2018 Vice-Chancellor's award winners announced
The 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence recognised more than 60 exceptional academic and professional staff in all faculties and divisions for their incredible achievements, diverse contributions, initiative and dedication throughout the year.
The University’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, presented individual and team awards across seven categories at the awards ceremony on Monday 3 December 2018 at The Conservatorium in Newcastle.
“It is a privilege for me to be hosting my first Awards ceremony and to publicly acknowledge hard work and dedication that underpins the success of a University that is recognised for delivering world-class research and education,” Professor Zelinksy said.
“I extend my sincere thanks to all recipients for their outstanding contributions.”
Download the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards program (PDF 500KB).
Overall winner for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence
- Denise Higgins - Faculty of Health and Medicine
Denise prioritises student learning through innovative and entrepreneurial teaching designs. As a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, and currently completing her PhD, Denise has revolutionised oral health teaching and learning with the re-development of simulation-based education and original creation of oral health simulators. Denise’s innovations, including the world’s first life-like dental local anaesthetic simulator, and a fully-immersive and interactive dental local anaesthetic virtual reality program, are key to the University of Newcastle’s outstanding reputation for its Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy.
Overall winners for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Professional Staff
Gomeroi gaaynggal Centre
- Jodie Herden - Faculty of Health and Medicine
- Lyniece Keogh - Faculty of Health and Medicine
- Paris Knox - Faculty of Health and Medicine
- Kathryn Sutherland - Faculty of Health and Medicine
The professional staff team at the Gomeroi gaaynggal Centre coordinate and deliver an outstanding research and community engagement program with the Indigenous community in Tamworth. They provide a safe and culturally appropriate environment for women of all ages to gain a better understanding of artistic and cultural practices, health and education whilst connecting with each other, their culture and their local Indigenous community. The team exemplify the importance of promoting a caring, supportive and culturally safe environment where each team member acts as both a peer and a mentor and provide evidence based pathways to health, social and cultural services.
Overall winners for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researcher of the Year
- Dr Elise Kalokerinos - Faculty of Science
Elise is an exceptionally gifted researcher who has steadily developed an innovative research program on the regulation of emotion. Her work is both theoretically original as well as of direct applied relevance, a combination that explains her outstanding funding track record. Elise is driven by a deep curiosity about the human mind and consistently displays a very professional and relentless work ethic. Elise has successfully collaborated with several leading figures in her field.
- Dr Jordan Smith - Faculty of Education and Arts
Jordan has demonstrated a clear commitment to research excellence, through numerous high-impact publications, award winning conference presentations, highly competitive research income relative to opportunity, and innovative research projects. Jordan’s exceptional research metrics are proof that he is on a rapidly accelerating career trajectory. Notably, Jordan was recently awarded funding to develop a smartphone application and innovative video resources to support teacher professional learning and the delivery of a school physical activity intervention (known as Resistance Training for Teens) based on his PhD work.
Overall winner for the Vice-Chancellors’ Award for Research Supervisor of the Year
- Associate Professor Anna Giacomini - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
Anna is an extremely passionate academic who has achieved great success in establishing rock mechanics as a research area within Civil Engineering. Her outstanding track record focused on industry engagement, international collaborations, and research quality and integrity, demonstrates her commitment to innovation and impact. She has shared her passion for research with several HDR, Masters students, and early career academics, demonstrating highly training capabilities and exceptional care and respect for her students. Anna is an extremely dedicated supervisor who considers her role of primary importance in her students’ growth as researchers and engineers of the future.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE AND CONTRIBUTION TO STUDENT LEARNING
FACULTY TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
- Dr Asit Bhattacharyya - Faculty of Business and Law
- Dr Helen Giggins - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
- Inter-Cultural Understanding for Educators Team - Faculty of Education and Arts: Dr Joanne Ailwood, Dr I-Fang Lee, Dr Nicole Leggett, Associate Professor Ruth Reynolds , Dr Heather Sharp
- Denise Higgins - Faculty of Health and Medicine
- Dr Meg Sherval - Faculty of Science
DIVISION TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
- Kristen Allen - Academic Division
SESSIONAL STAFF TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
- Alexander Gregg - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
PROFESSIONAL STAFF EXCELLENCE
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- Josh Seymour - Academic Division
- Dr Yik Teo - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
- Hollie Tose - Faculty of Science
- Lisa Craig - Research and Innovation Division
TEAM AWARDS
- Gomeroi gaaynggal Centre - Faculty of Health and Medicine: Jodie Herden, Lyniece Keogh, Paris Knox, Kathryn Sutherland
- The SAGE Pilot of Athena SWAN Project Team - Vice-Chancellor’s Division, Resources Division, Research and Innovation Division: Rachel Fowell, Petrina Mosely, Sarah Nash, Sally Whittaker, Casey Wilson
EARLY CAREER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION EXCELLENCE
FACULTY EARLY CAREER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS
- Dr Laura Luo - Faculty of Business and Law
- Dr Jordan Smith - Faculty of Education and Arts
- Dr Jessica Allen - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
- Dr Heidi Janssen - Faculty of Health and Medicine
- Dr Elise Kalokerinos - Faculty of Science
DIVISION EARLY CAREER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AWARD
- Dr Emma Hamilton - Academic Division
RESEARCH SUPERVISION EXCELLENCE
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- Professor Stephen Chen - Faculty of Business and Law
- Professor Mel Gray - Faculty of Education and Arts
- Associate Professor Anna Giacomini - Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
- Associate Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin - Faculty of Health and Medicine
- Dr Danielle Verdon-Kidd - Faculty of Science
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
INDIVIDUAL AWARD
- Associate Professor Chris Kewley - Faculty of Health and Medicine
TEAM AWARD
- Newcastle Business School Kenyan Collaboration Team - Faculty of Business and Law: Dr Patricia Johnson, Professor Jim Jose, Dr Michael Seamer, David Wise
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXCELLENCE
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- Miriam Burgess - Faculty of Education and Arts
- Jess Fitzpatrick - Faculty of Science
- Richard Thorpe - Academic Division
COLLABORATION EXCELLENCE
- Severe Asthma Toolkit Project Team - Faculty of Health and Medicine: Dr Vanessa Clark, Dr Michael Fricker, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Dr Sarah Hiles , Dr Kim Jones, Dr Steven Maltby, Professor Vanessa McDonald, Dr Hayley Scott, Conjoint Professor Peter Wark
- Sexual Misconduct Project Team - Resources Division, Academic Division, Vice-Chancellor’s Division: Associate Professor Jennifer Allen, Dr Stephanie Brookman, Dr Louisa Connors , Jamie Daniluck, Gemma Edgar, Michelle Jarvie, Nicole Latham , Alex Larsen , Jayne McCartney, Rachael McDermott, Dr Jacqueline Olley, Sarah Williamson
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.