Leading media figure Professor Julianne Schultz has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2009 Australia Day Awards.
Professor Schultz, Founding Editor of the award-winning literary and public affairs quarterly Griffith Review, was awarded the accolade for service to the community as a journalist, writer, editor and academic, for fostering debate on issues affecting society and for professional ethics and accountability.
In her role as editor she has commissioned ground-breaking essays which have contributed to setting the national agenda on a wide range of policy issues including Indigenous, climate change, education, censorship, cities and community relations.
Griffith Review has been recognised through national awards, including the Victorian Premier’s Alfred Deakin Prize for best essay advancing public debate (2005, 2007, 2008), a Walkley Award and other commendations and shortlistings. It was also included by the New York Review of Books in its directory of best university publishing in Spring and Fall 2008.
Professor Schultz said she was flattered by the honour, and grateful to Griffith University for its support and the commitment it had shown to publishing Griffith Review.
“At a time when the world is confronting critical decisions on so many pressing issues there is a greater need than ever for informed public discussion, shaped by evidence and insight, rather than ideology,” Professor Schultz said.
“Since we started Griffith Review nearly six years ago it has grown to become an important forum for this purpose in Australia, by enabling writers and thinkers to tackle the big issues in a way that engages and delights readers.
“It is a privilege to work with so many talented people and develop what has become a significant outlet for thinking about the big issues of our time. I have worked in many different areas of the media and universities in my career and this has been a wonderful opportunity to bring together the best of both worlds.”
Throughout Professor Schultz’s distinguished career she has made valuable contributions to the Australian media, literary and political landscape through authoring or editing more than 20 books and as a creative writer whose work includes the librettos for the award winning operas Black River and Going into Shadows. She was also co-chair of the Creative Australia stream at last year’s 2020 Summit and is a Professor in the Centre for Public Culture and Ideas at Griffith University.