Best of ANU community celebrated with Chancellor and VC awards

The Australian National University (ANU) has celebrated the achievements of an outstanding cohort of professional and academic staff who embody the University’s spirit of “excellence in everything” at the annual Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor awards ceremony. 

A highlight of the University’s calendar, the awards are an opportunity to acknowledge those who are doing incredible things in their respective fields, helping advance research and teaching, as well as contributing to a more inclusive, open and respectful campus community – core values that embody the essence of ANU. 

Professors Gabriele Bammer and Philip Pettit have been recognised with the Peter Baume Award, the University’s most prestigious accolade, awarded for “eminent achievement and merit of the highest order”. 

Professor Bammer is developing a new discipline of Integration and Implementation Sciences (i2S), which provides concepts and methods for conducting research on complex, real-world problems, including challenging societal and environmental problems. 

A renowned philosopher, Distinguished Professor Pettit works in moral and political theory and on background issues in the philosophy of mind and metaphysics. He was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2017 and has held a position at Princeton University since 2002. 

Professor Anna Moore is Director of the ANU Institute for Space (InSpace) and is a driving force behind Australia’s push to grow its space capabilities and industry. She’s been recognised with the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to the University, for her leadership in Australian space research. 

But InSpace’s mission extends far beyond cutting-edge research and innovation. The Institute has achieved a minimum 50 per cent female representation across all governance levels, seeing it crowned winner of the Clare Burton Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (team). 

Internationally renowned astronomy expert Celine D’Orgeville is another champion of change. She is credited for significantly advancing equity and diversity in Australian astronomy, including leading a global survey on women’s representation in the field. 

This crucially important work has earned her the Clare Burton Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (individual). 

While the awards celebrate excellence in research and teaching, they also provide an opportunity to recognise those who work each and every day to ensure our community continues to thrive. 

Bruce Thornton is the winner of the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Campus Community (individual) for going above and beyond to make campus an inclusive environment. While the ANU Medical Centre Nurse team has received the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Campus Community (team). 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell congratulated the award recipients for going above and beyond to help shape a better society, both on and off the campus. 

“As the national university, our mission is to provide world-class research and education for Australia and our region, and to hold and shape conversations that prepare us for a better future and our staff embody this mission, and this year has certainly been no exception,” Professor Bell said. 

“These are the people who are at the very heart of what makes ANU a truly remarkable institution.” 

Other Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor award recipients include: 

• Dr Alireza Rahbari and Dr Sven Buder – Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence. 

• Claire Cooper – Andrew Hopkins Award for Excellence in Health, Safety and Wellbeing. 

• CBE Student Services (Student Experience) – Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service, Innovation and Transformation. 

• ANU Management Program in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency – Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Educational Excellence. 

• AI Support Tiger Team – Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service, Innovation and Transformation. 

A number of staff were also recognised for a remarkable 25 years of service to the University. 

They are: 

• Miss Sarah Popp. 

• Associate Professor Barry Croke. 

• Associate Professor Aude Fahrer. 

• Professor Barry Pogson. 

• Mr Alan Lew. 

• Ms Joanne Bayley. 

• Mr Craig Martin. 

• Mrs Lorna Monaghan. 

• Ms Andrea Haese. 

• Ms Antoinette Bosman. 

• Professor Ulrike Mathesius. 

• Mr Peter Meusburger. 

• Professor Vincent Craig. 

• Professor Kim Sterelny. 

• Professor Benjamin Andrews. 

• Professor Thushara Abhayapala.