Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Chair Viv Nguyen announced, οn Wednesday 25 August, the eight newly appointed commissioners which will join the VMC. Key amongst these for the Greek Community was our very own President Bill Papastergiadis OAM.

The VMC is an independent body that acts as conduit between Victoria’s multicultural communities and Government.

Bill’s appointment should not come with any surprise as he has a long been involved in multicultural affairs dating back to his University days in the late 1980’s at Monash University where he is actively involved with MUGS – the Monash University Greek Society and by extension NUGAS.

Bill was involved in a number of student driven multicultural initiatives (Neophytes, Mozaic) which led him to a seat on the Antipodes Festival committee followed shortly thereafter by joining the Board of the Greek Community of Melbourne itself.

After some years in which he developed his professional legal career that sees the establishment of the Melbourne office of Moray Agnew Lawyers, Bill came back to the Greek Community of Melbourne eventually being elected as its President, a role he continues to hold.

Through this role in particular, Bill has devoted much of his time to the promotion, welfare and advocacy of the Greek Community and its membership both here and abroad.

Alongside leading what is largely considered the largest Greek cpmmunity organisation in the world, Bill has been involved in many committees and projects fostering an inclusive and cosmopolitan sense of community wherever he goes. Key amongst these committees and projects are: Chairman of South Melbourne Football Club, founding Board Member of the Hellenic Initiative, founding committee member and instigator of the University fo Melbourne’s Hellenic Chair in Diasporic Studies.

In adding this new appointment to his significant body of community work, Bill says “I am excited to bring my experience and insights to this important role with the VMC. I strongly believe the richness of Victoria’s diverse multicultural communities is one of our greatest strengths as a state. I am honoured to play a part in advocating on behalf of all multicultural communities and to work with the Commission in its valuable mission to help to strengthen the relationships of these communities with government and with each other.”

Following the announcement of the eight new appointees to the VMC, Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ros Spence comments: “The new commissioners bring valuable experience, and I look forward to working with them to ensure we are supporting multicultural communities to the best of our ability.” She goes onto add: “The Commissioners are a vital link between Victoria’s multicultural communities and Government – and those relationships have never been more important.”