The 2025 Australian Research Council Laureate Fellows are:
Alex Collie (Monash U), Wenhui Duan (Monash U), Robert Edwards (Flinders U), Xiaojing Hao (Uni NSW), Julie Henry (Uni Queensland), Matt King (Uni Tasmania), Sean Li (Uni NSW), Josephine McDonald (UWA), Felicity Meakins (Uni Queensland), Tiffany Morrison (Uni Melbourne), Richard Payne (Uni Sydney), Anya Reading (Uni Tasmania), Daichao Sheng (UTS), Hrvoje Tkalcic (ANU), James Ward (Uni Queensland) Geoffrey Webb (Monash U) Chuan Zhao (UNSW).
Professor Meakins is also the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Fellow (“advancing women, including in HASS research”). Professor Reading is the Georgia Sweet Fellow (ditto, in STEM).
Quin Chang becomes the first COO of the newly-created Care Economy Cooperative Research Centre. He moves from La Trobe U, which “brought together” the CRC.
Paul Dalby becomes CEO of “ philanthropic innovation accelerator” the Rosetta Institute., He steps up from GM.
Grant Davies (Flinders U) starts mid-month as Tasmanian Ombudsman (plus a bunch of other agency oversight roles).
Tim Flannery joins RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context. His “extensive knowledge will be instrumental in the creation of the new RMIT South Pacific Initiative.” Professor Flannery is a councillor at the Climate Council.
Roy Green (UTS emeritus) is leading a review of the energy industry jobs plan commissioned by the Net Zero Authority to help workers in closing coal and gas power-stations find jobs.
Rod Lamberts becomes Engagement Director at the Australian Academy of Science. He is an honorary ASPRO in science communication at ANU.
Benjamin Northey starts first semester ‘26 as inaugural professor of conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
The Victorian Premiers Awards for Health and Medical Research go to,
Premier’s and clinical research award: Alisa Higgins (Monash U)
Aboriginal researcher: Rachel Joyce (Walter and Eliza Hall IMR), Brooke Conley (Uni Melbourne)
Basic science researcher: Charles Bayly-Jones (Monash U)
Public health researcher: Louisa Picco (Monash U)
The new Commonwealth agency Writing Australia ($26m start-up funding, $8m per annum) is in business. Larissa Behrendt (UTS and ATEC) chairs, board members include Sarah Holland-Batt (QUT).
