Western Sydney University celebrates academic excellence and community during graduation

Professor Josephine Chow

Chair, South Western Sydney Nursing & Midwifery Research Alliance

Professor Chow will deliver the occasional address.

Professor Chow is also the Deputy Director of Research for South Western Sydney Local Health District and a Professor of Nursing at Western Sydney University. Through her roles on State Clinical Networks, including as foundational Chair of the HOME Network, which promotes home dialysis, and as a member of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis Nursing Liaison Committee, Professor Chow uses research and implementation work for the purposes of improving policy and clinical practice. Named a Churchill Fellow in 2012, Professor Chow was also announced as a successful award recipient in the 2023 round of Churchill Fellowship Impact Funding for her project Improving uptake of home-based dialysis: An innovative approach highlighting access to renal Allied Health professionals, which seeks to improve the uptake of home-based dialysis. Professor Chow was a finalist in the 2022 Federal Health Minister’s Awards for Nursing Trailblazers and in 2023 was recognised as the staff member of the year at NSW Health.

Professor Chow holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Wollongong, a Masters in Advanced Clinical Nursing and a PhD from the University of Sydney, and a Masters in Business Administration from Western Sydney University.

Emeritus Professor Rhonda Griffiths AM

Former Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University

Occasional address delivered by Professor Deborah Hatcher on behalf of Professor Griffiths.

Emeritus Professor Griffiths AM is an experienced administrator, researcher, speaker, educator and Non-Executive Director and has held senior positions in universities public health services.

Recognised internationally as a diabetes researcher and educator, Professor Griffiths retired as Dean of the School in 2016 after 18 years with Western Sydney University. She continues to retain a deep interest in both diabetes and nursing education.

Professor Griffith’s research endeavours, which span over three decades, have attracted over more than $4 million in grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Research Council, Australian Primary Health Care Research, and the Federal Government and over 250 publications. She is an Honorary Life Member of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association and a previous Vice President and long serving Board Member of Diabetes Australia.

Under Rhonda’s leadership at Western Sydney University, the student cohort in the School of Nursing and Midwifery doubled. She also fostered enduring relationships between the University, Local Health Districts and other industry partners, ensuring the School’s programs maintained their reputation and currency.

In 2006 She was appointed as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of her contribution to diabetes, nursing and indigenous health.

Emerita Professor Mary Chiarella AM

University of Sydney

Professor Chiarella will deliver the occasional address.

Professor Chiarella is a renowned nurse leader with a distinguished career in nursing services. With qualifications in nursing, midwifery and law, Professor Chiarella’s research has focused on safety and quality; law, ethics and regulatory issues, and; improvements in nursing practices and models of care. She commenced her 40-year career as a clinical nurse in the United Kingdom and subsequently went on to establish the Doctor of Midwifery at UTS, the world’s first professional doctorate in midwifery.

From 2003 to 2004, Professor Chiarella was the Chief Nursing Officer for NSW Health and in this time, helped to increase the number of nurse practitioners in NSW.

Professor Chiarella has also chaired the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and represented NSW practitioners on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and nurses on the Health Ethics Advisory Panel within NSW Health.

In 2019, Professor Chiarella was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to nursing and midwifery education and to health-care standards.

Ms Anna Lam

Associate Director of Professional Practice and Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery Western Sydney Local Health District.

Ms Lam will deliver the occasional address.

Anna commenced her clinical nursing career specialising in neurosciences and neurosurgical care at Westmead Hospital. She subsequently shifted into management and education of the nursing workforce for Mt Druitt and Blacktown hospitals and is now focused on improving professional nursing practice and strategy across western Sydney.

As hospitals expand and change their models of care, Anna is committed to communicating to nursing and midwifery graduates the many opportunities now available in clinical care, research, education, and management.

Professor Brian Falzon

Professor Falzon will be accorded the title of Distinguished Professor and deliver the occasional address.

Professor Brian Falzon is an international expert in the field of Advanced Composite Materials and Aerospace Structures and is currently the Dean of the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment at this University. Professor Falzon was awarded his PhD from the University of Sydney. He joined Western Sydney University in 2023 with the title of Distinguished Professor, previously bestowed by RMIT University where he was Chair of Advanced Composite Materials and Aerospace Structures.

Professor Falzon is internationally renowned for his industry-driven work on the computational analysis, design, manufacture and testing of advanced composite structures. He is an accomplished world-leading researcher, ranked in the top 1% in the field of Material Science, with his work widely recognised for its global impact.

Professor Falzon’s contributions to his field include advancing the design and analysis of structural stability aerostructures implemented by Boeing Aerostructures Australia. His work on composite failure mechanisms, impact damage modelling and fracture toughness characterization have also helped the NASA Advanced Composites Project, which focused on developing reliable methods to predict structural failure.

Professor Falzon has been recognised as an outstanding and accomplished leader and researcher. He is the recipient of three awards from the Royal Aeronautical Society, and, in 2009, he was honoured with an Australian Leadership Award, from the Australian Davos Connection in recognition of his contribution to issues of national importance and demonstrated leadership in his field. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 2018, Professor Falzon was presented the ‘Belfast Ambassador of the Year’ award by Visit Belfast, for promoting advanced manufacturing in Northern Ireland and consequently winning the bid to host a major conference for the city, the 23rd International Conference on Composite Materials, which took place in August 2023.

