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Ange Postecoglou and Margot Robbie have both been recognised as Global Australian Award winners for 2024.
The coveted accolades recognise Australian nationals both at home and abroad and celebrate their extraordinary achievements by highlighting the innovation, activism and work they have carried out in their field.
Winners are recognised across categories including, leadership, technology and innovation, agriculture, sport, sustainability and the creative arts.
Advance Global Australians, a not-for-profit organisation who work to champion Australians around the world, announced the awards on Thursday.
Other winners include chef Skye Gyngell, Jonathan Lui – the co-founder of Airtasker and Shemara Wikramanayake the managing director and CEO of Macquarie Group.
The football coach and the Hollywood actress have both had a busy 12 months, with Robby appearing in multiple films across 2023 and 2024, including Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, Barbie and See You at 5.
The three-time Academy Award winner also welcomed her first child into the world earlier this month.
Postecoglou, meanwhile, has impressed since taking the reigns as Tottenham’s new manager in 2023.
The former Celtic boss has impressed many around the league with his fast and attacking brand of football, helping Spurs climb to fifth in the Premier League table, winning 20 matches.
‘There is no doubt that Australia is punching well above its weight on the global stage and our biggest asset is our people,’ AGA chief executive Kate McQuestin said.
‘Many are quiet achievers and as our research shows are reluctant to promote themselves, so I am delighted we can do this for them to increase the awareness of our country’s enormous capability and expertise.
‘We should all be proud of what they are achieving and shouldn’t shy away from celebrating it. The extraordinary talent and perseverance of Australians and alumni of Australian universities around the world really is worthy of international acclamation.
‘These awards showcase the profound impact that Global Australians have on the world.’
It comes after Postecoglou, who was born in Greece but migrated to Australia when he was five years old, admitted he had been ‘feeling emotional’ after he was honoured at London’s Australia House earlier this month.
In what was dubbed ‘An Evening With Ange’ the football coach reflected on his life in football and growing up Down Under as part of an evening’s celebration at the Australian High Commission’s office.
‘I do very much feel a product of Greece, but made in Australia, and feel really closely connected to both countries,’ he said during the event.
‘I feel very strongly about the journey I’ve had as an immigrant, not so much for myself, but to keep honouring my parents.
‘The sacrifices they made for me to be sitting here tonight means the world to me, so I really want to thank them.’
While Spurs just missed out on a berth in the Champions League last season, Tottenham have endured a mixed vein of form so far during the 2023-24 campaign.
Spurs have slumped to 10th in the table having won five and lost five of their opening 11 league matches.
But despite their indifferent form, Postecoglou insists there is nothing at the club that could ‘curtail’ his side’s quest for trophies.
The north London side haven’t won a trophy since they lifted the League Cup in 2008, with ex-captain Hugo Lloris hitting out at club chairman Daniel Levy in his recently published autobiography.
In the book the goalkeeper questions whether the Spurs executive had a burning desire to want to win silverware.
But ‘Aussie Ange’ is determined to win, dismissing claims there is no desire to succeed at the club.
‘I’ve said in my own life, people will often talk about experiences they’ve had and shared with me and I’ve got a totally different view on it than they have,’ Postecoglou said.
‘I haven’t read it [Lloris’ autobiography], so I don’t want to take it out of context. Hugo is talking about his own experience, but is that the experience of everyone?
‘I am sure Daniel [Levy] had a different view on it.
‘I think when something doesn’t work, it is very easy to look for reasons why.
‘I think it is bigger than that, but it would have been a very different story – because it was a pretty tight final as well – if it had gone the other way.
‘My dealings with Daniel and anyone at the club, I haven’t changed from the moment I took on this task.
‘I know the ambitions I have for this football club and there has been nothing here that I feel has curtailed me trying to achieve what I want to.
‘A lot of that is in my own power and the rest of it is to get people along for the ride and hopefully get them to believe in what we’re trying to do.’
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