UNSW community celebrated in King's Birthday Honours

From the history of Australian mammals to improving mental health care and cancer medicine, UNSW community members have been honoured across a range of disciplines.

UNSW academics, alumni and former colleagues have been named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions across a broad range of fields.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs offered his personal congratulations to those awarded with honours.

“At UNSW we strive to have the greatest positive impact on society, and I applaud members of our community who have been recognised in the Birthday Honours for doing so. They have dedicated themselves tirelessly to their areas of expertise to improve the lives of communities we serve,” Prof. Brungs said.

“Emeritus Professor Suzanne Hand’s research on Australian mammals, Conjoint Professor Jackie Curtis’s work bridging gaps between physical and mental health care, and Conjoint Professor Tracey O'Brien’s dedication to improving outcomes for people with cancer are examples of academics who have made significant contributions to Australian society.”

Emeritus Professor Suzanne Hand

Prof. Hand was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to palaeontology and zoology, particularly as a fossil bat and marsupial researcher, and to tertiary education.

“I am honoured to be nominated, and thrilled that palaeontology, zoology and teaching are recognised in this citation. It is really special for me and my colleagues, students, friends and family. In my soul, I know that what we collectively do in studying and interpreting the record of life, and enthusing the next generation, is significant and important, and to have recognition of that is very rewarding,” Prof. Hand said.

A vertebrate palaeontologist from the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences (BEES) at UNSW Science, Prof. Hand’s research focuses on the history of Australian mammals. Her work also extends to continuing climate and environmental change in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, and the implications of that change for forest and island faunas.

Prof. Hand was the co-lead in the discovery of hundreds of fossils at Murgon in southeastern Queensland, a 55-million-year-old fossil deposit that documents animals present in Australia before it split from Antarctica 50 million years ago. The world’s oldest songbirds were among other extraordinary finds at Murgon.

Conjoint Professor Jackie Curtis

Prof. Curtis was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine, particularly as a mental health clinician and researcher.

“I have been both humbled and very proud to receive this award, but also feel this is really for the work of a team. I have been privileged to work both as a clinician and researcher with people living with serious mental health conditions such as psychosis, including young people at the beginning of their contact with mental health services,” Prof. Curtis said.

“Working as a psychiatrist in the public health system, I have always been drawn towards improving the service and system landscape, in particular to address physical health inequalities for people living with mental illness as well as to increase access to mental health (especially in young people) and physical health care. I have been lucky to be able to work with wonderful colleagues over the years and I do believe that this is a collective award – and that together, we can improve the lives of people experiencing mental health issues.”

Prof. Curtis is a Conjoint Professor in the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health at UNSW Medicine & Health, and Executive Director of the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network. Her research and clinical work over several decades have focused on early psychosis and youth mental health, with the aim of reducing health inequalities and increasing life expectancy.

Conjoint Professor Tracey O'Brien

Professor O’Brien was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to cancer medicine, to medical research and education, and to professional bodies.

“I’m humbled and honoured to have been recognised with an Order of Australia,” Prof. O’Brien said. “It’s a true privilege to be part of a passionate and world-leading network of clinicians, researchers, allied health professionals and community members who are committed to reducing the devastating impact of cancer in NSW.

“While I am extraordinarily grateful for this recognition, I’d like to acknowledge the work that is still needed to support people living with cancer and recognise the countless children, adults and families who I’ve been honoured to meet, at the most challenging time of their lives.

“It is their courage and resilience that inspires me every day and that deserves to be celebrated.”

Prof. O’Brien is a Conjoint Professor at UNSW Medicine & Health, CEO and Chief Cancer Officer for Cancer Institute NSW, and former Director of the Kids Cancer Centre. She led the first paediatric transplant program in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve international accreditation and played a pivotal role in developing Australia’s first Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre. She was also instrumental in securing funding and early implementation of the globally recognised ZERO Childhood Cancer precision medicine program.

Other UNSW recipients of King’s Birthday Honours in 2024 include:

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the General Division

•  Professor Karen Canfell, former Associate Professor, Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader, Cancer Screening Group, Prince of Wales Clinical School. For eminent service to medicine as an epidemiologist, particularly through cancer research, to tertiary education, and as a mentor and leader.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division

•  Dr George Bridger, former Conjoint Associate Professor. For significant service to medicine through otolaryngology head and neck surgery.
• Adjunct Professor Kathleen Eagar. For significant service to community through health services research and development, and as a mentor.
• Mr Robert Kelly, former Director, Corporate Education, Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM). For significant service to tertiary education, to the law and to medical administration.
• Mr Daniel Meltz, former Adjunct Lecturer. For significant service to the law, particularly through international arbitration and dispute resolution.
• Dr William Pigott, former Lecturer. For significant service to conservation and the environment, to medical education and to international community health.
• Associate Adjunct Professor Carolyn Quadrio. For significant service to psychiatry as a clinician, academic and mentor.
• Mr Michael Smith, former Industry Representative, External Visiting Committee, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. For significant service to geological and earth sciences.
• Conjoint Professor Konstantin Yastrebov. For significant service to intensive and critical care medicine, and to tertiary education.

UNSW congratulates all the members of its community who received 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

Find the full list of recipients on the Governor-General’s website.

Read a list of UNSW alumni who received awards in 2024 (download, 200KB).