Professor Vivian Tam

Professor Tam will be accorded the title of Distinguished Professor and deliver the occasional address.

Professor Vivian Tam is an international expert in the field of Construction Engineering and Management and is currently the Associate Dean (International) and Associate Dean (Research and HDR) in the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment at this University. She was awarded her PhD from the City University of Hong Kong.

Professor Tam is recognised as an outstanding and accomplished leader in the field of sustainable construction. Her findings have had application and impact in helping to tackle climate-change issues for green buildings and recycled concrete.

Professor Tam is a world-leading researcher who, through active collaboration with colleagues both domestically and internationally, has not only furthered her research to higher grounds but has also fostered a strong research culture within Western Sydney University’s construction engineering and management group and nationally as a member of the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts between 2018 and 2021. She has published over 330 refereed journal articles and has been awarded 53 research grants totaling over $5 million. Her work, which has been recognised by peers nationally and internationally, has been exemplified by six Australian Research Council projects and over 22,000 citations.

Described as “one of the best researchers in Australia in construction management”, Professor Tam’s research has received numerous citations, including the Gold Award in the Second Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, as awarded by the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City University, for the Waste and Recycling Technology program. This innovative program, which recycles concrete waste for use in structural applications and helps to reduce landfill and harmful environmental emissions, was also selected as the winner from over 400 projects globally under the Holcim Accelerator program. These awards reflect both the academic achievements of Professor Tam and the vital nature of her work in contributing to real world solutions that are application ready.

With an outstanding track record of top publications in her field of expertise on sustainable construction management and engineering, Professor Tam has been named as one of the Top 2% of Scientists in the World since 2017 and was Runner Up for the Scopus Researcher of the Year Award in 2019.

Ms Stacey Quince

Executive Director, Teaching Quality and Impact, NSW Department of Education

Ms Quince will deliver the occasional address.

In her role with the NSW Department of Education, Stacey’s work is focused on supporting teachers and school leaders to strengthen their practice for improved and equitable outcomes for all NSW public school students.

Prior to this, she worked as a teacher, deputy principal and principal at schools in south-western and western Sydney. Her work as a school and system leader has been recognised at a national and international level.

Stacey holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from the University of Wollongong, a Graduate Diploma of Education from the University of Sydney and a Master of Arts from Macquarie University.

Mr Matt Lewis

Principal at Lidcombe Public School

Mr Lewis  will deliver the occasional address.

Matt has worked in the education sector for more than three decades and has spent 19 years as a school principal. Consistently demonstrating compassion and innovation, he is regarded by his peers as a role model for educational leadership.

He believes school leaders should be visible and highly engaged with students. Leading by example, he personally greets and farewells Lidcombe’s 850 students each school day. He also focuses on empowering children to find their voice and encourages self-expression in his students.

As a keen sportsman and coach, Matt has broadened sports options at his school, offering students a well-rounded education as well as a clear model of good sportsmanship.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Education from Western Sydney University.

Ms Samantha Blomeley

Executive General Manager, Consumer and Marketing - GWS GIANTS

Ms Blomeley will deliver the occasional address.

Samantha commenced her career working for professional soccer club Sydney FC. In 2016, she joined the GWS GIANTS, which works with Western Sydney University to provide students with real-world learning opportunities.

Thanks to the creative efforts of Samantha and her team, the GIANTS – which joined the Australian Football League in 2012 – continues to grow its fan base and hit new membership records.

Samantha holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in sports management, from Macquarie University.

Mr Wally Mehanna

Chief Executive Officer of the Canterbury-Bankstown Chamber of Commerce

Mr Mehana will be awarded an Honorary Fellowship and will deliver the occasional address.

Wally Mehanna is the Founder and current Chief Executive Officer of the Canterbury-Bankstown Chamber of Commerce. A staunch supporter of Western Sydney University, Mr Mehanna has worked tirelessly over the past seven years to foster and advocate for business and investment in Western Sydney while encouraging strong connections with the community. Under Wally’s leadership, the Canterbury-Bankstown Chamber of Commerce has become the largest Chamber in Western Sydney.

In 2016, Mr Mehanna established the Canterbury-Bankstown Chamber of Commerce as a not-for-profit organisation. The aim was to provide leadership to the business sector in Western Sydney, to inspire impactful projects, to promote innovation and to foster entrepreneurialism. Wally’s ability to meaningfully engage with people has transformed the community and he regularly communicates and works with federal, state, and local political representatives to advocate for Western Sydney residents and business owners. During the COVID pandemic he was instrumental in bringing together 42 Greater Sydney chambers with the then-NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the Chambers’ constituents.

Under Wally's leadership, the Canterbury-Bankstown Chamber of Commerce has offered its members valuable education and networking opportunities with a focus on areas such as Women in Leadership, Innovation in the Manufacturing Industry, Digital Marketing, and Networking. Moreover, Wally has played a crucial role in establishing a Women's Committee at the Chamber to help address gender inequalities in Western Sydney.

Through the Canterbury-Bankstown Chamber of Commerce, Mr Mehanna works to foster the aspirations and ambitions of the youth of Western Sydney. He recently launched the ‘CEO for a Day’ initiative where business leaders volunteer to mentor senior school students, and he was also pivotal in organising the Youth Expo which was held at the University’s Bankstown City campus in May 2023.

