'I got to where I am ... by working hard': story of law
Like many others working in Iraq following the toppling of Saddam Hussein, Nick Kaldas' mental health deteriorated, an experience he considers pivotal to his role as chair of a royal commission.
Moving to Australia from Egypt in 1969 as a boy with his family, he has held a number of prominent roles including deputy commissioner in the NSW Police Force and chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
From migrant kid in Sydney's suburbs, Naguib "Nick" Kaldas has been made an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia as part of the King's Birthday Honours List, for his service to international and transnational law enforcement, multiculturalism, and veterans among other areas.
"I feel I have contributed to inspiring kids from migrant backgrounds to think about entering government, to enter the police force, to realise that there is no glass ceiling," he told AAP.
"I'm nothing special, and I got to where I am simply by working hard.
"See that you can achieve simply by having faith, being resilient, and not letting the speed humps that we all encounter sometimes stop you from moving forward."
With his Arabic background and extensive law enforcement experience, Mr Kaldas was made deputy chief police adviser in Iraq, under the Coalition Provisional Authority in 2004.
It was in this role helping build Iraqi law enforcement following the dismantling of the regime that led to him developing "really bad PTSD".
Mr Kaldas said those experiences were "pivotal" in his understanding of the complex circumstances Australia's military serving men and women dealt with.
"It certainly helped me in terms of being empathetic and people knowing that I understand some of what they've been through," he said.
"I hope it gave them more comfort to be able to open up, particularly in the private sessions, and to talk to me about what they've been through and what they're feeling."
Members of the judiciary and legal professionals have also been honoured for their service to the law.
Former and current judges include High Court Justice Simon Harry Steward and Mark Samuel Weinberg who have both been appointed Companions (AC) of the Order of Australia and Peter Meldrum Biscoe KC who was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.
Others appointed AM include Kathrine Scott Galloway for significant service to the law, Helen Claire Dalley Fisher for service to women in gender equity, and John Patrick Pace for work in international human rights and policy education.
Judith Dikstein and John Vincent Mackey were awarded Medals (OAM) of the Order of Australia for their service to the law and community.
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