Following a record number of nominations, 35 finalists have been announced across 10 categories for the 2025 Governor’s Multicultural Awards.

These prestigious awards honour and celebrate those who have made significant contributions to multiculturalism and demonstrated exceptional efforts to promote the benefits of cultural diversity within our community.

The shortlisted finalists are:

Individuals

• Ms Marita Aldridge
• Ms Valeria Alonso
• Mrs Barbara Boxer
• Mrs Claudia Callisto
• Mr Wayne Chao
• Mr Don Chen
• Mr Yogi Devgan
• Mr Giovanni Freschi
• Mr Sam Garreffa
• Mr George Genimahaliotis
• Mr Rishi Gulati
• Ms Nazdana Hussaini
• Mrs Harmeet Kaur
• Ms Kasiani Koutris
• Mr Sothea Lam
• Mrs Dayawati Pandey
• Mr Go Suan Pau
• Mrs Suzanne Pepe
• Mrs Vinaya Rai
• Mrs Esther Simbi
• Mrs Diana Smith
• Mr Branimir Sprajcer
• Mrs Sarada Surampudi
• Mrs Khuyen Kim Tran
• Mrs Majabin Zaidi

Organisations and teams

• Accor Group South Australia
• Adelaide German Week
• Baba Mazari Foundation
• City of Charles Sturt
• Communities for Change, Australian Refugee Association
• Interpreting and Translating Centre, Department of Human Services
• Skilled and Business Migration, Department of State Development
• Take Two Media
• The Bhutanese Healthy Walking Group, Heart Foundation Walking
• Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association

Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Government House in early March 2026.

The Governor’s Multicultural Awards are administered by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet through Multicultural Affairs and presented by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, on the advice of an independent judging panel.

For more information about the Awards and past recipients, see Governor’s Multicultural Awards.