Achievements, Health Sciences, Media Release

Staff honoured for outstanding service

A University of Adelaide professor who has devoted much of his career to saving people's lives - by investigating the deaths of others - has today been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day honours.

Forensic pathologist Professor Roger Byard has been awarded an AO for "distinguished service to medicine in the field of forensic pathology as an academic, researcher and practitioner and through contributions to professional committees and organisations".

As the Marks Professor of Pathology at the University of Adelaide and Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist with Forensic Science SA, Professor Byard spends much of his time examining, investigating and researching people's deaths.

He is prolific in sharing this knowledge so that others can benefit from it, such as his warnings on accidental child deaths and research into the cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Professor Byard is a Consultant Paediatric Forensic Pathologist with the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, and contributes to a range of international and Australian groups aimed at preventing child accidents and deaths.

He also contributes his time to investigating and reporting on marine mammal and wildlife deaths in the hopes of conserving marine species.

Professor Byard was part of a team involved in the identification of victims of the 2002 Bali bombings, and again helped to identify victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand. For this work he was awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Operations Medal.

Professor Byard was also awarded the Public Services Medal (PSM) in 2004 for outstanding public service to paediatric pathology.

The University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Warren Bebbington, congratulated Professor Byard on his new Australia Day honour.

"This very prestigious honour is a testament to the great work Professor Byard has done at the University of Adelaide, and in the wider community," Professor Bebbington said.

"It reinforces his standing as one of Australia's foremost experts in forensic pathology and recognises his outstanding track record in research, teaching and clinical settings.

"Professor Byard's unique contribution to forensic pathology, in particular disaster victim identification and sudden death in childhood, has made a huge impact on the lives of countless families. His work has also been pivotal to law reform in this country, leaving an enduring legacy in a difficult and highly emotive area of medicine.

"On behalf of the University of Adelaide community, I congratulate him on this much-deserved award."

Australia Day honours for University of Adelaide staff and former and affiliate staff:

AC - Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia

Visiting Professor The Hon. Alexander Downer
(School of History and Politics)
For eminent service to the Parliament of Australia through the advancement of international relations and foreign policy, particularly in the areas of security, trade and humanitarian aid, and to the community of South Australia.

AO - Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia

Professor Roger Byard
(School of Medical Sciences, Discipline of Pathology)
For distinguished service to medicine in the field of forensic pathology as an academic, researcher and practitioner and through contributions to professional committees and organisations.

Emeritus Professor Robert Goldney
(School of Medicine, Discipline of Psychiatry)
For distinguished service to medicine in the field of psychiatry, as a researcher and academic, through international contributions to the study of suicide and its prevention.

Emeritus Professor Colin Matthews
(Robinson Institute and School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health)
For distinguished service to reproductive medicine, particularly through the establishment of donor insemination and in vitro fertilisationprograms, through contributions to research and as an academic.

Emeritus Professor George Rogers
(School of Molecular and Biomedical Science)
For distinguished service to biochemistry through contributions to tertiary education and leadership of research into the molecular structure and growth processes of wool and hair.

AM - Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia

Dr Brian Cornish
(Emeritus Surgeon, Orthopaedics and Trauma)
For significant service to medicine as an orthopaedic surgeon, to forestry and conservation, and to the community.

Professor Malcolm Gillies
(Vice-Chancellor, London Metropolitan University, UK; and former Executive Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Adelaide)
For significant service to tertiary education through leadership roles, and to the humanities, particularly as a scholar of musicology.

Dr Michael Llewellyn-Smith
(Visiting Research Fellow, School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design)
For significant service to local government through the promotion of city and state relations and planning.

The Hon. Dr Jane Lomax-Smith
(Former Member of Parliament; and former member of staff, Department of Pathology, University of Adelaide)
For significant service to the Parliament and the community of South Australia.

Associate Professor Jonathan Phillips
(Associate Professor, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales; and Clinical Associate Professor, Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide)
For significant service to mental health as a forensic psychiatrist, particularly through contributions to professional organisations.

Professor Dinesh Selva
(School of Medicine, Discipline of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences)
For significant service to ophthalmology and visual sciences as an academic, clinician and researcher and through contributions to professional organisations.

OAM - Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division

Robert Clyne
(Executive Director, Freemasons Foundation of South Australia and Northern Territory; and Patron, Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, University of Adelaide)
For service to the community, particularly through the Freemasonry movement.

Dr Robert Gerner
(former staff member, School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design)
For service to architectural education, particularly in the field of urban design.

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Professor Roger Byard AO.
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Professor Dinesh Selva AM.
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