Australia Day Honours: Ivan makes it his business to give back to the community

Ivan Slavich has done pretty well in Canberra and has always felt it was important to give something back to the community.

Mr Slavich’s long history of business and philanthropy has been recognised in today’s Australia Day Honours, being made a Member of the Order of Australia.

He is one of dozens of people in the ACT and surrounding areas who have been recognised for their service across a range of endeavours, including to the community.

A former general manager of ActewAGL, Mr Slavich is director of Trident Corporate Services, chair of Service One Alliance Bank and has been involved with both the Canberra Business Chamber and the ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

His fundraising efforts for charity are legendary. His philanthropic interests range from his ongoing work with Camp Quality, helping families with cancer, to Movember and the veterans group Soldier On, which he led from 2019 to 2022.

Mr Slavich said the honour was humbling and unexpected.

“You don’t do all the stuff for the accolades,” he said

“You’re just trying to make a difference, making a contribution, trying to help people less fortunate than yourself.”

Mr Slavich said people shouldn’t need a reason to get involved in the community.

“I think if more people helped out without there having to be a catalyst, it’d be a better society, a better community,” he said.

“I’m very lucky that my family is mostly healthy; we’ve been quite fortunate, worked hard and done well and, as a consequence, been able to give something back to the community.”

Mr Slavich hoped the honour would encourage others to get involved in their community.

“If you’re doing all right in life, give something back to the community, not just your own family.”

He was CEO of Capital Football from November 2022 to September 2023.

The leader of a previous A-League bid, he was optimistic about the current one being successful so young ACT footballers had a strong pathway to the elite level.

He also advocates for women’s sport and equity between men and women.

“It’s great how women’s sport has become more prominent – it’s got a way to go but the World Cup was pretty crazy,” Mr Slavich said.

Wendy Parsons’ work with ACT Rescue and Foster (ARF), which rehomes surrendered dogs, has been recognised with a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM).

A former science communications officer with CSIRO and dog lover, she was introduced to the organisation by friends and thought she could help get the message out about what the group did.

But it turns out she was a failure as a foster carer. “I couldn’t give them back!” she said.

Nonetheless, she was president for eight years and helped put the organisation on a firm footing.

“The key is good governance so we can look after the foster carers as well as the dogs, and to raise money to make it easy for them to look after the dogs in their own home,” Ms Parsons said.

She was thrilled and honoured with her OAM

The number of unwanted dogs in Canberra continues to grow. Ms Parsons plans to tackle this along by educating the young about dogs to prevent animals being given up in the first place.

“A lot of people think you can stuff a dog into the backyard, and it’ll look after itself, throw it a bit of food, and then,” she said.

“They are highly intelligent creatures and emotional creatures.”

ARF was always looking for carers. “Come and give it a try,” Ms Parsons said.

New Zealand-born Isaac Te Ao Cotter has nurtured the flame of Maori culture in Canberra and Queanbeyan as a community leader and performer for more than three decades.

Mr Cotter has received an OAM for service to the Maori community in Australia and NZ.

“It’s a great honour and something that I’m accepting on behalf of the extended family and wider community,” he said.

Mr Cotter is director of the Tumanako Maori Cultural Performing Group and has been involved with various cultural and sporting organisations, including as inaugural chair of the Queanbeyan and Canberra Maori Rugby Union from 1988 to 1997.

He has been a key figure in the National Multicultural Festival as a member of the steering committee, a performer and a Master of Ceremonies.

Culture was something Mr Cotter missed coming to Australia, so establishing a performance group and working with and supporting other Maori had helped him grow and be a better person.

Mr Cotter said that cultural connection was probably the most important thing of all, whether it was a sad or happy occasion.

“When you’re at your lowest ebb in life, such as at a funeral, it’s your culture that you want. When you’re at your happiest ebb in life – a birthday, wedding or christening – it’s your culture you want,” he said.

Senior public servants to be recognised include the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Greg Moriarty, who was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration in leadership roles, particularly in national and international security; and the High Commissioner to NZ, Harinder Kaur Sidhu, who was made a Member for significant service to public administration, and to foreign affairs.

Canberra region recipients are:

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division

Emeritus Professor Dudley Cecil Creagh, UC.

For significant service to science, and to tertiary education

Emeritus Professor Hilton John Kobus

For significant service to forensic science through governance and administrative roles.

Emeritus Professor Christian Joseph Lueck, ANU.

For significant service to neurology and neuro-ophthalmology through medical research and clinical practice.

Ivan Slavich, Denman Prospect.

For significant service to business, and to the community through governance and philanthropic endeavours.

Harinder Kaur Sidhu, DFAT, High Commissioner to NZ.

For significant service to public administration, and to foreign affairs.

Colin Robert Steele, former ANU librarian.

For significant service to librarianship, and to digital information sharing.

The late Sophie Jessica Trevitt

For significant service to social justice and human rights protection for youth and Indigenous people.

Clinical Associate Professor Kathleen Elizabeth Tymms, Canberra Health Services.

For significant service to rheumatology, and to professional associations.

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division

Professor Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.

For distinguished service to natural resource management research and innovation, to gender equality, and to tertiary education.

Gregory Moriarty, Secretary, Department of Defence.

For distinguished service to public administration in leadership roles, particularly in national and international security.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division

Stephanie Joy Armstrong

For service to Indigenous health and education.

Bronwyn Brown, Bruce.

For service to the community through music.

Vicki Brown, Fadden.

For service to education, and to the community.

Isaac Te Ao Cotter, Karabar, NSW.

For service to the Maori community of Australia and New Zealand.

Kyira Cox

For service to softball.

Elizabeth Jan Dawes, Gordon.

For service to the community through social welfare organisations.

Dr Benjamin James Field, Turner.

For service to osteopathy.

David Charles Hatherly, Holder.

For service to the community of the Australian Capital Territory.

Marina Jane Maguire, Bowning, NSW.

For service to veterans, and to the community.

Lois Pearl Maiden, Forrest.

For service to primary and early childhood education.

Ronald Noel Miller, Gundaroo, NSW.

For service to the community of Gundaroo.

Peter Thornton Murray, Red Hill.

For service to the community of Canberra.

Ruth Bronwyn Osborne, Watson.

For service to the performing arts, particularly dance.

Wendy Parsons, ACT Rescue and Foster.

For service to animal welfare.

Ann Sutton, Kingston.

For service to the community through a range of organisations.

Roy Henry Teymant, Canberra Chess Club.

For service to chess.

Catherine Verlie Walker, Yass, NSW.

For service to education, and to the community.

Peter Charles Waterman, Griffith.

For service to the media as a journalist.

Dr Christopher Lex Watson, Latham.

For service to the community of Belconnen.