Wally supports initiatives that promote inclusion and wellbeing in Western Sydney. These include the Zero Barriers project, Outdoor Wellness Community Sessions, the Canterbury-Bankstown Community sleep-out and the community-led Canterbury Bankstown International Day of People with Disabilities Gala evening. He regularly works to include the NSW Police and the Australian Defence Force in Chamber events, and has helped form connections between local police and charity organisations. Mr Mehanna is a member of the City of Canterbury-Bankstown Prosperity and Innovation Advisory Committee and Business Leaders Reference Group, as well as the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital Community and Customer Participation Committee.

Wally is a passionate supporter of Western Sydney University and has facilitated the use of chamber events and networks as a platform for the University to connect with local industry partners and community members. He is also a member of the University’s Bankstown City Campus Provost Committee.

Adjunct Professor Anis Chowdhury

Professor Chowdhury will be accorded the title of Emeritus Professor and deliver the occasional address.

Adjunct Professor Anis Chowdhury is an internationally reputed Macro-Development Economist who has made a significant impact on the discourse on global economic governance architecture, macroeconomic policy issues and socio-economic development over the past three decades.

From 2001 to 2012, Anis was a professor at Western Sydney University, leading research efforts in Macroeconomic Policy analysis and Development Studies. He was actively involved in the development of the Economics discipline in the School of Business and played a significant role in fostering Bangladeshi diaspora academics in Australia. Between 2006 and 2008, Professor Chowdhury organised monthly seminar series on issues impacting Bangladesh - a precursor to various collaborative programs that developed between Western Sydney University and Bangladesh.

In 2008, Professor Chowdhury took a 2-year leave of absence from the University to work as Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the Office of the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, advising the United Nations Chief Economist. This appointment was extended for a further two-years before Professor Chowdhury was promoted to Director of the Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP). While working at the United Nations, Professor Chowdhury continued to publish under the institutional affiliation of Western Sydney University.

During his time with the United Nations, Professor Chowdury made significant contributions to the formulation of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the development of its monitoring and evaluation framework. He was pivotal in the organisation of key international conferences, including the first Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Economic Cooperation and Integration in Bangkok in 2013, and the inaugural Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Bangkok in 2014. The latter resulted in the adoption of the Asia-Pacific CRVS Decade from 2014 to 2024. Finally, he led the development of the Indonesia National Human Development Report 2001, which was named as the co-winner of the United Nations Development Programme’s Best Global Analytical Report.

Professor Chowdhury has also served as a consultant with the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Professor Chowdhury has an outstanding academic record and his research impact metrics are 4,608 citations with an h-index of 27 (as of 13th May 2024). He has published more than two dozen books and close to 100 journal articles in leading economics journals such as the Canadian Journal of Development Studies, Development and Change, Oxford Development Studies, the Review of Keynesian Economics, and the Journal of Post Keynesian Economics.

He was the founding Chief Editor of the Journal of the Asia-Pacific Economy and remains its co-editor. He is also the Managing Editor of the Asia Pacific Sustainable Development Journal and a co-editor of the Economic & Labour Relations Review.

Since 2017, Professor Chowdhury has played a significant role in enhancing the University's international reach and reputation as an Adjunct Professor, firstly within what was the School of Social Sciences and Psychology and subsequently with the School of Business. He has contributed to the intellectual richness of both schools through numerous research presentations and papers and has helped his colleagues to publish in leading academic journals. Professor Chowdhury has also generously given his time to support research students and mentor junior academics.

Ms Zara Davar Craig

Account Executive - Higher Education, Amazon Web Services

Ms Davar Craig will deliver the occasional address.

Zara is passionate about connecting people and empowering organisations with cloud technology that offers innovative solutions for them and their constituents. Since 2021, her work with Amazon Web Services has focused on supporting the higher education sector to harness cloud technology to boost innovative practices. Prior to joining Amazon Web Services, Zara held various technical and business roles with IBM and the University of Wollongong.

Zara holds a Master’s degree, with Distinction, in Computer and Information Sciences from the University of Wollongong.

Dr Anand Kumar Singh

Vice-Chancellor of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, India

Dr Kumar Singh will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science and will deliver the occasional address.

Dr Anand Kumar Singh is the Vice-Chancellor of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology located in Kanpur, India. Prior to becoming Vice-Chancellor, he was the Deputy Director General for Horticultural Sciences at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Dr. Singh is an esteemed horticulture expert who has made significant contributions to the global horticulture industry. His expertise and research have played a vital role in the advancement of cultivation, production, and management of horticulture crops on a global scale.

Dr Singh was instrumental in the establishment of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture throughout India. The Council is an autonomous body reporting to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, and the Indian Ministry of Agriculture, and is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.

In his leadership role with ICAR, Dr Singh was responsible for the establishment of a number of facilities to support the advancement of agricultural sciences, including a Centre of Excellence for the Protection of Horticulture Crops, and the Business Entrepreneurship and Start-up Support through Technology in Horticulture, a Technology Business Incubator within the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, ICAR.

