Recognition in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Provost and Senior Vice-President, Professor Edwina Cornish
Monash University’s Chancellor, Dr Alan Finkel, and Provost and Senior Vice-President, Professor Edwina Cornish, have both received Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) awards in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Dr Finkel’s award recognises not only his distinguished service to science and engineering and to tertiary education administration, but also the contribution he has made as an advocate for the protection of children, and to philanthropy.
Professor Cornish received her award for her distinguished service to higher education, to advances in biotechnology and horticultural genetic modification, and the fostering of partnerships with government, industry and the community.
Her award came as a lovely surprise, she said.
“Making the Honours List still feels so unreal,” Professor Cornish said.
“The award recognises the major phases in my career, both my early work in plant biotechnology and my current involvement in education.”
Her work in plant biotechnology went from basic science to successfully commercialising the world’s first genetically modified flowers.
“I learned how to translate science from a bench to real products. It was such a great experience.”
Since then Professor Cornish has worked with state and federal governments to develop processes and procedures for research infrastructure for Australia before becoming the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Monash in 2004.
“I have been involved with education at an exciting time, and we now have a truly international capability in Melbourne for research, which is very important for our future generations,” Professor Cornish said.
Professor Cornish was appointed as Provost and Senior Vice-President of the University in 2012.
Fellow Monash community members Professor Paul Grabowsky, Dr Lesley Boston, Emeritus Professor Sam Lake, Professor Peter Dixon, Professor Barbara Caine, Associate Professor Rosemary Sheehan, Associate Professor David Campbell, Professor Paul Komesaroff, Emeritus Professor Alan Lindsay and Emeritus Professor Philip Nagley have also been recognised for their extraordinary contributions to Australian communities in the 2014 Honours List.
Professor Grabowsky, Director of Monash University Performing Arts, was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to music as a performer, composer, educator and mentor, and through significant contributions to the arts as an administrator.
Former Monash Council member Dr Boston was appointed an AO for her distinguished service to education as an advocate for improved opportunities for young women, to innovative and best practice pedagogy, and to professional development.
Emeritus Professor Lake received his AO for his distinguished service to conservation and the environment as an ecologist and freshwater scientist, and to research and professional organisations.
Former Monash academic Professor Dixon was recognised with an AO for his distinguished service to education in the field of applied economics as an academic, researcher and author, through significant contributions to policy analysis and modelling.
Associate Professor Sheehan from the Department of Social Work was appointed an AM for her significant service to child welfare and the law, particularly through dispute resolution conferencing.
Professor Caine, who was for many years a distinguished scholar in the Monash Arts Faculty, received an AM for significant service to tertiary education, particularly to gender studies, to women's history, and as a role model and mentor.
Associate Professor Campbell, the Director of the University’s East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, was awarded an AM for significant service to rural and remote medicine and education, as a supporter of Indigenous health professionals, and to general practice.
Professor Komesaroff from the Centre for the Study of Ethics in Medicine and Society received his AM for his significant service to ethics in medicine as a physician, researcher and philosopher.
Emeritus Professor Lindsay from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Administration was honoured with an AM for his significant service to higher education, to academic and business development, and to international education.
Emeritus Professor Nagley from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was awarded an AM for his significant service to education in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Queen’s Birthday 2014 Honours List
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
Dr Megan Clark AC - Alumna (HonLLD 2013)
For eminent service to scientific research and development through fostering innovation, to science administration through strategic leadership roles, and to the development of public policy for technological sciences.
The Honourable Dr Barry Jones AC - Adjunct Monash staff member
For eminent service to the community as a leading intellectual in Australian public life, through contributions to scientific, heritage, musical, medical, political and public health organisations, and to the Australian Parliament.
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
Ms Betty Amsden AO - Supporter
For distinguished service to the community through philanthropic contributions and support for the arts, including the development of public education and participation programs, particularly for children.
Dr Lesley Boston AO - former member of the Monash University Council
For distinguished service to education as an advocate for improved opportunities for young women, to innovative and best practice pedagogy, and to professional development.
Professor Edwina Cornish AO - Monash Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
For distinguished service to higher education, to advances in biotechnology and horticultural genetic modification, and through fostering of partnerships with government, industry and the community.
Mrs Maryanne Diamond AO - Alumna (BSc 1977, GradDipComp 1978)
For distinguished service to people who are blind or have low vision through national and international leadership roles, and as an advocate for best practice employment opportunities.
Professor Peter Dixon AO - Former staff member, Alumnus (BEc(Hons) 1968)
For distinguished service to education in the field of applied economics as an academic, researcher and author, through significant contributions to policy analysis and modelling.
Dr Alan Finkel AO - Monash Chancellor, Alumnus (BE 1976, PhD Eng 1981)
For distinguished service to science and engineering, and to tertiary education administration, as an advocate for the protection of children, and to philanthropy.
Professor Paul Grabowsky AO - Monash staff member
For distinguished service to music as a performer, composer, educator and mentor, and through significant contributions to the arts as an administrator.
Professor Thomas Griffiths AO - Alumnus (PhD Arts 1994)
For distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly social, cultural and environmental history, and through popular and academic contributions to Australian literature.
Emeritus Professor Sam Lake AO - Monash staff member
For distinguished service to conservation and the environment as an ecologist and freshwater scientist, and to research and professional organisations.
