2012 Champion of Cultural Inclusion

Nominations are now open for the IFAA Champion of Cultural Inclusion for 2012.

All nominations will be kept confidential, the name of the successful nominee will only be announced after the nominee accepts the nomination.

Readers may submit their nomination as a comment to this message.

A nominee who is not chosen this year may be chosen in a subsequent year, so please feel free to nominate people who were previously nominated but were not chosen in previous years.

This award will not be given to the same person twice, so please do not nominate past winners.

the closing date for nominations for the 2012 Champion of Cultural Inclusion is 31 March 2011.

2011 Champion of Cultural Inclusion

All nominations have closed for the 2011 champion of cultural inclusion.

Our committee has selected the champion of cultural inclusion for 2011 and the champion has been notified of the nomination and the choice of our committee.

The details of the selection and reasons will be posted once we receive confirmation from our champion of cultural inclusion for the year 2011.

2009 Champion of Cultural Inclusion

Imam Vernon Fareed accepting a plaque and medalion from Keysar Trad on behalf of Imam W. D. Mohammed who had left this world prior to being able to receive the award. We pray to Allah to welcome Imam Mohammed in His vast mercy and spacious paradise.

Imam W D Mohammed

2009 was going to be a big year for Australian Muslims with the organisation of the first national Qur'an festival.

Our chief guest and Champion of Cultural Inclusion was scheduled to be Imam W D Mohammed from the USA.

Imam W D Mohammed was chosen for his services to American Muslims and to American society in general. His services to American Muslims were invaluable in steering his community towards unity. Imam W D promoted cross religious and cross cultural understanding and succeeded in creating harmony within a significant section of the Muslim community and across broader society.

God Almighty willed to deprive us of this festival and of hosting the great Imam who passed away in Ramadan of 2008 whilst the preparation were still continuing for the Feb 2009 visit. As a result of this and other developments in 2009, the presentation of the prize was decided to be made in 2010, posthumously.

The 2009 award of Champion of Cultural Inclusion has been presented to the late Imam W D Mohammed's assistant Imam Vernon Fareed who has accepted it on behalf of Imam Mohammed during a special program in 2010.


Imam Vernon Fareed holding the Champion of Cultural Inclusion plaque and medallion that were awarded posthumously to Imam W D Mohammed


Imam Vernon Fareed with the founder of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Keysar Trad



Some of the guests present during the award ceremony

2008 IFAA Champion of Cultural Inclusion

His Excellency Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad was crowned the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Champion of Cultural Inclusion for the year 2008.

Tun Dr. Mahathir was selected by our panel of judges for his successful leadership of a multiracial multifaith society for over twenty years.

Under his leadership, Malaysia thrived and grew into a modern nation that was able to compete in many fields.


Tun Dr. Mahathir and Tun Siti Hasmah with dignitaries and organisers



Former Mufti of Australia his Eminence Sh. Taj Aldin Alhilali handing his Excellency Tun Dr. Mahathir his Champion of Cultural Inclusion Medal