Western Sydney University celebrates as graduates embark on their next chapter

Associate Professor Gary Dennis

Former Deputy Dean of the School of Science at Western Sydney University

Associate Professor Dennis will be awarded an Honorary Fellowship and will deliver the occasional address.

Associate Professor Gary Dennis was the Deputy Dean of the School of Science at Western Sydney University until his retirement in January 2025. Throughout his tenure, Gary was a cornerstone in shaping the growth, visibility, and outreach of the discipline of science, with his impact spanning teaching, curriculum development, research and strengthened industry partnerships.

Gary began his academic career in 1988 as a Lecturer in Chemistry at the Nepean College of Advanced Education, a predecessor of Western Sydney University. In 2013, Gary was promoted to Associate Professor and took on the role of Director of Research for the School of Science and Health, where he led the School to exceed its research income targets. In 2018, Gary transitioned to Deputy Dean and was later appointed as Deputy Dean of the new School of Science, when the schools split in 2020.

As Deputy Dean, Gary’s leadership was tested by the combined challenges of bushfires, floods, and the Covid-19 pandemic, yet he continued to steer the School towards excellence, ensuring that staff and students received exceptional support during unprecedented times, exceeding financial targets, and overseeing transformative changes to the curriculum as part of the University’s strategic curriculum reforms.

Gary also fostered meaningful connections between the University and the community of Western Sydney , playing a pivotal role in facilitating partnerships with local schools, industry leaders and government. Notably, Gary contributed to key projects like the Western Sydney Airport Sustainability Biodiversity meetings, the Hawkesbury Placemaking Strategy—focused on community inclusion—and the annual Hawkesbury Show.

Gary’s leadership extended to representing the University at the Australian Council of Deans of Science and advocating for Western’s suitability to service local needs from industry, including requests from Western Sydney Airport and the delivery of bespoke training to external partners, which fortified multi-year collaborations with major organisations such as Woolworths and the Australian Defence Force.

Gary was also a passionate advocate for enhancing the University’s facilities. He championed the transformation of the K1 Animal House into a state-of-the-art quarantine facility and led significant upgrades to the M10 Nutrition laboratories at Hawkesbury.

Despite his leadership responsibilities, Gary maintained an impressive academic record and his research has directly contributed to six of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. He has delivered over 113 refereed journal publications, 3 patents, 146 professional consultancy reports, and grants totaling 1.8 million dollars. Gary was also deeply committed to supporting the next generation of scientists, having supervised or co-supervised 29 PhD students, 29 Honours students, and a raft of graduate and postgraduate students at Western.

Professor Ross Wilson

Former Director, Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine at Western Sydney University

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

Professor Ross Wilson was the Director, Rural Health, within the School of Medicine at Western Sydney University from 2014 until his retirement in December 2024. During his tenure, Ross’s leadership was crucial for the establishment and subsequent growth of the Bathurst Rural Clinical School – an important component of the MD program at Western and one of the nation’s key locations for training the much-needed rural medical workforce.

Ross’s legacy at Western is marked by an ongoing contribution to education outcomes and significant innovations in rural health education, including:

• Establishing the School of Medicine Rural Curriculum – which provides the opportunity for year 4 and 5 students in the MD program to gain high quality clinical training in a rural setting, including immersive training in Indigenous health;
• Supervising MD research projects for many of the rural cohort;
• Establishing and coordinating Year 5 Obstetrics and Gynaecology education in Bathurst; and
• Contributing to the development of a Rural Generalist graduate programme.

Ross was instrumental in advancing Interprofessional Education (IPE) at the Bathurst Rural Clinical School. His involvement in IPE initiatives provided invaluable learning experiences for Western’s nursing and midwifery students and created significant professional development opportunities for staff. Additionally, he inspired junior academics to excel, leading to notable achievements such as conference presentations and various networking and professional development opportunities.

Concurrent to his academic role, Ross maintained his clinical practice in Bathurst and has been a community stalwart – much respected for his enduring support of regional health. He continues to be a General Practitioner in Bathurst and visiting medical officer at Bathurst Base, Bathurst Private, and Lithgow Hospitals.

Ross continues to make a dedicated contribution to the medical profession as a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Rural Education Committee and Rural Faculty Board; Board Member for the Remote Vocational Training Scheme; Registrar supervisor for the RACGP and Australian College of Remote and Rural Medicine; and a Corp Surgeon for St John’s Ambulance.