Dr Singh’s visionary approach and persuasive skills have resulted in the establishment of significant partnerships for Western Sydney University that have strengthened the University's reputation and increased its reach across India. Dr Singh has actively facilitated interdisciplinary cooperation and meaningful engagement between faculties, researchers, and industry partners which has resulted in the development of innovative projects such as the WSU/ICAR Centre of Excellence in High-tech Protected Systems, which seek to address real-world challenges including those related to food security.

Aided by Dr Singh’s strong advocacy, Western Sydney University has forged important partnerships with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the network of State Agricultural Universities in India, leading to crucial research in climate change and smart farming systems in India and Australia. These partnerships have created opportunities for joint research projects, knowledge exchange programs, dual degree opportunities, and student mobility initiatives that have enhanced the University’s academic offerings in India.

Under Dr Singh’s guidance, Western Sydney University’s collaboration with the Indian Agricultural System has led to significant advancements in protected cropping research. Through these collaborative efforts, Western Sydney University has initiated research projects to develop innovative techniques which optimise crop production systems, and enhance sustainability practices in protected cropping in India, bringing tangible benefits to the broader horticultural community.

Dr Singh has received numerous awards both in India and internationally for his contributions to global horticulture with his most recent awards including the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, Food and Agriculture Development National Award in 2016, and a Bronze Medal from the International Association of Horticultural Producers for the Indian Exhibition at the World Expo in Antalya, Turkey in 2016.

Dr Singh currently services on the Board of Directors for the World Vegetable Centre (Taiwan) and is affiliated with key international organisations including Bioversity International, International Potato Centre and the International Rice Research Institute. He is President and Vice President of National Professional Societies and has organised 20 national and international seminars/conferences.

Dr Singh holds a PhD and Master of Science from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and Bachelor of Science from Banaras Hindu University. He has published more than 113 research papers, 55 books and book chapters and about 50 popular articles. He has also served as Chief Editor or Editor of several journals.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Hirst AFSM

Area Commander, Regional North for Fire and Rescue New South Wales

Chief Superintendent Hirst will be awarded a Community Fellowship and will deliver the occasional address.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Hirst is the Area Commander, Regional North for Fire and Rescue New South Wales. Stephen has devoted his career to enhancing the safety of the community during his tenure with Fire and Rescue New South Wales and has been instrumental in the prevention, preparedness and response requirements of the agency.

Stephen commenced his career with Fire and Rescue New South Wales in 1984 as an apprentice electrician and has since progressed through many roles, including as a Breathing Apparatus and Hazmat Instructor, Senior Instructor in regional areas, Station Officer and Duty Commander. In 2019, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent (Area Commander), a testament to his hard work and dedication to service.

Chief Superintendent Hirst has played a significant role as a responder in many major emergencies, both locally and internationally, including the catastrophic Thredbo Landslide in 1997 where he played a crucial role in locating Stuart Diver. In March 2011, he also provided his services in response to the damaging earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and subsequently spent six weeks in the United States as a Strike Team Leader fighting the devastating Washington State wildfires.

During the 2019 – 2020 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires in Australia, Stephen was stationed on the east coast of New South Wales where he spent countless hours planning, communicating and leading the deployment of the strike teams from Region West in what remains the worst bushfire season that New South Wales has ever seen.

In 2022, Chief Superintendent Hirst led Fire and Rescue New South Wales’s response and recovery to the Northern Rivers floods in difficult personal circumstances that also saw his own home and family isolated and impacted by the floods.

In 2023, Chief Superintendent Hirst was recognised in the Australia Day Honours List with an Australian Fire Service Medal for his commitment to protecting the communities of New South Wales.

Stephen is an alumnus of Western Sydney University, having graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Social Sciences (Emergency Services) in 2005.

Professor Anthony Uhlmann

Professor Uhlmann will be accorded the title of Distinguished Professor and deliver the occasional address.

Professor Anthony Uhlmann is an international expert in the fields of contemporary and modernist literature and is currently Professor of Literature and Creative Writing in the Writing and Society Research Centre, and the Interim Dean of the School of Humanities and Communication Arts. He holds a PhD, awarded by the University of Sydney.

Recognised as an outstanding and accomplished leader in his field, Professor Uhlmann is the author of multiple monographs and collections published by leading international presses, including Cambridge University Press. He has led a broad range of projects, which have included literary interrogations such as ‘J.M. Coetzee and Making Sense in Literature’, and explorations of literature for well-being.  He has also fostered new literary voices in projects such as ‘The China Australia Literary Forum’ and ‘Creating Literature in Western Sydney’. The diversity of Professor Uhlmann’s work is an extraordinary achievement and one that should be acknowledged.

As Director of the Writing and Society Research Centre, Professor Uhlmann has played a leading role in ensuring Western Sydney University’s reputation for fostering cutting edge creative and critical literary studies. His commitment as a national leader is demonstrated by his roles as co-founder and President of both the Australasian Association of Literature and the Australian University Heads of English.

Professor Uhlmann’s passion for his discipline and commitment to sustained mentoring of Higher Degree Research Students and Early Career Researchers is evidenced through his establishment of the Australasian Association of Literature over a decade ago. The Association has had extensive impact, including as a catalyst for the establishment of the Australian University Heads of English, Australia’s peak body for the English discipline.

