Government House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
17 January 2020
The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following honorary appointment within the General Division of the Order of Australia:
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Honorary Member (AM)
Dr Kiran MAZUMDAR-SHAW, Bangalore India
For significant service to advancing Australia's bilateral relationship with India, particularly in promoting commercial and educational links.
By His Excellency’s Command
Paul Singer MVO
Official Secretary to the Governor-General
APPOINTED AN HONORARY MEMBER (AM)
IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Dr Kiran MAZIMDAR-SHAW, Bangalore India
For significant service to advancing Australia’s bilateral relationship with India, particularly in promoting commercial and educational links.
Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is one of lndia's most prominent entrepreneurs and a tireless champion of Australia-India commercial, educational, government and people-to-people links. She is a pioneer, an inventor, a bio pharmacist-par-excellence, a philanthropist, and an international role model for women in STEM.
Dr Mazumdar-Shaw founded her firm Biocon in her garage in 1978 and has since built it into one of the largest bio-pharmaceutical companies in India. She has demonstrated significant leadership, advocacy and investment in innovation, research and scientific talent to support affordability and accessibility of healthcare, and solutions to complex, global health challenges.
Dr Mazumdar-Shaw has also supported cancer research and treatment through her philanthropic endeavours, such as establishing the Mazumdar-Shaw Medical Foundation in Bangalore, India.
Dr Mazumdar-Shaw credits much of her success to her formative years studying at what is currently Federation University Australia, in Ballarat, Victoria. In 2006 the university awarded her with an honorary Doctorate of Science and this year appointed her its Ambassador, a role in which she promotes Australian education abroad.
She is also recognised for her sustained and significant contribution to industryacademia collaboration between Australia and India. Biocon and Deakin University have developed joint research programs in obesity, diabetes and metabolic studies and a PhD program and scholarship to promote women in STEM.
In 2016 she was appointed as an Australian Global Alumni Ambassador by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, she currently serves on the Australia-India Business Council, and is also the first Victorian Government Business Ambassador to South Asia.
On the basis of her longstanding commitment and support in advancing AustraliaIndian relations, Dr Mazumdar-Shaw is worthy of recognition with an appointment as an honorary Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
Overview
The C2020G00055 Gazette issued on 17 January 2020 announces the appointment of Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as an Honorary Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. This recognition was made to acknowledge her significant service in advancing Australia's bilateral relationship with India, particularly in fostering commercial and educational ties. Dr Mazumdar-Shaw, a prominent Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist, has made substantial contributions to innovation, research, and the accessibility of healthcare. Her achievements include founding Biocon, one of India’s largest biopharmaceutical companies, and her commitment to industry-academia collaborations with Australian institutions like Deakin University. Additionally, her dedication to promoting Australian education abroad and her role as an Australian Global Alumni Ambassador further highlight her integral role in strengthening Australia-India relations.
Scope and Application
The appointment of Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as an Honorary Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia recognises her significant service to advancing Australia's bilateral relationship with India, particularly in promoting commercial and educational links. This honorary appointment, made by the Governor-General, is a formal recognition of her contributions to fostering connections between Australia and India across various sectors including commerce, education, and healthcare. Dr Mazumdar-Shaw, a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist from India, has played a pivotal role in building bridges between the two nations through her work with Biocon, one of India’s largest biopharmaceutical companies, and her involvement in various academic and industry collaborations. Her efforts have not only enhanced commercial ties but also supported scientific research and educational initiatives that benefit both countries.
Key Provisions
The primary sections of the Gazette C2020G00055 pertain to the announcement of the honorary appointment of Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as an Honorary Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. This recognition is highlighted in section 1 of the Gazette, which specifies the award and the reasons for it, namely her significant service to advancing Australia's bilateral relationship with India, particularly in promoting commercial and educational links (section 1).
The Gazette imposes no obligations or requirements on any party or entity as it is a formal announcement of an honorary appointment. The recognition is based on Dr Mazumdar-Shaw's established contributions to fostering connections between Australia and India. The primary obligation here is for Dr Mazumdar-Shaw to accept the award, which she has done, as evidenced by the acknowledgment in the Gazette.
There are no offences, penalties, or consequences specified for breach in this Gazette. The document serves a declarative purpose rather than a regulatory one. It recognises Dr Mazumdar-Shaw's contributions and honours her achievements. The announcement itself is a formal recognition without any associated punitive measures. The Gazette’s intent is to publicly acknowledge her service and contributions, rather than to enforce compliance or impose sanctions for non-compliance.