Ross is also an inaugural member of the Board of Wahluu Health, an Aboriginal Corporation that was established following community consultation, sponsored by Western Sydney University. Wahluu Health aims to establish Aboriginal health services in Bathurst that are guided by community voices and cultural traditions.

Ross continues to make a dedicated contribution to the medical profession as a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Rural Education Committee and Rural Faculty Board; Board Member for the Remote Vocational Training Scheme; Registrar supervisor for the RACGP and Australian College of Remote and Rural Medicine; and a Corp Surgeon for St John’s Ambulance.

In recognition of his exemplary service to medicine and rural health, Ross was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014 and was named the Bathurst living legend in 2015. He has also been ABC Radio Australian of the Year and the RACGP Australian GP of the Year, for high standard of patient care, dedication to training, and community involvement.

Dr Danièle Hromek

Djinjama

Dr Hromek will be awarded an Honorary Fellowship and will deliver the occasional address.

Danièle Hromek is a Saltwater woman of Budawang/Dhurga/Yuin and Burrier/Dharawal heritage, with French and Czech ancestry. A spatial designer and leading Australian Country-Centred designer, Danièle was the first Indigenous person in Australia to achieve a PhD in spatial disciplines.

Danièle’s PhD research, titled "The (Re) Indigenisation of Space: Weaving Narratives of Resistance to Embed Nura [Country] in Design", explored how Indigenous spatial knowledge and cultural practices can be integrated into contemporary design. The doctoral work, which investigated the ways Aboriginal people interact with, perceive and contest spaces, aiming to rethink the values that inform these understandings, was noted to be bold, fresh and sophisticated.

In 2020, Danièle founded Djinjama - an award-winning cultural design and research practice which aims to infuse Indigenous perspectives and cultural practices into every aspect of their built environment, design and research endeavours. As the Director, Lead Designer and Researcher for Djinjama, Danièle brings Indigenous ways of thinking, cultural practices and community narratives into projects. This approach recognises the multitude of perspectives of Knowledge Holders to design with Country.

Under the leadership of Danièle, Djinjama has had a leading role in many significant Western Sydney design projects including the Sydney Metro West Line, Parramatta Place-Based Transport Plan and the First Building Aerotropolis (Advanced Manufacture Research Facility), to name a few.

Additionally, Danièle passionately promotes the protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property rights and collaborates with organisations to develop frameworks and protocols that ensure Indigenous heritage and culture are preserved and respected in design and planning processes.

Danièle’s leadership and innovation in the spatial design field is evidenced through her work to change policy and practice towards Country centred design. She has worked on several projects with Government Architect NSW, was a researcher and cultural advisor to the Connecting with Country Framework project, and a contributor to the Designing with Country discussion paper. Danièle is also a member of the Heritage Council of New South Wales’s State Heritage Register Committee and serves on the State Design Review Panel for New South Wales, using her cultural knowledge and connections, as well as her professional expertise, to advocate for Country.

Danièle has made an outstanding contribution to Indigenous excellence at Western Sydney University. She provided significant input, support and guidance as the Cultural Lead on the Indigenous Centre for Excellence project and engaged with Indigenous communities to develop the Indigenous Centre of Excellence Cultural Brief, an exceptional, industry leading document that laid the cultural foundations for a successful design competition and the Indigenous Centre of Excellence project overall.

In recognition of her remarkable work as a researcher, educator and cultural advisor, Danièle was awarded the Western Sydney University NAIDOC Award in 2024, for contribution to Indigenous excellence in Western Sydney. Also in 2024, Djinjama was awarded the National Trust Heritage Architecture Prize and Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Award for Public Architecture, for its work on the Redfern Community Facility.

Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove MSE RML

Founder of Lovegrove Cotton Construction Lawyers

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

Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove is a global leader in construction building regulatory reform and Founder of Lovegrove Cotton Construction Lawyers. In the early 90’s, he led the team that generated the Australian National Model Building Act which became the law reform template for modern day building control in several Australian jurisdictions, and influenced reforms internationally, including in Japan, and through World Bank law reform advisory deployments in China and Southern Africa. His current work on building standard guidelines is central to addressing the housing crisis in Western Sydney.

