Andrew Mahar AM receives Order of Australia

Andrew Mahar AM receives his Order of Australia from the Governor of Victoria, His Excellency the Hon Alex Chernov AC QC.

Andrew became a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community and  social justice through the provision of access to technology, and to Timor Leste.

Founder, xpand Foundation, since 2011; the Foundation creates and supports enterprises encouraging social and economic participation of disadvantaged people across the Asia Pacific region.

Founder, Infoxchange, 1996; a not-for-profit social enterprise whose mission of technology for social justice aims to create opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds through access to information technology.

Introduced various digital inclusion initiatives, such as GreenPC; Wired High Rise; Service Seeker; S2S; and Language Factory, providing translation services to migrants and public housing residents.

Co-Creator, Housing Bulletin Board Network, Inner Urban Regional Housing Council, 1988-1996; an electronic database of available beds for homeless youth in Victoria.

Founder, WithOneSeed; supports communities in Timor Leste to make environments sustainable, end poverty and hunger, deliver universal education, and to create regional partnerships.

Founder, InfoTimor, Timor Leste, 2006; first social enterprise focused on the building of the capacity of young people using ICT to develop skills, education and employment.