Founders Award

The Founders Award, introduced for the first time in 2000, seeks to honour those Australian individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to peace, conflict resolution, human rights and social justice issues throughout their career.

Past recipients of this award include:

Diane Alley OBE

The 2007 United Nations Association of Australia 'Founders Award' honours Diane Alley OBE for her l  lifelong commitment to women's rights and social justice both nationally and internationally. Diane Alley has been both an effective advocate and a significant contributor in the women's human rights sector.

Initially her concern with child welfare led to involvement in the Children's Protection Society and her appointment as a Magistrate in the Children's Court 1972-84. Likewise her interest in women's rights and social justice resulted in her appointment to the Fairlea Women's Prison Council, and work as a Prison Visitor for other Metropolitan Prisons.

She has worked with several women's NGOs and was President of the National Council of Women of Australia, which enabled her to take a significant role in the Equal Pay campaigns of the 1960s. She has had a long involvement with the United Nations Association of Australia, and for 27 years served as the UNAA National Convenor Status of Women.

In the lead up to the 1995 UN World Conference of Women in Beijing Diane Alley helped establish the national coordinating committee CAPOW! It is through this body, which later transformed into the national WomenSpeak secretariat, that she has had a particularly significant role over the last decade. Both state and commonwealth governments have appointed her to advisory bodies including the Premier's Equal Opportunity Advisory Council and the National Women's Consultative Council, and she continues to serve as a member of the Social Development Panel of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

In the last decade she has worked to support the most vulnerable through support of the VIctorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition, and for the Australian National Centre for Refugee Women (UNSW). She helped the Women's Rights Action Network (WRANA) prepare the Shadow Report to Australia's 4th and 5th CEDAW reports. In 1981 she was awarded the OBE for community service and in 2001 she was included on the Honour Roll of Victorian Women for her work 'For Human Rights'.

Reverend Tim Costello

The 2003 United Nations Association of Australia 'Founders Award' honours Reverend Tim Costello for his outstanding contribution and commitment to issues concerning the advancement of social justice and human rights.

Reverend Costello continues to lead a distinguished and remarkable career in the field of social justice and community welfare, at both a community and national level. Ordained a Baptist Minister in 1986, the Reverend Tim Costello rebuilt the congregation at the St Kilda Baptist Church, establishing a drop-in center and working in a community legal practice. His passion for local democracy was further recognised and developed in his election as the Mayor of St Kilda in 1993.

In his current role as Director of Urban Seed, he is contributing to a movement attempting to bring about social change. Urban Seed engages with those most marginalised in our society, providing lunch programs, emergency assistance, referral and relationship work and local advocacy support.

He continues to be a strong voice in the community, lobbying passionately across a range of issues such as urban poverty, homelessness, problem gambling, corporate social responsibility, reconciliation and substance abuse.

As an author, lawyer, social commentator and advocate on urban poverty issues, the Reverend Tim Costello is an exceptional leader and voice on social justice issues. The Founder's Award honours his personal contribution to the Victorian and Australian community.

Sir Gustav Nossal

The 2001 United Nations Association of Australia Founder's Award honoured Sir Gustav Nossal for his outstanding contribution and commitment to global health issues, human rights and social justice.

Sir Gustav has had a distinguished and remarkable career in health research, helping to form and shape scientific affairs in Australia and internationally for three decades, influencing government policy and inspiring future generations of scientists. As a world renowned researcher and Director of The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research he has made a significant contribution to building the foundations of modern immunology.

Sir Gustav consistently emphasises the importance of improving global health through his long-term involvement with the World Health Organisation, and currently chairs the committee overseeing WHO's Global Program for Vaccines and Immunization. As Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Council of the Bill and Melinda Gates Children's Vaccine Program, Sir Gustav is involved in a program which aims to eradicate childhood diseases through the immunisation of all children worldwide. In 1996 he was one of the founders of Foursight Associates Pty Ltd., a company providing advice on research, development and science to companies, investment institutions, academics and government.

Sir Gustav has been a strong advocate for reconciliation, and as Deputy Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation helped shape the public agenda to put reconciliation and the rights of our first peoples clearly to the fore. The reconciliation marches around Australia in 2000 proved how successful the Council, and Sir Gustav, had been in building support in the community to address issues of disadvantage and discrimination for indigenous Australians.

The Founders Award honoured Sir Gustav for his personal contribution to both the Australian and international community as a global health advocate, and at a local level for his commitment to the advancement of aboriginal reconciliation.

Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen

In 2000, the Right Honourable Sir Ninian Stephen was the recipient of the Founder's Award for his outstanding contribution and commitment to peace, conflict resolution, human rights and social justice.

Sir Ninian is an inspiration to all those who strive for justice, peace and equality. His example through his work as Chairman of Strand Two of the Talks on Northern Ireland, Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia 1993-1997 and most recently as Chairman of the United Nations Expert Group on Cambodia 1998-1999 confirms that negotiation, tolerance and forgiveness are important tools in the quest for justice and reconciliation.

The Founders Award, honoured Sir Ninian for his personal contribution to both the Australian and international community as an international peace maker and statesman, with influence far beyond the boundaries of his own country.