Professor Uhlmann’s peers note his ‘reputation for scholarly leadership as well as rigorous, conceptually driven textual analysis, and argument’ and cite him as ‘one of the leading literary studies scholars in Australia.’ In 2013, in recognition of his standing, he was elected as a fellow to the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Professor David Tait

Professor Tait will be accorded the title of Emeritus Professor and deliver the occasional address.

Professor David Tait is an accomplished academic and researcher with extensive experience in justice research. His career is marked by significant contributions to research and scholarship, particularly in the fields of criminology, sociology, and the digital humanities. Professor Tait’s work has had a substantial impact for mental health and guardianship tribunals, restorative justice conferences, Koori courts, court safety and remote witness communications.

As Professor of Justice Research at Western Sydney University, Professor Tait has led numerous research projects exploring areas such as justice spaces and rituals, access to justice, and technologies used in court and tribunal hearings. With an excellent track record in securing research grants, he has headed or has been part of seven Australian Research Council grant-winning teams including most recently a major consortium from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Centre. His work has attracted frequent and repeat funding from commercial groups such as CISCO as well as organisations such as the New South Wales Department of Justice.

Professor Tait’s recent projects have examined the use of iPads in assisting with jury deliberations, the use of cages or docks to contain defendants on trial, and the operations of Koori courts. He has also led a team in the development of an immersive virtual court facility, which was tested in a randomised controlled trial in Sydney and demonstrated to the justice agencies of the Council of Europe.

Professor Tait has offered virtual courtroom demonstrations to the American Association of Architects, given a plenary address on virtual courts to the Canadian National Justice Institute, and has been involved in the implementation of a ‘court metaverse application’ at the Harvard Visualization Research Lab.

Prior to developing his interest in the virtual courtroom, Professor Tait researched and published extensively on issues such as the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding legal guardianship of the elderly and mental patients; the use of coercion in the treatment of anorexia nervosa patients; the use of the tax system to collect fines; the use of pardons and forgiveness in the criminal law system; and social issues such as understandings of sexual assault on university campuses; youth labour markets and youth life styles; and ethnic small businesses and migrant labour in Australia.

Professor Tait is highly regarded for his innovative teaching methods. He has taught with the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, as well as the School of Law at Western Sydney University, where he has received extraordinary feedback from students. Additionally, he has played a vital role in mentoring early career researchers in the School of Law, offering expert advice on fellowships and grant applications, as well as research development frameworks. He has also co-supervised PhD candidates and provided guidance on publication and research intensification strategies.

Professor Tait has published extensively and is the author or co-author of around 50 refereed journal articles and 12 scholarly book chapters. He has also co-authored five books and one collection of essays. His high citation level is testament of the quality and impact of his work which is echoed in his high h-index of 23 and i10-index of 44 on Google Scholar.

Professor Tait is a co-convenor of the Court of the Future Network, which organises international executive court tours in Europe and Professeur associé at Télécom Paris, a leading technology research university.

Professor Iona Novak AM

Professor Novak will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science and will deliver the occasional address.

Professor Novak is a Western Sydney University alumnus and an internationally recognised expert in the field of rehabilitation and neuroplasticity for children with cerebral palsy. She was the inaugural invited Chair of the International Clinical Guidelines Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Additionally, she is the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Chair of Allied Health and co-founder of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute affiliated with the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre and the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Professor Novak’s main research objectives are to discover, test and translate new treatments in areas identified as priorities by people with cerebral palsy. She has been awarded multiple competitive grants to undertake clinical trials, cohort studies and translational studies for stem cells. Most recently, she was awarded $2.5 million to establish a Centre for Research Excellence with a focus on decreasing the rate and severity of cerebral palsy. Professor Novak has extensive clinical experience as an occupational therapist and is the top published occupational therapist in Australia.

Driven by an internal belief that research and healthcare have the potential to change lives, Professor Novak has pursued projects and roles with the greatest possible impact on children and families. Her work has led to changes in clinical practice in 32 countries and includes co-founding the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register, developing clinical practice guidelines to diagnose cerebral palsy early, and defining best practice early intervention to improve the independence of people with cerebral palsy.

Professor Novak’s significant track record in generating and translating new cerebral palsy intervention knowledge includes conducting numerous randomised clinical trials and systematic reviews in the areas of early intervention, pharmacology, neuroplasticity training, motor training, stem cells, neuroprotection, orthoses, and knowledge translation.

As a Fulbright Scholar, in 2013 Professor Novak completed a four month exchange at the University of California where she established and led “Xcellerate” – an American-Australian Cerebral Palsy Stem Cell Research Consortium focused on aggregating data and accelerating the rate of research on cerebral palsy. Professor Novak continues this research and the translation of  findings to direct improvements in clinical services.

Professor Novak’s significant contributions to cerebral palsy research and clinical practice have earned her a reputation for excellence. In recognition of her many notable achievements, Professor Novak was named Citizen of the Year by the Australia Day Council in 2015; the Chancellor’s Alumni of the Year at Western Sydney University in 2018; a Superstar of STEM in the Science and Technology Australian Prime Minister’s Program in 2019; a Top 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review, also in 2019; and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2023 for significant service to medical research, particularly the treatment of cerebral palsy.

Professor Novak holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney, and a Master of Science and a PhD in Biomedical Science from Western Sydney University.

