Lisa Donaldson is appointed University of Canberra’s dietician in residence. She “aims to improve the nutritional health and knowledge of the university’s community.”
Elizabeth Elliott (UniSydney) has won the Australian Medical Association’s 2018 excellence in healthcare award for research, advocacy and clinical work in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Erica Tong and colleagues at Alfred Health are honoured by the AMA for a trial on reducing medication errors in hospital discharge summaries.
Kevin Scarce is appointed to a third term as chancellor of the University of Adelaide. Rear Admiral Scarce will now serve until November 2020. He became the university’s 16thchancellor in 2014. The appointment is seen as providing support for new VC Peter Rathjen as he develops a new strategic plan.
Ashley Hay is the new editor of the Griffith Review, a JV of the university and publisher Text. GU says Dr Hay is “a distinguished author, journalist and editor.” She replaces founding editor Julianne Schultz.
Chongmin Song is promoted to director of the UNSW Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety.
Deborah Terry has a second term at Curtin U, which CMM reported as a very good outcome indeed for the university.
UniAdelaide has a new executive dean of the science faculty. Cell biologist Keith Jones moves from the University of Southampton. He last worked in Australia at the University of Newcastle in 2008-2012.
Hugh Durrant-Whyte succeeds Mary O’Kane as NSW chief scientist and engineer. The robotics, data science and general digital wizardry expert moves from chief scientist at the UK Ministry of Defence
Australia’s nominee for the APEC science prize is RMIT’s Madhu Bhaskaran. She researches stretchable electronics and sensors
Helen Klaebe is QUT’s inaugural PVC for graduate research and development.
UniSydney mathematicians Geordie Williamson and Anthony Henderson will be co-directors of a new maths research institute, funded by a $5m donation from the Simon Marais foundation.