University community members honoured

The exceptional work of alumni, staff and affiliates from the University of Adelaide’s community has been recognised in the King’s birthday honours.

Among the recipients are Dr Robert Ali who has pursued a distinguished career as a public health physician and specialist in addiction medicine and Clinical Associate Professor Sharon Liberali who has been recognised for her work in special needs dentistry.

“I congratulate all members from the University of Adelaide community – alumni, staff, former staff, affiliates and friends – who have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours,” said Professor Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide.

“Our community of leaders continue to be recognised for helping to make history in many fields including medicine, agriculture and the performing arts.”

“People honoured today continue to show exceptional dedication to helping to tackle some of the greatest challenges that the world faces.”

Notable King’s Birthday Honours recipients from the University’s community include:

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Clinical Associate Professor Robert Ali – For distinguished service to medical and health research, particularly drug and alcohol dependence, and to education and training. 

Professor Robert Ali, who works in the University’s School of Biomedicine, has worked tirelessly to advocate for the adoption of evidence-based, proven approaches to treat and support people who use drugs both in Australia and internationally. He introduced needle exchange programs into South Australia which avoided a HIV epidemic among injecting drug users; and introducing drug addiction counselling and enabling methadone treatment in Vietnam where the only option at the time was compulsory treatment centres.

Clinical Associate Professor Sharon Liberali – For distinguished service to special needs dentistry, to infection control practice enhancement, to tertiary education, and to professional organisations.

Professor Liberali is the current Director, Special Needs Unit, Adelaide Dental Hospital. She has held a number of dentistry and oral health positions for more than thirty years including Consultant and Clinical Leader in Special Needs Dentistry.

Professor Michael Horowitz – For distinguished service to endocrinology, particularly diabetes, as a researcher, educator and clinician.

Professor Horowitz was appointed to a Personal Chair at the University of Adelaide in 1995 and has been Director, Centre of Research Excellence in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health at the University since 2007. He has been recognised for his expertise with awards from a number of medical associations and has authored more than 750 papers and 40 book chapters.

Alumna Moya Dodd – For distinguished service to football as a player and administrator at the national and international level, as a role model to women, and to the law.

Ms Dodd was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2021 in recognition of her sports experience and professional expertise, and her work to further the cause of women’s sport and the role of sport in building community both in Australia and on the world stage.

Clinical Professor Brendon Kearney – For distinguished service to medicine in the fields of health technology assessment and health outcomes research.

A Clinical Professor at the Adelaide Medical School since 1997, Professor Kearney has pursued a career in the health sector spanning 40 years including his current position as Consultant Physician in Haematology.

Clinical Professor Ruth Marshall – For distinguished service to rehabilitation medicine, particularly to people living with spinal cord injury or disorder, as a leader, mentor and clinician.

Professor Marshall has been a Clinical Professor at the Adelaide Medical School since 2021. Her career as a specialist in assisting the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries has spanned more than twenty years. Numerous appointments and awards include her current position as the first woman to be President of the International Spinal Cord Society.

“People honoured today continue to show exceptional dedication to helping to tackle some of the greatest challenges that the world faces.”Professor Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Emeritus Professor Peter Langridge − For significant service to science in the field of plant genomics and agriculture.

Professor Langridge is an eminent leader in the development and implementation of cereal breeding technologies, within Australia and internationally. He initiated the application of molecular marker technology in large cereal and legume breeding programs in South Australia which were adopted by all major cereal breeding programs in Australia. He also pioneered the introduction of plant functional genomics in Australia into crop improvement programs and was a member of a core group that initiated the international barley genome sequencing program. He is the author of over 300 research papers, has seven patent applications and supervisor of 66 PhD students. Professor Langridge was the 2011 SA Scientist of the Year.

Dr Paul Sambrook – For significant service to dentistry as a clinician and academic

Dr Sambrook is Head, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Adelaide Dental School. As well as delivering lectures at the Adelaide Dental School since 2006 and working as a surgeon for more than thirty years, Dr Sambrook has served on a number of dental boards and associations including as past president of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

Mr George Torbay – For significant service to the performing arts through music in a range of roles.

Mr Torbay has been Head of Musical Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium of Music since 2018. He has had an outstanding career in the performing arts arena for more than two decades as a director and conductor including for the Sydney Olympics. He has served on examination boards and has been a lecturer at a number of institutions both in Australia and overseas.

More than 35 University of Adelaide alumni and former members of staff and members of the University community were also honoured in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

The full list of all University of Adelaide King’s Birthday Honours recipients will be available on the University’s honours website.

Any Australian may make nominations for an award in the Order of Australia. More information is available at www.gg.gov.au.