Seven teams and 22 individual staff have been recognised with University awards for their exceptional efforts in 2007.
The Vice-Chancellor's Awards, presented tonight at the Conservatorium of Music, celebrate the contributions of staff from across the University this year.
For the first time, the Teaching and Learning, General Staff and Research Awards have been brought together into one ceremony.
The University has also recognised the efforts of staff who worked across the June long weekend, with a commendation for outstanding service.
The full list of recipients is below.
- Vice-Chancellor's Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
- Vice-Chancellor's Awards for General Staff Excellence
- Awards for Supervision Excellence
- Awards for Research Excellence
- Commendation for Outstanding Service to the University of Newcastle during the storms of June 2007
Vice-Chancellor's Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
Individual award recipients
Dr Graham Brewer
School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
For long-term commitment to developing and implementing student-centred teaching and assessment strategies that develop students as problem-solvers and reflective practitioners.
Dr Kym Cowley
School of Business and Management, Faculty of Business and Law
For developing first-year assessment frameworks that lay the building blocks for excellent higher level learning skills and academic integrity in first year university learners.
Dr Philip Matthias
School of Drama, Fine Art and Music (incorporating the Conservatorium), Faculty of Education and Arts
For developing a vibrant and creative culture of choral and organ music to provide a stimulating learning environment through the University of Newcastle Chamber Choir.
Mr Jeffrey McGee
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology
For an outstanding contribution to improved student learning in environmental policy through adoption of an innovative, student-centred approach to course design and delivery.
Dr Christo Moskovsky
School of Humanities and Social Science, Faculty of Education and Arts
For building an international applied linguistic learning community through research-led teaching, individualised feedback, and advanced online delivery.
Dr David Newby
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health
For the introduction of evidence-based practice in community pharmacy by developing critical evaluation skills and a systematic approach to the management of minor illnesses.
Dr Marian Radny
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology
For improvements to student learning in introductory physics courses through an integrated approach based on outside-class learning environment, peer activity laboratory, and online assessment.
Dr Jennifer Schneider
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health
For development of video and audiovisual material to motivate students and improve student engagement and learning in pharmaceutics practicals for pharmacy students.
Dr Huilin Ye
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
For an academia-industry collaborative teaching approach to introducing industry practice to software engineering students, leading to enhanced professional skills required for them to work in industry.
Team award recipients
Ms Debbie Booth
Mr Michael Carr
Ms Susan Day
Mrs Ann Stokes
Ms Helen Lloyd
University Library, Academic Division
For an innovative online tutorial widely acclaimed for enhancing the student experience by simplifying the learning of a complex program.
Dr Kathryn Holmes
Mr Gavin Little
School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts
For the development of a mathematics teacher retraining program designed to produce reflective practitioners, capable of teaching a diverse range of students in an engaging manner.
Vice-Chancellor's Awards for General Staff Excellence
Individual award recipients
Ms Arianne Galvin
Research Division
For significant improvements to work processes designed to assist the University achieve its strategic objectives. Arianne has effectively improved the management of international and domestic scholarships through implementing various mechanisms which relate to scholarship spending. This has included the establishment of cross-unit relationships with key areas, the development of the 'fee waiver policy' and the attraction and retention of high quality Research Higher Degree candidates.
Mrs Rae Pease
Faculty of Science and Information Technology
Through the review of University-wide systems and processes, Rae has made significant administrative improvement to her School and Faculty. This has included the staff appointments online and academic workload processes, along with user testing of new initiatives and corporate systems prior to full implementation.
Mr Dylan Mitchell
Faculty of Education and Arts
For outstanding leadership and exceptional service to clients reflected through a highly effective, service orientated team in the Hunter Academic Support Unit. Dylan has also successfully implemented the development of an effective Team Service Charter which is now recognised as a suggested model for other Schools across the University.
Miss Tina Atherton
Academic Division
Tina's display of outstanding service to clients was most clearly demonstrated through her involvement and guidance which she provided during the Auchmuty Library foyer refurbishment. Her commitment and dedication to staff and students resulted in minimal closure of library services particularly at key times during Semester.
