The SBS Board and Executive today welcomed the appointment of Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO as the SBS Chairman, as announced by the Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield.
SBS Managing Director, Michael Ebeid, said: “On behalf of the Board and the SBS team, I’d like to congratulate Dr Dellal on his appointment, which I have no doubt will be well received by both the employees of SBS, and the communities we serve. He has contributed enormously to SBS during more than six years serving on the Board, including as Deputy Chairman, and has done a tremendous job as Acting Chair over the last year. I’m delighted that he’s been formally appointed to the role.
“Dr Dellal’s extensive knowledge of multicultural affairs, his many years of experience working with diverse community groups, and his strong connections within communities have been invaluable to SBS. I look forward to working closely with him and the Board as SBS continues to deliver distinctive programs and services which help migrants understand Australian culture and values, support Indigenous communities, and showcase the benefits of diversity to all Australians, while also continuing to invest in the organisation’s digital future ensuring that SBS is in a great place for the years ahead.”
Dr Dellal said on his appointment: “I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity to chair SBS. SBS’s unique ability to access, explore and share stories of Indigenous and multicultural Australia, for all Australians, continues to be one of our greatest and most valuable strengths. As the media sector continues to go through transformative changes, I look forward to working with the Board and management to ensure SBS continues to play such a vital and special role in Australia’s future.”
Dr Dellal has been appointed by the Australian Government as Chairman of the SBS Board for a period of just over three years, which takes his term up to the statutory limit of ten years serving on the SBS Board. He leads the Board of Directors which includes Daryl Karp, Dorothy West, Peeyush Gupta, William Lenehan and Michael Ebeid (Managing Director).
This is an important appointment given the controversy that surrounded the previous chair Nihal Gupta, who resigned for "personal family reasons" 3 days ago. It is expected Dr Dellal, who was appointed interim Chair after Mr Gupta's resignation and with this appointment permantently takes on the role, will continue the work he as done as a member of the Board of Director in furthering and supporting the multicultural broadcast opportunities of SBS.
About Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO
Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO was appointed a Director of the SBS Board in 2010. Dr Dellal has been the Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation since 1989. He is also Chairman of the Centre for Multicultural Youth; Chairman of the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies Consultative Committee (Melbourne University); the Chairman of the Islamic Museum of Australia, and he is on the Commonwealth Governments Australian Multicultural Advisory Council. Dr Dellal has also served as a Member, Multicultural Advisory Committee of the Family Court of Australia; Board Member, Adult Multicultural Education Services; Co-Chairperson, Police and Community Multicultural Advisory Committee, and Sitting Member, Victoria Police Ethical Standards Consultative Committee. Dr Dellal was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1997 for service to multicultural organisations, the arts and the community.
