Nicole Gower, Stephan Richartz (UniSuper) and the Vice-Chancellor with award recipients

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Professional staff across the campus who have performed above and beyond the normal requirements of their position, serve the strategic priorities of the University and demonstrate a commitment to service and engagement were recognised during an intimate ceremony for the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards on Monday 4 December.

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This year, awards were presented across four categories: collaboration and connection; innovation and process improvement; leadership excellence; and outstanding service.

Congratulations to all staff nominated and for their continued dedication to our community.

The winners and highly commended staff members were:

Collaboration and Connection – Building connections and actively collaborating with others within and/or outside the University

Winner: Adam Joyce, Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Adam has played a critical role in the Dark Sky Project, this is aimed at preserving the night sky by reducing the light pollution created by modern infrastructure.

Highly Commended: Student Equity and Diversity team consisting of Amber Loomis and Tatiana Lozano. Awarded for their work in developing and implementing the Respect.Now.Always project to improve individual and organisational safety within our community.

Innovation and Process Improvement – Initiating and implementing innovation and/or process improvement  
  
Winner: Erin Semon, Senior Project Manager (Research), Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). Awarded for her work in the Inaugural Macquarie Minds showcase project, a two-day event that brought the Macquarie University campus and wider community together.

Highly Commended: Iain Brew, Clinical AV IT Coordinator, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences team. Iain has revolutionised the design, operation and technological approach to the departments’ audio-visual systems.

Leadership Excellence – Creating a culture of service and engagement

Winner: Neta Mahbubani, Manager, Student Administration, Faculty of Business and Economics.  Awarded for her leadership role in the Progression Policy leadership group adapting many of the faculty’s best practices she has previously developed for FBE into a university-wide process.

Outstanding Service – Delivering outstanding service to clients and/or stakeholders

Winner: Medicine and Health Sciences team consisting of Welly Firmanto, Hayley Harris and Tania Kinane. This team developed and achieved the Australian Medical Council accreditation and approval of the Macquarie MD program.

Highly Commended: Taleen Biberian, Counselling Intake Officer, Campus Wellbeing. Taleen proposed a change in the service delivery resulting in increased availability of counselling sessions for students.

Congratulations to all of our winners and highly commended! The winners will receive a $4000 grant to be spent on professional development for the individual or team.