Conjoint Professor Gregory Leigh AO - Alumnus (PhD Edu 1996)
For distinguished service to the Deaf and hard of hearing community, particularly children, through education, research, public policy development, and specialist services.
Professor John Myburgh AO - Honorary staff member
For distinguished service to medicine as an intensive and critical care practitioner, educator and researcher, and as an international innovator in patient management.
Professor Ingrid Scheffer AO - Alumna (MBBS 1983)
For distinguished service to medicine in the field of paediatric neurology as a clinician, academic and mentor, and to research into the identification of epilepsy syndromes and genes.
Mrs Maureen Wheeler AO - Supporter
For distinguished service to business and commerce as a publisher of travel guides, and as a benefactor to a range of Australian arts and aid organisations.
Mr Tony Wheeler AO - Supporter
For distinguished service to business and commerce as a publisher of travel guides, and as a benefactor to a range of Australian arts and aid organisations.
Professor Ian Wronski AO - Alumnus (MBBS 1976)
For distinguished service to tertiary education, particularly through leadership and research roles in Indigenous, rural and remote health, and to medicine in the field of tropical health.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Mr Eric Bottomley AM - Monash staff member, Alumnus (MEnvSc 1990)
For significant service to the environment and conservation, and to the development of sustainability education programs for students.
Professor Barbara Caine AM - Former Monash staff member, Alumna (PhD History 2006)
For significant service to tertiary education, particularly to gender studies, to women's history, and as a role model and mentor.
Associate Professor David Campbell AM - Monash staff member
For significant service to rural and remote medicine and education, as a supporter of Indigenous health professionals, and to general practice.
Emeritus Professor Ross Fitzgerald AM - Alumnus (BA (Hons) 1967)
For significant service to education in the field of politics and history as an academic, and to community and public health organisations.
Professor Peter Fletcher AM - Alumnus (PhD Med 1979)
For significant service to cardio vascular medicine as a clinician and administrator, and to heart health programs and medical education.
Mr Michael Gawenda AM - Alumnus (BEc 1969)
For significant service to the print media industry as a journalist and editor, and to the advancement of professional education and development.
Professor Graham Giles AM - Monash staff member
For significant service to medicine, particularly through cancer epidemiology and public health research organisations, and as a mentor.
Professor Paul Komesaroff AM - Monash staff member, Alumnus (BSc(Hons) 1974)
For significant service to ethics in medicine as a physician, researcher and philosopher.
Emeritus Professor Alan Lindsay AM - Monash staff member
For significant service to higher education, to academic and business development, and to international education.
Emeritus Professor Phillip Nagley AM - Monash staff member, Alumnus (PhD Sci 1972, DSc 1986)
For significant service to education in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Dr Prem Phakey AM - former Monash staff member, Alumnus (PhD Sci 1968)
For significant service to the Indian community of Victoria, to aged welfare, and to education.
Professor Henry (Miles) Prince AM - Monash staff member, Alumnus (MBBS(Hons) 1986, MD 1998)
For significant service to medicine, particularly through blood cancer research, improved patient care and fundraising leadership.
Associate Professor Rosemary Sheehan AM - Monash staff member, Alumnus (PhDProf 1997)
For significant service to child welfare and the law, particularly through dispute resolution conferencing.
Dr Gary Speck AM- Alumnus (BSc 1973, MBBS 1974)
For significant service to medicine as an orthopaedic surgeon, and to professional organisations.
Professor Jeffrey Szer AM - Alumnus (BMedSc 1974, MBBS 1976)
For significant service to medicine as a practitioner and administrator in the field of clinical haematology.
Captain Clyde Thomson AM - Alumnus (MBA 1992)
For significant service to community health, particularly through the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
Professor Jennifer Zimmer AM - Former Monash staff member
For significant service to the visual arts as an administrator, academic and publisher.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Mr Rowland Ball OAM - Former Monash staff member
For service to the law, to tertiary education, and to professional organisations.
Mr William Chandler OAM - Alumnus (MEngSc 1995)
For service to urban design and planning.
Professor Warwick Giles OAM - Supporter
For service to medicine, particularly in the field of maternal fetal medicine, and to professional associations.
Mr John Higgs OAM - Alumnus (BA 1971)
For service to education, to the arts, and to the community of Bendigo.
Dr Yusufali Khalfan OAM - Alumnus (GradDipFamMed 1998)
For service to medicine as a general practitioner, and to the community of Harden-Murrumburrah.
Mr Richard Lim Suor OAM - Alumnus (BPharm 1987)
For service to the community through a range of social welfare organisations.
Mrs Toni McCormack OAM - Alumnus (MA 1994)
For service to the community through local government, transport and volunteer organisations.
Dr James McDonald OAM - Alumnus (MBBS 1970)
For service to medicine as a general practitioner.
Mr Mervyn Schneider OAM - Supporter
For service to the community of Nhill.
Public Service Medal (PSM)
Ms Serena Wilson PSM - Alumna (GradDipBus(AdmSecSt) 1986)
For outstanding public service through exceptional contribution to the establishment of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and longstanding and distinguished service to public administration in the area of social policy.
Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) *
Mr Paul Naylor APM - Alumnus (MPA 2014)
Mr Roger Schranz APM - Alumnus (MEd(L,P&C) 2005)
Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) *
Mr Damien McLachlan CSC - Alumnus (BSc(Hons) 1996)
*No citation is given for this award