Photo: Lannon Harley.
Former Senator for the ACT, Susan Ryan (pictured) has been honoured by the Australian National University (ANU) by being named as its distinguished alumni at the 2018 ANU Alumni Awards.
Vice-Chancellor at ANU, Professor Brian Schmidt said Ms Ryan had been a formidable force in Australian society for decades and remained a powerful role model for women everywhere.
He said Ms Ryan, who graduated from the ANU in 1974, had been a tireless campaigner against all forms of discrimination and had contributed to the advancement of human rights in Australia in the areas of ageing, disability and equal opportunity.
“Ms Ryan had changed the lives of Australian women forever by introducing equal opportunity and affirmative action laws into Australia,” Professor Schmidt said.
“That’s why the ANU awarded her an Honorary Doctorate at the end of last year and I congratulate her on being named ANU Alumna of the Year for 2018.”
He said Ms Ryan became Australia’s first Age Discrimination Commissioner in 2011 and was appointed Disability Discrimination Commissioner in 2014; she was a founding member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and was elected to the ACT Assembly in 1974.
Professor Schmidt said in 1983 she became the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in a Federal Labor Government.
Ms Ryan said she came to study at the ANU almost by chance because women in those days went where their husband’s careers took them.
“I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to receive this award from the ANU,” Ms Ryan said.
