In a whirlwind two days, Ismail Serageldin met the PM of NSW and current Culture Minister of Australia, and the deputy leader of the NSW parliament, as well as the Association of friends of the BA headed by Lorenzo Montessini, received an Honorary Doctorate from UTS, delivered a thoughtful and inspiring commentary to the graduates, delivered a major open lecture on the role of Libraries in creating and promoting Civil Society, met with the media, had extensive discussions with Alex Byrne the President-elect of IFLA, and met with the Egyptian community in Sydney.