Hawkesbury City Council's Australia Day celebration will welcome esteemed journalist and broadcaster, Ms Kumud Merani to this year's celebrations as Australia Day Ambassador.
Ms Merani is a trailblazer in Australian media and a passionate advocate for multiculturalism, arts and community engagement. Beginning her career in India as the country's first TV news presenter and anchor, Ms Merani made history again in Australia as the first Asian woman to present World News on SBS television.
Migrating to Australia in 1984, Ms Merani could see that Australia's strength lied in its mateship and ability to welcome people and their stories from every corner of the globe. As an Australian of Indian Origin, our country gave Ms Merani the space to dream, grow and leave her mark.
As a 2026 Australia Day Ambassador, Ms Merani celebrates the values of diversity, inclusion and unity. For her, being Australian means embracing our shared stories and building a society where every voice is heard.
Ms Merani and Mayor of Hawkesbury Les Sheather will present the awards to our 2026 Australia Day Award winners at the awards ceremony being held at the Hawkesbury City Council Chambers on Australia Day.
