Former army chief David Morrison has been named 2016 Australian of the Year, in a move that promises to put gender equality and diversity at the top of the national agenda.
The now-retired Lieutenant-General went "viral" with an electrifying message in 2013, ordering soldiers who could not commit to respecting women to "get out". The clip has been viewed on YouTube more that 1.6 million times and turned the Canberra resident into an unlikely feminist hero.
General Morrison's appointment comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calls on Australians to make a "cultural shift" and stop disrespecting women - declaring that gender inequality lies at the heart of violence against women. It also follows domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty's high profile term as 2015 Australian of the Year. 
General Morrison, who retired from his 36-year military career in 2015, prioritised cultural change in the army during his four years as chief.
Since his video declaration, the number of women joining the army has grown by 2 per cent. General Morrison was also an early member of the Male Champions of Change program, signed up for the United Nation's HeforShe campaign and was an outspoken advocate against domestic violence.
"We live in a world where, increasingly, the squandering of women's talent, the traducing of their potential, is a global disgrace," he said in a 2014 speech to boys at The King's School.
"We need men of authority and conscience to play their part."
General Morrison, who is now chairman of Diversity Council Australia, says his current mission is to "make sure that everybody, irrespective of their gender or their race or the god they believe in, has the chance to reach their potential". The Australian of the Year is selected by the eight-member National Australia Day Council board, chaired by Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.
The award will probably come as a surprise to General Morrison, who on Sunday was saying he did not expect to win, given the calibre of the other nominees, which include South Australian burns surgeon John Greenwood and NT youth worker Will MacGregor.
General Morrison, 59, is the first military Australian of the Year since Sir Peter Cosgrove took out the title in 2001.
He deployed to Bougainville in 1994 and again to East Timor in 1999. On leaving the ADF, he said, "no one loves the army more than me".
His recent career - and focus on gender issues - is also intimately linked with two of the other Australian of the Year nominees.
General Morrison has spoken frequently of how then-Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick encouraged him to listen to the stories of women who had been abused by fellow soldiers. He said the shame he felt "morphed into an implacable resolve to do something about it".
Catherine McGregor, who is nominated as a leader in the transgender community, was General Morrison's speechwriter and principal writer of that famous clip.
On Monday, ahead of the announcement, Ms Batty encouraged her successor to be "bold and brave". "I want to say, this is a huge opportunity for the cause you are representing," she said. "It was given to you for the potential you have to make Australia a better place."
Mr Turnbull praised all the nominees, noting that they were "shining examples of our best selves".
General Morrison is married to Gayle and has three adult sons. Away from the military and work, he has professed a love for audio books, cooking, golf and Joni Mitchell.