Professor Annemarie Hennessy AM

Professor Hennessy will be accorded the title of Emeritus Professor and deliver the occasional address.

Professor Annemarie Hennessey is a highly regarded academic leader and clinician who was Foundation Chair of Medicine at Western Sydney University from 2006 to 2016, Dean of the School of Medicine from April 2011 and Western’s first Pro Vice-Chancellor Health Cluster from January 2020 until her departure from the University in October 2023.

During her tenure, Professor Hennessy oversaw the delivery of many key achievements for the University, including the establishment of the Macarthur Clinical School at Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals, the commissioning of the Blacktown Clinical School and building for Blacktown and Mt Druitt, as well as the WSU clinical schools at Lismore and Bathurst. From 2019, she supervised the launch of a new School of Rural Medicine and Joint Program in Medicine delivered in partnership with Charles Sturt University for which she was the Executive Dean. Professor Hennessy was also integral to the conceptualisation and development of the Macarthur Medical Research Centre, as a member of the Project Steering Committee and the Project Control Group (Operations).

Professor Hennessy’s commitment to her discipline is demonstrated by her extensive experience in teaching and research collaborations with universities and hospitals in Sydney and internationally. For more than twenty years, her internationally recognised research on preeclampsia has been improving maternal and perinatal health outcomes. Professor Hennessy has also shown unwavering commitment to Indigenous Health, having personally supported Indigenous researchers, clinicians and students to achieve better outcomes for their communities. Professor Hennessy has worked in local Aboriginal medical service renal clinics since 2007, and prior to that in remote and urban indigenous clinical environments.

Professor Hennessy’s contributions extend beyond academia. In 2019, she was named Co-Director of the Women’s Health Initiative, Translational Unit at South Western Sydney Local Health District. That same year she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and named Deputy Chair, Animal Research Review Panel of the NSW Department of Primary Industries, a committee on which she had been a member since 2008.

She is the group leader of the Vascular Immunology Group at the Heart Research Institute, Senior Research Advisor to the Chief Executive of the Sydney Local Health District and was previously the Director of the Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Women and Babies.

During the COVID pandemic, Professor Hennessy, in her role as unofficial Chief Medical Officer for the University, played a pivotal role in providing exceptional leadership to the University’s staff and students. Drawing on her vast expertise, she gave timely, pragmatic advice in a calm demeanour, at times laced with humour. The value of her support and guidance for the University community during this period was invaluable.

In 2015, Professor Hennessy was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to tertiary education, and to medical research, particularly in the area of clinical hypertension and maternal health. In 2020, she was awarded the Distinguished Professor title by the University, an honour reserved for academics of the highest calibre. In 2023, she was awarded the Lady Fairfax AC, OBE, Distinguished Researcher Award, from the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (in partnership with the South Western Sydney Local Health District).

Mr Jeff Scobie

Chief Executive Officer, Macarthur Disability Services

Mr Scobie will deliver the occasional address.

As CEO of Macarthur Disability Services (MDS), a registered service provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Jeff leads more than 300 staff in delivering disability support, services and activities to South Western Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands. Under his leadership,. Macarthur Disability Services works to put people with a disability at the centre of the decision-making process, ensuring they receive the support they need with a focus on empowering individuals to achieve their aspirations.

Jeff is a recognised leader in the disability sector and holds a Master’s degree in management from UTS.

Professor Barney Glover AO

Professor Glover will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters and will deliver the occasional address.

Professor Barney Glover was the Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University from 1 January 2014 to 10 April 2024. As the University’s fourth Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glover was instrumental in shaping Western Sydney University’s extraordinary growth and development over the past decade. He is currently the inaugural Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia.

An accomplished mathematician and mathematics educator, Professor Glover holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics; a Diploma in Education in Mathematics Education; a Master of Science in Mathematics; and a Bachelor of Science with Honours, all from the University of Melbourne. He has a strong research publication record and has co-authored four texts in mathematics education.

Prior to his appointment at Western Sydney University, Professor Glover held several senior executive roles within the Australian higher education sector, including as Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at the University of Newcastle; Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Development at Perth’s Curtin University of Technology, and senior positions at the University of Ballarat in Victoria.

In a decade characterised by rolling sectoral reforms, increasing competition and the disruption of COVID, Western Sydney University has expanded and grown under Professor Glover’s leadership.

Professor Glover stewarded the University to a strong international standing with this achievement showcased through several international rankings. Most notable was the University’s number one global ranking in both 2022 and 2023 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, in recognition of Western Sydney University’s efforts in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He led a decade of groundwork to foster new international relationships and to build the University’s international profile, culminating in an expansion of the University’s global partnerships, the doubling of its international student cohort – from 4,306 in 2014 to 10,235 in 2023, and the establishment of the University’s first international stand-alone campus in Surabaya, set to open in September this year.

Professor Glover's commitment to fostering diversity and equity within the higher education sector has enhanced the educational landscape, empowering marginalised communities and promoting social cohesion. A champion for gender equity, he established and led key initiatives at the University, including the Vice-Chancellor’s Gender Equity Committee, the Vice-Chancellor’s Gender Equity Fund and the Respectful Relationships Taskforce to help address issues on gender equity, diversity and safety on campus. Equally committed to Indigenous advancement, he drove investment in the University’s Indigenous portfolio with the establishment of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor level appointment, and key Indigenous leadership appointments in teaching, leadership and research. Under his leadership, Western Sydney University successfully received NSW Government support to establish the Indigenous Centre of Excellence. Once complete, the state of the art building will be a benchmark for Indigenous leadership and education and will be an important gathering place for the community to celebrate both the University’s and the region’s long-standing connection with Indigenous people.

