UNE alumni honoured on Australia Day

February 07, 2007

Two past recipients of the University of New England's Distinguished Alumni Award were honoured by the nation on Australia Day this year. Dr Bridget Ogilvie was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and Dr Ian Anderson a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Dr Bridget Ogilvie AC, DBE was one of the first group of students to enrol in UNE's Bachelor of Rural Science (Honours) degree program, and was the first in that program to graduate with a University Medal. She went on to a highly successful career in medical science in the UK, before becoming Director of the British medical research charity the Wellcome Trust (1991-1998). In 1996 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).

The Companion of the Order of Australia is the highest Australia Day honour. Dr Ogilvie received it "for service to science in the field of biomedical research, particularly related to veterinary and medical parasitology, and through support for research funding to improve global health".

"My student days at UNE and being in the first lot of Rural Science students were seminal in my career," Dr Ogilvie said. "I really loved that course, and the sciences underlying animal production greatly appealed to me. It led me to Cambridge University, where I went as one of the first Commonwealth Scholars. After that I spent 17 wonderful years doing research into the responses of the immune system to parasites – mainly nematodes – at the National Institute for Medical Research in London."

Dr Ogilvie was elected to fellowship of The Royal Society in 2003 – one of only a handful of Australians to have achieved that honour. She was the recipient of UNE's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994.

Dr Ian Anderson AM was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2004. His Australia Day award – Member of the Order of Australia - was "for service to the community through international humanitarian aid organisations and refugee programs and services, and to the finance sector".

Dr Anderson, who graduated from UNE with a Master of Letters degree in Peace Studies in 1996 and with a PhD in 2004, has held leading positions in the international development organisation Oxfam, including Chair of the Board of Oxfam International from 1999 to 2003.

He served as Founding Chair of Oxfam Hong Kong from 1987 to 1997, Vice-Chair from 1997 to 2000, and a Council member from 2000 to 2003. In 1995 he was a founding Board member of Oxfam International, and served as that organisation's Treasurer before his election as its Chair.

Dr Anderson combined these leadership roles in Oxfam with a distinguished career in accounting, during which he held senior management positions in international tax practice and investment banking.

He was Founding Chair of Australians for Just Refugee Programs Inc. and its "A Just Australia" campaign from 2002 to 2005, and is currently its Treasurer. He has also been Treasurer of Oxfam Australia since 2003.

"I was honoured to receive the award," Dr Anderson said, "and regard it as an accolade for the organisations I've been privileged to serve."

Details of four other UNE graduates who were made Members of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2007 follow:

Mr Anthony Coates (Bachelor of Rural Science – Honours, 1963) was honoured "for service to the beef cattle industry, particularly through support for the advancement of beef cattle genetics and as a judge at agricultural shows in Australia and internationally, and to the community of Eidsvold".

Mr Coates has been Chair of the Agricultural Business Research Institute at UNE since 2005 and a Board member since 1993.

The owner/manager of Eidsvold Station since the 1970s, he has been Treasurer of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders' (Australia) Association since 1993 and was President from 1981 to 1983. He was Chair of the National Beef Recording Scheme from 1993 to 2005, and is a former Vice-President of the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders' Association.

Ms Noelene Horton (Diploma of Education, 1968) "for service to education, particularly through executive roles with professional associations, to the promotion of effective leadership in schools and to the community". Ms Horton has been Founding Director of the Alliance of Girls' Schools (Australasia) since 1996, and was National Chair of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia from 2001 to 2003.

Professor Desmond Nicholls (Bachelor of Science – Honours, 1964), "for service to statistical science in Australia as an academic and through a range of professional organisations, and to the community". Professor Nicholls has been Foundation Head of the School of Management, Marketing and International Business at the Australian National University since 2006. He was President of the Statistical Society of Australia from 1997 to 1999.

Dr Robert Wilson (Bachelor of Science, 1971) "for service to the pork industry through a range of research and producer organisations, contributions to business development and market expansion, and improved farm management practices to protect the environment". Among his many contributions to the pork industry, Dr Wilson was Chairman of the Pig Research and Development Corporation from 1996 to 2001.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at February 7, 2007 05:49 PM