Dr. Jamal Rifi Honors Lebanese Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Rima Karami
6/11/2025
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: Dr. Jamal Rifi and his wife, Hajja Lana Rifi, hosted a dinner in honor of Lebanese Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Rima Karami, at Al-Aseel Restaurant in Greenacre, Sydney. Dr. Karami is visiting Australia at the invitation of the Australian Lebanese Foundation, headed by Professor Fadia Ghossein, as part of a tour aimed at strengthening academic and educational cooperation between Lebanon and Australia and connecting with members of the Lebanese community.
The event was attended by a large gathering of political, security, diplomatic, municipal, religious, economic, and media figures, including the Grand Mufti of Australia, Sheikh Riad Al-Rifai, and Sheikhs Yahya Safi, Khaled Taleb, Nabil Sukkarieh, Musab Lagha, and Bilal Ali, who expressed their appreciation for Minister Karami's role in serving education in Lebanon.
Minister Jihad Dib (1stL ) and businessman John Dib Also in attendance were Minister Jihad Dib and his wife, Minister Sophie Kotsis, Member of Parliament Tina Ayad, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Chrissie Barrett, Mayor of Canterbury-Bankstown Bilal Hayek, Mayor of Cumberland Ola Hamed, along with municipal council members George Zakhia and Rachid Amoun, President of Beit Al Zakat Issam Obeid, Hajja Maha Karim Abdo representing the Muslim Women's Association, Imad Matar representing MP Ehab Matar, former Mayor of Markville Suleiman Iskandar, as well as heads and representatives of associations from Tripoli, Minieh, Akkar, Mina, and Dennieh, and prominent academic and social figures.
From left: Clr. George Zakhia, Minister Dr. Rima Karami,
and Businessman John Dib From the academic sector, Dr. Imad Baalbaki, Vice President of the American University of Beirut, and Ms. Salma Dannawi Oweida from the university's academic administration were also present, along with a number of heads of educational, economic, social, and media institutions, businesspeople, and friends.
Dr. Rifi opened the event with a welcoming address to Minister Karami and the attendees, praising her role in developing education in Lebanon and strengthening international cooperation. He emphasized that education is the foundation for building nations and that the Lebanese community in Australia has been, and continues to be, a strong supporter of their homeland.
Minister Rima Karami then delivered a speech outlining the current state of the education sector in Lebanon and the Ministry's plans for curriculum reform, teacher training, and improving the infrastructure of public schools. She stressed the importance of collaborating with the Lebanese diaspora to support education through partnerships and twinning programs between Lebanese and Australian institutions.
The meeting concluded with an open dialogue session during which the Minister answered questions from the audience. The atmosphere was one of appreciation and affection, reflecting the deep ties between Lebanon and its diaspora, and highlighting the pioneering role of the Lebanese community in supporting their homeland in educational and humanitarian fields. |
