Former governor of NSW Dame Marie Bashir has agreed to become patron of Technion Australia (NSW) and Technion Society of Australia Environmental Research.
This follows the announcement earlier this year by Technion President, Professor Peretz Lavie, that the Technion would be conferring on Professor Bashir the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa for her outstanding and significant contribution to psychiatry and mental health; in tribute to her public service and leadership in building understanding between people of all backgrounds; and for her support and friendship to the Jewish People, Israel and the Technion.
The organisations’ president Dr Ruth Ratner said: “Professor Bashir has had a long association with the Sydney Jewish Community and has been a strong supporter of the Technion, attending a number of our events over recent years.
We value her support and in particular her counsel. She is a wonderful role model to both young and old. We are very honoured that Professor Bashir, a woman who has reached the pinnacle of her medical, academic, and civil lives, has chosen to identify with the Technion, Israel’s leading scientific, engineering and technological university, and one of only five such universities to also have a medical faculty.”
Professor Bashir said that although she had been honoured with a continuing number of patronages of worthy groups she was humbled and proud of Technion Australia’s request.
Professor Bashir’s degree will be conferred at the 2016 Technion International Board of Governors’ Meeting in June, 2016 in Haifa.
Technion Australia will be taking a mission to Israel in June next year to celebrate the award with the Professor as well as see first hand the work of the Technion and its key role in the ‘Start-up Nation’.
The Technion is Israel’s oldest university, recognised world-wide for its scientific, engineering and technological prowess, and is acknowledged as the engine room of much of Israel’s development, high-tech and economy.