Adelaide University extends warm congratulations to the members of its community who have received recognition in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours list.
Current and former staff, alumni and friends of the University community have been included in this year’s list.
“The King’s Birthday Honours highlight just some of the ways our students, staff and alumni have had success and impact on the world around them,” said Adelaide University Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Nicola Phillips.
“I am delighted to offer my warmest congratulations to those who have been honoured.”
More than 40 members of the University’s community received honours this year, including:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC):
Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AC – For eminent service to the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence, to gender equity, and to the promotion of human rights and global systemic change.
Ms Stott Despoja graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1991 and was successfully elected to the Federal Parliament in 1996; at the time she was the youngest woman to have been elected, at 26.
She served as a Senator for South Australia from 1996 to 2008. Later, Ms Stott Despoja became a diplomat and advocate for human rights, gender equity and democracy, including her appointment as Commissioner of the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, in 2024.
Ms Stott Despoja is an Ambassador for the Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow with Adelaide University, and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia in 2019 and the University of Adelaide in 2021.
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO):
Professor Jozef Gecz AO – For distinguished service to human translational genetic science, to genomic research, to child health and to neurodevelopmental disability.
Professor Gecz, Founding Head of the Neurogenetics Research Program at Adelaide University’s Robinson Research Institute, has discovered or contributed to the discovery of more than 350 different disease genes linking to neuro-disability.
With an h-index of 108, Professor Gecz also serves as Co-Chief Investigator with the Centre for Research Excellence in Neurocognitive Disorders and Principal Investigator with PERSYST - Pathogenic Evaluation of Recalcitrant Variants by Systematic Transactivation, Australian Genomics.
Emeritus Professor Michael Roberts AO – For distinguished service to pharmaceutical science and medicine, to the advancement of topical drug delivery, and to clinical toxicology research.
Emeritus Professor Roberts has been a member of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association and The Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists since 1971.
He also lent his expertise to the National Health and Medical Research Council in various roles between 1993 and 2024.
Emeritus Professor Roberts joined the University of South Australia in 2008 and served as a Professor of Therapeutics and Pharmaceutical Science from 2009; he became an Emeritus Professor in 2023.
Emeritus Professor Andrew Spencer AO – For distinguished service to dentistry, to public health research and policy development, to oral epidemiology, and to tertiary education.
Emeritus Professor Spencer became the University of Adelaide’s inaugural Director and Professor of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health in 2001.
During that time, Emeritus Professor Spencer also served on the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR), including two years as President of Australia and New Zealand and a separate term as President of the Behavioural Sciences and Health Services Research Scientific Group.
He became an Emeritus Professor in 2011, and in 2013 was awarded IADR’s Distinguished Scientist Award in Behavioural, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research.
Emeritus Professor Michael Young AO – For distinguished service to conservation and the environment, to water resource management, and to tertiary education.
Former South Australian of the Year, Emeritus Professor Young has worked with state and federal governments, as well as international organisations on water resource management and conservation.
Emeritus Professor Young joined the University of Adelaide in 2006 as the Research Chair of Water Economics and Management, and Founding Executive Director of the Environment Institute in 2009, where he served until 2011. He became an Emeritus Professor in 2021.
Mr James McDowell AO – For distinguished service to public administration, to the defence capability industry, to science and technology, and to education governance.
Mr McDowell has played an important role in establishing South Australia as a player in the defence capability industry, first through his position as BAE Systems Australia CEO and also while working for state and federal governments.
He joined the University of South Australia’s Governing Council in 2007, and after a time away, rejoined the Council from 2012 to 2016.
Mr McDowell served as Chancellor of the University of South Australia from 2016 to 2018, and was recognised with an Honorary Doctorate in 2019.
The Honourable Robert Kerin AO – For distinguished service to the people and Parliament of South Australia, particularly as Premier, to regional and economic development, and to primary industry.
A former student of the University of Adelaide, Mr Kerin was elected to State Parliament in 1993 as the Liberal Member for Frome. He became Leader of the Opposition in 2001 and Premier until the 2002 election.
After his political career, Mr Kerin has become an advocate for regional and economic development through projects and organisations like Primary Producers SA, and the South Australian Economic Development Board.
He is currently the Chair of the South Australian National Football League Commission.
Ms Frances Kelly AO – For distinguished service to broadcast journalism, to the advancement of social justice, to equality and to advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Ms Kelly is an alum of the University of Adelaide where she studied arts, majoring in literature and classics.
She took a three-month position with Triple J’s current affairs program, The Drum, in 1988, and has remained at the ABC since, now hosting the Radio National Hour.
