Professor Ruth McPhail

Griffith University community members have been recognised for their outstanding service and exceptional achievements in the 2026 Honours List announced on Australia Day. 

Griffith Business School featured strongly this year with Professors Ruth McPhail and Caitlin Byrne both being awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.   

This comes as the subjects of Business and Economics improved on their Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject this year, jumping from 126-150 to 101-125. 

A part of the Griffith community for 24 years, Professor Ruth McPhail held the role of Dean of Engagement in GBS since 2024. 

A Griffith alumna, she has been the Chair of the Staff Giving Committee since 2020.  

Her award recognised significant service to tertiary education, and to the arts. 

Professor McPhail said it was a public acknowledgement that the way she has chosen to live and lead matters, and that it comes with a responsibility. 

“To keep speaking the truth, to keep lifting others who seek support to realise their own potential, and to continue modelling brave leadership,” she said. 

Professor Caitlin Byrne

Professor Byrne has been with Griffith Business School (GBS) since 2017, serving as Director of the Griffith Asia Institute until 2022, when she took on the role of Pro Vice Chancellor, Business.   

She began a professional career as a diplomat with the Australian Government and worked across government, industry and community to be recognised as one of Australia’s leading academic-practitioners with a focus on international policy and diplomatic practice. 

She said she was genuinely humbled to receive the award and felt incredibly fortunate to be engaged at the intersection of business education and international relations.  

“It is a powerful space for driving positive change – beyond purely economic terms – towards shaping more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable outcomes in our communities,” Professor Byrne said. 

Professor Emeritus John Wanna received an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to political and policy research, to tertiary education, to democratic innovation, and to the development of public administration frameworks. 

Professor Emeritus Roderick ‘Dick’ Drew received a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to horticulture research, and to agricultural development. 

Mr Bruce Cowley, a member of the GBS Strategic Advisory board, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, to the law, and to tertiary education. 

Ms Karen Jane Phillips, on the Board of Advisors at the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics since 2019, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to women, and to the community of the Gold Coast. 

Other recipients included: 

  • Mrs Leona Christine Murphy: Bachelor of Commerce alumna – awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to business through governance roles. 
  • Emeritus Professor Marcus Tilbury Hockings: PhD Environmental studies alumnus – awarded AO for distinguished service to environmental conservation, to the development of protected area management effectiveness evaluations, and to tertiary education. 
  • Mrs Renee Melissa Kyle: Graduate Certificate in Policy Analysis alumna – awarded Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to First Nations justice, policy and program reform in Queensland. 
  • Chief Inspector David Harold Neville: Master of Science in Forensic Science alumnus – awarded the Australian Police Medal for distinguished service as a member of an Australian police force. 
  • Ms Louise Jane Kneeshaw: Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice alumna – awarded the Australian Corrections Medal for distinguished service as a member of an Australian correctional service. 
  • Ms Nadia Ann Nearhos (Tschirpig): Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice alumna – awarded the Australian Corrections Medal for distinguished service as a member of an Australian correctional service. 
  • Assistant Commissioner Joel Brady Smith: Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Bachelor of Psychology with Honours alumnus – awarded the Australian Corrections Medal for distinguished service as a member of an Australian correctional service. 
  • Commander Stefanie Maree: Master of Professional Engineering Leadership alumna – awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for outstanding devotion to duty in the management of Navy Engineering training.