Leaders in STEM receive Queen's Birthday honours

The Queen’s Birthday honours have been issued once again, and in 2019 there was no shortage of representatives from the Australian STEM sector on the list.

Seven pharmacists were recognised in the honours, each of whom was subsequently congratulated by the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Dr Chris Freeman:

• Professor Maree Smith was named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to science through pioneering research and innovation in the treatment of neuropathic pain, to gender equity and as a role model.
• Warwick Plunkett and Carlene Smith were honoured as Members of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to pharmacy, and to professional organisations.
• Catherine Reid was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to healthcare delivery and to philanthropy.
• Juliet Seifert received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the pharmaceutical and therapeutic goods industries.
• David and Dianne North received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their extensive volunteer work with local service and sporting organisations in the community of the Illawarra.
   

Meanwhile, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) has congratulated 2019 Victorian Senior Australian of the Year Alison Harcourt, a pioneer in mathematics and statistics, for being named an Officer of the Order of Australian (AO) for her outstanding contributions to research and Australian social and electoral policy.

Still working as a tutor at the University of Melbourne, 89-year-old Harcourt (nee Doig) co-defined the branch and bound algorithm with Ailsa Land in the 1960s; a groundbreaking integer linear programming technique that is still widely used today. She is also known for her work as a statistician, including contributions to the Henderson Poverty Line and the amendment of the Commonwealth Electoral Act in 1984 to introduce the double randomisation method.

Other friends of AMSI in this year’s list are as follows:

• Professor Michelle Simmons, the 2018 Australian of the Year, was named an Officer of the Order of Australian (AO) for distinguished service to science education as a leader in quantum and atomic electronics.
• Marita Cheng was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to science, technology and robotics.
• Professor Arun Sharma was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to computer science and information technology.
   

Some other significant recipients are as follows:

• Professor Jayashri Kulkarni (pictured) was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine in the field of psychiatry; her world-first research on the relationship between women’s hormones and mental illness has led to new and improved treatments for conditions such as schizophrenia and depression.
• Professor Edward (Ted) Kraegen was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to medicine, and medical education, in the areas of diabetes, obesity and glucose metabolism research.
• Professor Linda Richards was bestowed with an Order of Australia (AO) for her service to medical research and education in the field of developmental neurobiology.
   

The full honours list can be found at https://www.gg.gov.au/queens-birthday-2019-honours-list.

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