SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) is pleased to announce that the Hon. Tim Wilson MP, the Member for Goldstein and Shadow Treasurer of Australia, will headline its Gala on Saturday, 5 December 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Sydney, commencing at 6:30pm.
The Gala, the ANC-AU’s premier annual event, will bring together members and supporters of the Armenian-Australian community, alongside distinguished representatives from Australia’s political, diplomatic, academic, media and broader public sectors, for an evening recognising the community’s achievements and celebrating ANC-AU’s ongoing advocacy and public affairs efforts.
Mr Wilson, the only current Federal Member of Parliament of Armenian descent, is a prominent voice in Australian politics and serves as Co-Chair of the Australia-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Union. In this capacity, he has actively advocated for Australian federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and consistently supported the rights of Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh.
His longstanding engagement with Armenian-Australian advocacy includes visits to Armenia in 2019 and 2023 as part of delegations involving prominent Australian figures. In 2018, Mr Wilson introduced a motion coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Genocide Convention, during which he acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. He has also participated in Melbourne’s annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration.
More recently, in October 2026, Mr Wilson delivered a Private Member’s Statement urging the Australian Government and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Artsakh-Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan, while highlighting the need to safeguard the rights of the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Artsakh.
The Gala will provide an opportunity to reflect on a significant year for the Armenian-Australian community and recognise the collective achievements of its advocacy, community engagement and public affairs efforts throughout 2026.
The evening will also feature the presentation of the ANC-AU’s Freedom Award, Armenian-Australian Community Friend of the Year Award and Ben Bagdikian Media Award, recognising individuals and organisations whose contributions have strengthened the Armenian-Australian community and advanced its advocacy priorities.
Tickets are now on sale, and can be purchased here.Speaking on the announcement, ANC-AU Political Affairs Director, Sebastian Majarian, said: “Tim Wilson has been a longstanding and valued friend of the Armenian-Australian community, consistently using his platform in Parliament to champion issues of importance to our people. His advocacy, from recognition of the Armenian Genocide to speaking out for the rights of Artsakh Armenians, reflects a genuine commitment to justice and human rights.”“We are delighted to welcome him as our headline guest at this year’s Gala and look forward to recognising the important role he continues to play in strengthening the relationship between Australia and Armenia.”
