A Family Affair for A Strong Heart Book Launch
On the evening of 25 January, friends, family, and dignitaries gathered at The Sofitel, Darling Harbour, for a special event (also live-streamed) to witness my Polish Gold Cross medal investiture ceremony, and celebrate my long-awaited book launch of Strong Heart—An Autobiography in Progress. With my right-hand woman and adoring wife Neelo, and my three daughters, Zeenat, Saba, and Ismat, by my side, there was no more fitting way to celebrate everything the book represented. In love, life, and business, family is everything.
It was most appropriate that the event was MCed by my three daughters and that the book launch was opened with words from Neelo. You will well know if you have interacted with our company that we come as a ‘package deal’ of sorts, or as Shane Stone AC QC remarked on the night, ‘two for the price of one!’ Indeed, as a family, we have always been ‘all in’ when it has come to supporting one another, building our vision for the future, and putting into practice a shared ethos on social justice and community advancement. But it has also been the extraordinary generosity, loyalty, and support of inspiring individuals ‘in our corner,’ so to speak, whose belief and mentorship have helped guide us to where we are today.
Penning my life story to date was a project that was sparked by one of these inspirational individuals. When H.E. José Ramos-Horta suggested one day, ‘Why don’t you write a book?’ I reasoned that there was some genius in this kernel of an idea. After all, I do come from a long line of prolific storytellers! Ramos-Horta offered to set up a meeting with David Longfield of Longueville Media. We met at the Sofitel Wentworth, and I was instructed that I had all of ten minutes to relate the essence of my story to David (no easy task for someone with a propensity to wander into minute details). At the end of my ten-minute abridgement, David replied, ‘We have ourselves a book!’
It was fitting that David opened the Q&A session by returning to the story of how a red Honda motorcycle changed the course of my young life. My clever father Abba Jee knew there was nothing more powerful than my ‘King of the Road’ to provide the drive and ambition I needed to make something of myself. All manner of topics were covered during the Q&A as we fast-tracked our way through my migrant perspective of change in Australian society over the past 35 years; how we were able to generate momentum by capitalising on a series of once-in-a-lifetime business opportunities in Timor; as well as discussing our central principles of corporate philanthropy and business ethics.
I was deeply honoured and touched by the thoughtful video messages sent by cherished friends, family, and political dignitaries from Karachi to Díli. Among those that offered heart-felt reflections and insights were my elder brother Waris Awan, my dear friend and business/life mentor, Mujahid Hamid, the Hon. Shane L Stone AC QC (former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory), and former Presidents of the Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Xanana Gusmão, and H.E. José Ramos-Horta. I was also grateful to receive heartfelt statements during the event from Kirsty-Sword Gusmão, former First Lady of Timor-Leste and activist, and my good friends Tim Hargreaves and Hugh Bradley.
A Strong Heart is available now for purchase in all good bookstores and online at Booktopia or Amazon.