Western Sydney University’s Australia Day honours

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Members of the Western Sydney University community, including some of its most senior leaders, have been recognised with prestigious Australia Day honours this year.

Included in the 2019 honours list are:

• Professor Barney Glover, Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University since 2014 and an accomplished mathematician and mathematics educator. Professor Glover has been appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), in recognition of his distinguished service to tertiary education, to professional associations and to cultural organisations.
• Professor Sharon Bell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning), who has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), in recognition of her significant service to tertiary education and as an advocate for gender equity.
• Peeyush Gupta, a member of the Western Sydney University Board of Trustees, who has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), in recognition of his significant service to business, and to the community, through governance and philanthropic roles.

Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Professor Peter Shergold AC, said the Australia Day honours acknowledge the outstanding contributions that members of the University’s community have made to their fields of endeavour and to Australian public life.

“On behalf of Western Sydney University, I congratulate all our very worthy recipients. In their own unique way, they have fundamentally contributed to the exceptional growth and reputation of this University at a national and international level,” said Professor Shergold.

“In particular, Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover’s drive, energy and passion for the University and his advocacy for the Greater Western Sydney region has been, and continues to be, transformative for our community.

“Professor Sharon Bell is an outstanding leader in the promotion of women within Australian universities and championing women in science, and Peeyush Gupta, as a Board of Trustees member, makes a significant contribution to the University’s leadership and governance.”

Many other members of the broader University community, including staff, friends and supporters, have also been recognised with Australia Day honours this year, including:

• Jillian Broadbent AC – recipient of a Western Sydney University Honorary Doctorate in 2000, recognised for eminent service to corporate, financial, clean energy and cultural organisations, to higher education, and to women in business.
• Carrillo Gantner AC – an Adjunct Professor with the University’s Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture, recognised for eminent service to the community through professional involvement in, and philanthropic support for, the performing and visual arts, and to Australia-Asia cultural exchange.
• Kevin Sheedy AO – recipient of a Western Sydney University Honorary Doctorate in 2013, recognised for distinguished service to Australian rules football as a senior coach, and to education and employment programs for young people.
• Professor Afaf Girgis AM – a Conjoint Professor with the University’s School of Medicine, recognised for significant service to medicine, and to medical education, in the field of cancer control and psycho-oncology.
• Brian Seidler AM – an Adjunct Fellow with the University’s School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, recognised for significant service to the building and construction industry through professional organisations.
• John Smolders AM – Senior Lecturer of Practice with the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, recognised for significant service to the building and construction industry, and to higher education.
• Ian Thorpe AM – recipient of a Western Sydney University Honorary Doctorate in 2013, recognised for significant service to youth and Indigenous education through charitable initiatives, and to swimming.
• Jennifer Bombardieri OAM – CEO of the Recreation, Sports and Aquatics Club and recipient of a ‘Women of the West’ Award from the University in 2017, recognised for service to people with disability through sport.
• Grace Fava OAM – founder and CEO of the Autism Advisory and Support Service NSW, Adjunct Fellow with the University’s School of Medicine, and recipient of a ‘Women of the West’ Award from the University in 2015, recognised for service to community health.
• Martha Jabour OAM – Executive Director of the Homicide Victims’ Support Group Australia and recipient of a Women of the West Award from the University in 2018, recognised for service to the community through support for victims of crime

ENDS

28 January 2019

Amanda Whibley, Acting Director, Corporate Communications