Members of the Griffith University community, Professor Emeritus Nancy Viviani AO, Professor Paul Martin (OAM) and Mr Chris Madden AO, have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours.
Professor Emeritus Viviani was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to tertiary education and international relations as a scholar, teacher and author and, as an advocate for Australia’s engagement with the Asian region.
Mr Chris Madden was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to tertiary education, to the strengthening of collaborative international education partnerships and cultural cooperation, and as an educator, role model and mentor.
Professor Martin, from theSchool of Applied Psychology was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine in the field of psychology
Griffith University Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said Professor Emeritus Viviani was one of the most outstanding of her generation of social scientists.
“She made significant contributions to the fieldof Australian-Asian relations, coming to Griffith from Harvard in 1978 to establish the Centre for the Study of Australian Asian Relations.
“As Foundation Director of the Centre, she provided a research focus of national and international significance which was successful in attracting scholars from other universities to undertake collaborative research with real impact,’’ Professor Shoemaker said.
“Finally, her influence upon secondary education in the state of Queensland was profound and enduring.”
Emeritus Professor Viviani retired in 1997 and was awarded a Doctor of the University in 2013.
Professor Shoemaker said Mr Madden, who retired as Pro Vice Chancellor (International) in 2013, was recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in international education on behalf of Griffith University, the state and the nation.
“In a career spanning more than 30 years, he has been instrumental in building strategic international partnerships with educational institutions, industry and government and he continues to do so in many voluntary capacities.
“He has been central to the strategic placement of Australia as a desired destination for international students.”
The following members of the Griffith community were also recognised.
- Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AK AC AFC (Retd), an Honorary Doctor of the University and Patron of the Institute for Glycomics’ Childhood Leukaemia Project, was appointed a Knight (AK) in the General Division in the Order of Australia for his extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia, through distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force, continued commitment to serve the nation in leadership roles, particularly the national responses to the MH370 and MH17 disasters, and in a variety of roles in the community.
- Dr James Morton AM, an Honorary Doctor of the University, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders through not-for-profit organisations, and to medicine in the field of oncology.