When Professor Emeritus Ljubo Vlacic arrived at Griffith University in 1991 as a lecturer in microelectronic engineering, self-driving cars were science fiction.
By the time he became a Professor Emeritus in 2017, his laboratory, the Intelligent Control Systems Laboratory (ICSL), had helped move them onto real roads.
Professor Emeritus Vlacic leads Griffith’s 2026 King’s Birthday honour roll, appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to control systems engineering and to tertiary education.
He rose through the School of Microelectronic Engineering (predecessor of the current EBE), serving as Head of School and then Professor, before becoming a key researcher in Griffith’s Institute for Integrated and Intelligent Systems.
In 1991, he established the Intelligent Control Systems Laboratory (ICSL), where his work on cooperative self-driving vehicles placed Griffith University and Queensland amongst the early international leaders in vehicles that could share city roads and make cooperative driving decisions in real time.
His career began at the University of Sarajevo, where he earned degrees in electrical engineering and control systems, along with a conservatorium degree in violin.
Griffith recognised his service with its Medal for Diligent and Loyal Service in 2016, and he served as President of the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society, USA (2024-2025).
“While I appreciate this acknowledgement and am pleased to accept it, I would like to share the honour with the many people who joined me on my Griffith Journey – my family, research and course students, colleagues, and practising professionals,” Professor Emeritus Vlacic said.
“Their willingness to share their critical perspectives helped me refine and sharpen my ideas on the interactions and partnerships between humans and artificial beings, and ultimately transformed ideas into practical, operational frameworks.”
Six other Griffith-connected recipients were also honoured.
Former Queensland Police Commissioner (2019–2024) Ms Katarina Carroll APM was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to law enforcement and disaster management as a Queensland Police and emergency services leader.
Griffith named her an Outstanding Alumnus in 2018; she graduated with a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice in 1996 and an Executive Master of Public Administration (GBS) in 2013.
Professor Noel Hayman, a Member of the Order (AM), was recognised for his work in First Nations health care and medical education; he holds a professorship at Griffith alongside his clinical leadership at the Inala Indigenous Health Service.
Dr Bianca Beetson, Adjunct Associate Professor at the Queensland College of Art and Design (QCAD) and former Director of Griffith’s Indigenous Research Unit, was made a Member of the Order (AM) for significant service to Indigenous art as educator, curator and artist.
Amongst recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), Mrs Maxine Appo, a member of the advisory board of the Griffith Institute for Tourism, was honoured for service to tourism and the First Nations community of Queensland.
Dr Dilipkumar Gahankari, an Adjunct Professor across three Griffith health institutes, was recognised for plastic and reconstructive surgery, including pro bono humanitarian work in remote tribal India.
Dr Helen Grzyb, a recent recipient of the Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, was honoured for service to the Western Australian community.
Griffith University–affiliated recipients – King’s Birthday 2026 Honours
Ms Katarina Carroll APM — AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), for distinguished service to law enforcement, to disaster management response and recovery, and to the community. Griffith affiliation: Outstanding Alumnus Award, Griffith University, 2018.
Dr Bianca Beetson — AM (Member of the Order of Australia), for significant service to Indigenous art as an educator, curator and artist. Griffith affiliation: Adjunct Associate Professor, Queensland College of Art, since 2022; Director, Indigenous Research Unit, 2020–2023; Director, Bachelor of Arts (Contemporary Indigenous Australian Art), 2017–2020; Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee, 2013–2022; Doctor of Visual Arts, 2018.
Professor Noel Hayman — AM (Member of the Order of Australia), for significant service to medicine, particularly to First Nations health care and medical education. Griffith affiliation: Professor, Griffith University.
Professor Emeritus Ljubo Vlacic — AM (Member of the Order of Australia), for significant service to control systems engineering, and to tertiary education. Griffith affiliation: Professor Emeritus, School of Built Environment, since 2017; Professor, 2004–2017; Member, Institute of Intelligent and Integrated Systems, 2017–2024; roles in School of Microelectronic Engineering from Lecturer (1991) through Associate Professor (to 2004); Griffith University Medal for Diligent and Loyal Service (25 years), 2016.
Mr Bradley Woods – AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for significant service to the tourism and hospitality industry, and to the community of Western Australia. He graduated with a Bachelor of International Business in 1992.
The late Professor Edward Blakely – AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for significant service to urban planning, to regional development, and to social justice. He graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Global Law Practice in 2017.
Mr Wayne Fossey – OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for service to the Indigenous communities of southern Queensland. He graduated with a Master of Environmental Management in 1986.
Mrs Maxine Appo — OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia), for service to tourism, and to the First Nations community of Queensland. Griffith affiliation: Member, Industry Advisory Board, Griffith Institute for Tourism (current).
Dr Dilipkumar Gahankari — OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia), for service to plastic and reconstructive surgery. Griffith affiliation: Adjunct Professor, Australian Centre for Precision Health and Technology, since 2023; Adjunct Professor, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, since 2025; Adjunct Professor, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, 2023–2025.
Dr Helen Grzyb — OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia), for service to the community of Western Australia. Griffith affiliation: Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, Griffith University, 2025
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Pickett CSM (Retd) – OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) for service to the performing arts, particularly through music. He graduated with a Master of Music Research in 2015.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Finch – CSC (Conspicuous Service Cross) for outstanding devotion to duty as Chief Operations Officer with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force while deployed on Operation Fortitude. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Business in 2009.
Chief Superintendent Marcus Hill – APM (Australian Police Medal) for distinguished service as a member of the Queensland Police Service. He graduated with an Executive Master of Public Administration in 2024.
Detective Superintendent George Marchesini – APM (Australian Police Medal) for distinguished service as a member of the Queensland Police Service. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1998.
Senior Sergeant Ritchie Callaghan – APM (Australian Police Medal) for distinguished service as a member of the Queensland Police Service. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1990.