Kim has led a career defined by innovation, integrity and public service. As Project Director for the development of the National Model Building Act, Kim worked closely with the Chief Parliamentary Counsels Committee and was instrumental in garnishing the sanction of the standing Committee of Attorneys General and the relevant Ministers responsible for building regulation. The National Model Building Act established a new building approval and permit delivery system that culminated in faster building approval laws, complemented by tightened up compliance, probity and enforcement legislative mechanisms.

Internationally, Kim was deployed by the World Bank as a senior law reform advisor to Beijing and Shanghai governments. He advised on best practice approaches on the design and implementation of holistic and international good practice building regulation in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Changzhou. Kim also reviewed the Malawian Building Act and made recommendations regarding how to apply international good practice.

Additionally, Kim was engaged by the World Bank as a consultant to review and make recommendations on proposed changes to the Mumbai Building Regulations and the New

Delhi construction insurance proposals. He has recently been redeployed by the World Bank to present a paper to the Malaysian Government on ways construction dispute resolution ecology can be improved, to lower the costs of construction dispute resolution. He is also currently engaged by the NZ government to advise on liability reforms to the NZ Building Act.

Kim continues to be a proactive leader in the legal construction industry and is currently Chairperson of the International Building Quality Centre and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building. He has previously held many leadership and non-executive Director roles, including as Assistant Director of Building Control for the Victorian Government, Deputy Executive Director of the Australian Building Codes Board, Chairman of the Building Practitioners Board, Victoria and President of the Australian Institute of Building Victorian Chapter, and New Zealand Institute of Building Northern Chapter.

Kim is also a Visiting Professor at RMIT University, and Adjunct Professor at several Australian universities including at Western Sydney University in the School of Law.

Kim is a very strong supporter of this University and has been an invaluable member of the External Academic Committee for the Master of Construction Law program, supporting curriculum development and providing strategic guidance. As Board Chair of the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC), he has been instrumental in establishing a strong connection between the IBQC and Western.

In 2017, Kim was bestowed the Chevalier of the Imperial Order of the Star of Ethiopia and the Royal Medal of the Lion of Ethiopia, in recognition of his humanitarian work.

Ms Clare Pearson

Chief Executive Officer, Little Wings

Ms Person will deliver the occasional address.

Clare has worked in senior leadership roles in both Australia and the United Kingdom, establishing new projects of purpose and helping execute programs in the areas of child protection, early intervention, disability and education. Clare has also written a book, Threads of Hope, which shines a light on those who have survived human trafficking.

Clare holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern Cross University, a Master of Child and Adolescent Welfare from Charles Sturt University, a Graduate Diploma of Not-for-Profit Management from the Australian Catholic University, and a Bachelor of Social Science and Psychology, with Honours in Psychology and Clinical Psychology, from this university.

Ms Rachel Brimblecombe

Director, Better Rehab

Ms Brimblecombe will deliver the occasional address.

In 2014, Rachel founded Better Rehab from her living room to better help people living with a disability or health condition. She quickly went from being an occupational therapist and lecturer to a social entrepreneur whose company is now a global brand. Delivering multidisciplinary therapy from early childhood onwards, Better Rehab is recognised for its innovative approach to client-centred care. In 2024, Rachel was named EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in the emerging category.

After working in both community and hospital settings, she developed a passion for helping people with neurological conditions and community-based rehabilitation.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland.

Professor Gregory Kolt

Former Dean, School of Health Sciences at Western Sydney University

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

Professor Gregory Kolt was the Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Western Sydney University until his retirement from this position in December 2023. Gregory has led a remarkable academic career that has spanned nearly 35 years and traversed multiple disciplines, including psychology specifically health psychology and sport and exercise psychology; and physiotherapy. His credentials in leadership are equally impressive, encompassing significant transformation and growth outcomes, global education initiatives, curriculum transformation and strong partnership development.

Gregory commenced his clinical and academic career in Victoria and was extended with key successes in New Zealand/Aotearoa, where he established himself as a research leader. From 2000-2006, he was Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at Auckland University of Technology and oversaw an exponential rise in research capacity in both publication output and external funding.

Gregory joined Western Sydney University in 2006 as Head of the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences and played a major leadership role in Western’s maturation as a university over the next 17 years. Gregory was appointed Dean of the School of Science and Health in 2012 and later Dean of the School of Health Sciences, with his time as Dean marked by strong budgetary performance, high growth strategies, an uplift in research performance, and improved quality in the delivery of enterprise in education.

