Distinguished members of the UNSW Sydney community have been honoured for outstanding contributions across research, education, industry and public service.
UNSW academics, alumni and former colleagues have been recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours for their outstanding contributions.
For his leading contributions to virology, clinical research and public health, Conjoint Professor William Rawlinson has been appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
Former UNSW Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Mark Wainwright and Scientia Professor Valsamma Eapen have been appointed Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of their contributions to higher education, research, governance, international relations, psychiatry and child mental health.
UNSW Chancellor Warwick Negus was among those to receive a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the not-for-profit, education and financial sectors.
Mr Negus was appointed UNSW Chancellor in December last year after more than 25 years of service to the University in advisory, governance and leadership roles. A distinguished financial professional and longstanding member of UNSW Council, he has also chaired UNSW College and served on the UNSW Foundation, contributing significantly to the University's strategic development, accessibility initiatives and philanthropy.
For distinguished and sustained service to Australia, Scientia Professor Louise Chappell, Scientia Professor Matthaios Santamouris, Emerita Scientia Professor Rosemary Rayfuse, Conjoint Professor Balasubramanian Venkatesh, Professor Konrad Pesudovs, Professor Martin Bean and Emeritus Professor Ross Griffith were all also appointed as Members of the Order of Australia.
Adjunct Professor Glenn Kenneth Johnston, Associate Professor Christopher Stephen Pokorny and Dr Mark Alexander Williams received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for their significant contributions to society.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs congratulated honourees from the UNSW community.
"From advancing global public health to transforming children's mental health care, their work has shaped lives across Australia and around the world, beyond the walls of academia," Prof. Brungs said. "I am delighted to congratulate our recipients on this well-deserved recognition.
"Together, their achievements reflect the extraordinary breadth of talent, dedication and impact of UNSW colleagues across the universities and their daily contributions to society."
Professor Brungs was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to tertiary education leadership, to research and innovation, and to social justice and equity.
Conjoint Professor William Rawlinson
Prof. William (Bill) Rawlinson was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to the medical sciences as a virologist, to clinical research and education, and to national and international public health.
"I am humbled by the company of others who have received similar appointments, and thankful for the talented, supportive people I have been honoured to work with over the years," Prof. Rawlinson said on receiving one of the nation's highest civilian honours.
"There is nothing more important, and nothing more gratifying, than working in medical sciences, alongside others who also want the best outcomes for people's health. Sickness is a terrible leveller and being able to work towards alleviating sickness is a great privilege."
Prof. Rawlinson is a leading medical virologist, clinician-scientist and Conjoint Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences at UNSW Medicine & Health. He is also Director of the Serology and Virology Laboratories (SAViD) at NSW Health Pathology based at Prince of Wales Hospital, where he oversees major diagnostic, research and public health virology programs.
Prof. Rawlinson became particularly prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic as Director of NSW's largest public COVID testing laboratory and as an advisor to state, national and international health bodies. He contributed to the public health response, public communication, laboratory response planning, genomic surveillance and national infectious disease policy.
There is nothing more important, and nothing more gratifying, than working in medical sciences, alongside others who also want the best outcomes for people's health. Sickness is a terrible leveller and being able to work towards alleviating sickness is a great privilege.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs
Prof. Brungs was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to tertiary education leadership, research and innovation, and to social justice and equity.
A distinguished leader in higher education, Prof. Brungs is the Vice-Chancellor and President of UNSW, having commenced in the role in 2022. Before joining UNSW, Prof. Brungs served as Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) from 2014 to 2022 and General Manager at the CSIRO from 2002-2009.
With a background in science and technology, Prof. Brungs has been a strong advocate for the role of universities, research and innovation in driving equitable economic prosperity and social wellbeing.
"I have been extraordinarily lucky and privileged to work alongside some of the most brilliant, dedicated and altruistic people in Australia, including world-leading teachers, researchers, professionals and innovators. I'm deeply humbled with this honour that is an accolade to the hard work and success of all those I've worked with," Prof. Brungs said.
Emeritus Professor Mark Wainwright AM
Prof. Wainwright has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the tertiary education administration, academic research, Australia-China relations, and governance roles.
A distinguished chemical engineer, researcher and university administrator, he served as Vice-Chancellor of UNSW from 2004 to 2006, after previously holding senior roles including Dean of Engineering and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). He was also Chairman of the Australia-China Council of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2006 to 2011.
Prof. Wainwright has published more than 240 papers and been awarded numerous medals and industry awards both nationally and internationally for his contributions to education, industry and research. He was also co-inventor of an improved plant for producing dimethyl ether, a replacement for CFCs as an aerosol propellant.
"I am most honoured to receive this award after 32 wonderful years at UNSW and a productive 20 years in retirement including my current role as chair of the Academic Board of UNSW College," Prof. Wainwright said. "I am most proud of establishing the largest shared research facility in Australia, the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre , which supports research and innovation across academia, government, and industry."
Scientia Professor Valsamma Eapen
Scientia Prof. Eapen was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to psychiatry, child and adolescent mental health, neurodevelopmental research and tertiary education.
The UNSW Medicine & Health academic has over 25 years of clinical, research and teaching experience in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, Tourette Syndrome and child mental health conditions.
Prof. Eapen is the Chair of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNSW and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Senior Research Leadership Fellow with research focused on Tourette Syndrome. She is also Head of the academic unit of child psychiatry at South Western Sydney Local Health District & Ingham Institute and Director of the NHMRC STARS for Kids Centre of Research Excellence.
"I am deeply humbled, but this honour is a testament to the tireless work of our whole team," Prof. Eapen said. "It is not just mine - it belongs to everyone who has supported our mission for equitable access to early identification of developmental needs for all children regardless of their family's cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic or geographic background, so that no child is left behind."
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division
- UNSW Chancellor Warwick Negus. For significant service to the not-for-profit, education and financial sectors.
- Scientia Professor Louise Chappell, School of Public and Global Law, UNSW Law & Justice and Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute. For significant service to tertiary education, human rights and gender justice.
- Scientia Professor Matthaios Santamouris, School of Built Environment, UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture. For significant service to architecture, energy and environmental quality.
- Emerita Scientia Professor Rosemary Rayfuse, School of Public and Global Law, UNSW Law & Justice. For significant service to tertiary education and international and environmental law.
- Conjoint Professor Balasubramanian Venkatesh, The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW Medicine & Health. For significant service to critical and intensive care medicine, infection control and tertiary education.
- Professor Konrad Pesudovs, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Medicine & Health. For significant service to optometry and ophthalmology research, and clinical education and training.
- Professor Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellow and Honorary Professor at UNSW. For significant service to tertiary education governance, digital learning and business.
- Emeritus Professor Ross Griffith, UNSW Science. For significant service to tertiary education, the textile industry and the community.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division
- Adjunct Professor Glenn Kenneth Johnston, Australian Graduate School of Management. For service to the Indigenous community.
- Associate Professor Christopher Stephen Pokorny, UNSW Medicine & Health. For service to community health.
- Dr Mark Alexander Williams, School of Psychiatry. For service to tertiary education.
UNSW congratulates all the members of its community who received 2026 King's Birthday Honours.
