Professor Peter Williams, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney

Professor Peter Williams is an outstanding academic who has enjoyed a long and distinguished career. His research achievements include more than 300 publications in a wide range of local and international journals, an impressive list of awards and industry recognition for contributions to the professions of geochemistry, process mineralogy and mining, and successful supervision of more than 50 higher degree research students.

His contributions to science have been formally acknowledged by the award of the 2001 Royal Society of New South Wales Medal for scientific achievement and service to the society, appointment as chair of the commission on new minerals for the International Mineralogical Association in 2008, and appointment as a Fellow of the prestigious International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry in 2011. In 2003 a new mineral, "petewilliamsite", was named after him by the International Mineralogical Association in recognition of his achievements in the field of mineral chemistry.

Since his appointment to UWS in 1991 as Foundation Professor of Chemistry he has been Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology from 1993 to 1998, and more recently as Senior Associate Head of the School of Natural Sciences. He has contributed significantly to the growth and development of UWS, has nurtured new staff, and contributed to development and refinement of new course offerings that have brought a new prosperity to several areas of the academic profile.

Professor Williams has also contributed extensively to the professions of Chemistry and Geology. He was President of the Mineralogical Society of NSW for 6 years and a committee member for 16 years. He is a Member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and a Chartered Chemist, a branch of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has served as a member of the Mineralogical Association of Canada, the Mineralogical Society of America, and is a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain. Professor Williams is also a life member of the Russell Society, and was foundation co-editor of its Journal. He is an Associate Editor of the Australian Journal of Mineralogy and was the Editor or Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Coordination Chemistry from 1987 to 2006. He has been a Royal Society Research Fellow and a past President of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Western Sydney has resolved to confer the title of Emeritus Professor of the University, on Peter Williams in recognition of his distinguished academic contribution to teaching and research in the fields of chemistry and geology, and his service to the University over many years.

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Photos: Sally Tsoutas