Armenian National Committee of Australia

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) (Armenian: Ավստրալիայի Հայ դատի յանձնախումբ) is considered one of the largest and most influential grassroots organization representing the Armenian Australian community in Australia. ANC-AU represents a total of 36 Armenian-Australian organisations with over 5,500 memberships, in addition to the broader Armenian-Australian community of an estimated 50,000.[1]

Armenian National
Committee of Australia
TypeNGO
Headquarters259 Penshurst St, Willoughby, Sydney, Australia
Official language
English, Armenian
Executive director
Michael Kolokossian
Chairman
Khajaque Kortian
Websitewww.anc.org.au

ANC-AU works in areas of political and educational activities, including:

  • Informing and influencing the Australian Government policy on affairs of interest to the Armenian-Australian community;
  • Raising public awareness in support of an independent and united Armenia;
  • Representing the collective Armenian-Australian community on public policy.[2]

In February 2020, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) initiated the launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia's Parliament House, calling for Australia's national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides of 1915 as a priority on behalf of their communities.[3]

Michael Kolokossian was appointed the organisation's Executive Director in June 2022.[4]

Executive Directors

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Ordinal Officeholder Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1 Tro Kortian ? 2007 ? [5]
2 Varant Meguerditchian 2007 2012 4–5 years
3 Vache Kahramanian 2012 2017 4–5 years
4 Haig Kayserian 2018 2022 3–4 years
5 Michael Kolokossian 2022 incumbent

References

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  1. ^ "Raising patriotism on both sides': Armenian and Azerbaijani Australians watch conflict spiral online". www.abc.net.au. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Armenian National Committee of Australia: About Us". www.anc.org.au. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Australian Government Minister Supports Recognition of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides". www.aina.org. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Michael Kolokossian Takes Over as Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia - Media Releases - News|| Armenian National Committee". www.anc.org.au. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  5. ^ "News". www.anc.org.au. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
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