In summary

  • Swinburne has announced the winners of the 2025 Media and External Communications Recognition Awards

  • The second annual awards highlight the efforts of Swinburne researchers in media and social media outreach

  • Academics from across Swinburne have been recognised over eight categories

The 2025 Media and External Communications Recognition Awards (MECRAs) have brought the Swinburne community together to celebrate the outstanding efforts of the university’s experts in media and social media.

Over 40 academics have been recognised across the eight categories, highlighting the dedication Swinburne researchers have shown to sharing their world-leading expertise with the public. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Professor Karen Hapgood says, “the Swinburne MECRAs are a wonderful opportunity to recognise the talented research communicators at the university, and how they bring our research and expertise to new audiences.”

“The impact of collaboration between researchers, media and social media cannot be undersold.  We are an integral part of public conversations about modern issues – from technology to psychology - and we celebrate these efforts from across the entire university as One Swinburne.

“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees of this year’s MECRAs. I cannot wait to see the outstanding stories we produce next year!”

Swinburne’s Director of Communications and Media Matt Macklin says that external engagement provides our researchers powerful platforms to showcase their expertise to the public. 

“Swinburne has some of the best expertise in the country, and we know that this talent is highly sought after by journalists.

“When media need a trusted expert, they know they can come to Swinburne for world-class research and commentary.

“In a media landscape full of misinformation, sharing meaningful and reliable knowledge with the public has never been more important and shows what Swinburne is all about – bringing people and technology together for a better world.” 

The finalists and winners are:

Emerging Talent Award

Recognising outstanding media outreach from emerging talent, such as PhD students and early career researchers, or mid-career researchers who have seen a significant increase in media appearances in 2025. 

Dr Nina Imad - Dietetics

WINNER: Jye Marshall – Fashion design

Dr Dragan Rangelov - Psychology

Sarah Scales – Parasocial relationships

Loryn Sykes - Criminology

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Jason Tian - Finance

Breaking News Award

Recognising Swinburne academics who added their expertise to time-critical and breaking news stories in 2025.

Dr Rebecca Allen, Dr Sara Webb and Professor Alan Duffy – Stranded astronauts

WINNER: Dr Belinda Barnet – Social media

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Professor Hussein Dia – Transport

Professor Sean Sands and Dr Bo Pang – Retail

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Professor Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian – Energy transition

Adjunct Professor Steve Worthington – Payment systems

Social Impact Award

Recognising media outreach that made an impact on major social and political issues.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Paul Bowell, Dr Ryan Storr, Dr Carleigh Yeomans – Sports innovation

Professor Kay Cook – Financial abuse

Zoë Goodall, Dr Jonathan ‘Yotti’ Kingsley, Dr Jessica Mackleprang, Professor Wendy Stone – Housing, gardening and mental health

WINNER: Dr Joel McGregor – Youth justice

Lauren Miller - Beauty fillers and social media

Professor Susan Rossell - Psychology

​New Social Media Talent Award​

Recognising outstanding social media outreach through Swinburne’s channels from emerging talent, such as PhD students and early career researchers, or mid-career researchers who have appeared on our channels for the first time in 2025. ​

Dr Ben McAllister – Quantum

WINNER: Dr Kirsten Banks – Astronomy

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Salim Hijazeen – Aviation

Jye Marshall – Fashion design

Dr Nisa Salim – Engineered materials

Social Media Engagement Award​

Most engaging and impactful posts on Swinburne or personal social media featuring our academics. 

Professor Alan Duffy – Astronomy

Dr Margaret Murray – Dietetics

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Associate Professor Dimitrios Salampasis – Emerging technologies

Dr Sara Webb – Astronomy 

WINNER: Associate Professor Ali Yavari – Computer science

Director, Communications and Media Award ​

Opportunity for Director, Communications and Media to recognise an outstanding achievement in media and external engagement that captured the attention of the public. 

Helen Bird – Corporate governance

Salim Hijazeen – Aviation

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Evie Kendal – Bioethics 

Jye Marshall – Fashion design 

WINNER: Adjunct Professor Alan Pearce – Neurophysiology 

Dr Ryan Storr – Diversity in sport

DVCR Media and Research Collaboration Award​

Opportunity for the DVCR to recognise excellent collaboration between the Swinburne communications and media team and researchers to get a great media outcome.

Dr Ben McAllister – National Science Week 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Alexandra Gaillard – smartphone and social media research

Professor Allison Kealy – quantum navigation 

 Dr Sarika Kewalramani – robots in classrooms 

WINNER: Dr Kelvin Wong – animal assisted and VR therapy 

​Most Media Coverage Award​

​Top 10 researchers with the most media appearances in 2025 (including syndications).​ 

Dr Rebecca Allen – Astronomy

Dr Kirsten Banks – Astronomy

WINNER: Helen Bird – Corporate governance

Professor Hussein Dia – Transport

Professor Alan Duffy – Astronomy

Dr Evie Kendal – Bioethics

Dr Margaret Murray – Dietetics

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Adjunct Professor Alan Pearce – Neurophysiology

Dr Sara Webb – Astronomy

Adjunct Professor Steve Worthington – Payment systems

 

To learn more about Swinburne’s communications and media activities, and to get involved in 2026, contact the team via the Communications and Media Wiki.

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