Some of Gregory’s distinguished achievements as Dean included:

• the development of new allied health programs, including nationally leading programs in Paramedicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry and Speech Pathology; and
• the evolution of multiple international partnerships in China, Vietnam and beyond.

The University also became the only public institution in Australia to offer a full suite of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) education programs, marking its global leadership in this field.

Alongside his role as Dean, Gregory served as the Provost at the Campbelltown campus from 2021 and held significant leadership offices in foreign relations and workforce development. He represented the university externally as a member of the Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences, and the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia.

Despite his substantial leadership responsibilities, Gregory maintained a profile as one of the University’s leading researchers, generating close to six million dollars of research income during his tenure. To date, Gregory has published over 190 peer reviewed articles, wrote several leading texts and recorded more than 16,000 citations to his name. These remarkable achievements were recognised in 2020 when he was placed in the top 2% of scientists globally.

In recognition of his significant contribution to Health Sciences, Gregory was awarded fellowship status in multiple learned societies, including the Royal Society of NSW, the American College of Sports Medicine, the Australian Sports Medicine Federation, and the Australian Psychological Society College of Health Psychologists and College of Sport and Exercise Psychologists.

Mr David Burns

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Collective Leisure

Mr Burns will deliver the occasional address.

Founder and CEO of Collective Leisure - a certified social enterprise dedicated to reducing health inequity within our communities and enabling wellbeing without boundaries.

In western Sydney, he is tackling inactivity and inequity as the Founder and Convenor of health promotion charity WSYD Moving. He is also the Director of DB Consulting, which provides capacity-building, leadership and strategic support for local government and the leisure industry.

David holds a Bachelor of Sports Studies and a Master of Sports and Exercise, both from Teesside University in England. His career spans local government, peak bodies, the private sector, social enterprise and the charity sectors. He also lectures here at Western and at the University of Technology Sydney in sport and social entrepreneurship.

Ms Holly Kramer

Non Executive Director at Woolworths Group and Former Pro-Chancellor at Western Sydney University

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

Ms Holly Kramer is an experienced Australian business leader, who has served as CEO, Chair and board member on a broad range of organisations. In her early career, Holly moved to Australia to be the marketing manager for Ford Motor Company, and then rose through the ranks as an executive at Ford, Telstra, Pacific Brands and ultimately became the CEO of retailer Best & Less in 2012. Here she took over an unprofitable business with 200 stores and 5000 employees and restored it to growth and profitability by creating a “bestie” culture of purpose and customer empathy. This culture continues today, with store teams still referring to one another as “besties”. In 2016, as a result of her work across these many companies, Holly was awarded the Sir Charles McGrath Award for a distinguished career in Marketing.

Following her executive career, Holly became a Board Director. She was Deputy Chair of Australia Post, and a Director of Channel Nine, Abacus Property and AMP. Today she sits on the boards of the ANZ Bank, Woolworths Group and New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra.

Holly plays a leadership role in Sustainability at each of these companies and is Chair of the Board Sustainability Committees at both Woolworths and ANZ. Holly’s passion for the climate and nature transition extends to her roles as an advisor to the Pollination Group, a climate advisory and investment firm, a member of the Australian Food and Agriculture Task Force and the advisory board of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk and Response.

Another area of interest for Holly is effective government and democratic institutions. Holly was appointed last year as President of the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory body that handles the remuneration of key commonwealth offices. She is also Chair of the McKinnon Foundation, which provides leadership development programs for emerging and newly elected political leaders.

Over the course of Holly’s career, she has also been a champion of gender equity. Holly is a long-time member of Chief Executive Women (or CEW), and she devotes a significant amount of her time to supporting and mentoring women in business. She has spoken at hundreds of events over

the years and participates on a range of panels providing women with scholarships to further their careers in business. She also served for 8 years on the Board of the GO Foundation, which provides scholarships to young Aboriginal men and women, including one specifically here at Western Sydney University.

A staunch supporter of the University, Holly was a member of the Finance and Investment Committee for two years before serving as Pro Chancellor and Ministerial appointed member on the University’s Board of Trustees for 6 years, with her term ending in March 2024. Holly also served on the University’s Board Executive Committee and was the inaugural Chair of the Board’s People and Culture Committee.

