Pandemic leaders among Canberra region's finest in Queen's Birthday Honours

Two key ACT figures in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

They are two of the 669 Australians Governor-General David Hurley has named in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Last year’s ACT Australian of the Year and Secretary of the Federal Department of Health Dr Brendan Murphy has been awarded the top honour of Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to medical administration and community health.

Dr Murphy came to national prominence as Australia’s Chief Medical Officer when the pandemic reached our shores, but he was also recognised for service to nephrology, to research and innovation, and professional organisations.

The Clinical Director of the ACT’s COVID-19 Response, Professor Imogen Mitchell, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to intensive care medicine and to tertiary education.

Professor Mitchell, who is also a former Director of the ANU medical school, has led the ACT’s clinical response to the pandemic since 2020.*

Those recognised for public administration include Ross MacDiarmid, who was Director of the Australian Mint for a decade until 2020, and a former head of the Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate, Andrew Cappie Wood.

Mr MacDiarmid was made a Member while Mr Cappie-Wood was made an Officer.

National security expert Professor Rory Medcalf was made a Member for significant service to international relations and tertiary education.

Professor Medcalf, who started out in journalism and won a Walkley Award in 1991, has been the Head of the National Security College at ANU since 2015.

A former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the ANU who had to manage a difficult period of program cuts, particularly at the School of Music, under former Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young, has been made an Officer.

Now based in South Australia, Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington was recognised for distinguished service to tertiary education and governance as an administrator, leader and mentor.

The woman who led the coronial inquiry into the devastating 2003 Canberra bushfires, Maria Doogan, has been recognised for service to the law and the judiciary with a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Prominent Canberra journalist Emma Macdonald also was awarded the Medal for services to journalism and women.

A two-time Walkley Award winner, Ms Macdonald enjoyed a distinguished career at The Canberra Times and is now Associate Editor at the Her Canberra digital news site.

She also co-founded the charity Send Hope Not Flowers, which aims to help mothers survive childbirth in the developing world.

Canberra’s arts community will be celebrating a clutch of local representatives in the Honours list.

Musician Christopher Latham has been recognised for service to the performing arts, particularly to music, also with a Medal.

Mr Latham is a former Director of the Canberra International Music Festival (2009-2014) and has been the Inaugural Musical Artist-in-Residence (Musical Director) at the Australian War Memorial since 2017.

Canberra Repertory Society will boast two recipients this year.

Its celebrated costume designer Anna Senior was recognised with a Medal for service to the visual arts through costume design.

Oscar nominee Ms Senior has worked in the film and television industry for 45 years and won awards for her work on iconic Australian films, including The Getting of Wisdom (1978), My Brilliant Career (1979), Breaker Morant (1980) and Phar Lap (1983).

Life-time Rep member and former director of its Old Time Music Hall (1974-2008), Rosemary Hyde also received a Medal for service to the performing arts.

General Hurley congratulated all recipients.

“Recipients share some common traits – including selflessness, excellence and a commitment to service,” he said.

“They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique, and each has served in different ways. This diversity is a strength, and each has impacted their community and made it better.

“For that, we thank them and, today, we celebrate them.

“Collectively, the recipients, whose achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts and more, represent the very best of Australia.”

Of the awards in the General Division, 45.9 per cent went to women and 43.6 per cent were given for community service.

Ninety-two Australians were recognised for their contribution in support of Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The list also includes 37 recipients in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, 201 Meritorious awards and 85 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards.

The ACT and region recipients:

Companion (AC) in the Order of Australia

Professor Tanya Mary Monro, Griffith ACT.

For eminent service to scientific and technological development, to research and innovation, to tertiary education, particularly in the field of photonics, and to professional organisations.

Dr Brendan Francis Murphy, Kingston ACT.

For eminent service to medical administration and community health, particularly as Chief Medical Officer, and to nephrology, to research and innovation, and to professional organisations.

Member (AM) in the Order of Australia

Bethlyn Jan Blackwood, ACT.

For significant service to secondary education, and to youth.

David Arthur Kenyon, Forrest ACT.

For significant service to the community of the Australian Capital Territory region.

Emeritus Professor Valerie Anne Kirk, O’Connor ACT.

For significant service to tertiary arts education, and as an artist and curator.

Ross Stewart MacDiarmid, ACT.

For significant service to public administration, and to the community through a range of roles.

Professor Rory Medcalf, ACT

For significant service to international relations, and to tertiary education.

Professor Imogen Ann Mitchell, Red Hill ACT.

For significant service to intensive care medicine, and to tertiary education.

Barbara Anne Slotemaker de Bruine, ACT.

For significant service to squash as a player, administrator and coach.

Michael John Ward CSC, Kingston ACT.

For significant service to the defence industry.

Officer (AO) in the Order of Australia

Andrew Cappie-Wood, Barrengarry NSW.

For distinguished service to public administration in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington, Parkside SA.

For distinguished service to tertiary education and governance as an administrator, leader and mentor.

Medal (OAM) in the Order of Australia

Helen Claire Campbell, Crookwell NSW.

For service to music through education and performance.

Jamie John Clark, Merimbula NSW.

For service to youth, and to the community.

Michelle Louise Coffill, ACT.

For service to public administration, and to animal welfare.

Dorothy Ann Danta, Yarralumla ACT.

For service to the arts, particularly to music festivals.

Maria Krystyna Doogan, ACT.

For service to the law, and to the judiciary.

Iryna Dvoskina, Belconnen ACT.

For service to paralympic athletics.

Maureen Louise Hickman, Mawson ACT.

For service to the community of the Australian Capital Territory.

Rosemary Margaret Hyde, Stirling ACT.

For service to the performing arts.

Jennifer Avriel Kemarre Martiniello, Rivett ACT.

For service to the creative and visual arts.

Christopher Peter Latham, Downer ACT.

For service to the performing arts, particularly to music.

Emma Siobhan Macdonald, Ainslie ACT.

For service to journalism, and to women.

Anna Senior, O’Connor ACT.

For service to the visual arts through costume design.

Wayne Leslie Stuart, Yass NSW.

For service to the community of Yass.

Margaret Ann Taylor, Tathra NSW.

For service to the community of the Sapphire Coast.

Liesel Wett, Griffith ACT.

For service to medical administration.

* It was originally reported that Professor Mitchell was the Dean of the ANU medical school. This was incorrect. She left her role as Director in 2020 but is still with the School.