Global Scholar Named 2026 Lake Mac Ambassador

A University of Newcastle academic has been honoured with Lake Macquarie's top annual civic award for her tireless work as a global leader in community violence prevention.

Professor Tamara Blakemore was named as the city's new Ambassador at Friday evening's 2026 Lake Mac Awards, which recognise quiet achievers and local legends who embody the spirit of Lake Macquarie and inspire positive change across the city.

Professor Blakemore was a driving force behind the groundbreaking "Name, Narrate, Navigate" program helping young people deal with violence in their lives.

She has also trained more than 2500 practitioners in her field, helping shift the way they understand and respond to youth violence, and attracted $6.5 million in research funding to the region.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said Professor Blakemore's work exemplified how regional communities could lead global innovation to address complex social challenges.

"Tamara is a shining example of the resilience, dedication and innovation that define our community," he said.

"The judging panel was extremely impressed with her many career and personal achievements, and I very much look forward to working with her as our Ambassador over the next 12 months."

Professor Blakemore said being named Ambassador of Lake Macquarie, where her family has lived for generations, was a deeply meaningful honour.

"I feel like this gives me a chance to bring what I know from work, from practice and from life back into my community," she said. "As someone who has grown up here and knows what this place has been like in good times and in bad, I can bring a real, genuine and authentic voice to Lake Mac."

She said her work was driven by a commitment to support young people with experiences of violence.

"Young people who use violence have often lived with violence themselves, and too often those experiences aren't understood together," she said. "My focus is on working with them in a way that recognises who they are and who they can become, and we're hoping to see the value of the way that we work extended to other programs and communities in the future."

University of Newcastle Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Professor Belinda Tynan said Professor Blakemore's recognition as the 2026 Lake Mac Ambassador was a testament to the extraordinary impact her work was having, locally, nationally and globally.

"We are incredibly proud of Professor Blakemore's contributions to our region, and we're delighted to see her honoured by the Lake Macquarie community," she said.

"Her leadership in preventing community violence and supporting vulnerable young people reflects the very best of our University's values."

This year's Lake Mac Awards, sponsored by Avondale University and Glendale City Centre, covered 12 categories.

Other winners on the night included the 2026 Young Ambassador, Shania Aiolupotea, whose leadership at Southlakes Roosters Rugby League Football Club belies her young age, and Belmont Hospital Volunteers, who took out Community Group of the Year for their fundraising and support work.

Not-for-profit community greening organisation The Groundswell Collective won the Contribution to Sustainability and the Environment award, while Jamal Box won Volunteer of the Year for his work strengthening flood rescue capabilities across the region's NSW State Emergency Service units.

Mayor Adam congratulated all the night's finalists and winners.

"Each year, the Lake Mac Awards shine a light on the amazing people, organisations and initiatives quietly making our city a better place," he said.

"We are grateful to all of them, and I'm proud to be part of helping celebrate all that they have achieved."

Lake Mac Awards 2026 winners