Honorary doctorate acknowledges career excellence

The University of Adelaide’s Vice-Chancellor and President has been awarded with a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) by La Trobe University, in recognition of a career devoted to research excellence.

In 1987 Professor Peter Høj AC, funded by fellowships from both the Danish research council and from La Trobe University, joined La Trobe University’s renowned Department of Biochemistry as a post-doctorate fellow following completion of his PhD in his native Denmark. This was followed by appointment to a tenured academic position before being appointed as Professor of Viticultural Science at the University of Adelaide in 1994.

“I am immensely proud to receive this Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe, where I had my first taste of life in Australia,” said Professor Høj.

“I relocated with my late Australian wife and our children from Denmark to La Trobe University because I, along with the University of Adelaide, rated it as having one of the top three biochemistry departments in Australia. I was not disappointed, I had top colleagues and was lucky to have an outstanding crop of PhD students who were first in family to attend university and from non-affluent backgrounds.

“It proved to be a great choice as it opened a doorway, through which I have never looked back, to the start of a fulfilling career in this wonderful country.

“I will forever be grateful for the wonderful contribution to my family that my time at La Trobe University constituted.”

“I am immensely proud to receive this Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe, where I had my first taste of life in Australia. It proved to be a great choice as it opened a doorway, through which I have never looked back, to the start of a fulfilling career in this wonderful country."The University of Adelaide’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter Høj AC.

Professor Høj is a Fellow of Academies in Australia, the USA and Denmark, and has previously been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and University of Copenhagen.

He has more than two decades of senior leadership experience in higher education and research – as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Queensland (2012-2020), Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Australia (2007-2012), CEO of the Australian Research Council (ARC) (2004-2007), and Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Wine Research Institute Pty Ltd (1997-2004).

Professor Høj was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide in 2021.

The University of Adelaide’s Chancellor, the Hon. Catherine Branson AC KC said: “I congratulate Professor Høj on his honorary doctorate from La Trobe University.”

“It is a fitting tribute to his outstanding career in viticultural science and higher education.”

“Professor Høj has made undeniably significant contributions to higher education learning and research in Australia.”

Professor Høj was presented with his honorary doctorate in a ceremony in Melbourne on Friday 30 September.