Bulent Hass Dellal

Bülent Hass Dellal was a director and chairman of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in Australia before stepping down on 2 June 2020.

Life and career Dellal was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Turkish Cypriot parents, and is the eldest of three children. His great-grandfather was the last Ottoman mufti of Cyprus. Dellal's early childhood was spent in Glenroy, where he attended primary school. Dellal spent his after-school hours and weekends helping his father, Hasan, with the general store they owned in Glenroy. His father devoted his spare time towards assisting Turkish Cypriot immigrants who settled in Australia and helped form the Cyprus Turkish Association. He also founded the Cyprus Turkish Islamic Society, and was responsible for managing the construction of the Sunshine Mosque. In 1962, at the age of 10, Dellal's family sold their assets and moved to Ankara, Turkey but returned to Australia in 1965, where he spent his secondary school years. Dellal studied at Merrilands Secondary College and then at the Melba Conservatory in Richmond. Once he finished his studies, he became a teacher at a Catholic girls' college. In 1989, Dellal became the founding executive of the Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF). His efforts were recognised in 1997 when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II for his support of multicultural affairs, the arts and the community. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal for his contribution to Australian society.

Awards 1997: Medal of the Order of Australia 2003: Centenary of Federation Medal