Swinburne University of Technology members honoured at Australia Day Honours

Swinburne staff, alumni and community members are among 1047 inspirational Australians who have have been recognised for their service and achievements in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List.

Service to science, medicine, higher education and women’s affairs are some of the areas where our Swinburne community have made an impact worthy of the honours list.

Emeritus Professor recognised for service to science
Swinburne Emeritus Professor Peter Hannaford has been appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to science, particularly to experimental physics, as an academic and researcher, to professional institutions, and as a role model for young scientists.

Emeritus Professor Hannaford’s physics expertise is quantum materials. He is the leader of the Time Crystals project within Swinburne’s Optical Sciences Centre and one of the university’s foundational researchers.

He is one of six people appointed to the Companion of the Order for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity.
Experimental time crystal team: Ali Zaheer, Tien Tran, Peter Hannaford, Andrei Sidorov and Arpana Singh.
Emeritus Professor Peter Hannaford (middle) is one of six people appointed to the Companion of the Order for his eminent service to science.

Recognition for Swinburne community
Other Swinburne community members recognised this year are:

Office of the Order of Australia (AO)
Helen Tope, Swinburne alum: for distinguished service to environmental protection, particularly of the ozone layer, through leadership, research and policy development. Ms Tope is a lifetime member of the Swinburne National Centre for Sustainability.

Member of the Order (AM)
Professor Bruce Thompson, former Dean of Health Sciences at Swinburne: for significant service to respiratory medicine, and to tertiary medical education
Adjunct Professor Marcia Devlin, Swinburne alum: for significant service to higher education, and to women
Leanne Miller, Swinburne alum: for significant service to women’s affairs, and to the Indigenous community
Medal of the Order (OAM)
Dr Judith Wilks, Swinburne alum: for service to education
Alice Lai, Swinburne alum: for service to the Chinese community of Victoria