She holds a degree in economics and political science from Yale University (Hons) and an MBA from Georgetown University.

Ms Lindy Deitz

Chief Executive Officer of Campbelltown City Council

Ms Deitz will be awarded an Honorary Fellowship and will deliver the occasional address.

Ms Lindy Deitz is the current Chief Executive Officer of Campbelltown City Council. With over 30 years of Local Government experience, Lindy has made a significant contribution to the Western Sydney region through her leadership, transforming one of the largest and oldest councils in New South Wales into an innovative and forward-thinking powerhouse.

Lindy exemplifies the values of visionary leadership, innovation, and community-focused governance. During her tenure as CEO, Campbelltown City Council has embarked on a bold evolution, positioning itself as a bustling metropolis at the southern gateway to the South West Growth Corridor.

Through collaboration with all levels of government, private industry, and community organisations, Lindy continues to ensure that Campbelltown gains the support it needs to thrive. A key milestone in this transformation is the Reimagining Campbelltown City Centre Master Plan, a pioneering blueprint that sets a new benchmark in strategic and sustainable urban planning.

Committed to delivering services and facilities that meet the diverse needs of a growing and vibrant community, Ms Deitz advocates for the preservation of culturally and environmentally significant assets while addressing the challenges of population expansion. This approach ensures that Campbelltown remains an environmentally focused, sustainable, and liveable city – a cornerstone of the future Western Parkland City.

Lindy has achieved significant outcomes for the people of Campbelltown. She has overseen unprecedented urban transformation and renewal, with her commitment to resident wellbeing evident through an ambitious infrastructure and programming agenda, including the award-winning Campbelltown Billabong Parklands.

Beyond Campbelltown, Lindy played a significant role in regional advocacy and initiatives that have benefitted Western Sydney more broadly. A champion of resilience and innovation, Lindy played a pivotal role in Australia’s first City Deal for the Western Parkland City – a transformative initiative developed in partnership with three levels of government.

In recognition of Lindy’s remarkable contribution to Western Sydney, she was awarded the 2025 Jennifer Westacott AO Woman of Western Sydney Award, and a Public Service Medal in the 2025 Australia Day Awards. In 2023, Lindy was the recipient of the Pemulwuy Prize, for her career contribution and fearless regional advocacy.

Mr Joseph Carrozzi AM

President, Business NSW

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

Mr Joseph Carrozzi is a strategic business advisor and seasoned non-executive Director with over 30 years’ experience advising major corporations, the government sector and community enterprises. His work has spanned a range of industries, including transport and construction, IT and the music industry.

Joseph has held several senior leadership roles in the professional services sector, including as Managing Partner, Sydney for Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) until March 2021, where he was also a member of the firms’ Markets Leadership Team. Prior to joining PwC, Joseph spent 17 years as a Tax Partner, first at Arthur Andersen and later Ernst & Young.

Joseph is passionate about working with businesses that foster positive commercial outcomes whilst addressing real life challenges. He is currently President of the state’s peak business organisation, Business NSW, and Chair of several Boards, including the Centenary Institute for Medical Research, HealthCo Healthcare and Wellness REIT and Angus Knight Group. Joseph is also a Board member of Football Australia and Advisory Board member of Gadens.

Joseph has strong connections to the Western Sydney community. He attended Patrician Brothers’ College in Fairfield and was a Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at the Greater Western Sydney Giants from 2011 to 2018. Joseph was a member of Western Sydney University’s Board of Trustees for over 6 years, until May 2024, and served on the University’s Audit and Risk Committee during this time.

In 2021, Joseph was inducted as a member of the Order of Australia for significant service to business and to the community, through a range of multicultural and not-for-profit organisations. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and is admitted as a barrister at law in New South Wales.

Professor George Williams AO

Vice-Chancellor and President, Western Sydney University

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

Professor Williams is the Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University. He is a barrister, a constitutional law scholar and teacher, and a champion for our students, the University, and the Western Sydney community.

In a short time in his role as Vice-Chancellor, he has become one the nation’s most influential voices in higher education. He is inspiring the next generation to transform their lives through education.

Professor Williams holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University, a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University.

He practised as a barrister for over 25 years – becoming one of Australia’s most recognised and respected experts in human rights and constitutional law. It is fair to say that Professor Williams literally wrote the books on these topics that law students across the country study, including Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials.

He has appeared in the High Court of Australia on matters relating to freedom of speech, freedom from racial discrimination, Indigenous rights and the rule of law. Internationally, he has appeared in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Fiji, most notably on the legality of the 2000 coup. Both nationally and internationally, Professor Williams has made significant contributions in the areas of human rights, Federalism, Indigenous justice, electoral law and national security.

Professor Williams is an academic leader, noted by his peers as an exceptional scholar whose work has delivered significant global impact upon the field of constitutional law. His profound influence resonates beyond academia – influencing laws, shaping government policies, and informing our society more broadly.

He began his academic career at the Australian National University before joining the University of New South Wales as the Anthony Mason Professor and later a Scientia Professor. In 2001, he helped found the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at UNSW and was its Foundation Director until 2008.

Professor Williams was the first legal academic selected as a prestigious Australian Research Council Australian Laureate Fellow – Australia’s top research fellowship. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and has also held visiting positions at Columbia University, Durham University, Osgoode Hall Law School and University College London.

As Chair of the Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee in 2005, he helped bring about Australia’s first State Bill of Rights. Two years later, he chaired the NSW Government inquiry into Options for a New National Industrial Relations System that produced the historic referral of NSW state industrial power over the private sector to the Commonwealth. He also served as a member of the Constitutional Expert Group, advising the Albanese Government on the Voice referendum.

Professor Williams is a well-known and well-regarded voice in Australia and internationally, with a long and respected record of thought leadership on public policy and constitutional law. He is the author or editor of 43 books and continues to be a prominent national commentator, advocating on behalf of students, Western Sydney University, the community, and the higher education sector. Professor Williams was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2011 for distinguished service to the law in the fields of anti-terrorism, human rights and constitutional law as an academic, author, adviser and public commentator.

In July last year, Professor Williams was appointed as Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney. As the University’s fifth Vice-Chancellor, Professor Williams is leading the University’s transformation as a catalyst for Western Sydney’s evolution.

Professor Williams has placed students at the heart of our university, ensuring everything we do supports them to realise their ambitions.

He is determined our students will succeed, our research will deliver impact, and we build stronger communities.

Professor Catherine Best

Adjunct Researcher with the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development

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

Professor Catherine Best is an internationally renowned theorist in psycholinguistics whose theories are covered in core undergraduate and graduate linguistics, audiology, language learning and speech sciences courses around the world. Catherine was appointed Chair in Psycholinguistic Research at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development at Western Sydney University in 2004, a post she held until her retirement at the end of 2023.

Catherine’s theoretical work made a profound impact on Psycholinguistics, shedding light on the way spoken words are perceived in first and second languages. Her model of how language experience shapes the perception of spoken languages, known as the Perceptual Assimilation Model, offered important insights into why adults, but not young children, often find it difficult to learn other languages, and why those languages are often spoken with an accent from the native language. These discoveries have been critical not only in developing ways of identifying and treating developmental language disorders, but also for spoken language deficits that are acquired through stroke and brain damage.

A brilliant researcher, Catherine won three large Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects as Chief Investigator, during her tenure in the MARCS Institute, thus creating international collaborations for the University with influential scholars in the USA, Europe, UK, Asia and New Zealand. She was also a Chief Investigator on two ARC Linkage Infrastructure grants and mentored for an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellow, and Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellows from the Netherlands and Italy.

Over her career, Catherine was awarded four large U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) research grants as the Principal Investigator, and from 1980 to 2023 she maintained an affiliation as a Senior Scientist at Haskins Laboratories – one of the top research institutes globally focusing on speech research. She was awarded Project Directorships on two highly competitive NIH Program Project grants at Haskins Labs, and a NIH Research Career Development Award. NIH also appointed Catherine to serve on two US federal research funding review panels on language and speech.

Catherine served in numerous governance and leadership roles in the MARCS Institute, including as Leader of the MARCS Speech and Language Research area, Director of MARCS Higher Degree Research, and as Acting Deputy Director of MARCS. Catherine oversaw the University’s world-class speech and gestural articulation research lab and was deeply committed to training the next generation of researchers, with many PhD graduates now successful academics themselves.

