunderstood small group of individuals trying to change the world,” Mr Kuper said.

Now his company and the industry it helped to grow have “changed both markets and lives.”

The impact investing industry helps investors to put money into high-growth businesses in emerging markets like Africa, Asia and India.

Over the past 50 years it has grown from a small sector to a multitrillion-dollar industry.

Mr Kuper said transforming the financial sector has also improved the lives of millions of people living in poor countries.

“People can now invest their capital not only to generate an outsized return, but to do great good and people’s lives.

“Now hundreds of millions of people thanks to Leapfrog and billions of people thanks to impact investors are able to change their own lives by getting the medication they need, insurance, savings … and the health care they need.”

Brian Peter Myerson, Rose Bay – OAM

For service to community health, particularly organ donation.

A double organ donation that gave Myerson a second chance at life has driven his advocacy. Image: supplied

Rose Bay kidney transplant recipient and founder of organ donation group Brian Myerson received an Order of Australia for his tireless advocacy for organ donation through his organisation ShareLife.

In 1999, Mr Myerson received a combined pancreas and kidney transplant that saved his life and inspired him to lobby the Australian Government to improve the country’s organ donation rates, which trail behind other developed countries.

He said it is “a wonderful honour to be recognised by the community”. But receiving an organ donation is a greater gift than any award.

“That has been the greatest gift anyone could ever receive,” Mr Myerson said.

“It‘s all because of my donor family and my donor that I’m here today able to enjoy the privilege of receiving such an honour.”

While organ donation rates have not lifted to the level Mr Myerson hoped when he started his work 14 years ago, seeing people get a second chance at life is the greatest reward.

“Every single time I hear of a person whose life has been saved through organ donation it is the most amazing feeling.

“I‘m very fortunate to be in an area where I see this as an ongoing reward for the work that I do.”

Miri Orden, Dover Heights – OAM

For service to the Jewish community of New South Wales.

Orden is devoted to bringing community initiatives to life. Image: supplied

Dover Heights resident Miri Orden has been recognised for her 15 years of work as an advocate for women and families in the Jewish community in the eastern suburbs.

Ms Orden is co-president of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia in NSW as well as a leader for a vast number of organisations that support the local community including the Jewish Folk Centre.

She said her commitment to her community comes from her own experience as an immigrant.

“I was born in Israel and know the challenges those new to the country face,” Ms Orden said.

She said she is particularly proud of her work in founding Our Kitchen Hand, a personal development and community-building program for people in the community including mental health issues.

“I have always had an interest in community, and since I semi-retired 15 years ago I have had the time to be involved in volunteer work.”

Robyn Monro Miller, Paddington – AM

For significant service to the community through children’s organisations.

Ms Robyn Miller wants childcare and its benefits to be accessible to all. Image: supplied

Robyn Miller believes we still have a long way to go in ensuring children reach their full potential through enriching afterschool programs.

Ms Miller is world president of the International Play Association and vice president of Children‘s Week Council of Australia, among others.

Her work has ensured there are regulations around how childcare sets young Australians up with the education, resilience and life skills to thrive in later life.

She said she’s been inspired to give back because of her own fortunate childhood.

“I was the beneficiary of a very happy healthy childhood and I have to say that my life‘s work is to ensure that the children receive the same.”

“Probably the biggest achievement I have felt is through my work in our school sector is work we’ve done [is to ensure] we have access to childcare that is appropriate and affordable for families.”

Professor Stephanie Louise Watson, Queens Park – OAM

For service to ophthalmology.

Professor Stephanie Watson is a mentor to the next generation of superstars in medicine. Image: supplied

Bringing more women into her profession and seeing them enjoy success is something Professor Stephanie Watson says is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

“We need to strive towards greater diversity in the profession,” Prof Watson said.

Head of the Corneal Unit at the Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health at University of Sydney, her work has been recognised globally.

She said she gets great value from seeing the impact of her mentorship.

“It’s really rewarding to see when you’ve nurtured someone through their eye surgeon training or through their research and they then become a contributing member of the eyes surgeon and research community.”

Prof. Watson said she is often with people at some of their darkest moments when facing a loss of vision.

“Most people are very worried about losing their sight and so often I see patients when they‘re quite vulnerable, and they’re in need,” she said.

Seeing positive outcomes for patients ranks as one of her greatest achievements.

“You know, there‘s a lot of reward and being allowed to be part of people’s lives. And having a positive influence on their life and restoring their vision.

“I like changing people’s lives actually for the better.”

Full list:

Dr Michael Asher, Elizabeth Bay – OAM

For service to the Indigenous community, and to medicine.

Ian William Dickson, NSW – AM

For significant service to the performing arts as a benefactor.

Yvonne Weldon, Rosebery – AM

For significant service to the Indigenous community of New South Wales.

Nicholas Kelly, Centennial Park – OAM

For service to the clothing manufacturing sector, and to philanthropy.

David Kent, Paddington – OAM

For service to the visual arts.

Gilla Liberman, NSW – AM

For significant service to the Jewish community, and to women.

Professor Rebecca Sara Mason, Bellevue Hill – AM

For significant service to tertiary education, and to professional associations.

Derek James McDonnell, Bellevue Hill – OAM

For service to cultural heritage, particularly to literature.

The late Ms Christine Josephine Sharp, formerly of Bronte – AM

For significant service to arts administration in a range of roles.

Professor Basil John Donovan, Bondi – AO

For distinguished service to medicine in the field of sexual health through tertiary education, research and advisory roles.

Leslie Loble, Bondi – AM

For significant service to public administration, and to education.

Carol Raye, NSW – AM

For significant service to the performing arts as an actor and producer.

Alan Graham Rydge, Point Piper – AM

For significant service to event hospitality, and to the entertainment industry.

Dr Racheline Marlene Barda, Rose Bay – OAM

For service to the Jewish community of Sydney.

Mans Carlsson, Rose Bay – OAM

For service to the sustainable investment sector.

Alan Owen Landis, Rose Bay – OAM

For service to the decorative and fine arts.

Brian Peter Myerson, Rose Bay – OAM

For service to community health, particularly organ donation.

Ian Denton, Vaucluse – OAM

For service to secondary education.

Professor Peter Anastasius Gerangelos, Vaucluse – AM

For significant service to tertiary legal education, particularly to constitutional law, and to professional organisations.

Mrs Betty Klimenko, NSW – AM

For significant service to motorsport, and to charitable organisations.

Miri Orden, Dover Heights, NSW – AM

For service to the Jewish community of New South Wales.

James Leon Pozarik, Dover Heights

For service to photography.

Shira Nina Sebban, Vaucluse – OAM

For service to the Jewish community through a range of roles.