ANU Community Members Receive Prestigious King’s Birthday Honours

A public health expert from The Australian National University (ANU) who ended up on the frontline of Australia’s COVID-19 response, the Chair of the ANU Foundation and trailblazers in the field of Asian studies are among the extraordinary members of the University community who’ve been named on the 2024 King’s Birthday honours list.

Dr Stephanie Davis was seconded from ANU in March 2020 to help with the Federal Government’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including preparing vital training for health care workers and the rollout of urgent care clinics.

She has since taken up the role of Deputy Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health and Aged Care. Dr Davis has been awarded a Public Service Medal for her outstanding contribution throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several members of the ANU community have been appointed Members of the Order of Australia (AM) including Emeritus Fellow Pauline Kerr, the inaugural Director of Studies at the Asia Pacific College of Diplomacy, Honorary Professor and founder of the Social Research Centre Darren Pennay, and Talal Yassine, Honorary Professorial Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy.

They are joined on the Order of Australia (AM) list by ANU Council member Alison Kitchen and Chair of the ANU Foundation David Olsson.

Yohanni Bey Johns, a lecturer in Indonesian studies from the 1960s to the 1990s and long-time ANU Medical School lecturer Chi Wing Lai have both been awarded Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM).

During her extensive time at ANU, Yohanni Bey Johns became a critical figure in Indonesian teaching in Australia, producing a series of seminal Indonesian language textbooks.

The enduring legacy of Yohanni and her husband, Professor Tony Johns, is now celebrated through the annual Tony and Yohanni Johns lecture.

ANU graduate and newly appointed Governor-General, Samantha Mostyn AO, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by ANU in 2018, has been named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).