Nick Kaldas, A.P.M., D.Litt. (Honoris Causa)
Commissioner
Nick Kaldas is the Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides (Australia).
Most recently, Mr Kaldas served as Director of Oversight for the United Nations Relief and Works agency, operating in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. He has held the position of Chief of Investigations at the United Nations/Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Joint Investigative Mechanism into the use of chemical weapons in Syria and at the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Chief Police Adviser with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.
In addition to his international career, Mr Kaldas served in the New South Wales Police Force for thirty-five years, the last ten as the senior Deputy Commissioner.
Mr Kaldas holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Charles Stuart University and an honorary doctorate from Western Sydney University. He holds Adjunct Professorships with a number of universities in Sydney, Australia. Mr Kaldas has received numerous awards, including the Australian Police Medal, the National medal, the Overseas Humanitarian Service medal, and numerous commendations for outstanding performance of duty in Australia and overseas.