When Professor Samina Yasmeen, founder and director of UWA’s Centre for Muslim States and Societies, took a personal call from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese while in Pakistan she thought she was being ‘pranked’.
“It is wonderful to think that I’m able to help make other people as happy as I was when I received my AM, I am extremely grateful personally, and honoured to represent the University at this august Council.”
-Professor Samina Yasmeen
The Prime Minister had rung to invite Professor Yasmeen, for appointment to the Council for the Order of Australia — one of four new nominations to the body responsible for deciding on new appointments within the Order of Australia.
“I had missed the first call and when the phone rang again, I thought this must be someone who really needs to catch up with me and that maybe it was something to do with my teaching,” Professor Yasmeen said.
“He said it was Anthony Albanese, and I assumed it must be a prank. So, I asked him very politely to confirm that it really was the Prime Minister. When he explained why he was calling I was thrilled and honoured.”
Professor Yasmeen, who is a specialist in political and strategic developments in South Asia and the role of Islam in world politics, heads the Department of International Relations, Asian Studies and Politics within UWA’s School of Social Sciences.
As an Australian who came from Pakistan in 1979, she said she has always felt a sense of duty to help others and promote understanding between Australia and the Indian Ocean Region, and she developed the Centre for Muslim States and Societies as a place where anyone can respectfully explore the link between religion and stability.
Professor Yasmeen was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant services to international relations as an academic, adviser and social welfare advocate.
Her new appointment has seen her join Ms Annie Butler and Ms Cathy McGowan AO as community representatives on the Council, along with reconciliation advocate Ms Shelley Reys AO who was announced as Chair.
“It really is an honour to be appointed as part of the group that will decide new appointments within the Order of Australia, I think I’m still in a bit of a daze about it all,” Professor Yasmeen said.
“It is wonderful to think that I’m able to help make other people as happy as I was when I received my AM, I am extremely grateful personally, and honoured to represent the University at this august Council.”
In congratulating Professor Yasmeen, Head of UWA’s School of Social Sciences Professor Amanda Davies said the prestigious appointment recognised her outstanding contribution and standing in our community.
“It is an incredible honour, and it is an illustration of how humble Samina is that when Prime Minister Albanese personally rang Samina to invite her to the Council, it took her a few minutes to believe that she was indeed talking to the Prime Minister,” Professor Davies said.
“As a teacher and researcher, Samina continuously makes a positive contribution to building mutual respect across and social cohesion and making the world a safer place for all and I am thrilled for her that she has been recognised in this way.”
