MyGuardian Annual Dinner 2025: Celebrating a Decade of Service and Community Impact
30/09/2025Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The MyGuardian Annual Dinner 2025 was held on 26 September at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, bringing together political leaders, community figures, and dignitaries to celebrate ten years of MyGuardian’s service. The evening was hosted by Australian television presenter Jayne Azzopardi and featured a diverse guest list, including NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos, Consul General of Lebanon Charbel Macaron and Mrs Macaron, federal and state MPs, former premiers and ministers, local mayors, and councillors. Religious leaders such as Metropolitan Basilios Kodseie and Archbishop Robert Rabbat also attended, alongside representatives from associations, institutions, and the Australian-Arab business and media communities. These are excerpts from the speeches given. The program highlighted the strong support MyGuardian has earned since its founding in 2015 by Jad Haber and Diala Azzi-Haber. Beginning as a volunteer initiative, MyGuardian has grown into a cornerstone of community care in Australia, particularly in the healthcare, aged care, and disability sectors. To honour this journey, every table at the dinner was named after pioneers in these fields.
Premier Chris Minns, MyGuardian CEO Jad Haber, and Federal Minister Tony Burke delivered keynote messages, underscoring the organisation’s impact. Entertainment was woven throughout the evening, with performances by the Street Divas, Lara Nakhle, Alfio, and the band Dusk till Dawn, creating a celebratory atmosphere.
A highlight of the night was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Community Champion Award to Professor Les Bokey and Gwenda Darling, both recognised for their dedication, innovation, and compassion. Their work exemplifies the values at the heart of MyGuardian’s mission.
Unlike many charity events, the dinner did not include auctions or fundraising appeals. Instead, guests were encouraged to “share the love” by promoting MyGuardian’s mission via QR codes linked to social channels, amplifying awareness rather than seeking donations.The evening reflected not only on MyGuardian’s decade of growth and service but also celebrated its future vision: fostering dignity, support, and connection across communities in Australia.
A Decade of Care, Compassion, and Community
From one caring act ten years ago, MyGuardian has grown into a trusted provider that touches lives across Australia. Founded on the values of dignity, compassion, and joy, the organisation has maintained its volunteer spirit while building a professional team of over 400 nurses and carers. Today, MyGuardian delivers more than specialised medical care—it offers personalised in-home support designed to empower people to live fully and independently.
Over the past decade, MyGuardian has provided more than 12 million hours of care, supporting over 10,000 families in more than 80 languages. This growth reflects not just service delivery, but also the creation of a genuine family built on trust, empathy, and professionalism. Many staff members have been with the organisation since its earliest days, further deepening its legacy of continuity and care.
Families consistently describe MyGuardian as life-changing. Clients speak of happiness, relief, and independence restored. Carers themselves echo this sentiment, treating clients “like family” and recognising that everyone, at some stage in life, will need the same compassion in return.
The story of MyGuardian is not only about professional excellence but also about the bonds formed between carers and the people they support. What began as a response to personal need has evolved into a movement that reflects a broader community demand for quality aged and disability care.
As MyGuardian expands its reach nationwide, it remains anchored in its mission: to provide dignity, compassion, and joy. After ten years, it is not just a service it is a legacy of care, and this is only the beginning.Premier Chris Minns Praises MyGuardian’s Decade of Service
At the MyGuardian Annual Dinner 2025, held on 26 September in Sydney, NSW Premier Chris Minns delivered a speech celebrating the organisation’s 10 years of transformative service. He began by acknowledging the Gadigal people and paying tribute to MyGuardian founders Jad and Diala, describing them as “two of the most generous, big-hearted people in Sydney.”
Minns reflected on Jad’s Australia Day Award remark: “We’re not superheroes who can do big things, but we can do small things with big love.” He said this sentiment reflects MyGuardian’s spirit, but also insisted Jad undersells his role as a true hero of empathy and compassion.
Minns stressed that disability care remains a developing sector, shaped by governments and not-for-profits like MyGuardian. He noted that continued learning and investment will only strengthen care quality in the years ahead.
He echoed Jad’s words on giving with love and selflessness, while encouraging generosity from attendees to expand MyGuardian’s impact. Contributions, he said, would provide independence, confidence, and opportunities for people to realise their potential.
Minns closed by congratulating Jad, Diala, the board, and the team on their achievements, affirming that their work is just the beginning of a lasting legacy of dignity, care, and compassion.Celebrating a Decade of MyGuardian and Launching a New Chapter
At the MyGuardian Annual Dinner 2025, founder and CEO Jad Haber reflected on the organisation’s journey from a small initiative in 2015 to a thriving community force. Recalling the early joy of helping others, he emphasised that the past ten years are “just the beginning” for MyGuardian and the newly expanded MyGuardian Foundation.
