Roach becomes first Aussie Indian on Global Advisory Council

The India Australia equation may be on a rollercoaster, but Aussie Indians have scored a definitive win with the appointment of Neville Roach AO as member of the prestigious Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council.

Roach replaces Shashi Tharoor (former Under Secretary of State of the United Nations) who has joined the Cabinet as Minister of State for External Affairs. The committee is set to have its maiden meeting on 7 January 2010 ahead of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

The exclusive council which was unveiled earlier this year seeks to draw upon the knowledge, experience and wisdom of the Indian diaspora that today numbers over 25 million in some 130 countries. Headed by the Prime Minister, it will serve as an institutionalised dialogue mechanism between the diaspora and the highest levels of Government.

Roach will certainly be in elite company as the council includes who’s who of expat Indians including Nobel Laureate Dr Amartya Sen, Pepsico Chairwoman Indira Nooyi, Karan Billimoria, steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, management guru CK Prahlad, Citi Group boss Vikram Pandit, and telecom advisor Sam Pitroda to name just a few. The panel will work closely with Manmohan Singh as India tackles core developmental issues and future policy formulation.

“As you can see, the other members of the council are eminent global leaders”, Roach told Indian Link, “including a Nobel Laureate, several British Lords, management gurus. Clearly, my stature and achievements are seriously modest in comparison. The only area in which I probably match the others is my passion, commitment and effort in relation to India and the cause of Australia-India relations. Realistically, my appointment is more a reflection of the importance that the Government of India, from the Prime Minister down, attaches to Australia than of me”, he added.

Though Roach downplays his importance in the global leadership scenario, his achievements down under can never be overestimated.

Neville Roach is not only the first Australian to be part of the elite advisory group, he was also the first to be honoured by the Indian government with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

Neville has previously been conferred with the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), one of the Australian Government’s highest honours. He is Honoris Causa of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, which also has a laboratory named after him. In 2007, he won the Overseas Goan Achievement Award from the Government of Goa. In 2005, he was named as Indian Link’s Indian Australian of the Year.

Neville Roach’s lifelong work has seen extensive contributions not prejudice against non European migrants. His migrant background however has never been a deterrent in his career path.

Roach will forever remain as a path breaker, an illustrious role model.