Staff excellence celebrated at Vice-Chancellor’s Recognition Dinner
18 July 2025
Staff from across the University have been celebrated for their efforts and achievements at the annual VC’s Recognition Dinner.

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland acknowledged the achievements of its staff at the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Recognition Dinner, held on Thursday 17 July at the Fale Pasifika.
Hosted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater, the dinner recognises academic and professional staff who have demonstrated exceptional performance in their roles across teaching, research, service and leadership.
“In recognising the achievements of academic and professional staff, we are reminded of our impact on New Zealand and the communities that support us. This is what we do,” said Professor Freshwater.
The event brought together staff from across faculties and service divisions, with formal citations presented by the Vice-Chancellor and the University’s senior leadership team.
See the full recipient list below.
New Zealand Honour | |
Professor Brian Anderson CNZM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Associate Professor Greg Anson ONZM | Science |
Professor Ian Bissett ONZM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Dr Makarena Dudley MNZM | Science |
Professor Matire Harwood KSM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Hunter KNZM | Auckland Bioengineering Institute |
Professor Helen Pilmore CNZM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Professor Phillippa Poole ONZM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Professor Rachel Simon-Kumar MNZM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Associate Professor Emma Scotter MNZM | Science |
International Award or Appointment | |
Mark Bentley | Alumni Relations and Development |
Professor Toni Bruce | Arts and Education |
Professor Felicity Goodyear-Smith | Medical and Health Sciences |
Professor Andrew Jeffs | Science |
Jeff Kennedy | Organisational Performance and Improvement |
Abigail McClutchie | Libraries and Learning Services |
Professor Nirmal Nair | Engineering and Design |
Professor Hinke Osinga | Science |
Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau | Office of the Vice-Chancellor |
Alistair Allan, Tristram Collett, Emmett Mackle, Simon Neale | B201 Redevelopment Team |
Aimee MacAskill, Sixtine Berquist, Stephanie Harris, Emily Taylor | Innovative Student Accommodation Promotional Campaign Team |
Peter Rachor, Dr Deborah Shepherd | Business and Economics Team |
Zoe Asensio Sanchez, Maria Baldoni, Tristram Collett, Emmett Mackle, Simon Neale, Michelle Padgett | Property Services Team |
Royal Society Honour or Appointment | |
Dr Timothy Angeli-Gordon | Auckland Bioengineering Institute |
Professor Charles Clifton CNZM | Engineering and Design |
Professor Stéphane Coen | Science |
Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer CNZM | Medical and Health Sciences |
Associate Professor Daniel Hikuroa | Arts and Education |
Professor Stuart McNaughton ONZM | Arts and Education |
Professor Snejina Michailova | Business and Economics |
Professor Mark Mullins | Arts and Education |
Professor Nicholas Rowe | Arts and Education |
Professor Mary Sewell | Science |
Professor Geoffrey Waterhouse | Science |
National Award or Prize | |
Professor Andrew Allan | Science |
Professor Mike Dragunow | Medical and Health Sciences |
Professor Miro Erkintalo | Science |
Professor Prasanna Gai | Business and Economics |
Tristan O’Hanlon | Science |
Dr Nicolette Rattenbury | Science |
Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh ONZM FRSNZ | Arts and Education |
Professor Cindy Farquhar CNZM, Dr Karyn Anderson, Dr Magdalena Bofill, Associate Professor Vanessa Jordan, Helen Nagels, Dr Lynn Sadler ONZM, Dr Marian Showell, Melissa Vercoe | Medical and Health Sciences Team |
Hine Busby, Geremy Hema, Dr Kimiora Henare, Tui Kaumoana Steedman, Gregg Pardoe, Jen Rogers, Haunui Royal | Liggins Institute Māori Research Advisory Group |
Valued Contribution to the University | |
Andrew Dawson | Arts and Education |
Susan Laurenson | Business and Economics |
Martin Ballard, Roger Butcher, Brendan Mosely, Simon Neale, Sean Smith | Hiwa Steering Group Team |
Catherine Burchill, Madeleine Gifford, Justin Horan, Manuhiri Huatahi, Avette Kelly | Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui Design Team |
Emily Hanna, Kerryn Patten | Organisational Performance & Improvement Team |
Thomas Berger, Blair Bethwaite, Nisha Ghatak, Nathalie Giraudon, Nick Jones, Jana Makar, Georgina Rae |
NeSI Team |
Dr Asma Shakil, Anna Trofimova | University Capstone Course Team |
Ashley Chi, Cindy Lee, Katalina Ma, Anaru Parangi, Liletina Vaka | Māori & Pacific UE Success Initiative Team |