Distinguished Australian, Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE KStJ passed away Sunday February 11th 2018.
Sir Nicholas was a passionate advocate for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Australia, living out its values.
Between 1992- 1994, Sir Nicholas served as Chair of the National Board for the Award.
Later, his wife, Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO served as Patron of the Award in NSW during her tenure as Governor from 2001 - 2014. As Governor, Dame Marie Bashir presented over 4,000 Awards. A strong supporter of the Award, Sir Nicholas accompanied his wife, and participated in countless Gold Award Ceremonies.
Sir Nicholas’s endeavours embodied the comprehensive framework of the Award. A former Captain of the Australian Rugby Union Team, former Sydney Lord Major, former Director and Chair of numerous public and private organisations. Sir Nicholas contributed vastly to the Australian business, charitable and sporting community.
National Award CEO Peter Kaye AM who served with Sir Nicholas when he was Chair recalls his leadership as being one of “inclusion in seeking to extend the Award to being used well beyond the schools. He also sought to better recognise the efforts of the tens of thousands of volunteers needed to deliver the Award”
Sir Nicholas, Dame Marie and HRH The Earl of Wessex at the Award Forum in Sydney 2009
University-led research shows stronger academic results among Duke of Ed students, in addition to the known personal development benefits. A landmark study by Western Sydney University has confirmed what many educators and Duke of Ed Leaders have long observed: young people who use the Duke of Ed Framework develop stronger personal capabilities and achieve better academic results. The comparative study, using five NSW public secondary schools, examined several data points including academic grades, NAPLAN scores, […]
Sport and adventure go hand in hand and for Coco, they’ve been life-changing. Inspired by her siblings, Coco set out to complete the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, determined to embrace every challenge. Aligning the Duke of Ed Framework with her passion for sport, Coco chose wheelchair racing for her Physical Section. Already a […]
How the Duke of Ed can fill the gap In an era of rapid technological change and evolving workforce expectations, new research published by Harvard Business Review (HBR) highlights a powerful trend: human-centred capabilities, often called human skills, are now more valuable than ever. As organisations respond to generative AI, automation and shifting job structures, employers are […]
Information for Duke of Ed Centres
Useful Links
Contact Us
Suite 7.04, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000, NSW
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia
