Company director David Armstrong will become chair of the George Institute for Global Health – he is now acting. Mr Armstrong has been a board member for five years.

Kingsley Dixon (Curtin U) has taken the professional award from the Australian Native Plants Society. Professor Dixon is director of the Australian Research Council Centre for Mine Site Restoration.

In January Kirsty Dwyer will leave the University of Canberra, where she is head of People and Diversity. She will start at Griffith U as Chief People Officer in February.

At Uni Newcastle, John Fischetti moves up to PVC for education and arts. He has acted in the post since late last year. Professor Fischetti is widely recognised as a champion of Big Picture Education. The university announced the first degree using it, in public and community health, last month (CMM September 12).

UWA’s Kadambot Siddique is awarded the Chinese Government’s Friendship Award, to “recognise foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s modernisation and reform.” Professor Siddique is honoured for agriculture research collaboration with Chinese institutions.

The always-announcing Health Minister Greg Hunt announces the expert panel to draft a roadmap for the $150m stem therapies ten-year research programme.

Co-chairs are, Melissa Little (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute / University of Melbourne) and Mark Kendall (WearOptimo / Australian National University).

Members are: Pritinder Kaur, (Curtin University). Siok Tey, (QIMR Berghofer MRI). Simon Koblar, (Uni Adelaide). Stephanie Watson, (Uni Sydney). Christine Walker, (Chronic Illnesses Alliance). Dan Grant, (MTPConnect). Megan Munsie, (Uni Melbourne). Peter Rathjen, (VC, Uni Adelaide). Maria Kavallaris, (UNSW/Children’s Cancer Institute). Iona Novak, (Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute).