The Governor-General has announced the 2025 Australia Day Honours List, with several members of the Griffith University community recognised for their distinguished and conspicuous service.
Mrs Lisa Ann Cox was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for her service to people with disability.
A member of the Inclusive Futures Engagement Council with Griffith University since 2021, Mrs Cox has worked to tackle modern challenges facing humankind to create a just, inclusive and equitable future for those living with disability.
Griffith has seen a marked increase in enrolments of students with a disability since the introduction of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, with the 10 per cent of the student cohort who identify as having a disability now enjoying physical access, digital access and inclusive learning environments.
Mrs Cox has also taken on multiple disability advocate roles including being on the advisory panel for the Disability Employment Summit, a TEDx Speaker, and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce for the Advertising Council of Australia.
Ms Leesa Ann Watego was also honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for significant service to Indigenous business and media sectors, and to the community.
Ms Watego has a long history with Griffith University, starting as a research assistant in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit back in 1991.
She then worked as an administration assistant in the same unit before becoming Associate Lecturer in the School of Commerce and Administration, then for the Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art up until 2008.
Additionally, Mr Laurie Joseph Lawrence was named Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division in recognition of his distinguished service to water safety education and to swimming as a high-performance coach.
Awarded an Honorary Doctorate with Griffith University in 2012, Mr Lawrence is known for founding the Kids Alive 'Do the Five' Water Safety Program and World Wide Swim School, plus being a three-time Olympic Swim Team Coach among his many other achievements.
Other recipients included:
- Ms Grace Lowden Brown: Master of Marketing alumnus - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Olympic Games 2024
- Mr Thomas James Gallagher: Bachelor of Business alumnus - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024
- Miss Shayna Louise Jack: Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice alumnus - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Olympic Games 2024
- Mr Cameron James McEvoy: Bachelor of Science (Honours) alumnus - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Olympic Games 2024
- Ms Lani Glen Pallister: Bachelor of Biomedical Science - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paris Olympic Games 2024
- Ms Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne: Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to football
- Dr Keith Graham OAM: Bachelor of Education, Advanced and Graduate Certificate in TESOL alumnus - awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in leading Queensland and national school sports recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Mr David John Mackie: Bachelor of Commerce alumnus - awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to public sector administration and policy reforms in Queensland
- Lieutenant Commander Dean James Dvornicich: Bachelor of Engineering - awarded Conspicuous Service Medal for meritorious achievement as the Marine Engineer Officer HMAS Supply
- Mrs Kaye de Jersey: Former staff member of the Griffith University Library - awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Crown, and to the community of Queensland