Mr Chris George
Academic Division
Chris' outstanding leadership and significant improvement to processes has been demonstrated through significant cross-unit cooperation and collaborative initiatives with TAFE, DET and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG). This has included initiatives across the University including the outstanding success of the Central Coast Indigenous Education Awards night.
Team award recipients
Assistant Academic Registrars
Mrs Maryanne Cartwright
Mrs Naomi McLean
Mrs Carmel O'Regan
Ms Karen Shepherd
Mrs Jodie Davis
Ms Cathie Shanahan
Team Services Division
For outstanding service to clients through the introduction and continued innovation of student Hubs. This is demonstrated through exceptional cross-unit cooperation with Faculties and Divisions to implement a range of initiatives and facilitate a broad range of ongoing system and procedure developments.
Careers Services Team
Ms Susan Eade
Ms Janice Jackson
Mrs Melissa Moore
Mrs Linda Sefton
Miss Allison Burgess
Ms Monique Kassi
Mrs Sally Homer
Services Division
For outstanding service to clients through the delivery of consistently high quality services such as the successful series of career expos. Students have also benefited from innovative ideas such as the "Hypotheticals" evening which was aimed at helping students explore their career options.
Computing Labs Support Team
Mr Terry Punch
Mr Michael Sargent
Mr Anthony Williams
Ms Amanda Powell
Services Division
For exceptional achievements in customer service and innovation through the implementation of a range of improvement strategies resulting in a stable, secure, state-of-the-art computing environment. The team operates on a shared service model principle, and rotates services across Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses and the City Precinct.
Research Publications Collection Team
Ms Debbie Booth
Mrs Verne Sheather
Research Division/Academic Division
For exceptional initiative and achievement involving cross-unit cooperation through the auditing and reporting of the Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC). This involved the electronic loading of data directly into the collection database which resulted in reduced manual entering; and significant improvements in data quality and reporting.
NUSTAR Upgrade Team
Miss Rose Horvai
Ms Renee Picton
Mr David Rogers
Mrs Jessica Coleman
Mrs Julie Talevski
Mrs Kathryn Quinn
Mr Paul Clark
Ms Wendy James
Ms Lyndall Carolan
Ms Petra Leschinkohl
Ms Cateen Quayle
Mrs Cathy Kiczynski
Mr Ken Thompson
Ms Karen Chong
Mr Glen Spotts
Mr Greg Durbin
Mr Paul Gibbs
Mr Jason Tyler
Mr Stephen Bosworth
Services Division
For outstanding achievement, which involved moving to a new technology platform to realise significant enhancements to the administration of International and Research Higher Degree Students. The project also involved considerable cross-unit cooperation that extended beyond the units directly involved.
Awards for Supervision Excellence
Professor Aron O'Cass
Faculty of Business and Law
Aron O'Cass is Professor and Chair of Marketing in the Faculty of Business and Law. He has an outstanding track record as a supervisor of research higher degree students. As a teacher he brings a structured approach to supervision, characterised by regular communication and clear feedback on the work of students. He is widely recognised as an exemplary mentor, actively engaging students in the joint authorship of international journal publications, and with research collaboration often continuing beyond the successful completion of the PhD thesis. Professor Aron O'Cass' enthusiastic dedication to supervision makes him a role model for students and colleagues alike.
Associate Professor Alison Ferguson
Faculty of Education and Arts
Highly regarded nationally and internationally, Associate Professor Alison Ferguson has built the research training profile of the discipline of Speech Pathology and mentors students through engagement with the scholarly community and publishing of research findings. Alison's research student supervision has a clear and strong theoretical structure with an emphasis on creating respectful and collaborative relationships with her students. Adept at the difficult art of recognising and supporting the strengths of students, Alison fosters independence and provides advice in appropriate combination. Alison constantly reviews her methods and her outstanding record of success, with 10 students completing in the last five years; evidence of her enthusiasm and commitment to excellence.