Catherine’s international esteem is evident in her elections as a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, the International Psychological Association and the International Speech Science Association. Catherine also spent 11 years as Editor for Phonetica, a respected international journal and the longest running journal in phonetics.

Councillor Mark Greenhill OAM

Mayor, Blue Mountains City Council

Cr Greenhill will deliver the occasional address.

Mark became Blue Mountains Mayor in 2013 and is today the city’s longest-serving mayor. In 2016, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to local government and his community. He also received a Western Sydney University Community Award for his leadership during the 2013 bushfires. After the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, he was awarded a National Emergency Medal for his service to the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Legal Studies and a Master of Arts from Macquarie University, and a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration from Southern Cross University. He works as a national senior industrial relations manager for a global construction firm.

Mr Sergio Rosato

Principal, Bethany Catholic Primary School

Mr Rosato will deliver the occasional address.

Sergio has held Principal positions within the Catholic Schools Diocese of Parramatta for over 20 years. He is a much-loved Principal who in 2014, received a rare accolade from the late Pope Francis, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Catholic Church and community. While Sergio was principal of St Thomas Aquinas Primary School in Springwood, he led the evacuation of more than 550 students to safety as bushfires threatened the school property in October 2013.

He was awarded a Gold Papal Medal for the extraordinary courage he showed while his own nearby home burned to the ground.

Sergio holds a Diploma of Teaching from Western’s former Bankstown campus, known previously as the Milperra College of Advanced Education, a Bachelor of Education from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Religious Studies from the University of South Australia.

Ms Kelly Borg

Associate Chief Executive, Teaching and Learning, Association of Independent Schools of NSW

Ms Borg will deliver the occasional address.

Kelly started her career in education working as a teacher in Queensland, New South Wales and the United Kingdom.

Kelly then moved into a different role: that of supporting, uplifting and educating the educators. An accomplished education professional with extensive leadership experience within our state’s independent school sector, Kelly helped create a positive learning environment at The Scots College before starting work at the association. Here, she focused on implementation of the primary school curriculum before overseeing a team that delivers professional learning for teachers.

Kelly holds a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie Business School and a Bachelor of Education from CQUniversity.

Ms Helen Goldsack

Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery, South Western Sydney Local Health District

Ms Goldsack will deliver the occasional address.

Helen started her nursing career in 1997 at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Here, she developed a keen interest in cardiac and cardiothoracic nursing - an interest she pursued through clinical work in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Back in Australia, she focused on occupational health and population health before starting a management career at Balmain Hospital. She joined the executive team at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and was Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Concord Hospital. Today, as Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at South Western Sydney Local Health District, she is passionate about supporting over 6000 Nurses and Midwives as they strive to achieve their professional goals and deliver optimal care, with kindness, to the community they serve.

Helen holds a Master of Health Service Management from the University of Tasmania, and a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Sydney.

Ms Sophie Najjarin

Chief Executive Officer, Anate Corporate Group

Ms Najjarin will deliver the occasional address.

As CEO of ANATE Corporate, Sophie champions the nursing profession by offering nurses at all stages of their careers the chance to further enhance their skills. She is also inspiring and empowering the next generation through her role as Chairperson of Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Committee.

Sophie holds a Bachelor of Nursing from this University, a Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing from the University of Sydney, and a Master of Business Administration, specialising in Managing and Leading People, from Southern Cross University. Her fascinating career has seen her evolve from working as a seasoned Registered Nurse to helping shape the future of healthcare professionals.

Ms Sandy Eager

Nurse Manager, NSW Refugee Health Service

Ms Eager will deliver the occasional address.

Sandy holds a Master of Research with Honours from this University and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Advanced Nursing from the University of Sydney, along with qualifications in emergency nursing and advanced life support.

She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and has represented the college on the Detention and Immigration Health Advisory Groups advising the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Sandy is also the immediate past chairperson of Refugee Nurses of Australia.

Thanks to her vast experience in refugee health, emergency nursing, education and management, Sandy was recognised with the Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award at NSW Health’s 2024 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

Ms Maria Lingam,

Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney Local Health District

Ms Lingam will deliver the occasional address.

