On Australia Day 2011, DIA member and Interior Designer Madeline Lester LFDIA was named a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Madeline's award was for "service to the profession of interior design as a practitioner and educator, and to the promotion of the industry in a range of roles with national and international representative organisations."
In addition to her new award, Madeline is also a 2006 DIA Hall of Fame recipient. She has also been a Past President and Board Member of the IFI, a National President of the DIA, NSW State President of the DIA, Adjunct Associate Professor of Design and Acting Head of Interior Architecture at the University of New South Wales, Lecturer at the School of Design, University of Technology, Sydney, and Director and Chair of the highly acclaimed Sydney Design 99, among other appointments. She was a founding partner of Interni Design and is now Design Manager and Principal of Madeline Lester Design Management.
Current National President of the DIA, Oliver Kratzer FDIA, offered his congratulations to Madeline on behalf of the DIA. "It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on becoming a Member of the Order of Australia," said Mr Kratzer. "It is public recognition for the many years of dedicated service you have given to the profession. From practice and education, to local and international representation at the highest level, you have successfully covered the whole gamut. To your great credit you did so with humour and humanity."