Professor Glover has been instrumental in strengthening and deepening the University’s commitment to the region beginning with the University’s significant re-brand in 2015, where the ‘University of Western Sydney’ became ‘Western Sydney University’, reinforcing its links to the region. The development of new CBD campuses in Parramatta, Liverpool and Bankstown have also afforded critical impetus to the revival of these city centres. Professor Glover’s championing of an aerotropolis – a new city for Western Sydney -  came at a critical point in the planning for the Nancy Bird Walton airport and was the result of Professor Glover’s collaborative leadership. His vision for Parramatta as a global city – set out in a review commissioned by the NSW Government, Parramatta 2035 – was the culmination of long-term advocacy, and, together with his role in securing the new Powerhouse Museum site, has primed Parramatta’s path towards strategic significance.

Under Professor Glover’s stewardship, the University’s innovative capital strategy, Western Growth has delivered sector leading campus developments throughout Western Sydney. The redesign of campus infrastructure in CBD locations has helped to cement the University’s presence as an anchor institution in the region and its commitment to collaboration with business, industry, government and community.

Professor Glover’s engagement in sector-wide leadership as Chair of Universities Australia from 2015 to 2017 and as Convenor of the NSW Vice-Chancellor’s Committee from 2021 to 2023, together with his involvement in other sector, government and cultural bodies, has elevated Western Sydney University to the centre of national discussions on access and equity in tertiary education. Professor Glover joined the University as fee deregulation was imminent and left having co-authored the Australian Universities Accord, a blueprint for future sector reform.

In January 2019, Professor Glover was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to tertiary education, to professional associations, and to cultural organisations. He is an Emeritus Professor of both Western Sydney University and Charles Darwin University, and an Honorary Professor of the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City.

The Hon. Marise Payne

Former Senator for New South Wales

Ms Payne will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters and will deliver the occasional address.

Marise Payne is a prominent Australian politician who served as a Senator for New South Wales from 1997 to 2023, representing the Liberal Party. During her tenure, she held several senior ministerial positions in Coalition governments between 2013 and 2022. These have included the roles of Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Marise was the first woman to serve as Federal President of the Young Liberal Movement, a role she held from 1989 to 1991. In 1997, she was appointed as a Liberal Party Senator for New South Wales. During her time in the Senate, she led Senate and joint parliamentary committees and held several shadow portfolios in the Opposition, including Indigenous Development and Employment, and Housing.

In 2007, Marise was added to the shadow ministry and then in 2013, when the Coalition returned to power, she was appointed as the Minister for Human Services within the Abbott government. In 2015, Marise was appointed as the Minister for Defence, becoming the first woman to hold this position. As Minister for Defence, Marise delivered the 2016 Defence White Paper, the Integrated Investment Plan, and Defence Industry Policy Statement. She also oversaw a major renewal of the Australian Defence Force’s capabilities and led the organisation’s increased international engagement program with allies and partners.

In August 2018, Marise succeeded the Hon Julie Bishop as Minister for Foreign Affairs and, following the Morrison Government’s re-election in 2019, she was also appointed as the Minister for Women. As the longest serving female senator in Australia’s history, Marise announced her retirement from the Senate in September 2023.

Marise was a Liberal Senator for Western Sydney and takes pride in being a local resident of the region. For over 26 years she worked from her electorate office in Parramatta, serving constituents across the length and breadth of western Sydney. She has been a strong advocate of the Western Sydney City Deal, the delivery of key western Sydney infrastructure initiatives and the development of the Aerotropolis and has worked alongside countless organisations and businesses to help the region reach its full potential. She is passionate about western Sydney communities in all their diversity.

Marise has been an active supporter of Western Sydney University, participating in campus events, including conferences and graduations, the installations of three Chancellors, and the New Colombo Plan 5th Anniversary event in 2019 in her capacity as Foreign Minister. She also served on the UWS Regional Council (a Standing Committee of the Board of Trustees) from 2002 to 2004. In February 2024, she was appointed as a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow and Professor of Practice – International Relations and Public Policy,

Marise holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales.

Ms Tvisa Sood

Senior Strategy Analyst (Technology Strategy and Transformation), Transport for NSW

Ms Sood will deliver the occasional address.

As a Senior Strategy Analyst, Tvisa focuses on solving complex problems, developing impactful strategies and supporting IT transformations through human-centred design. Prior to joining Transport for NSW, Tvisa was a Senior Consultant at KPMG before being appointed a Senior Associate with the Greater Cities Commission where she helped with the economic development and activation of Tech Central, a proposed technology and innovation hub that is expected to be the largest of its kind in Australia.

As her own career demonstrates, Tvisa is an advocate for non-linear career paths – a topic she spoke about at TEDxSydney in 2019.

Tvisa also volunteers with the Beacon Foundation to help inspire and motivate high school students from low socio-educational backgrounds.

