University academics recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

Charles Clifton

Professor Charles Clifton has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to structural engineering.

A professor of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Design,  Clifton is an internationally recognised authority on the structural and fire response of multi-storey steel framed buildings and their construction.

As a structural engineer at Heavy Engineering Research Association in Auckland from 1983 to 2007, he established the structural steel service at a time when the use of steel in multi-level buildings was almost non-existent. He made major contributions to industry standards and research programmes, focusing on making steel-framed buildings both seismically resilient and reusable.

His innovations, including the now widely adopted sliding hinge joint, allow buildings to remain serviceable after earthquakes. This work contributed significantly to the rise of steel in high-rise construction, including much of the Canterbury rebuild. He also helped establish what is now Steel Construction New Zealand.

He has served on the Expert Advisory Group to the NIST National Fire Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and is widely published and internationally sought after as a speaker and visiting academic.

“This is a further well-deserved recognition of the high esteem in which Charles is held, and we are rightly proud to count him as one of our colleagues in the faculty,” says Faculty of Engineering and Design Dean, Richard Clarke.

Mark Thomas

Associate Professor Mark Thomas has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people living with HIV/AIDS and antibiotic research.

An infectious diseases physician in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Thomas has long been a leading advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS and a trusted authority on antibiotic use in New Zealand.

He began this work in the 1980s, advocating for better treatments and reduced stigma. He played a key role in founding and supporting the New Zealand Aids Foundation (now Burnett Foundation Aotearoa), delivered extensive educational sessions, and authored AIDS Explained, which continues to be used as a teaching resource within hospitals and universities.

Over his career, Thomas has advised on national infectious disease policies, supported community organisations and championed the responsible use of antibiotics to help combat antimicrobial resistance.

His research and public health initiatives have been instrumental in developing educational tools and shaping the New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan.

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences dean Warwick Bagg has congratulated Mark on "a well-deserved King's Birthday award".

"You have been an outstanding practitioner as an ID specialist and a great voice of reason with wonderful advice. I'm delighted your huge contribution has been recognised."

Patria Hume

Professor Patria Hume has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to sports science and injury prevention. An honorary professor at the University of Auckland’s Bioengineering Institute,  Hume is a leader in evidence-based interventions that have influenced best-practice policy and improved sports techniques worldwide.

A former international rhythmic gymnastics coach and judge, she established SportSmart in 1999, a nationwide injury prevention programme for ACC. She has led its review for 25 years, most recently assessing the programme across all New Zealand sporting bodies.

Hume was the inaugural director of the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ) and later established the Rugby Codes Research Group. In 2015, she led the Global Rugby Health Research programme, advancing concussion injury awareness and management.

Her contributions span multiple sports, including research in rowing, netball, sailing and gymnastics. She has also served on national and international boards including Drug Free Sport New Zealand and Sports Medicine New Zealand.

Rez Gardi

International human rights lawyer Rez Gardi has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to refugees and human rights advocacy.

A University of Auckland alumna and co-director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Education, Gardi was Young New Zealander of the Year in 2017.

She is also on the University’s 40 Under 40 list, which honours young alumni who shine in both their professional and personal lives.

Gardi's work has focused on advancing the rights and well-being of refugees, both in New Zealand and internationally. She was New Zealand’s first female Kurdish lawyer and the first Kurd to graduate from Harvard Law School, where she earned a Master of Laws as a Fulbright Scholar.

She is also the co-managing director for Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT), a global refugee-led organisation pushing for more effective refugee responses worldwide, and the founder of Empower, a refugee youth-led organisation focused on increasing access to education for refugee youth.