Professor Kim Cornish recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours

The founding director of the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Professor Kim Cornish has been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours list being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant services to tertiary education, psychological sciences and the community.

As a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor with a career spanning three continents, Professor Cornish is an international academic leader and researcher. Her passion for developmental cognitive neuroscience was sparked in London in the 1990’s and has motivated her professionally ever since.

"I am so proud to be awarded the Order of Australia,” Professor Cornish said.

"Throughout my career, I have focused my research on children with vulnerable brains. The more we understand about how the developing brain functions in the early years, the more we can do to intervene to enable all children to thrive,” she said.

“Receiving an Order of Australia in recognition of this work and its impact in the community is just wonderful”.

“Coming from very humble beginnings in Manchester in the UK to be able to work with amazing researchers here in Australia and to lead the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health is an honour."

Professor Cornish’s professional and personal journey with her family from the UK via North America where she held the prestigious Canada Research Chair at McGill University in Montreal, to leading the Turner Institute and until recently, 14 years as the head of Monash University’s School of Psychological Sciences is inspiring.

During her tenure, the School underwent transformational change and is now recognised in the 2023 Times Higher Education rankings of 1700 Universities globally, rising to 54th in the world.

Professor Cornish was instrumental in Monash University securing the largest philanthropic gift for preventative brain and mental health research in Australia when the Turner received $34 million from the David Winston Turner Endowment Fund.

She is a fierce advocate for women in leadership. The idea that "we can't be what we can't see" underscores the importance of visibility and representation, Professor Cornish said.

"As a woman leader here in Australia it continues to be a privilege to lift other women up. To be a role model and mentor is everything to me.

“I hope this AM inspires other women to believe they can make an impact in their world and be change makers.”

With over 130 publications and $22M in research funding, her world-renowned research has been the catalyst for the development of novel, digital, interactive programs delivered to communities and are accessible across Australia, Asia and North America.

Her recent intervention into the public discourse with her book “The Post-Pandemic Child”, examined the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children and young people.

The acknowledgment of Professor Cornish’s significant contributions with an Order of Australia further underscores the societal impact of her research.