Director and Founder of the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS), Professor Amin Saikal, was honoured for his role in improving Australia’s understanding of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Professor Saikal’s advice and public commentary are regularly sought by governmental, non-governmental organisations and media, and he was also an advisor to former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.
Books he has written or edited include The Arab World and Iran: A Turbulent Region in Transition which was launched by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who also wrote its foreword. Minister Bishop said Professor Saikal and CAIS have provided high-quality work to inform debate on the Middle East for more than 20 years. She also said collaboration between CAIS and the Australian Government on the challenging and contentious issues of the region was highly regarded.
Professor Saikal has a relationship with numerous leaders from across the region and in 2016 was pivotal in arranging for Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to give a public lecture at the ANU.
Professor Saikal’s most recent solo book, Iran: At the Crossroads, was launched at the United Nations in New York, while in 2017 he was a co-leader of the first Australia-Iran high-level dialogue in more than a decade. Fellow leader of those talks and former Australian Foreign Minister, ANU Chancellor Professor the Hon. Gareth Evans, presented the award to Professor Saikal at the December graduation ceremony.
Professor Saikal said “it is an honour to receive the Peter Baume award, I share this recognition with my colleagues in CAIS, CASS and ANU, whose support of me has been instrumental in enabling me to pursue my academic career. It is a great privilege to work at ANU and be part of its achievements”.