Congratulations Anna Mezger OAM who was recognised in the Australia Day Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sports administration, and to people with disability.

Anna came to Queen’s encouraged by her parents who wanted her to embrace the experience of going to university in every form.  When her only sibling, Suellen was diagnosed with an intellectual disability when she was quite young, it was clear Anna was going to be the only child in her family to go to university. 

Anna walked into Queen’s not knowing a single person, and left with life long friendships, having fully embraced College life and everything it had to offer. This included the time she returned from uni to find her VW beetle ‘parked’ on the slab in front of Eakins Hall, and Vice Master, Jack Clarke waiting for her.

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Strategic HR Solutions (SHR), a consulting firm Anna founded with the aim of helping clients achieve their business goals through people-focused solutions such as intensive leadership development programs, bespoke performance improvement and executive coaching. 

Anna’s volunteering sprung largely through the frustration of seeing her son, Harry, who has an intellectual disability, missing out on the sporting opportunities his older brother was enjoying.

She was a founding member of the Multiclass Snowsports Association, and established a competition pathway for athletes with intellectual disability which became part of the Victorian Interschools Competition. 

Following Harry’s passion for sport, they joined a local club of Special Olympics and Anna was appointed Chair soon after.  Anna has also established an Athlete Leadership program in Victoria for Special Olympics. The program, now supported by many volunteer mentors, has contributed to athletes being appointed to leadership roles in the organisation, and helped them secure employment in coaching programs at schools, and roles at the Australian Open.

She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Special Olympics Australia Board and the Chair of the Nominations, Remuneration and Governance Committee. 

Anna is honoured to be acknowledged for contributing to the health and happiness of those with an intellectual disability through sport, and is truly grateful for the joy Special Olympics athletes bring to her life. She has taken to heart the Special Olympics athlete oath, Let me win but if I can not win let me be brave in the attempt, believing striving with courage, authenticity, effort and heart is just as meaningful—if not more meaningful—than the final result.