Meet our latest
Honorary Award recipients
The University of Queensland (UQ) has conferred its highest honour on one of UQ’s first Torres Strait Islander graduates along with a highly regarded economist and an acclaimed author.
Aunty Ivy Trevallion, Emeritus Professor Ian Harper AO and Melissa Lucashenko have been recognised with Honorary Doctorates as part of the 2024 end of year graduations.
Widely respected Professor of Virology, Professor Paul Young was also recognised with one of the University's highest staff honours, receiving the R.H. Roe Award for his outstanding contributions to teaching, research and community engagement at UQ.
Contact asked our latest Honorary Award recipients about the most pivotal moment in their careers, who inspires them the most and what's the greatest piece of advice they've received.
Aunty Ivy Trevallion
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
It is hard to say what my most pivotal moment was in my career. Nor can I recall a certain experience that I’ve had. When I think back, my journey to work with people started in 1975 when I worked as an Assistant Liaison Officer with the Department of Native Affairs for around 6 months. That was when I subconsciously made the decision that I need the 'proper' qualification to be able to work with people.
Every moment in my working life is important. When I counsel people, it is very important to remember the area that the support was needed or required, not necessarily the person.
Reflecting on this journey, I have learnt a lot of things, starting with the very basic, that is 'RESPECT' the person that comes to see you no matter who they are. I have had to learn about different areas of counselling such as family, individual, couple, child, etc.. I also had to learn about the different legislations and policies that are important in these areas.
Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career and life?
My greatest source of inspiration has been the people who I have met, in what circumstances and the countries and cultures they belonged to. They have all inspired me and made me work a lot harder to make sure that I am equipped to assist anybody that walks through the door.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
The best advice I've received was from a friend of mine I worked with, who said to me, "Sissy Ivy, you talk to someone, you make sure you come down to their level."
Ms Melissa Lucashenko
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
I’d have to say winning the Miles Franklin Award in 2019 for Too Much Lip. That changed everything.
Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career and life?
My family and community Elders have been my greatest inspiration. It's breathtaking to see the humanity, insight and sheer brilliance that apparently 'ordinary' older people can contain and share with others. The responsibility that Elders have to educate the next generation is massive and they have done so with grace and compassion, in my case.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
"The secret of writing is re-writing." I was told that as an undergraduate and that’s the only secret you need to know as an author.
Emeritus Professor Ian Harper AO
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
When I finished my doctorate in 1982, Australia’s universities were under financial strain, not unlike they are now more than 40 years later. So, there were very few academic jobs going at the time.
When I was offered a research position at the Reserve Bank of Australia, I took it even though one of my professors thought I was "throwing away" my academic career by choosing to work for the central bank rather than a university.
In hindsight, this turned out to be a pivotal point in my career. I learned so much at the Bank that set me in good stead for the policy career I subsequently pursued. Time spent at the Bank laid the foundations of my career, moving between university positions, government roles and private consulting.
Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career and life?
Most people find it easy to believe that doctors, nurses and teachers make a positive difference to other people’s lives. Very few people, on the other hand, think of economists in the same way. Yet economics is all about trying to improve people’s material standard of living by finding ways to improve the performance of the economy in delivering opportunities for people to thrive.
This vision of the economist as someone who tries to improve people’s lives by understanding how economies work, and therefore how to advise governments to deliver better economic outcomes, has inspired me from the very outset of my career.
These days I have the privilege of serving on the Reserve Bank Board and so play my part in setting interest rates for the Australian economy. These decisions affect everyone in Australia. As I deliberate on how best to set interest rates, I keep my focus on improving "the economic prosperity and welfare of the people of Australia", words taken from the Reserve Bank Act which neatly sum up the inspiration for my work as a policy economist.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
When I was vacillating about whether or not to leave university and work for the Reserve Bank, another professor told me I should "go where I thought I would do my best work". Each time I have faced an opportunity that would take me away from what I was currently doing, I have asked myself this same question: Will this opportunity allow me to do my best work or not? The advice has served me well throughout my career as I have moved from one role to the next.
Professor Paul Young
What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?
As for many who have had a long career, mine has been a non-linear one with a healthy collection of sliding door moments; the decision to head to the UK for my PhD in 1978, to return to Brisbane 11 years later, to put my hand up for the Head of School position in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and more recently, to step aside from my research group to focus on helping build connections within the local biomedical sector.
If I had to choose one of these pivotal moments, it would be the decision to return to Brisbane back in 1989. The research community in Brisbane was nothing like the vibrant one it is today and I was cautioned by my colleagues in London that it was likely a career-limiting move. But no one could have predicted the extraordinary growth in the sector that began in the mid '90s with the Smart State initiative. The research and innovation sector is now thriving in Brisbane and it has been exciting and a privilege to be a part of that ecosystem growth.
Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration throughout your career and life?
That’s easy…the beauty, complexity and inter-connectedness of the natural world itself. Every time a new discovery reveals a bit more of the detail, the more it astounds and inspires.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
As a leader, help build community and then delegate and trust. I am a strong believer in the power of partnerships – in the value of community and collective endeavour. A colleague and friend once said to me that more credit should be given to those whose greatest achievements are not what they themselves achieve but what they inspire others to achieve.
Celebrating Professor Paul Young through the RH Roe Award
Professor Paul Young’s purpose-led career of over 4 decades has impacted society globally. His work has propelled UQ’s research into the treatment of viruses and virus-run diagnostics onto the international stage.
His contributions to biomedical research have been dedicated to understanding how viruses cause disease and developing vaccines and anti-viral strategies for their control.
Professor Young’s commitment to and advancement of this research has been nothing short of outstanding.
Championing education and research
Professor Young gained his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 1977 from UQ, before going on to receive a Doctor of Philosophy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1986.
In the 33 years since returning to UQ in 1991 as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Microbiology, Professor Young has championed both education and research.
In 2008, he was awarded the Australian Society for Microbiology’s David White Excellence in Teaching Award and the Research Excellence Award in 2009 from the Asia Pacific Society for Medical Virology.
Since 1991, Professor Young has supervised 26 PhD students and 39 honours students, providing guidance and support built on his many years of experience to nurture the next generation of research leaders.
Currently, Paul Young is a Professor of Virology, seconded to Research Development in the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Office of Research and Innovation. His substantive position is with the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences where he was Head of School from 2014–2022.
At the forefront of discovery
Throughout his career, Professor Young has been at the forefront of vaccine research, discovery and development.
His work on the dengue viruses included translating research into a commercial diagnostic assay that is now the global standard for early detection of virus infection. During this time, his group also discovered a viral protein that was key to the pathophysiology of severe dengue disease and a target for antiviral therapeutics development.
Notably, he co-led UQ’s race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 where he and his colleagues bore the weight of the world’s expectations. While UQ’s vaccine was not rolled out on the frontlines of the pandemic, the innovative technology it was based on – the molecular clamp – has achieved great success. A re-engineered clamp has since been licensed to the spin-out company Vicebio for the development of candidate vaccines for treating other human pathogens and has been supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations for potential deployment as an emergency response vaccine for future outbreaks.
Each of these achievements, discoveries and breakthroughs could be described as significant to accomplish in one lifetime. Unsurprisingly, the impact of Professor Young’s career – his research and contributions to teaching – is felt globally. For these reasons, Professor Young is recognised with one of UQ’s highest staff honours, the R.H. Roe Award. Upon his retirement in 2024, the University is most grateful for Professor Young’s years of dedication and commitment to our mission – to deliver for the public good.
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