Australia Day list honours Swinburne community

Swinburne staff and alumni are among the honourees recognised in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.

Susan Maslin, a Charles Herschell Industry Fellow at Swinburne, has been recognised as an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia. One of Australia’s most successful film, television and digital content producers, her award-winning work includes The Dressmaker and Hunt Angels. She has been chosen for distinguished service to the Australian film industry as a producer and through roles with professional bodies.

Foundation Board Co-Chair of the State Library of New South Wales, Robert Thomas AM, graduated from Swinburne with a Diploma of Business (Accounting) in 1976 and has been recognised as an AO in the General Division.

He has been chosen for distinguished service to the State Library of New South Wales, to business and the financial services sector.

Lyn Swinburne AM, Chair of the Board of the Royal Women’s Hospital, received a Swinburne Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences in 2015 and has also been recognised as an AO in the General Division.

She has been chosen for distinguished service to women’s health through advocacy roles, to public health governance, and to the community of Melbourne.

A total of 20 members of the Swinburne community were included in this year’s list, the highest number to date.

Recognising the Swinburne community

Other members of the Swinburne community to receive honours in 2019 include:

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

• Karen Quinlan, a Swinburne alumna recognised for significant service to the visual arts as an administrator and gallery curator, and to higher education
• Jeffrey Chapman, a business graduate recognised for significant service to the community through philanthropic initiatives

Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division

• James McCarthy, a social sciences graduate recognised for service to the community through social welfare organisations
• John McKenzie, a mechanical engineering graduate recognised for service to the community
• Peter Quinn, a business graduate recognised for service to tennis
• Geoffrey Roberts, a business graduate recognised for service to the community of Manningham
• Ronald Browning, a friend of Swinburne and grandson of the university’s founder, George Swinburne, recognised for service to the community
• Helen Coleman, a Swinburne alumna recognised for service to the community through Women’s Health Victoria and the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, Victoria Branch
• Margery Currie, a Swinburne alumna recognised for service to youth through Scouts
• Dr Doseena Fergie, a community services graduate recognised for service to community health
• John Hudson, a business graduate recognised for service to the community of Hawthorn.
• Bernard Jenner, a social sciences graduate recognised for service to the community of the Barwon region
• Leslie Willmott, a Swinburne alumnus recognised for service to local government and to the community of Maroondah
• Sosina Wogayehu, a circus arts graduate recognised for service to the performing arts as an entertainer
• Diane Write, a social sciences graduate recognised for service to community health

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

• Captain Megan McDermott, a design graduate recognised for meritorious achievement as the Deputy Public Affairs Officer within Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 on Operation ACCORDION from February 2017 to September 2017

Public Service Medal (PSM)

• Gillian Callister, a friend and former council member of Swinburne recognised for outstanding public service through leadership of, and innovation in, policy development and service delivery across a range of portfolios in Victoria

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