Awards and recognition

Photo: Tiahni Adamson, Tirkapena Alumni Award winner, 2022.

An alumni community with global impact

Adelaide University’s founding alumni and graduates make a profound impact on the world stage. Their contributions are formally recognised through awards and accolades on a local, national and international scale. From the notable Australia Day and King's Birthday Honours to prestigious international scholarships and the Nobel Prize, these awards recognise the efforts and achievements of our distinguished alumni community. Although they come from different backgrounds and have pursued different paths, they are each recognised for their significant impact – their efforts advance the common good, contribute to our global knowledge, and inspire others to innovate and create change.

University awards

University awards and recognition

Adelaide University recognises its exceptional alumni community through a number of awards and initiatives, ensuring the success and social impact of our community is known and celebrated.

Alumni Impact Awards

The Alumni Impact Awards celebrate Adelaide University graduates who have made exceptional contributions to their communities and professions, fostering inclusive growth, advancing social progress, and innovating global solutions.

Learn more

National and international recognition

Australia Day Honours

Each year in January, the Australia Day Honours recognise individuals for their outstanding contributions and service to society. Their efforts improve lives in diverse arenas, from community service to groundbreaking science, innovation and research, business and industry, sports, the arts, medicine and beyond.

View recipients

King’s Birthday Honours

Each year in May, the King’s Birthday Honours recognise individuals for their outstanding contributions and service to society. Their efforts improve lives in diverse arenas, from community service to groundbreaking science, innovation and research, business and industry, sports, the arts, medicine and beyond.

View recipients

Prestigious awards and scholarships

The following founding alumni of Adelaide University have gone on to be appointed as Dames and Knights, one of the highest honours in the United Kingdom, granted to those who have made a significant contribution to their field, usually on a national level.

Sir William Henry Bragg
Sir William Lawrence Bragg
Dame Nancy Buttfield
Sir Edward Byrne
Sir Lynton Crosby
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Sir Robert Elliott
Sir Howard Florey
Sir Edward Holden
Sir George Ligertwood
Sir Douglas Mawson
Sir Philip Messent
Dame Roma Mitchell
Sir Thomas Mellis Napier
Sir Herbert Parsons
Sir Dennis Paterson

There may be other Dames and Knights who have escaped our records so please contact us at alumni@adelaide.edu.au if you know of one and we will add them to our list.

Past university awards

The Postgraduate Alumni University Medal was awarded each year between 2002-2018 at the University of Adelaide, to a graduating postgraduate for outstanding academic merit.

The recipients are:

Year	Name	Degree
2018	Md. Julker Nine	PhD (Chem E)
2018	Clara Stockigt	PhD (Human Soc)
2017	Jing Jing Duan	PhD (Chem E)
2016	Phiala Shanahan	PhD (Physics & Astro)
2015	Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi	PhD (Electrical E)
2014	Krista Sumby	PhD (Ag & Nat Res Sc)
2013	Omid Kavehei	PhD (Electronic E)
2012	Stephen Warren-Smith	PhD (Physics and Astro), B Sc (Hons), B Sc
2011	Samuel N Cohen	PhD (Ma & Comp Science), BA Ma Sc (Hons), BA Ma & Comp Sc, B Fin
2010	Dr Clancy James	PhD (Physics & Astro), B Sc (Hons), B Sc, B Ec
2009	Nam Q Nguyen	PhD (Med), MBBS (Hons)
2008	Not awarded
2007	John N Hedditch	PhD (Physics & Astro), B Sc (Hons), B Sc
2006	Mark D McDonnell	PhD (Electronic), B Sc (Ma & Comp Sc) (Hons), BE (Elec), B Sc (Ma & Comp Sc)
2005	Bradley S Ferguson	PhD, BE (Elec) (Hons)
2004	Samuel P Mickan	PhD, BA, BE (Elec) Hons)
2003	Said Al-Sarawi	PhD (Electrical E)
2002	Gregory P Harmer	PhD (Electrical E)

The Honours Alumni University Medal was awarded each year between 1992-20018 at the University of Adelaide for outstanding academic merit.

The recipients are:

Year	Name	Degree
2018	Alanah Bradey	B Sc (Biomed Sc), B Health & Med Sc (Hons)
2018	Luke Hannath	LL B (Hons), Grad Dip Legal Practice
2017	Johann Andersson	B E (Telecoms) (Hons)
2016	Cathryn McDonald	B E (Electrical & Electronic) (Hons)
2015	Gemma Gransbury	B Sc (Hons)
2014	Simon Blacket	B Sc (Hons)
2013	Phillip Allgeuer	B E (Mechatronic), B Ma & Comp Sc
2012	Phiala Shanahan	B Sc (High Perf Comp Phys) (Hons)
2011	Emma Langhans	B Sc (High Perf Comp Phys) (Hons)
2010	Claire Marie Weekley	B Sc (EcoChemistry), B Sc (Hons)
2009	George Forrest Young	B Ma & Comp Science
2008	Brendan Lim	LL B (Hons), BMus (Perf) (Hons), BMus (Perf) (Jazz), BSc (MA & Comp Sc)
2007	James Edward Daniell	BE (Civil & Sruct) (Hons), B Sc
2006	Adam Palmer	BSc (Hons)
2005	Simon Jonathan Tuke	B Ma & Comp Sci (Hons)
2004	Tyson Ritter	BSc, BE (Elec)
2003	Shom Goel	MBBS, B Med Sc
2002	Najmeh Habili	LL B (Hons), MSc
2001	Farmer S Schlutzenberg	BSc (Ma & Comp Sc) (Hons), BSc (Ma & Comp Sc)
2000	Emily Hackett Jones	BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc
1999	Peter J Psaltis	MBBS
1998	A R Dick	BSc (Ma & Comp Sc) (Hons), BSc (Ma & Comp Sc)
1997	Duncan C Richer	BEc, BSc (Ma & Comp Sc)
1995	Elizabeth M Leane	BA
1994	Belinda Paterson	BA
1993	Alexander Hanysz	BSc (Ma & Comp Sc)
1992	M K Hood	BE

Connect with us

Join us at an upcoming alumni event in your location – we regularly run and support networking and professional development events in Adelaide and around the world.

Get in touch with the Alumni Relations team via alumni@adelaide.edu.au.

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