Numerous figures from the world of film, television, music, sport and politics have been named in the King’s 2025 birthday honours.
The standout names include The Who frontman Roger Daltrey, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and football superstar David Beckham have been knighted as part of the King’s birthday honours.
Daltrey, 81, has been recognised for his services to music and charity, having been the patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000.
Meanwhile, Oldman 67, was recognised for his services to drama. The Hollywood star won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film Darkest Hour.
A long-awaited knighthood has also been given to former England captain David Beckham, who has been recognised for his contributions to sport and charity.
Australian Cypriot James Demetriou has been honoured with a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant contributions to sport, education, and business innovation. Of Greek-Cypriot heritage, Demetriou has long championed multicultural inclusion and entrepreneurship.
He was the founding chair of the Australian Sports Technologies Network, where he fostered innovation in sports science and tech over a decade. He also established Sports Without Borders in 2006, a charity designed to promote sporting opportunities for young migrants and refugees.
His academic contributions include roles at Swinburne University’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship and the University of Melbourne. Demetriou has held leadership roles at Monash University’s Food Innovation Centre and contributed to policy through his work with “Born Global or Die Local,” an entrepreneurial training program.
His extensive community engagement includes serving as a director at Essendon Football Club and as a City of Coburg Councillor. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, innovation, and civic leadership.
“I was a bit surprised and very humbled to be awarded. It’s really a culmination of everything I’ve done — whether that’s with migrant youth through Sports Without Borders, or as founding chair of the Australian Sports Tech Network, which started small and is now a $5.25 billion sector. It’s also a testimony to how inclusive sport and education are in Australia,” Mr Demetriou told The Greek Herald.
“My parents migrated from Cyprus in 1950 and 1951. This honour is a way to thank them for the sacrifices they made so we could give back and thrive in this country.”ļ
The late Georgia Alexandrou, a stalwart of the Greek and Cypriot communities in Canberra, was posthumously awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her decades-long service to multicultural and community affairs.
As President of the Cyprus Community of Canberra and ACT for over 20 years, Alexandrou helped nurture cultural identity and intergenerational unity. She was a driving force behind Canberra’s Greek Glendi and the Cyprus Kafeneio at the National Multicultural Festival.
Nationally, she served as Vice President and later President of the Pan Australian Justice for Cyprus Coordinating Committee (PASEKA), and contributed to the Australian Hellenic Council and the World Council for Hellenes Abroad.
Her leadership extended beyond advocacy to community empowerment, helping organise events, lobbying efforts, and cultural preservation projects. Her legacy continues to inspire younger generations of Hellenic Australians in Canberra and beyond.
Georgia’s husband Chris Alexandrou told The Greek Herald about her recognition: “It is something she would have cherished. She was honoured by the Republic of Cyprus in 2024 – the country where she was born – and now she’s being honoured by the country she spent most of her life in. It is an honour to me as well and to our son, Andreas.”
Mr Alexandrou added that Georgia was dedicated to the Cypriot cause, working tirelessly within Canberra to promote Cyprus reunification, and was respected among political circles.