This document summarizes the 2013 staff awards breakfast for the College of Design & Social Context at RMIT University. It provides awards to staff and faculty in each school for achievements in areas like research, teaching, leadership, and partnerships. Some notable award winners include Prof Leon van Schaik for research and service, Dr Larissa Hjorth for publishing, Craig Douglas and Dr Rosalea Monacella for founding the Office of Urban Transformation Research, and Shona McIntosh for building partnerships in the School of Education. The breakfast recognized over 30 individuals and teams for their contributions to their respective fields.

1. Staff Awards Breakfast
2013
College of Design & Social Context
2nd October 2013

2. School of Architecture & Design Award
Prof Leon van Schaik
For developing a practice based research program for architects and
designers, writing professional reviews for internationally recognised
architectural journals and serving on the Council’s Campus Development
Committee.
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3. School of Art Award
Prof Lesley Duxbury
For achieving the most quality creative works outputs in FoR 1905 and
contributing quality publications in FoR 2002 and ERA 2012, and for building
and supporting excellent research and supervising postgraduate research
candidates.
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4. School of Education Award
Dr Berenice Nyland
For being an outstanding researcher, prodigious author, Program Manager of
the Master of Education program and lecturer in early childhood programs
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5. School of Fashion and Textiles Award
Dr Jenny Underwood
For novel research into digital design processes of knitting and parametric
design, trans-disciplinary projects and working with architecture and industry
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6. School of Global Urban and Social Studies
Award
A/Prof Kim Humphery
For generous, intelligent, highly principled and effective research leadership
and administration; research and publication on ethical consumption and
associated topics and supporting staff in achieving their research goals.
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7. School of Global Urban and Social Studies
Award
Dr Craig Batty
For juggling strong research output in screen writing, with playing a key role in
capacity building; exhibiting a generosity of spirit in supporting colleagues and
building a positive and collaborative research culture.
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8. School of Property, Construction and Project
Management Award
Prof Derek Walker
For contributing to both the Masters and Doctor of Project Management
degrees; consistently producing prodigious and high quality research outputs
and amassing a huge national and international research network of successful
PhD candidates and peers.
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9. Overall Excellence Award
For publication or exhibition, income, partnerships,
supervision, leadership and mentoring
JOINT WINNERS:
Dr Heather Horst
For the first CI on ARC linkage; co-leading an internationally recognised
Research Centre, supervising Research Associates and PhD students and
mentoring
Prof Helen Lingard
For research focused on OHS and work-life balance in the construction
industry; leading an international research group at RMIT and an outstanding
grants track record
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10. Grants and Partnership Award
For research income and the establishment of significant
academic or industry research partnerships
JOINT WINNERS:
Dr Sarah Bekessy
For bringing in $386,118 and committed research income of $369,903, and
establishing a productive HDR team and securing partnerships
Dr Enda Crossin
For broad knowledge and exposure to the processing and properties of
materials, particularly ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Dr Karli Verghese
For specialising in research into life cycle assessment, packaging sustainability
and eco-design projects
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11. Publishing Award
For quality, quantity and ranking of journals or publishers
Dr Larissa Hjorth
For being completely outstanding with publications. Larissa is Co-Director of
the DERC which focuses on communication for development; art practice; civic
and community engagement; learning and literacies; design; locative and geo
social media; mobile communication and mobility; place; play and gaming and
new visualities.
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12. Exhibitions/Creative Outputs Award
For quality of outlet and productivity
JOINT WINNERS:
Peter Boyd
Peter is the Course Coordinator for Fashion Design Studio 5 which develops
students’ research, analytical, evaluative and practical skills.
Denise Sprynskyj
Denise is the Course Coordinator of Fashion Design Studio 7 (Applied) which
consolidates students’ knowledge and skills for a real world context.
Louise Weaver
For volume and quality of research outputs and inclusion in top 10 academics
contributing to FoR 1905. Louise is a Lecturer in Art and produces
installations, sculpture, paintings, drawings, prints, multiples, ceramics, glass,
photographs, digital and sound work.
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13. HDR Supervision Award
For completions and quality
Prof Leon van Schaik
For outstanding performance across enrolments, supervisor capacity and
completion
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14. Leadership Award
Setting directions, creating initiatives, building capacity and
inspiring others
JOINT WINNERS
A/Prof Robin Goodman
For strengthening ties between urban researchers and creating the agenda for
CUR and leading the AHURI teams in securing Cat 1 funding.
Dr Tania Lewis
For mentoring and supervising staff, leading, developing, networking, being
highly active across the DSC and being an outstanding leader.
Prof Kerry London
For mentoring staff, leading and developing new industry networks and being
highly active in leadership of new initiatives across DSC.
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15. Early Career Researcher Award
Best overall performance in the first five years since award
of PhD
JOINT WINNERS
Dr Aleksandra Acker
For developing a strong and consistent record of publication in quality journals
on music education either alone or with colleagues since 2008
A/Prof Jane Burry
For research on deployment of mathematics in contemporary spatial design
practice, digital design modelling and physical and digital architecture
Dr Laresa Kosloff
For quality international creative works including Venice Biennale and other
international events in New Zealand and Europe
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16. Frontier Award
For edgy innovative work that is right on the frontier
Philip Samartzis
For research into remote areas, holding the Australian Antarctica Fellowship
and a three-year study of indigenous communities in Western Australian and
Victorian art projects
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17. Global Award
For international partnerships and initiatives
JOINT WINNERS
Dr Quentin Stevens
For a leading track record of urban research at a global level
Prof Jo Tacchi
For contributing to growing research activity and creating a global network of
peers and partners for the benefit of Media and Communication colleagues
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18. Urban Award
For research directly related to solving problems associated
with cities
JOINT WINNERS
Craig Douglas and Dr Rosalea Monacella
For founding the Office of Urban Transformation Research (OUTR) which
explores design at the nexus of urban and natural environments through a
rigorous exploration of economic, environmental, and social complex systems
that constitute a city. Rosalea and Craig have over 35 ERA creative work and
HERDC publications as well as over $1.2 million dollars in research income
since OUTR’s inception.