Haber expressed gratitude to event partner Vitex Pharmaceuticals and CEO Dr. Aniss Chami, and warmly welcomed Premier Chris Minns, recalling his words “Family comes first” as a guiding principle. He stressed that strengthening families strengthens communities, and that collaboration between government, pioneers, and communities is essential.
The evening honoured Professor Les Bokey and Gwenda Darling for their dedication to health and wellbeing, embodying MyGuardian’s values of compassion and service. Haber praised the organisation’s carers — “the DNA of MyGuardian” — for their daily humility and humanity, as well as the board members whose expertise continues to guide its mission.
Reflecting on achievements, Haber noted millions of hours of care delivered and partnerships with institutions like the Ingham Institute, HRI, and Multicultural NSW, reinforcing MyGuardian’s commitment to diversity and inclusive service. He likened the organisation to a rocket “just taking off,” with far greater impact still ahead.
Haber also announced a landmark initiative: The MyGuardian Centenarian Lunch, to be held on 23 October at the NSW Parliament. Anticipated as the largest global gathering of centenarians, it will celebrate ageing with dignity, capture elders’ stories, and showcase their extraordinary contributions.
Closing his speech, Haber reminded guests that MyGuardian’s growth is rooted in community, compassion, and courage to dream big. Quoting St. Francis, he affirmed the organisation’s vision: “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”Tony Burke Praises MyGuardian’s Values and Global Impact
In a video message recorded from Parliament House, the Hon. Tony Burke MP expressed his deep admiration for Jad and Diala Haber and their leadership of MyGuardian. While unable to attend the Annual Dinner in person, Burke highlighted that the organisation represents “some of the best work” he has seen, both in Australia and internationally.
Burke noted the role of government in providing funding but stressed that true impact comes from the “human face” of care — ensuring people receive the dignity they deserve. He praised MyGuardian for embodying this principle in its work across Australia and abroad, including projects as far as the Philippines.
Reflecting personally, Burke recalled his father’s pharmacy in Riverwood, where late-night deliveries to housebound residents demonstrated that business must be guided by values as well as service. He drew a direct parallel between that lesson and MyGuardian’s mission, describing the organisation as one that combines professionalism with compassion.
Burke emphasised that MyGuardian is “a business you can believe in,” not just for the quality of its services but for the values that underpin them. He expressed gratitude to attendees for supporting the cause and reaffirmed his own commitment to backing MyGuardian’s mission.
Concluding, Burke conveyed regret at not being present in Sydney but assured guests of his ongoing support and belief in the work MyGuardian continues to deliver.Dr Aniss Chami Honours MyGuardian Founders and Introduces Professor Les Bokey
At the MyGuardian Annual Dinner 2025, Dr Aniss Chami, CEO and Co-Founder of Vitex Pharmaceuticals, praised founders Jad and Diala Haber for their commitment to making a difference. He noted that their focus has never been on personal success but on improving lives, with success naturally following from their compassion and dedication. Dr Chami described their work as “worthy of emulation” and a model for society, reminding guests of the values that should guide communities.
Dr Chami then introduced Professor Les Bokey, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. He described Professor Bokey as an extraordinary leader in Australian healthcare, pioneering advances in bowel cancer treatment, surgical robotics, and healthcare automation. Professor Bokey has championed equity in South Western Sydney, transforming patient outcomes and access to care.
As Director of the Ingham Institute, Foundation Professor of Surgery at Western Sydney University, and Research Director of the South Western Sydney Local Health District, Professor Bokey has combined clinical excellence with academic leadership. His contributions have set new standards in patient-centred care, expanding survival rates and ensuring innovative treatments reach diverse communities.
Dr Chami highlighted that the Lifetime Achievement Award honours Professor Bokey’s decades of innovation, compassion, and dedication to saving lives. He invited both Professor Bokey and Jad Haber to the stage, celebrating a legacy that reflects the very values at the heart of MyGuardian’s mission.
Professor Les Bokey: Lifetime Achievement Speech
Professor Les Bokey, honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award, opened his speech with humour about his height and expressed gratitude to MyGuardian, the board, and distinguished guests. He said he felt at home with a “family that thinks with its head and loves with its heart.” He accepted the award not just for himself but for colleagues in health and research who shaped his career through collaboration.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Bokey recalled its multicultural character—languages, religions, and communities mixing freely. In 1959, his family arrived in Sydney as stateless refugees. Australia offered welcome, freedom, and opportunity, and medicine became his way to give back. His background inspired empathy and a commitment to equity in research, values he carried into his work in south-western Sydney, one of the nation’s most diverse regions with 1.2 million people, 158 languages, and significant disadvantage. Despite challenges, he described the community as having “fire in our belly,” making research globally relevant.
Bokey highlighted the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, founded by local migrant business families with a simple principle: “do the right thing and do it right.” Its mission rests on two pillars: achieving equity in health outcomes and embedding research in clinical practice to attract outstanding talent. He linked these principles to MyGuardian’s ethos of compassion and innovation.
