From left to right: Eleanor Johnson, Agnieszka Baginska, Penelope Huisman, Roneil Latchman, Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, Clare Wade, Madi Day, Dr Brenton Hamdorf, Dinorah Cortes and Dr Brad Windon. Not pictured: Emma Hastings and Caitlin Kordis.

The 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards for Professional Staff were announced in The Incubator on 20 November.

Nicole Gower, Vice-President People and Services served as Master of Ceremonies, and Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton presented the awards to the shortlisted staff who were nominated earlier this year.

“We received so many high-quality individual and team nominations across the breadth of the University recognising our professional staff, ” says Professor Dowton. “This is a true acknowledgement of the important work being undertaken by our professional staff day in and day out, supporting the delivery of transformative learning experiences and cutting-edge research. Last week was a celebration of their outstanding contribution to this University.”

Congratulations to all the winners.

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Collaboration and Connection

Winner

Penelope Huisman
Manager, Student Equity and Diversity, Student Life

For her instrumental work in the development of the Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Policy.

Highly Commended

Dr Brenton Hamdorf
Director, Academic and Research Partnerships, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

For developing a new corporate partnership with Fujitsu and the establishment of Fujitsu’s 6th global Digital Transformation Centre.

Clare Wade
Accommodation Coordinator, Student Life

For introducing online housing virtual tours and new automated modules in the accommodation online booking system through her collaboration with key partners and stakeholders. 

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Innovation and Process Improvement

Winner

Dinorah Cortes
Scholarship (Coursework) Officer, Student Administration

For her work in streamlining and simplifying core scholarship management procedures such as the scholarship application renewal processes, electronic scholarship files and improving communication with scholarship recipients.

Highly Commended

Agnieszka Baginska
Macquarie Business School
Eleanor Johnson, Research Services
(team nomination)

For their comprehensive review of the Research Services forms, as well as funding rules and Fringe Benefit Tax implications for OSP travel grants-in aid of accompanying spouse and/or children.

Jason Martin-Powell
 Zebrafish Facility Manager, Macquarie Animal Research Services (MARS)

For revolutionising Zebrafish facility operations.

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Leadership Excellence

Winner

Dr Brad Windon
Director, Student and Academic Business Transformation, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

For providing exemplary leadership of teams working on the delivery of the Curriculum Transformation project. Brad has used his calm, thoughtful, and methodical approach to effectively guide staff through complex planning and sometimes stressful periods to reach important milestones. Brad builds and fosters unity across all levels and inspires people to be their best.

Highly Commended

Emma Hastings
Department Manager, Department of Physics and Astronomy

For her overall administrative oversight of the Association for Astronomy, enthusiastically chairing the Department’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee and leading the development of a new EDI Strategic plan.

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Outstanding Service

Winner

Roneil Latchman
Senior Learning Designer, Macquarie Business School

For his engagement in learning and teaching initiatives at strategic and operational levels ensuring smooth execution of the school’s and university’s strategic priorities of innovation; promoting, supporting and enabling technology enhanced learning; as well as continuous process improvement.

Highly Commended

Madi Day
Department Administrator and Research Assistant, Faculty of Arts

For introducing a range of initiatives to strengthen and further the research, outreach and teaching undertaken by the Department of Indigenous Studies.

Caitlin Kordis
Administrator, Academic, Department of Biological Sciences

For always going above and beyond her role and looking for ways to reduce administrative burden and to streamline processes associated with student management.

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Know any of this year’s winners? Share your congratulations in the comments.