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19. Connected Award
For partnership-building, liaison and connections with
industry, government and community
JOINT WINNERS
Dr Esther Charlesworth
For founding Director of Architects without Frontiers (Australia) and creating a
prodigious international and national network of researchers and a consistent
series of collaborative books and publications
Dr Geoff Hogg
For partnership with the City of Melbourne on grants and contributing to the
revival of contemporary Public Art, including street installation, projection,
integrated architecture and craft, banner making, processional objects and
large scale wall painting and drawing
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20. Design Award
Dr Florian Mueller
For research into the design of Exertion Games that require intense physical
effort from its players, which is situated within a broader interaction design
agenda that supports people’s values such as a healthy life.
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21. Technology Award
Dr Darrin Verhagen
For an innovation around sound art and perception project and for running the
Audiokinetic Experiments lab in the Sculpture, Sound and Spatial Practice
Studio. The lab uses motion simulators and 4D cinema seating to create and
audit works which explore the relationship between hearing, vision, movement
and vibration.
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22. Professional Staff Award
School of Architecture and Design
JOINT WINNERS
Brian Eckersley and Debbie Kufner
For their integral role during a major change project where they kept the
professional admin staff teams together; took on extra duties and directly
supported business critical operations through the change process.
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23. Professional Staff Award
School of Art
Bronwyn Hughes
For her extraordinary support in facilitating the Head of School’s transition from
overseas to RMIT, deep commitment and engagement with the everyday life of
the School at all levels and provision of help to staff and students above and
beyond the call of duty
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24. Professional Staff Award
School of Education
Elaine Goulding
For executing complex administrative duties with a quiet determination and an
extremely professional manner, consistently performing to a high level,
demonstrating initiative and team work and often undertaking accountabilities
outside the scope of her position. This includes the organisation of VCE exams
without the assistance of Central Services due to its unique governance model.
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25. Professional Staff Award
School of Fashion and Textiles
Antida Liistro
For providing an outstanding level of leadership and support to the School’s
administrative officers and academic staff, having a wonderful manner with
people and being willing to take on any task. On her own initiative and with
minimal support, Antida put together a suite of documentation aimed at
providing procedural structure to the new Course Assessment Committee's and
Program Assessment Boards. Once completed, this new documentation was
sent to the ARG for comment. The Academic Policy and Governance section of
the ARG was so impressed with Antida’s work, that she was asked to
participate in a series of presentations across the University where her work
was shown as an exemplar.
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26. Professional Staff Award
School of Global, Urban and Social Studies
Rosy Peake
Rosy Peake is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day learning & teaching
improvement initiatives and support services across GUSS. It is both a
complex and diverse role which spreads across both the Higher Ed and
VET/TAFE sectors.
Rosy’s professionalism, attention to detail, timeliness and confidentiality has
been outstanding. Rosy’s pro-activeness in identifying problems in advance
and providing creative solutions has become the normal practice within the
School. Rosy's dedication to and expertise in learning and teaching is well
known and respected by her peers and we are fortunate to have someone of
her calibre working with the School.
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27. Professional Staff Award
School of Media and Communication
Romy Kelly
For showing excellent leadership skills and initiative, professionalism and
passion in getting work completed through the teams she is managing in an
accurate and timely manner. Romy has also been very innovative in finding
solutions to business processes which support the academic delivery of
programs and student support.
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28. Professional Staff Award
School of Property, Construction and Project
Management
Alf Camilleri
For financial management support and acting as School Manager
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29. Professional Staff Award
Connectedness
Builds partnerships, encourages collaboration, collegiality and
team work
Shona McIntosh (School of Education)
For her dedication to developing new relationships and mending old ones and
delivering a customer focused service; demonstrating an ability to build
effective partnerships with key stakeholders; enabling her team to work
collaboratively so that common practice and efficiencies are achieved. In
Semester 1 2013 Shona and her team achieved what in the past seemed
impossible: all placements for the semester were arranged and documented
prior to the WIL placement period.
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30. Professional Staff Award
Innovative Practice
Conceives of, plans and implements initiatives that change the way things are
currently done to improve accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness
Elima Pozenel (School of PCPM)
For completing great work with our Employer of Choice program, which is a
unique program that has received a lot of interest from other areas within the
University, generating more than120 industry partners for the School of
Property Construction and Project Management
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31. Professional Staff Award
Resilience
Shows passion, energy and tenacity in repeated efforts to achieve a result
Julia Morieson (College office)
For her dedicated commitment, passion and drive to get the job done and
productive work with her colleagues in the College office, schools and service
areas to make sure we meet our various obligations. During audit periods her
work made a significant contribution to the DSC and the University and helped
ensure a squeaky clean AAA audit rating. Her tenacity is equally demonstrated
when it comes to academic administration where her efforts translate directly to
money ensuring we confirm all Student Contact Hours.
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