Regions shine at VC Excellence Awards

An Alice Springs-based environmental scientist was among those recognised for their exceptional work at Charles Darwin University’s annual Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards. 

The awards recognise individuals and teams who have made significant and sustained contributions to teaching, research, and staff excellence.

CDU Associate Professor of Environmental Science Dr Christine Schlesinger received the Research Impact Award – Societal for her research on the serious biodiversity threat posed by Buffel grass. 

Dr Shlesinger’s research over the past 15 years has made a substantial contribution to shifting the discourse and policy around the controversial species, which was declared a weed in the NT in July.

Dr Schlesinger continues to provide policy advice on the weed’s impacts and is growing research on the topic by mentoring doctoral candidates in the field.

Full list of winners:

• VC Award for Early Career Teaching excellence: Dr. Milad Bazli (Faculty of Science and Technology)
• VC Award for Higher Education Teaching Excellence - Individual Award: Dr. Khyiah Angel (Faculty of Arts and Society)
• VC Award for Higher Education Teaching Excellence - Team Award: First Nations Introduction to University Programs Team (Faculty of Arts and Society)
• VC Award for VET Teaching Excellence: Cain Gilmour (Music - Academy of the Arts – Faculty of Arts and Society)
• Highly Commended for VET Teaching Excellence: Roz Jani (Health & Community Services, TAFE)
• VC Award for First Nations Teaching Excellence: Stacey Butcher (Faculty of Health)
• VC Award for Excellence in Teaching Support: Education Work Integrated Learning Team (Faculty of Arts and Society)
• Highly Commended for Excellence in Teaching Support: Library Services Team
• VC Award for Early Career Research: Dr Hooman Mehdizadeh Rad (Faculty of Science and Technology)
• VC Award for Higher Degree by Research Supervision: Professor Louise Maple-Brown (Menzies School of Health Research)
• Highly Commended for Higher Degree by Research Supervision: Professor Sami Azam (Faculty of Science and Technology)
• VC Award for Research Impact Award – Academic: Ecosystem Services Research Group (Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods)
• VC Award for Innovative Research Partnerships or Industry Engagement: Associate Professor Angela Devine (Menzies School of Health Research)
• Highly Commended for Innovative Research Partnerships or Industry Engagement: Professor Kannoorpatti Krishnan (Faculty of Science and Technology)
• Highly Commended for Innovative Research Partnerships or Industry Engagement: Dr Deepika Mathur (Northern Institute)
• VC Award for Research Impact Award – Societal: Dr Christine Schlesinger (Faculty of Science and Technology)
• Highly Commended for Research Impact Award – Societal: Mathematics in Indigenous Languages Team (Faculty of Arts and Society)
• Highly Commended for Research Impact Award – Societal: Landscape Knowledge Visualisation Lab (Northern Institute)
• VC Award for CDU Values Excellence: Student Central Alice Springs (SAS/TAFE/AVC)
• Highly Commended for CDU Values Excellence: Amelia Kruger (CDU Global)
• VC Award for People Management Excellence: Anthony Hornby (Property and Facilities)
• VC Award for Outstanding Contribution to Work, Health and Safety: Agriculture and Rural Operations Team (TAFE, Katherine Rural Campus)
• VC Award for Outstanding Performance by a First Nations Staff Member: Alana-Marie Tucker (First Nations Student Support)
• VC Award for Outstanding Performance by a Professional Staff Member – Level 1 to 6: Ashish Gharti Mager (Campus Services, Katherine Rural Campus)
• Highly Commended for Outstanding Performance by a Professional Staff Member – Level 1 to 6: Louis Long Vo (Student and Academic Services)
• VC Award for Outstanding Performance by a Professional Staff Member – Level 7 to 10: Emily Duckett (CDU Global)
• Highly Commended for Outstanding Performance by a Professional Staff Member – Level 7 to 10: Troy Kippen (Marketing, Media & Communications)