Honorary awards

The University of Sydney recognises

  • exceptional achievement by conferring an honorary degree.
  • outstanding service to the University by awarding the title of Honorary Fellow of the University.

Who is receiving an honorary award in 2013/2014?

To date, those who have accepted the Chancellor's invitation to accept honorary awards are listed below – this list is not yet complete.

Updated 18 June 2013


Gillian Armstrong AM, Hon DLitt UNSW Honorary Doctorate in Film Swinburne University of Technology – award-winning Australian director of feature films and documentaries with an international reputation as a filmmaker, and a leading advocate for increased opportunities for women filmmakers in Australia and internationally.

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Peter Carey, HonDLitt Monash & Qld HonDHL The New School, NY, FRSL FAHA – acclaimed prize-winning Australian novelist and short story writer

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Dr John William Copland AO, BVSc PhD Sydney MSc(Fisheries) Stirling – a veterinary scientist who has played a key role in promoting the health, welfare and productivity of production animals through leadership roles in Australia and in the South East Asian region

Honorary Doctor of Veterinary Science

Conferring ceremony: 4.00pm, 13 December 2013

Professor John Watson Funder AO, BA MB BS PhD Melb Hon LLD Monash, FRACP FRCP – eminent endocrine researcher, Professor of Medicine at Monash University and Senior Fellow at Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research, Monash Medical Centre

Honorary Doctor of Medicine

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Professor Ross Garnaut AO, BA PhD HonDLitt ANU, FASSA – a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow and a Professorial Fellow in Economics at the University of Melbourne and a Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Australian National University, as well as longstanding and successful roles as policy advisor, diplomat and businessman

Honorary Doctor of Science in Economics

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Michael Hwang SC, BCL MA Oxford, FCIA – Senior Counsel of the Bar in Singapore and Chief Justice of the Dubai International Financial Court, with a significant record of service to the field of international commercial arbitration

Honorary Doctor of Laws

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

David Marr, BA LLB Sydney DLitt Newcastle – a journalist, biographer and commentator on political and social issues who has received numerous awards for his journalism and written a number of highly acclaimed books

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Conferring ceremony: 11.30am, 11 October 2013

Professor Barry Marshall AC, MB BS UWA HonDSc Oxf, FRS FAA FRACP – together with John Robin Warren AC, won the 2005 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their work on the bacterial basis for stomach ulcers which revolutionised the treatment of gastro-duodenal ulcers, by enabling an antibiotic cure, which has led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of gastric cancer

Honorary Doctor of Medicine

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Reginald J Richardson AM – a Sydney businessman who is involved with a number of philanthropic organisations and who has particular success in fund-raising for these organisations which include the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at the University of Sydney. He also serves on advisory committees of Indigenous Health at the University.

Honorary Fellow of the University

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Mrs Patricia Ritchie AM – contributer to the academic activities of the Faculty of Medicine at its Northern Clinical School through her crucial fund-raising role in the appointment of senior academic clinicians

Honorary Fellow of the University

Conferring ceremony: conferred posthumously at 11.30am, 10 May 2013

Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom AO, PhC BSc PhD Adel Hon DHlth Newcastle Hon DSc Qld DUniv Griff, FPS – in a distinguished academic career, he has made a long and lasting contribution to the profession of pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, medicines regulation, medicines policy, access to medicines and consumer health both nationally and internationally

Honorary Doctor of Science

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Dr Henry Maurice Saxby AM, MEd Sydney PhD UTS – an influential figure in the fields of Australian Children’s Literature and children’s writing

Honorary Doctor of Letters

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Marion Rose Scrymgour – committed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and self determination, she was the first indigenous woman to be elected to the Northern Territory Parliament and Australia’s first indigenous female cabinet minister

Honorary Doctor of Health Science

Conferring ceremony: to be advised

Emeritus Professor Ann Sefton AO, BSc(Med) MB BS PhD DSc Sydney – she made a major contribution to medical education, particularly in the area of reform and the development of a graduate medical program, and to physiology and research in the field of neuroscience, and served as Chair of the Academic Forum (1998-2000), a Fellow of Senate (2001-2009), Pro-Chancellor (2003) and Deputy Chancellor (2004-08)

Honorary Fellow of the University

Conferring ceremony: 9.30am, 10 May 2013