ANU community members acknowledged in 2026 Australia Day Honours

The release of this year’s Australia Day Honours List brings national recognition for several extraordinary members of The Australian National University (ANU) community.

Each year, the Australia Day Honours List celebrates Australians who have made outstanding contributions to our nation. This year, the list recognises 949 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.  

Several ANU community members, including two emeritus professors, were among those recognised and will receive the insignia of their award at an investiture ceremony in their respective state or territory in the coming months.

ANU community members have been recognised for their outstanding achievements across a broad range of fields, and their invaluable contribution to Australian society and beyond.

Emeritus Professor John Wanna was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to political and policy research, to tertiary education, to democratic innovation, and to the development of public administration frameworks. Wanna is one of Australia’s top political scientists who has been active in the tertiary sector for over 40 years and holds honorary positions at universities in Australia and overseas.

“It’s a great honour to be nominated for this award and it would not have been possible without the on-going support and encouragement of my many academic friends, colleagues and practitioners across the public sector and administration. My family were a constant source of inspiration and support, so my heartfelt and everlasting thanks to Jennifer Craik, and Erinn, Aidan and Sean Wanna,” Wanna says.

“This award recognises the importance of teaching, studying, researching and above all communicating important aspects of public administration in Australia so that the performance of Australian governments and our democratic institutions can continue to improve and thrive in delivering public policy.”

Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Minchin was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her services to tertiary education. Minchin has had a long association with ANU, especially in the Centre for Classical Studies, as a teacher, researcher, postgraduate supervisor, mentor and leading figure in outreach between the University and the Canberra community.

“This is a great honour and it has been a privilege to have been able to work for so many years with such good colleagues, such fine students, and such a supportive community,” Minchin says.

Further ANU community members were also recognised.

Dr Bruce Moore, former Head of the Australian National Dictionary Centre (1994–2011) was awarded an Office of the Order for Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to linguistics, to the scholarship of Australian English, to lexicography, to the history of language, and to tertiary education.

“I’m delighted to receive this, especially for the recognition it gives to the Australian National Dictionary Centre and the research the Centre has done on the history of Australian English,” says Moore.

Tanya Hosch, a current ANU Council Member, was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the community through social policy, and as an advocate for diversity and inclusion.

Hosch says, “I’m grateful to have my contributions recognised and I want to acknowledge everyone who came before me, and those who work alongside me every day to advance inclusion and combat discrimination.”

The Governor-General has congratulated everyone recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, and said, “As the list so vividly showcases, so many Australians continue to give the best of themselves across many endeavours, in the interest of others. It is rewarding to see an increase in the number of awards, which reflects more nominations and recognition of the many Australians who inspire the best in all of us.”

“The qualities and accomplishments of this year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values for service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity, and care.”

A full list of our community members, including alumni, who have been honoured in this year’s Australia Day Honours List is available on the ANU Alumni website.