Dear colleagues
A warm welcome back to you all. I hope you enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating break. It’s my pleasure to share the first edition of Inside UNSW for the year. This edition is filled with well-deserved awards and recognition celebrating the outstanding achievements of our colleagues, including the 2026 Australia Day Honours recipients.
I extend my warmest congratulations to Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO (pictured top), founder of UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), who was named Senior Australian of the Year, recognising his lifetime’s work to treat and prevent dementia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the profound impact of Professor Brodaty’s work on those living with dementia and their families.
I’m also delighted to share that Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), a distinguished honour that reflects her commitment to developing revolutionary quantum technology in Australia. Her groundbreaking work in quantum physics, her research excellence and her global influence are a source of immense pride for UNSW.
We are proud to see many members of the UNSW community recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours list for their exceptional achievements and service to the nation. I extend my sincere congratulations to all those honoured this year. Their dedication to advancing knowledge, equity and innovation is truly inspiring. I thank them for their continued commitment to improving the lives of Australians and for making a positive, meaningful impact on the world.
You can read more about these achievements on the UNSW Newsroom.
Preventing and responding to gender-based violence: policy launch
The safety and wellbeing of every member of the UNSW community should be each of our highest priority. Gender-based violence is never acceptable. As I foreshadowed at last year’s end of year All Staff Town Hall, a new Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence at UNSW Policy came into effect on 1 January 2026 alongside the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence. This now sets standards for universities to address gender-based violence.
The Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence at UNSW Policy establishes the University’s position on tackling gender-based violence, the factors that contribute to it, how we seek to prevent gender-based violence and how we respond with a trauma-informed approach. It explains reporting and management pathways, our commitment to invest in knowledge and capability for our staff and students, and the range of available support services.
Preventing and responding to gender-based violence is a shared responsibility, everyone plays a part. The new policy has been published for consultation and we value your input. Your feedback helps ensure this policy effectively supports safety, equity and respect across the UNSW community. Read more about the policy and share your feedback.
Vale Martin Healy
It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of our colleague Martin Healy, Head of UNSW Psychology and Wellness.
Over more than two decades of service, Martin was a highly respected and admired member of UNSW, whose quiet, steady and transformative influence shaped our student support systems and enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues. He led with humility and deep humanity, championing student voices, dignity and self-determination, and offering calm, compassionate guidance in the most complex circumstances.
Martin was a dedicated steward of the Psychology & Wellness team and a wise contributor to many working groups and committees. He drove and nurtured innovations of lasting impact including The Living Room student peer support initiative, Managing Students in Distress training and the UNSW Gendered Violence Response Team, all while empowering others to lead, grow and thrive without seeking recognition himself. Martin’s legacy is one of kindness, compassion and commitment to the wellbeing of others, reflected in the systems he built and the people he supported and inspired.
Many colleagues have shared with me how deeply they valued his calm presence and his unwavering support. I personally was deeply shocked as I used to pop into Martin’s office on my walks around campus. Martin’s loss is felt profoundly across our University community and I extend my heartfelt condolences to Martin’s family, loved ones and colleagues.
Commemoration service and Condolence Book for Emma Johnston AO
Those of us who knew Professor Emma Johnston are still coming to terms with the very sad news of her passing in late December. It was a privilege to work with Emma, and we are enormously grateful for her invaluable contribution over 20 years to our UNSW community as an esteemed scientist, researcher and teacher, as well as Dean of Science and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Working closely with Emma’s family, the University of Melbourne, where she was the 21st Vice-Chancellor, will host a commemoration service for her. Members of the UNSW community have been invited to join the service via commemoration service livestream on Friday 6 February at 2pm. The livestream link will be live on the day of the service. If you would prefer to join the livestream in the company of colleagues at the Tyree Room, Scientia Building, please register your interest.
Professor Emma Sparks reappointment
It is my great pleasure to announce the reappointment of Professor Emma Sparks to the position of Rector and Dean, UNSW Canberra, for a second term through to 2032.
Since commencing in the role in 2022, Emma has made a significant impact in strengthening UNSW Canberra’s longstanding partnership with the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). She has also been instrumental in engaging colleagues, Defence and government, and the wider community with UNSW’s expanding operations in Canberra.
Emma’s reappointment ensures her continued leadership in delivering academic excellence at ADFA and guiding the development of UNSW’s Canberra City precinct. Building on the University’s 58-year legacy in the ACT, Canberra City will draw on capability across UNSW to deliver education, research and innovation in critical areas like Defence, cybersecurity, AI, digital engineering, climate and public policy.
A professor of Systems Engineering, Emma brings a wealth of experience working with Defence in Australia and the UK, as well as a strong focus on learning and teaching throughout her career. She has championed the development of non-traditional routes to higher education, including having led the first Masters level apprenticeship in Systems Engineering at Cranfield University. She is a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and was recognised as one of the UK’s Top 50 Women in Engineering in 2018.
I know you will all join me in congratulating Emma on her reappointment.
Support in times of conflict
This University always supports freedom of political expression, especially where human rights are at stake. For some members of our University community, their friends, colleagues and extended families face threats, violence and death in pursuit of freedoms we consider fundamental. Iran is one part of the world where the situation is extremely serious and many lives have already been destroyed. UNSW has extended support services to students and colleagues directly affected by the turmoil in Iran.
Support for students
Support for staff
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – free, confidential counselling and support services are available to all staff and their immediate family members.
There’s more to read in Inside UNSW…
- UNSW researchers have secured $4.7 million funding under the Medical Research Future Fund to investigate long COVID.
- Curiosity about the science behind spiders helped evolutionary biologist Dr Anastasia Shavrova overcome her arachnophobia. Read more in this edition’s staff profile.
- Sabrina Caldwell, Senior Lecturer at UNSW Canberra in ethics and technology, discusses four key perspectives of human-AI teaming in AI Insider.
- UNSW students and staff can now access the Sydney Morning Herald’s news and lifestyle content for free.
I look forward to seeing many of you around campus during O-Week next week, one of the highlights of the University calendar and one of my favourite times of the year.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor & President
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