2025 Vice-Chancellor's Awards

Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue68 1–30 November 2025

I had the pleasure of attending the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards, where Naomi McClure-Griffiths, Noelia Martinez-Rey, Luca Casagrande, Ian Price, Jon Neilsen, Ian Adams and Helmut Gergen were all recognised for their contributions.

Noelia and Luca, as leads of the IDEA committee were awarded the Clare Burton Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, in recognition of work over the past 5 years to implement a broad range of measures to build and improve a best practise respectful and inclusive culture at RSAA.

Ian, Jon and Ian were awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Service, Innovation & Transformation as leaders of the project to implement automation of operation and data collection on the ANU 2.3m telescope, an achievement of National significance which has improved service and access to scientific data, and is providing cost and sustainability benefits.

Naomi was awarded the Peter Baume award. This is the University's most prestigious award, which recognises eminent achievement and merit of the highest order. Naomi’s citation recognises her seminal contributions to our understanding of atomic gas and magnetism and international leadership, particularly in the context of the SKA.

Finally, also among those recognised for 25yrs service was Prof Helmut Jerjen. This is wonderful recognition from the University of work at RSAA.

Stuart Wyithe

Image: Naomi McClure-Griffiths, Rebekah Brown, Helmut Jerjen and Luca Casagrande.