His Excellency The Honourable Hieu Van Le AC – Governor of South Australia & The Honourable Chief Justice of South Australia Chris Kourakis SC

His Excellency the Honorable Hieu Van Le AC is South Australia’s 35^th Governor and the first person of Asian origin to be appointed a State Governor in Australia.  He assumed office in September 2014 and will complete his term in office at the end of August 2021.  Previously, His Excellency had been Lieutenant Governor of South Australia from 2007 to 2014.  Following his arrival as a Vietnamese refugee in 1977, His Excellency has had a long interest and involvement in multicultural communities.  He served as Chair of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission from 2006 –2009 and was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 ‘for services to the advancement of multiculturism in Australia’.

The Honourable Chris Kourakis SC is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia.  He grew up in Port Lincoln as one of ten children of Greek migrants.  Chris practised at the Bar from 1989, was appointed a QC in 1997 and appointed the Solicitor-General of South Australia from 2003 to 2008.  In 2008 Chris was appointed to the Supreme Court of South Australia and in 2012, Justice Kourakis was elevated to Chief Justice. 

The Chief Justice will deliver a tribute speech on the Governor’s retirement.