Two major programmes embody this vision. First, the Australian Centre for Cancer Equity (ACE), created with NSW partners, tackles the complex social and genomic factors behind poorer cancer outcomes in disadvantaged populations. With south-west Sydney’s globally representative genetics, ACE has local, national, and international relevance. Bokey emphasised thinking big, using the new Western Sydney airport as a symbol of global reach.
Second, the Perich Centre for Robotics and Automation in Health, opened after seven years of planning, focuses on research, development, and training in automation and robotics. Bokey stressed preparing the future workforce to lead in AI, robotics, and automation, urging society to embrace rather than fear technology. He described the centre as open to the community, especially schoolchildren, to inspire future careers in health, science, and engineering.
Turning to ageing and care, Bokey argued that while technology—wearables, telehealth, assistive robotics, will enhance healthcare delivery, it will never replace human kindness. Care, he insisted, is defined not by industry but by compassion, aligning with MyGuardian’s philosophy.
Reflecting on his 53-year career, Bokey recalled his great-grandfather Aslan, who lived beyond 100 and once told him: “The first 100 years are the most difficult; after that it becomes easier.” Now retired, Bokey joked he is nearly able to pass that advice to his great-grandson.
He closed on a personal note, introducing his Andalusian horse “Risotto,” with whom he is working toward the Elite Centenary Dressage Club, combining their ages to surpass 100. The anecdote symbolised his belief in lifelong passion, learning, and joy, even in retirement.
Professor Bokey’s speech blended gratitude, humour, and vision, celebrating community, research, technology, and above all, kindness.
The MC thanked Professor Bokey on his achievement.
Simone Proft: Vision for the Ingham Institute
Simone Proft, CEO of the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, outlined the Institute’s mission to improve healthcare, access, and outcomes in South Western Sydney through translational research rooted in community needs. Serving a population of 1.3 million, the Institute is the only medical research body dedicated solely to this diverse and often disadvantaged region.
Proft highlighted stark social determinants of health: residents in social housing face five times the risk of dying from lung cancer; children in low-income households are twice as likely to die before age five; and people with less education can live up to ten years less than those with more. Half a million residents in South Western Sydney fall within the state’s lowest socioeconomic group, underscoring the urgency of the Institute’s work.
Research priorities reflect the region’s greatest health burdens: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurology and stroke, and child and maternal health. By focusing on these areas, the Institute aims to directly address conditions where outcomes are poorest.
The strength of the Institute, Proft stressed, lies in its clinician-researchers who bridge hospital practice and academic discovery. This ensures innovations move quickly from lab to patient care, accelerating the translation of ideas into real-world benefit.
Looking forward, the Perich Centre for Robotics & Health Technology represents a major step. Its flagship Health CATALYST program will rigorously test and deploy AI in healthcare to ensure it reduces inequities rather than deepening them.
Proft announced the first partnership under this centre: a Memorandum of Understanding with MyGuardian, establishing the MyGuardian Fellow for AI in Health Equity. This collaboration will shape a future where technology enhances fairness, access, and impact in healthcare.Katrina Dowling: HRI and MyGuardian Partnership AnnouncementKatrina Dowling, CEO of the Heart Research Institute (HRI), spoke at the MyGuardian Annual Dinner 2025 to celebrate the organisation’s 10-year milestone and announce a strategic partnership between HRI and MyGuardian. She began by acknowledging founders Jad Haber and Diala Azzi and the MyGuardian team, as well as the Hon. Premier of NSW Chris Minns and other distinguished guests.
Dowling congratulated Jad and Diala for building a framework and infrastructure that has delivered vital care services to countless people in need, emphasising their commitment to improving health and quality of life. She highlighted HRI’s mission, explaining that the Institute has spent over 35 years dedicated to understanding cardiovascular disease, conducting translational research, and developing better diagnostics, treatments, and potential cures. Comprising 15 research groups and over 150 researchers, HRI focuses on giving people affected by cardiovascular disease more time with their loved ones, addressing a condition that remains Australia’s leading cause of death and costs the healthcare system $14.3 billion annually.
Dowling emphasised the significance of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), describing it as an under-recognised and debilitating form of cardiovascular disease that leads to loss of mobility, limbs, and quality of life. She explained that PAD currently has no biomarker, diagnostics, or cure, and stressed the importance of awareness, education, and funding to advance research and improve outcomes.
Through the partnership with MyGuardian, HRI aims to raise awareness and support for PAD research and broader cardiovascular initiatives. Dowling concluded by expressing gratitude to Jad, Diala, and the MyGuardian team for their collaboration and shared vision. She then introduced Dr. Sarah Aitken, clinical lead at HRI’s Centre for PAD, who is advancing research and equitable care models, translating findings into national and international surgical guidelines, and strengthening health outcomes across diverse populations. |
