Prominent ANU academic has been recognised for his contribution to Australia in the latest Queen’s Birthday Honours list, with Distinguished Professor of Engineering Brian Anderson receiving the nation’s top honour.
Professor Anderson has been appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) for his role as a teacher and researcher, adding to his appointment as an Officer (AO) 20 years ago.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC congratulated the latest recipients and all ANU alumni who have been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
“To be recognised in the Order of Australia is a great honour and wonderful recognition of the great contribution to Australia and society,” Professor Schmidt said.
“On behalf of the University, I congratulate Brian, John, Vincent and Denis, and the friends and family of Mike Raupach, for their magnificent contribution to the University and to Australia.
Professor Anderson first came to ANU in late 1981 and was a driving force behind the formation of NICTA (National ICT Australia), where he was its first Chief Executive officer and where he remains a Distinguished researcher.
He has also served as President of the Australian Academy of Science and on the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.
The citation says his award is: “For eminent service to information and communications technology, to engineering and to higher education, as an academic, researcher and author, to professional scientific associations, and as a mentor of young scientists”.
Professor Anderson said he was delighted and surprised by the honour.
“It was a very big surprise. I’ve just been minding my own business as a research professor for the past 10 years. My achievements are much less than a Frank Fenner, or Nobel Laureate like Brian Schmidt, so it was a great surprise,” he said.
“I am also very very grateful for the ANU as an institution. It provided a framework where I could do lots of different things, pursue my own research agenda and work on other projects such as NICTA and the PM’s Science Council.
“I never did anything by myself. It was always with a great group of people, including students and fellow scientists. So I am so grateful to the ANU.”
Professor Anderson also paid special tribute to his wife Dianne for her steadfast support for his career.
“Dianne has been an enormous support, and she has sacrificed quite a lot. She has been critical to the whole enterprise.”