Honours recognise vision and world-leading education and research

UTS Deputy Chancellor Brian Wilson and UTS Distinguished Professor of Midwifery Caroline Homer have each been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Homer was awarded for "distinguished service to medicine in the field of midwifery as a clinician, researcher, author and educator, through the development of worldwide education standards, and to professional organisations."

She is Director of the Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health in the Faculty of Health and the Associate Head of UTS's WHO Collaborating Centre in Nursing, Midwifery and Health. She is the current President of the Australian College of Midwives.

Mr Wilson, who served as UTS Chancellor during 2016, was recognised for "distinguished service to the financial and banking sectors through public policy advisory roles in the areas of foreign investment, taxation and superannuation reform, and to higher education administration." He is a former chair of the Foreign Investment Review Board.

"These honours acknowledge the outstanding work of members of the UTS leadership and senior researchers in achieving our aspiration as a world-leading university of technology, towards the betterment of society," said UTS Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs.

"Caroline Homer has been a key figure in the development and evaluation of midwifery and maternity services in Australia and in in a number of other countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Cambodia and Timor Leste."

Aside from more than 190 publications in peer reviewed journals, Professor Homer was the only Australian author in The Lancet's Series on Midwifery in 2014.

She was also a lead writer in the State of the World's Midwifery 2014 Report commissioned by the World Health Organization, United National Population Fund and the International Confederation of Midwives.

"UTS has gone from strength to strength in recent years and Brian Wilson's very active contribution has been seminal in achieving this," Professor Brungs added

"Brian is exceedingly generous in using his time and skills for UTS and for the betterment of society more generally. His commitment goes far above and beyond the contribution one would expect from the most dedicated of council members.

"In his capacity as Chair of the UTS Finance Committee since 2007 Brian has been instrumental in driving the physical transformation of the UTS campus, overseeing a $1.3 billion infrastructure investment."

The campus masterplan included the creation of three new buildings, including the first Australian building designed by Frank Gehry, and the redesign of the entire campus. The new campus underpins the UTS Model of Learning which is recognised as promoting innovation in learning by integrating the best of online and face-to-face experiences.

Professor Homer said her award recognised the contribution of all who have worked to improve health outcomes for women and babies, and particularly the importance of midwifery in contributing to quality care for mothers and babies in Australia and around the world.

"Research that we have done here at UTS has especially highlighted the importance of midwifery continuity of care and of the critical importance to every woman in the world of having access to educated and regulated midwives," she said.

"The Australian College of Midwives, of which I am president, is committed to enabling women to be strong and confident mothers through ensuring access to quality midwifery care. This is the work that I and many colleagues around the country have been committed to for more than 20 years."

Also honoured in this year's Queen’s Birthday list were:

Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building John Sheehan. Professor Sheehan was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "significant service to the real estate and property planning sectors, to professional institutes, and to educational and legal bodies."

Board and council members

Dr Katherine Woodthorpe – AO
Former Chair INSEARCH, UTS Council member 2003-2010, UTS hon doc 2011
For distinguished service to business through venture capital, management and commercialisation initiatives for research and technology based enterprises, and to industry organisations.

Stephen Page – AO
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences advisory board, UTS hon doc 2015
For distinguished service to the performing arts and contemporary dance, through enriching Australia's cultural environment, and by presenting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts to the world.

UTS Alumni

Dr Jeremy Fisher – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
For service to literature, to education and to professional organisations.

Vince Graham – AM
For significant service to public administration in New South Wales, particularly through reform of the rail and electricity sectors.

Patricia Hughes – OAM
For service to the community and to youth.

Craig Jarvis – OAM
For service to wheelchair sports.