Deakin University congratulates all members of our community, including alumni, staff, students and supporters, whose achievements and contributions were recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.

Deakin 2026 King's Birthday Honours recipients

The General Division of the Order of Australia

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Professor Michael Berk AO – for distinguished service to epidemiology, preventative medicine, mental health and tertiary education.
Deakin Distinguished Professor and Director, IMPACT.

Emeritus Professor Leo Gerard Carney AO – for distinguished service to optometric and vision sciences through research and clinical practice, academia, and tertiary education.
Chair, Accreditation Panel, Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand, Deakin University, 2012-2016 and 2018-current.

Mr Gerald Murnane AO – for distinguished service to literature as an author and novelist, and to tertiary education.
Former staff member: Lecturer in English, 1981–1996.

Mr Sidney Hordern Myer AO – for distinguished service to the community through philanthropic endeavours, to equality, the arts and Australian-Asian relations.
Donor.

Major General Richard Anthony Vagg AO DSC – for distinguished service as the lead military Director General for the Defence Strategic Review and as Head Land Capability.
Alumnus: MBA, 2019. Former staff member.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Mr Matthew Bruce Ames AM – for significant service to community health, engineering, business administration and corporate governance.
Alumnus: Graduate Certificate of Management (Technology Management), 2001; Graduate Diploma of Management (Technology Management), 2001.

Professor Emerita Tracey Arlene Bunda AM – for significant service to tertiary education and research, and to the Indigenous community.
Former staff member: Chair, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Institute of Koorie Education, 2013.

Dr Adrian John Kloeden AM – for significant service to business and commerce, and to the tertiary education sector.
Deputy Chancellor, 2004 and 2007; Council Member, 1996–2012; Alumni Affiliate: Honorary Doctorate, 2013

Brigadier David William McCammon AM DSM and Bar – for exceptional performance of duties as Commander 3rd Brigade and Commander Australian Army Cadets.
Alumnus: Master of Arts (International Relations), 2009.

Mr Ewen Neil McDonald AM – for significant service to international relations, public administration and the community.
Alumnus: Bachelor of Business, 1993.

Ms Sally Jane Smart AM – for significant service to the arts as an administrator, educator and visual artist.
Donor: Gift-in-Kind donated artwork 'The Exquisite Dress'. Gift of the artist, 1994. Artist represented in Deakin University Art Collection: ‘Pink Medium (Perfume)’, purchased 1993; ‘The Choreography of Cutting (Daughter Architect)’, purchased 2014.

Mr Gary Alan Smith AM – for significant service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia, and to education.
Alumnus: Bachelor of Commerce, 1982.

Mr Simon Tedeschi AM – for significant service to music as a concert pianist.
Alumnus: Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), 2022.

Emeritus Professor Jennifer Joan Edwards AM – for significant service to the information technology sector and tertiary education.
Former staff member.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Mr Gary Andrew Barclay OAM – for service to swimming.
Alumnus: Master of Sport Management, 2006; Recipient, Advancing Sport Management Award, Deakin University, 2006.

Mrs Noline Gai Cornhill OAM – for service to the communities of Canberra and Forster-Tuncurry.
Alumna: Bachelor of Arts in Education, 1993.

Ms Margaret Esther Fleming OAM – for service to community history in Victoria.
Alumna: Graduate Diploma of Education (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), 1993.

Dr Atul Kumar Garg OAM – for service to the community through a range of organisations.
Alumnus: Graduate Diploma of Management (Technology Management), 2001.

Mr Silvio Iadarola OAM – for service to the Italian community of South Australia.
Alumnus: Bachelor of Nursing (Post-registration), 1995.

Mrs Merle Elizabeth Miller OAM – for service to the Indigenous community of Victoria.
Alumna: Bachelor of Arts in Education, 1994.

Mrs Prudence Jean Molnar OAM – for service to the community through a range of organisations.
Alumna: Bachelor of Arts (Social Science), 1985.

Mrs Christine Jennifer Oliver OAM – for service to the communities of the Gippsland region, and to youth.
Alumna: Graduate Certificate of Computing, 1997.

Commander David Evan O'Toole OAM RAN – for meritorious performance of duty in the field of Navy Aviation Operational Policy and Airworthiness.
Alumnus: Graduate Certificate of Military and Defence Studies, 2025.

Mrs Catherine Margaret Remenyi OAM – for service to the community of Torquay.
Alumna: Bachelor of Education, 1995.

Mrs Carla Sharp OAM – for service to the Jewish community.
Alumna: Master of Teaching, Early Childhood Education, 2015.

Mr Graeme Lindsay Stockton OAM – for service to conservation and the environment.
Alumnus: Graduate Diploma of Development Studies, 2001.

Military Division

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)

Lieutenant Colonel Travis Philip Day CSC – for outstanding achievement as Commanding Officer of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment.
Alumnus: Master of International Relations, 2021.

Colonel Wendy Claire Say CSC – for outstanding devotion to duty as an officer in the Australian Army over various positions.
Alumna: Master of Professional Education and Training, 2009.

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Major Nicholas Erlwell Aplin CSM – for meritorious achievement in operational planning and force modernisation within Logistics Operations.
Current student.

Major Brenton Matthew Chapman CSM – for meritorious achievement as the Officer Commanding 35th Water Transport Squadron and contribution to Project Land 8710 Littoral Manoeuvre Program.
Current student.

Lieutenant Commander David Ross Sinclair CSM RAN – for meritorious devotion to duty in the capability assurance and upgrade of the Australian Defence Force's fleet of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
Current student.