Professor Margaret McMillan
Faculty of Health
Academics in nursing have been required not only to build the knowledge and skills to become excellent supervisors but also to develop the scope of research in the discipline. Professor Margaret McMillan has long been regarded as a leader in this within Australasia and internationally with many of her students being international. Margaret forms partnerships with her students so that the research project becomes a collaborative endeavour in which she continually challenges the student to clarify concepts and think more broadly. Margaret has remained a mentor to her students after graduation and continues to encourage her local and international students to support and nurture each other.
Associate Professor Hugh Dunstan
Faculty of Science and Information Technology
Associate Professor Hugh Dunstan takes a highly integrated approach to supervising research higher degree candidates with the aim of assisting them to not only produce a quality thesis, but also to acquire skills which will assist them in their careers as scientists and researchers. Hugh fosters professionalism in his students, treating them as colleagues, including them in grant applications and encouraging them to publish their work and present at conferences as an important part of their research training. Lateral thinking, network building and project management are all skills that Hugh aims to engender in his students who appreciate the strong sense of collegiality present in Hugh's research group.
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Supervisor of the Year
Associate Professor Allison Ferguson
Awards for Research Excellence
Professor Aron O'Cass
Faculty of Business and Law
Jay Weerawardena, Aron O'Cass, Craig Julian. 'Does Industry Matter? Examining the role of Industry Structure and Organisational Learning in innovation and brand performance.' Journal of Business Research, 59 2006 pp37-45.
This paper makes a major contribution to marketing research in highlighting the dual effects of firm and environment on a brand's performance in the marketplace. It integrates areas that have previously been studied separately and makes a major contribution to the theoretical conception of industry forces and how they can be modelled empirically using formative modelling. Professor O'Cass and his colleagues conceived and conducted the study. He had a major role in the theoretical development, data analysis and authorship of the paper.
Dr Alistair Rolls
Faculty of Education and Arts
Alistair Rolls. 'Throwing Caution to a French Wind: Peter Cheney's Success Overseas in 1945.' Australian Journal of French Studies 43:1, 2006, pp35-47.
Dr Alistair Rolls has established a strong reputation as a scholar of French noir fiction; his output is prolific and in high quality publications. In this paper he articulates with great clarity the view that French noir fiction departs from the Anglo-American tradition and is a phenomenon that reflects French social, political and cultural preoccupations. In doing so he opens a fresh conceptual framework for contemporary French literary and film research. Dr Rolls is the sole author of the paper which is published in a highly competitive research journal.
Dr Andrew Fleming
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
Andrew J Fleming. 'Sensorless Vibration Suppression and Scan Compensation for Piezoelectric Tube Nanopositioners.' IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, Vol 14, No 1 January 2006.
Dr Fleming's research presented in this paper addresses two of the foremost problems - vibration and hysteresis - in piezoelectric actuated mechanical systems. He presents new methods that are elegant, simple and effective; methods that are expected to be applied directly to almost any piezoelectric system to improve linearity and increase speed by a reduction in vibration. Dr Fleming is the sole author of the paper which has been selected for an outstanding paper award by the publishing journal.
Dr Nicole Verrills
Faculty of Health
Verrils NM, Poucha S, Liu M, Liaw TYE, Larsen M, Ivery M, Marshall G, Gunning P, Kavallaris M, (2006) 'Alterations in y-Actin and Tubulin-Targeted Drug Resistance in Childhood Leukaemia.' J Natl. Cancer Inst. 98 (19):1363-74.
This paper reports several novel findings that will be important in the development of anti cancer drugs. It is significant because of its contribution to our understanding of cell shape, cell division, intracellular protein and organelle movement as well as greatly advancing our understanding of the mechanism of antimicrotubule drug action and resistance, which is required to improve the effectiveness of therapies. Dr Verrills controlled the research direction, performed half of the experimental work and wrote the paper. The research has been recognised by several awards by international conferences and associations and two patents.
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Researcher of the Year
Dr Andrew Fleming
Commendation for Outstanding Service to the University of Newcastle during the storms of June 2007
Facilities Management
The University of Newcastle Library
Web team
Media and Public Relations team
Student Administration
