Deakin congratulates 2026 Australia Day Honours recipients

Deakin University is proud to congratulate all members of our community – alumni, staff and supporters – who have been recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

This year’s recipients include diverse and inspiring individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the university or who have gone on to make a positive impact in their communities.

Among the honourees is Mr Phillip Brian Cooper who was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Indigenous community of Victoria. Whilst at Deakin he advanced the University’s engagement with Victorian Aboriginal communities by helping set-up programs for Aboriginal students.

Deakin’s 2026 Australia Day Honours recipients

The General Division of the Order of Australia

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Professor Jeffrey Ian Borland – for distinguished service to business as a labour market economist, to tertiary education, to microeconomic research, and to public policy development.

Member, Review Panel, Department of Economics, Deakin University, 2017

Distinguished Professor Saeid Nahavandi – for distinguished service to tertiary education, to engineering, to robotics and haptics research and innovation, and to defence capability development.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Defence Technologies, 2016-2023; Founding Director, Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation, 2012-2023; Associate Head of Research, School of Engineering and IT, 2006-2009; Alfred Deakin Professor 2006-2023; Chair in Engineering 2002-2023; Professor 2002-2006; Associate Professor 1998-2002

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Mr Michael John Betts – for significant service to the community of Geelong.

Master of Taxation Law (2000) and former staff member

Mr Phillip Brian Cooper – for significant service to the Indigenous community of Victoria in a range of roles.

Co-Established programs for Aboriginal Students and the Uncle Phillip Cooper Residential Unit is named in his honour

The Late Mr Norman Abraham Faifer – for significant service to the building and construction industry, and to the community.

Honorary Professor, 2020-2025; Lecturer, Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment, 2008-2025; Former Assistant to Academic Supervisor, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Adjudication; Honorary Fellow, 2012-2020.

Dr Paul David Kremer – for significant service to the built environment.

Adjunct Associate Professor in Engineering 2016-2024

Distinguished Professor Dr James Raymond MacNamara – for significant service to tertiary education, to communications research, and to public relations.

Bachelor of Arts (1985); Master of Arts (1993)

Dr Bruce Allan McGregor – for significant service to conservation and environment, in a range of roles.

Visting Research Fellow, Textile and Wool Science, 2015-2020; Senior Research Fellow, Textile and Wool Science, 2008-2015; Program Leader, Cooperative Research Centre Sheep Industry Innovation

Dr Gillian Eileen Miles – for significant service to the transport and infrastructure sectors.

Bachelor of Education (Secondary) Media Studies, 1988

Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Mary Staib AM (Mil) CSC (Retd) – for significant service to business, to the aviation sector, and to the freight and logistics industry.

Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) 2006

Emeritus Professor Marcus Ramsay Wigan – for significant service to engineering, to road safety, and to tertiary education.

Head of the Bowater Faculty of Business, Department of Computing and Quantitative Methods, Victoria College, Deakin University, 1990-1992

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

The late Mr Graham Sydney Dickinson – for service to the community of Gisborne.

Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hygiene 1992

Mr Barry Fagg – for service to charitable organisations, and to the community of Geelong.

Deakin Foundation Board (historic); Chancellor’s Circle (historic to 2015)

The late Mr Raymond Henry Fien – for service to surf lifesaving.

University Certificate of Management, 2001

Mrs Catherine Anne Hindson – for service to community health.

Bachelor Of Nursing (Post-registration), 1998

Dr Felix Ho Lam Ho ASM – for service to community health.

Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine, 2016

Dr Rondhir Jithoo – for service to neurosurgery.

Former staff member

Mr Richard Brian Lawysz – for service to athletics as an official and administrator.

Diploma of Civil Engineering, 1974

Ms Anna Louise Mezger – for service to sports administration, and to people with disability.

Graduate Diploma of Business, 1995

Mrs Leona Christine Murphy – for service to business through governance roles.

Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition, 2021

Mr Michael Patrick Nolan – for service to the community through social welfare organisations.

Master of Aquaculture, 1994

Mr William George Rebula – for service to the community of Geelong.

Bachelor of Engineering, 1976

The late Dr Kevin Guyurruyurru Rogers – for service to the Indigenous community of the Northern Territory, and to education.

Bachelor of Arts in Education, 1989

Ms Zeynep Sertel – for service to the Islamic community of Victoria.

Master of Education, 2007

Meritorious Awards

Public Service Medal

Mr Mukund Narayana Murti – for outstanding public service in strengthening trade and investment relationships between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Alumni of the Year, 2011; Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), 2003; Bachelor of Commerce, 2001

Mr David John Sherley – for outstanding public service to local government and the Bathurst region.

Graduate Certificate of Museum Studies, 2011

Mr Kenneth John Sherwood – for outstanding public service to the surveying industry in Queensland.

Master of Leadership, 2023

Ms Elizabeth Harcourt Ward – for outstanding public service to Australia’s trade and foreign policy interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Master Of Development Studies, 1997

Australian Police Medal

Inspector Susan Maree Davis (Nolan) – for distinguished service as a member of an Australian police force.

Bachelor of Laws 2018; Diploma of Police Studies 1999

Military Awards

Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division (AM)

Royal Australian Navy

Commodore Stephen Geoffrey Dalton – for exceptional service in submarine and undersea warfare capability development.

Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) 2010

Australian Army

Brigadier Nathan Edward Juchniewicz – for exceptional service in senior command appointments in Forces Command and Special Operations Command.

Master of International Relations, 2022

Royal Australian Air Force

Air Commodore Maria Josefina Brick – for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force in military legal services and staff appointments.

Master of International Security Studies, 2006

Medal of the Order of Australia in the Military Division (OAM)

Australian Army

Warrant Officer Class One Anthony James Luchterhand – for meritorious service over successive Regimental Sergeant Major appointments as a senior enlisted advisor, master trainer and mentor.

Master of Military and Defence Studies, 2025

Royal Australian Air Force

Air Commodore Brett Robert Williams CSM – for meritorious performance of duty to the Australian Defence Force as Director of Strategic Design – Air Force and Officer Commanding Air Academy.

Master of National Security and Strategy, 2025

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)

Australian Army

Lieutenant Colonel Tegan Irene Musumeci – for outstanding achievement in the delivery of theatre logistics to the integrated force and our allies and partners as Commanding Officer of Joint Logistics Unit – North.

Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition, 2022

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Royal Australian Air Force

Warrant Officer Ivan Petrovic – for meritorious achievement as Warrant Officer Ceremonial for the Australian Defence Force.

Master of Military and Defence Studies, 2024

Australian Army

Major Joshua Arnold Vogel – for meritorious achievement as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer on Operation LILIA from November to December 2023 and Operation RENDER SAFE from July to August 2023 and August to September 2024.

Master of Military and Defence Studies, 2025