Ms Kelly has served on the Australian Human Rights Institute Advisory Committee and was a founding Board Member of the Victorian Women’s Trust.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM):
Dr Jennifer Caruso AM – For significant service to the Indigenous communities of South Australia.
Dr Caruso is a leader in justice and advocacy for Indigenous communities, and was previously recognised with commendations including University of Adelaide’s Vice Chancellor and President Award – Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Engagement, the Gladys Elphick Quiet Achiever Award and the NAIDOC SA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr Caruso joined the University as a lecturer in 1999, a role she has held while also serving as the Chair of the South Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation and SA First Nations Voice to Parliament member.
She currently serves as an Adjunct Lecturer and Researcher at Adelaide University.
The Late Honourable Legh Davis AM – For significant service to the arts, to philanthropy, and to the community of South Australia.
Before entering politics, Mr Davis was a Lecturer in the Law and Economics Faculty of the South Australian Institute of Technology (which later became the University of South Australia) from 1965 to 1968.
Mr Davis served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Council from 1979 to 2022, including a time as Deputy Opposition Leader in the 1980s.
After he left parliament, Mr Davis became involved in the state Liberal Party administration as Treasurer, Vice-President and President.
Mr James Hazel AM – For significant service to the finance sector through a range of senior board roles.
With an extensive knowledge of the finance sector, Mr Hazel has assisted a range of boards, including Elders Rural Bank Limited, the Motor Accident Commission, Tourism Australia, the Adelaide Festival Centre and Coopers Brewery.
Mr Hazel has served as a Council Member and Pro Chancellor of the University of South Australia and was part of Adelaide University’s Transition Council. He is now Deputy Chancellor for Adelaide University.
Dr Jula Szuster AM – For significant service to music as a researcher, educator and administrator.
Dr Szuster is a Founding Member and Director of the Musicology and Ethnomusicology Hub within the Elder Conservatorium of Music, of which she has had an involvement with since 1993.
She was part of the South Australian Education Department’s Music Branch from 1973 to 1990, and between 2004 and 2010 Dr Szuster was a casual lecturer in Arts and Cultural Management at the University of South Australia.
The late Professor Peter Buckskin AM PSM – For significant service to the Indigenous community through education, research, and advocacy roles.
Professor Buckskin, a proud Narungga man, played a transformative role at the University of South Australia, where he dedicated many years to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives across the institution.
He was named a Fellow of the University of South Australia in 2023.
Professor Buckskin led Indigenous education programs for South Australia, and also was an active member of Reconciliation Australia and NAIDOC Week, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for South Australia in 2020.
Mr Anthony Kittel AM – For significant service to the electronics industry, and to the defence sector.
Mr Kittel graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the South Australian Institute of Technology (later University of South Australia) in 1988 and graduated from his Masters of Business from the University of Adelaide in 1993.
Mr Kittel is the Chief Executive Officer of REDARC Electronics and has seen the company grow into the space and defence sector, as well as internationally since his appointment in 1997.
He has also served as President, Vice-President and Board Member of the Electronics Industry Association from 1998-2008, and has a focus on defence and skills training, working with the Australian Industry Group, Technology Industry Development Council and Silentum Defence.
Mr Kittel joined the University of Adelaide Business School Advisory Board in 2015 and served until the formation of Adelaide University.
Dr Elizabeth Murphy AM – For significant service to colorectal and general surgery, and to clinical education and training.
Dr Murphy graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1992 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and started working as a surgeon the following year.
She became a colorectal surgeon at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in 2006 and has participated in taskforces and committees across the public health space, including the Elective Surgery Taskforce since 2022.
In 2010, 2012 and 2013, Dr Murphy received the Derek Frewin Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching from the University of Adelaide.
Emeritus Professor David Findlay AM - For significant service to orthopaedic research, and to the Baptist Church in Australia.
Emeritus Professor Findlay became an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Research with the University of Adelaide in 1996.
In his time with the institution, he also served as the Acting Head of Medicine and was Professor of Orthoapedic Research in the Discipline of Orthopaedics and Trauma from 2005 to 2020.
Emeritus Professor Findlay has been recognised for his work to orthopaedics through Life Membership with the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, and Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society.
Public Service Medal (PSM) in the General Division:
Mrs Dianne Simmons PSM – For outstanding public service as a nurse and midwife in perinatal mental health.
A graduate of the University of Adelaide, Mrs Simmons has worked in midwifery at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and part of the Perinatal Mental Health Service for more than 20 years.
Mrs Simmons played a key role in the introduction of the online perinatal mental health screening tools (iCOPE), enabling consistent and cost-effective antenatal screening, and has contributed to the development of the SA Health Perinatal Mental Health Practice Guidelines.