Maria has worked in the public health system for decades, specialising in orthopaedic trauma. Maria has also held executive leadership positions, including senior nursing and midwifery positions, at Liverpool, Nepean, Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals. She has a passion for fostering the professional development and practice of nurses and midwives, and strives to maintain a positive work culture for nurses and midwives in western Sydney and throughout the health system as a whole.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Nursing from this university, and from the University of Technology Sydney she holds a Master in Nursing majoring in education and management, a Master in Health Service Management and a Graduate Diploma in Nursing Management.

Maria is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Nursing and Midwifery here at Western Sydney University.

Professor Phillip O'Neill, Emeritus Professor

School of Social Sciences and Urban Transformations Research Centre at Western Sydney University.

Professor O'Niell will be accorded the title of Emeritus Professor and will deliver the occasional address.

Professor Philip O’Neill was a Professor of Economic Geography and Urban Planning at Western Sydney University from 2006 until his retirement in December 2024. A leading international scholar, Phillip’s work has greatly advanced knowledge in industrial restructuring and labour markets; the capacity of the state to steer the spatial economy; urban economy and job access; and the financialisaton of urban infrastructure.

Phillip made notable contributions to leadership at Western, including as the inaugural Director of the Urban Research Centre from 2006-2013, where he led the establishment of the Master of Urban Planning program. He also served as the inaugural Director of the University’s Centre for Western Sydney from 2016-2020 and inaugural Provost of Bankstown Campus from 2019-2020.

Despite his leadership responsibilities, Phillip remained a committed educator who consistently retained responsibility for subject co-ordination and contributed to curriculum development of Planning and Geography courses. He was a longstanding contributor to the development of the secondary geography curriculum for the New South Wales Board of Secondary Education and led major innovation in industry training and professional education through leadership of the New South Wales government’s Climate Risk Mitigation project, which has now been installed nationwide.

Phillip was a sector leader in regionally-engaged research and policy development, whose main intellectual contribution has been the regulatory assessment of the capacity of state agencies to influence regional economies. This has focused on the ability to use infrastructure financing, employment generation and labour market changes for virtuous social outcomes and his insights have enabled important critiques of infrastructure spending and state responses to industrial restructuring.

Over the course of his career, Phillip secured 11 competitive ARC grants – serving as Chief Investigator on seven – and held visiting research fellowships at five world-leading institutions. He published extensively, including five books, 68 refereed journal articles and 69 externally commissioned research and policy reports.

Phillip has been one of Australia’s leading policy commentators, and arguably the best-known public commentator on Sydney’s urban planning and employment fortunes. He was a regular columnist across the Fairfax syndicate, popular keynote speaker and author of the three-part series on Western Sydney, Where are the Jobs?

A longstanding supporter of the Institute of Australian Geographers, Phillip was National Coordinator of its Economic Geography Study Group from 1994 to 2023, Editor-in-Chief of its Geographical Research journal from 2010 to 2016 and an elected Council member from 2008 to 2016.

Mr Damian Griffis

Chief Executive Officer, First Peoples Disability Network

Mr Griffs will deliver the occasional address.

Damian holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Technology Sydney and is a proud descendant of the Worimi people. He helped establish both the Aboriginal Disability Network NSW and the First Peoples Disability Network. Damian represents the First Peoples Disability Network at regional, national and international forums, and has put forward the perspectives of First Nations people with a disability who live in very remote communities on the workings of the NDIS to a Royal Commission.

At the 2014 Australian Human Rights Awards, Damian won the Individual Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Award.

Superintendent Greg Moore

Acting Assistant Commissioner, NSW Police

Superintendent Moore will deliver the occasional address.

A proud alumnus of Western Sydney University, Greg studied at the Milperra campus from 1990 – 1995, earning his Bachelor of Social Science Degree in 1996. His academic journey didn’t stop there; he also holds a Diploma in Law from Sydney University, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, an Executive Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Sydney University, and a Graduate Certificate of Military and Defence Studies from Deakin University.

Greg began his policing career in 1987 with a posting to Sydney’s inner west suburbs. His dedication and leadership took him to Bourke in Far West NSW, Lismore in the Northern Rivers, and back to Bourke as Commander of the Darling River Local Area Command. Under his command, the rates of domestic violence and violent crimes saw a significant reduction throughout the Western Command.

He later served as Commander of the South Coast Police District and Emergency Management Command before being appointed an Acting Assistant Commissioner. In the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Greg was awarded a prestigious Australian Police Medal for his decades of service.