The Australian National University (ANU) has honoured alumnus Professor Michael McRobbie AO FAHA, a global leader in higher education and President of Indiana University, by naming him the ANU Alumnus of the Year for 2015.
Professor McRobbie has built an international reputation as an information technology innovator since he graduated from ANU with a PhD from the Research School of Social Sciences in 1979. He held many roles at ANU, first as a researcher and later as a professor, and was chief executive of the CRC for Advanced Computational Systems.
He has worked at Indiana University since 1997, and became the university's 18th President in July 2007.
"ANU allowed my research career to blossom and allowed me to develop skills in administration, entrepreneurship and global engagement with colleagues and mentors that have served me extremely well in my career in the US," Professor McRobbie said.
In its third year, the ANU Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding alumni and their achievements since graduation. Along with the Alumnus of the year, 12 other alumni were honoured across eight categories.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young AO said this year's winners were all outstanding ambassadors for ANU both in Australia and abroad.
"These awards are a chance for us to recognise those alumni who have not only reached great heights in their chosen fields but more importantly those who have freely given back to make the world a better place," Professor Young said.
"I am proud to know that each of the nominees undertook studies here at ANU and that this University played a role in shaping the people they are today. On behalf of the University, I congratulate all of the award winners."
Businessman and philanthropist Graham Tuckwell was awarded the Alumnus of the Year in Philanthropy at a special presentation in February.
Other winners are:
Postgraduate Student of the Year
Brad Carron-Arthur
Undergraduate Student of the Year (joint recipient)
Jessica Avalon
Undergraduate Student of the Year (joint recipient)
Ben Duggan
Young Alumnus of the Year (joint recipient)
Henry Makeham
Young Alumnus of the Year (joint recipient)
Robert Wiblin
International Alumnus of the Year
Theresa Foo-Yo Mie Yoen
Alumnus of the Year - Research or Academic (joint recipient)
Professor Paul Sanberg
Alumnus of the Year - Research or Academic (joint recipient)
Professor Howard Morphy
Alumnus of the Year - Innovation & Entrepreneurship (joint recipient)
Robert Foster
Alumnus of the Year - Innovation & Entrepreneurship (joint recipients)
Phillip Williamson and Michelle Melbourne
Some new categories were introduced this year, including the Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Alumnus of the Year in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Young Alumnus of the Year.
Recipients of the VC Commendations were:
Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Alumnus of the Year - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Dr Victor Pantano
Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Young Alumnus of the Year
Dr Phoebe Williams
Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Young Alumnus of the Year
Dr Lachlan Blackhall
Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Postgraduate Student of the Year
Arjuna Mohottala
Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Postgraduate Student of the Year
Gracia Billy Yosaphat Y Mambrasar
For more on the 2015 awards and recipients, visit the ANU Alumni website. Nominations for the 2016 ANU Alumni Awards open on Friday 20 August 2015.
