University of NSW academics, alumni and former colleagues have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for their exceptional achievements and contributions across a broad range of fields.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs extended his heartfelt congratulations to those who have received the honours.
“At UNSW, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our staff, alumni and wider community who have been honoured for their remarkable contributions to Australian society,” Professor Brungs said.
“These individuals embody the very best of UNSW, where our researchers and students work together every day to deliver discoveries and innovations that positively impact society and truly create progress for all.”
Former NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service principal research scientist (1996-2004), Professor Richard Kingsford has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to conservation biology, environmental sustainability research, freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems governance.
“It is a wonderful honour to receive this award for my work, which would not have been possible without the incredible support I have had from my colleagues, students, government and non-government friends in conservation, and of course, my family,” Prof Kingsford said.
“I have been fundamentally motivated by wanting to pass on as much of our amazing natural world to future generations to enjoy.”
A leading Australian ecologist and Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW, Professor Kingsford has worked extensively across the wetlands and rivers of the Murray-Darling and Lake Eyre Basins. His research has made significant contributions to understanding the impact of water resource developments on these ecosystems. This includes the impact of dams on downstream platypus populations, and the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey, which is one of Australia’s most important long-term datasets on the health and biodiversity of the country’s river and wetland areas.
In his role as leader of the Wild Deserts project, Professor Kingsford worked on reintroducing locally extinct mammals into Sturt National Park. This decade-long project in north-western NSW has already returned two of the targeted seven species of locally extinct mammals to the area – the Greater Bilby and crest-tailed mulgaras – with more coming in future years.
His research has also influenced the policy and management of rivers in Australia, including through involvement on state and federal advisory committees.
Professor Skye McDonald was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to clinical neuropsychology and research into social cognition disorders after traumatic brain injury.
Professor McDonald has dedicated her career to understanding the social brain, which means how we use our brains to manage relationships with others. Her focus has been on understanding how this breaks down in people who suffer brain damage, such as from motor vehicle accidents, stroke or dementia.
One of her career highlights has been ‘cracking the code’ of personality change in an injured person, working out why these changes occur, what brain systems are involved and how we can measure and treat them.
She said she was surprised and delighted to be named on the Honours list.
“It is a wonderful reflection of how Australia respects both brain science research and the need to care for people with brain injuries. I work with many dedicated and gifted clinicians and researchers. I feel this is for all of us.”
“I’ve seen first-hand how devastating changes in social function are for the person with an injury, but also their family and community. Being able to get on with others socially is critical to work, education and life in general. Without it, people and their families become increasingly isolated, and it’s something that’s been overlooked until recently,” she said.
Professor McDonald and her team at the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Brain Recovery developed a test of social cognition – The Awareness of Social Inference Test, opens in a new window (TASIT) – which is used by clinicians worldwide. The test is unique, as it can measure different forms of dementia and predict how well people will perform in everyday life after their brain damage.
Other UNSW appointees as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division:
Emeritus Professor Jason Middleton, School of Aviation. For distinguished service to environmental research and marine sciences, particularly coastal oceanography and aviation meteorology, and to tertiary education.
Adjunct Associate Professor Graeme Hughes, School of Women’s and Children’s Health. For significant service to medicine in the field of fertility.
Adjunct Professor Daniel Lambert, School of Chemical Engineering and international advisory committee for the Global Water Institute. For significant service to engineering, particularly to the water sector, and to professional associations.
Conjoint Associate Professor Graham Newstead, School of Clinical Medicine. For distinguished service to colorectal surgical medicine and training, to bowel cancer awareness, education and prevention, and to professional societies.
Member of the Order (AM) in the General Division:
Dr Michael Young, School of Psychology. For significant service to the project management industry and to hockey.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division:
Conjoint Associate Professor Mark Bloch, The Kirby Institute. For service to medicine.
Professor Gerald Fogarty, Master of Warrane College. For service to medical research.
Find the full list of recipients on the Governor-General’s website.
