5 December 2011

Visionary philanthropist Mr Andrew Brice and a mainstay of quality current affairs journalism on Australian television screens for more than 40 years Mr Kerry O'Brien will each receive honorary doctorates during UQ's December 7–16 graduation period.

The honorary doctorates will be officially presented at the 11am, Thursday, December 8, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social and Behavioural Science graduation ceremony (Mr Kerry O’Brien), and at the 10am, Saturday, December 10, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law graduation ceremony (Mr Andrew Brice). Both ceremonies will be held in the UQ Centre on the St Lucia campus.

Honorary doctorate recipients include:

Mr Kerry O'Brien, who has been recognised variously as Australia's pre-eminent television journalist; one of the country's most respected journalists; one of the best and most formidable interviewers; a journalist of courage, insight and integrity; the unchallenged king of serious prime-time current affairs; and the national face of the ABC.

As the compere/interviewer for Lateline (1989–95) and chair and editor of The 7.30 Report (1995–2010), he had an unrivalled 21-year career in daily television current affairs. He continues his hosting role as presenter for the recently revamped Four Corners program where he also worked as a reporter in the mid-1970s and mid-1980s.

He served as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at The University of Queensland from 2004 to 2007, during which time he contributed to the School's anniversary celebrations.

He will receive his Doctor of Letters honoris causa at a graduation ceremony at 11am on Thursday, December 8.

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The Honourable Patrick Keane, one of the stellar graduates of The University of Queensland's TC Beirne School of Law.

His academic and professional careers can only be described as exceptional. He has rendered distinguished service to Queensland as its Solicitor-General for many years and, more recently, as Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.

His appointment as Chief Justice now sees him offering distinguished service to the Commonwealth of Australia.

His Honour has maintained his links with the University including being a donor towards the establishment of the Sir Gerard Brennan Chair at the TC Beirne School of Law in 1999.

He will receive his Doctor of Laws honoris causa at a graduation ceremony at 2pm on Thursday, December 8.

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Mr Andrew Brice is co-founder and CEO of The University of Queensland Endowment Fund (UQef), co-founder and non-executive director of Wotif.com, non-executive director of Diabetes Smart Pty Ltd, founding director of MezurX Pty Ltd and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was previously an auditor with Arthur Anderson (1965–1977) and a partner with AH Jackson & Co (1977–2005).

In 1999, Mr Brice co-founded, with fellow UQ alumnus Graeme Wood, the online accommodation business Wotif.com. The company went on to become a market leader with offices in nine countries other than Australia.

Mr Brice has a demonstrated sense of civic responsibility and belief that a university education should be a realistic dream for all children in Queensland.

In 2007 Mr Brice and Mr Wood established The University of Queensland Endowment Fund (UQef).

Through the UQef, Mr Brice supports the Young Achievers Program, Wotif scholarships for disadvantaged students and research scholarships at UQ. Other UQef supported initiatives include the UQ Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research and the Frank Finn Scholarships for Commerce Honours’ students.

He will receive a Doctor of Economics honoris causa at a graduation ceremony at 10am on Saturday, December 10.

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Mr Alan Millhouse, who is arguably Australia's leading expert on the legal issues presented by major public and private infrastructure projects.

He has been significantly involved in numerous major infrastructure projects in Australia during the past two decades.

Mr Millhouse is a senior finance, commercial and infrastructure lawyer and was a partner of national law firm Allens Arthur Robinson for 30 years until he retired in mid-2009. His expertise is reflected in his ongoing role as consultant to the firm as well as his membership of various associations and committees.

He is a past Chair of the Infrastructure Association of Queensland as well as the Banking and Financial Services Law Association of Australia. He was also previously an executive member of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. He is a director of SunWater Limited and Queensland Motorways Limited.

He is a member of both The University of Queensland Law School Advisory Board and Law Scholarship Selection Committee.

Another significant and sustained contribution Mr Millhouse has made to the School is the Law Scholarship Endowment Appeal.

The appeal was conceived by Mr Millhouse in 2004 as a vehicle for School supporters from within the profession to raise funds to support academically meritorious but financially disadvantaged students to study law.

He will receive his Doctor of Laws honoris causa at a graduation ceremony at 6pm on Wednesday, December 14.

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Professor Robin Batterham AO, a long-term friend of UQ's through his high-level interaction with past as well as the present Vice-Chancellor, other senior executive and Executive Deans.

He has been a frequent visitor, delivering a number of invited presentations, including as the guest of honour during annual Research Week events. He also continues to work closely with the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre in the Sustainable Research Institute in a technical advisory capacity.

In his position as Group Chief Scientist at Rio Tinto, Professor Batterham focused on major step change technologies through in-house and external R&D. Collaborations between Rio Tinto and UQ were strengthened with input from him and these collaborations continue to flourish.

During his term as Australia's Chief Scientist, from 1999 to 2005, his Queensland focus was on the Review of Marine Science, Smart State initiatives and a Northern Research Alliance.

He will receive his Doctor of Engineering honoris causa at a graduation ceremony at 2pm on Thursday, December 15.

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Tan Sri Dato' Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman, who completed his postgraduate training in nephrology – the study of the structure and function of kidneys – and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians. He joined the Malaysian government service as a medical officer in 1969, and in time became consultant nephrologist and Head of Nephrology in Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 1976 to 1987.

He then joined the Ministry of Health, and by 1991, attaining the position of Director General of Health. During his decade in this role, he was responsible for overseeing almost 100,000 employees during a time of rapid change, making major contributions to quality assurance, information technology, telehealth and medical school accreditations.

In 2001, Tan Sri was appointed President of the International Medical University where he has driven its development from a fledgling new entrant to a major regional education provider in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, biotechnology and nutrition/dietetics, complemented by research-based higher degrees with its university partners.

Under his stewardship, the IMU has become a pivotal partner for The University of Queensland's Faculty of Health Sciences.

He will receive his Doctor of Medicine honoris causa at a graduation ceremony at 11am on Friday, December 16.

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Media: Shirley Glaister (07 3365 2802) at UQ Communications.