During her final year of university, Tvisa was named in the Australian Financial Review's Top 100 Future Leaders list. Tvisa holds a Bachelor of Criminology, majoring in Social Sciences, from Western Sydney University.

Ms Ricci Ulrike Bartels OAM will be awarded a Community Fellowship.

Ricci Bartels is a dedicated supporter of refugees and asylum seekers. She has devoted over 40 years of her life to working with refugee and migrant communities in Fairfield, Liverpool, Blacktown and more recently, Indigenous communities in the Shoalhaven, specifically in support of the Voice Referendum.

A committed human rights and social justice activist, Ms Bartels’ experience includes working as a case worker, community development practitioner, TAFE teacher (Community Welfare), and service manager. She is the former Acting CEO of the Cabramatta Community Centre, former Executive Officer of the Fairfield Migrant Resource Centre, former Chair of the Settlement Council of Australia, and former Board Member of the Australian Council of Social Services.

Ms. Bartels has tirelessly advocated for an increase in the rate of welfare payments. She has written numerous conference papers on poverty, multiculturalism, housing, employment, and access and equity and has published a paper called A Reflection of Thirty Years in the Field in Voices from the Coalface: Practitioner Perspectives on the Challenges of Community-Based Work. Ms Bartels also produced an award-winning video trilogy titled Three Shades of Racism which looks into the nuances and underlying causes of racism.

Appearing on the ABC’s Q&A program in 2019, Ms Bartels courageously shared her lived experience on the Newstart allowance in the hopes that it would challenge negative stereotypes surrounding welfare recipients and spark important conversations about the inadequacy of the job seeker allowance. That same year, Ricci also joined former Family and Community Services Minister, the Hon Amanda Vanstone AO, on ABC-TV’s The Drum as part of a Poverty Special panel discussion.

Ms Bartels has served on several Boards and professional bodies including the Sydney Grow Employment Council Families New South Wales Project Management Group, the Department of Community Services Ethnic Advisory Group, Settlement Services International, Addison Road Community Organisation and the Refugee Australia Foundation. In 2012, she was appointed by the Gillard government as one of 40 Multicultural Ambassadors of Australia.

In 2023, Ricci was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through a range of organisations. She holds an Associate Diploma in Social Welfare from Western Sydney University’s predecessor, the Milperra College of Advanced Education.

Ms Margaret Piper AM

Former CEO of Refugee Council of Australia, Board Member of Red Cross and Multicultural NSW

Ms Piper will deliver the occasional address.

Margaret has worked in the refugee sector for almost 40 years. Her current professional focus is on research, training and capacity-building, as well as policy and program planning through government and non-government committees and boards.

Margaret holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Education with Honours, and also a Master’s in Education from the University of Sydney. She has been a Visiting Research Fellow with the Refugee Studies Centre at Oxford University, and a principal researcher for a study into refugee children and youth supported by the University of Sydney’s Law School. Margaret is also an Adjunct Fellow at this University and is part of a team studying refugee settlement in regional areas.

In 2011, Margaret was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her work with refugees and asylum seekers, and in 2018, she was awarded the Red Cross’s Distinguished Service Medal.

The Hon. Professor Prudence Goward AO

Former Australian politician

Professor Goward will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters and will deliver the occasional address.

The Hon. Professor Pru Goward AO is a former Australian politician who has devoted more than a decade to state politics as a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. From 2007 to 2019, Professor Goward’s outstanding public service career centred on addressing complex social issues, disadvantage and supporting families.

Before entering politics, Professor Goward served as the Australian Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, and Commissioner Responsible for Age Discrimination with the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. As Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Professor Goward campaigned for the introduction of a national paid maternity leave scheme, which was legislated four years later.

Professor Goward held several Ministerial portfolios with the New South Wales Government, including Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from 2015 until March 2019 and Minister for Family and Community Services and Social Housing from January 2017 to March 2019. She also served as the Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Medical Research, and Assistant Minister for Health between April 2015 and January 2017, the Minister for Women between 2011 and January 2017, and the Minister for Planning between 2014 and 2015. Professor Goward’s impressive legacy in government includes oversight of the biggest social housing building programs in the country as well as strengthening of the child protection system, which has drastically reduced the number of children entering care.

Professor Goward has over thirty-five years of writing and on-air broadcasting experience. She is a former columnist for the Australian Financial Review and Sydney Morning Herald, was the inaugural presenter for Daybreak on ABC Radio National from 1991-1997, and, from 1987-1991, was the first female political correspondent for ABC TV as part of its 7:30 Report. She is also the author of A Business of your own: How Women Succeed in Business, and co-authored the biography of former Prime Minister John Howard.

From 2000-2001, Professor Goward was the National Director of the Australian Property Institute, the first female appointed to this role. She has also held other key appointments, including Chair of the Council of Arab Australian Relations from 2004-2007, and Deputy Chair of Anglicare (Canberra and Goulburn) from 1998-2001.

From 2019 to 2022, Professor Goward joined Western Sydney University’s School of Social Sciences as Professor of Social Interventions and Policy, where she provided regional, national and international leadership and expertise on social policy and evaluation research.

In May 2022, Professor Goward was appointed as a Senior Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and in the 2023 Australia Day Honours was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of New South Wales and to women's affairs.