Three figures associated with The University of Queensland have received the highest award in today’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Leading science innovator Professor Ian Frazer, Adjunct Professor Peter Beattie and former Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Hill are among eight Australians to be presented with a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
The award represents achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or humanity at large.
• Dr Beattie is a UQ alumnus, an Adjunct Professor in UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Institute for Molecular Science, and an honorary Doctorate recipient.
He is closely associated with the foundation of the “Smart State” while Premier.
He received his award for eminent service to the Parliament and community of Queensland, through initiatives in the area of education and training, economic development, particularly in biotechnology, information technology and aviation industries, and to the promotion of international trade.
• The Hon. Robert Hill, who has been Chancellor of the University of Adelaide since 2010, is a member of UQ’s Global Change Institute Board.
His award is for eminent service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly through the development of policy reform in the portfolios of the environment and defence, and to Australia's international relations through senior diplomatic representation to the United Nations.
• Professor Frazer is the co-inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine and the 2006 Australian of the Year.
He is Chief Executive Officer and Director of Research, Translational Research Institute, and was the founder of UQ’s Diamantina Institute where he is a Research Leader in the Epithelial Cancer Division.
He received his award for eminent service to medical research, particularly through leadership roles in the discovery of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine and its role in preventing cervical cancer, to higher education and as a supporter of charitable organisations.
Professor Frazer said: “This honour provides the opportunity to acknowledge the work of all medical researchers throughout Australia, especially those who I will work beside in the new Translational Research Institute in Brisbane.
“TRI will provide the ideal environment for medical researchers to deliver the benefits of the exciting new research technologies that have become available.
"These will enable us to understand better why people get sick, and how we can prevent and treat chronic health problems including diabetes, kidney and liver disease, arthritis, and cancer.”
Other University of Queensland staff, former staff and alumni honoured in the Queen's Birthday honours list, as currently identified include:
Officer (AO) in the General Division
• Philanthropist Ms Barbara Blackman, for distinguished service to the arts and to the community, as a supporter of artistic performance, through philanthropic contributions, and as an advocate for people who are blind and partially sighted.
• Pharmacy graduate and former University of Queensland Rugy player Mr Ian Brusasco AM, for distinguished service to the community of Queensland through leadership roles with a range of public administration, sporting and charitable organisations, particularly Foodbank Queensland.
• MBBS graduate 1956 the Hon. Dr John Herron, for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, to international relations through diplomatic and humanitarian roles, to professional medical associations, and to the community.
• Vice-Patron of UQ Sport Member Mrs Daphne Pirie MBE, for distinguished service to sports administration and to hockey, particularly through roles with the Queensland Academy of Sport, as an advocate for the participation of women and girls in sport, and to the community of the Gold Coast region.
• Director, University of Queensland Press, 1961-1983 Mr Frank Thompson, for distinguished service to the publishing industry, to the promotion of modern Australian cultural expression, particularly in the area of literary fiction, and through support for emerging authors.
(AM) in the General Division
• Professor of Pathology in UQ’s Faculty of Health Sciences, 1992-2000 Professor John Bell, for service to medicine in the field of pathology, to medical education and professional organisations, and to the community.
• Science honours (Microbiology) graduate and former Microbiology Department staff member Alan Mortimer, for service to food science and technology. While at UQ, he was President of the UQ Sports Union (now UQ Sport) and was President, and subsequently a Life Member, of the UQ Hockey Club. He is a Past-President (1991-1993) of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology; a Past-President (2003-2006) of the International Union of Food Science and Technology; and is a Fellow of both organisations.
• Director, Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education, University of Queensland, since 1996 Ms Christine Bundesen, for service to international tertiary education through leadership roles in the field of English Language Teaching, to the development of quality assurance standards, and to professional organisations.
• Emeritus Professor Desley Connell, of Griffith University, for service to environmental chemistry and public health, to education as an academic, researcher and author, and as a mentor. He was involved in a joint bid (with The University of Queensland) to secure funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council to fund the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology.
• Lecturer/Reader, UQ’s Fred and Eleanor Schonell Special Education Research Centre, University of Queensland, 1978-1995, Professor Alan Hayes, for service to the social sciences through the Australian Institute of Family Studies, as a contributor to policy research, and as an academic and author.
• Choral Conducting Fellow, UQ School of Music, since 2009; and former Lecturer in Organ Mr Graeme Morton, for service to the arts, particularly choral music and culture, as a conductor, director, composer and academic, through the performance of new Australian musical works, and to youth.
• Honorary Professor, University of Queensland, since 2003 Emeritus Professor Robert Officer, for service to business and education in the field of financial economic theory, as a leader of public and private sector institutions, an adviser to government and an academic administrator.
• Pro Vice-Chancellor, (Academic Services), University of Queensland, 1994-1997 Dr Ian Reinecke, for service to information technology, particularly through leadership in the development and implementation of uniform national health systems and as an adviser and coordinator of the technology capability of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
• Cardiologist Professor Malcolm West, for service to cardiovascular medicine as a clinician, researcher, academic and mentor, and to the community through contributions to medical foundations and charities. A Professor of Medicine in the then Department of Medicine, since 1989. he was Head, Department of Medicine, 1998-2002; Head, Discipline of Medicine, 2002- 2009, Executive Member, School of Medicine, 2002-2009 and Mayne Professor of Medicine, since 1998. Professor West was involved in setting up associated regional medical schools in Brunei and New Orleans, USA, as well as at regional centres on the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay.
• Associate Professor, UQ School of Medicine, 2008-2011; Senior Lecturer, 2001-2004 and 2008 Dr Malcolm Wright, for service to intensive care medicine, as a clinician, teacher and administrator, and through advanced medical training programs in developing countries.
Please notify any additional recipients who may have been inadvertently omitted to communications@uq.edu.au
