Her Majesty the Queen recognised the skills and commitment of a wide range of staff members in the Victorian Public Service on Australia Day this week (26 January) rewarding them with honours for their outstanding service, achievements, leadership and innovation in serving the people of the State.
The honours were released on Her Majesty’s behalf by the Governor-General, his Excellency General David Hurley, and include among other awards the PS-only honour, the Public Service Medal.
The honoured Victorian PS staff on Australia Day 2021 were:
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Michael Panormitis PAKAKIS AM
For significant service to STEM education in Victoria.
Mr Pakakis was founding Director of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Victorian Space Science Education Centre and has served it since 2006.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
Wilma Veronica CULTON PSM
For outstanding public service to education in Victoria.
Ms Culton has shown outstanding commitment to improving student outcomes at Serpell Primary School in her role as Principal, as well as across the Victorian school system.
The high regard she is held in as an educator saw her selected for the state-wide advisory group of principals, responsible for a system-wide strategy for school improvement.
Ms Culton, throughout her career, has devoted herself to mentoring staff and colleagues locally and internationally, and has been prolific in elevating others into leadership positions across the Victorian Department of Education and Training.
Lynn GLOVER PSM
For outstanding public service to education and training in Victoria.
Ms Glover, in her role as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), was instrumental in the establishment and development of the regulatory authority’s form and functions.
Under her leadership, the VRQA is recognised as an effective and trusted regulatory authority, ensuring quality education and training in Victoria and safe educational experiences for students across the state.
Ms Glover has provided dedicated and exemplary service to the Department of Education and Training in Victoria, and to the wider community.
Fern Michele HAMES PSM
For outstanding public service to nature conservation in Victoria.
Ms Hames is an exceptional science communicator with an international reputation in the application and interpretation of conservation research to the wider community.
She has developed and implemented innovative new programs in environmental education and citizen science, and has helped craft policy and decision making at the highest levels in Victoria.
Following the 2009 bushfires, Ms Hames supported the recovery of the community of Marysville and the conservation of the threatened fish species.
Ms Hames has provided dedicated and exemplary service to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and to the community, throughout her career.
David Colin HOWES PSM
For outstanding public service to education in Victoria.
Dr Howes has had an outstanding career in the education sector for over 33 years. He has undertaken a range of positions including as a teacher, researcher, administrator and system leader.
With a strong commitment to education reform, he has led key change strategies in curriculum, assessment and student learning.
Dr Howes’ ability to lead during a time of crisis, including during the 2019-2020 Victorian Bushfires, has enabled the Victorian Department of Education and Training to effectively continue to deliver educational equity and excellence for Victoria’s school students.
Ian John IRESON PSM
For outstanding public service to land titles process and product innovation in Victoria.
Mr Ireson’s vision and exceptional leadership has delivered the most significant reform of Victoria’s Torrens land titles system since its establishment in 1862.
The transition to electronic processing of conveyancing transactions took place while maintaining the integrity and efficacy of the land titles system crucial to Victoria’s economy and has helped place the state’s land titles system as one of the most advanced in the world. His expertise is highly recognised and regarded, and his advice is often sought when implementing similar transformations to land titles systems.
Mr Ireson has provided dedicated and exemplary service to the public sector in Victoria which has greatly benefitted the wider community.
Anthony Philip MURPHY PSM
For outstanding public service to vocational education and training in Victoria.
Mr Murphy has made a lasting contribution to the vocational education and training sector in Victoria, particularly in his role as Executive Director, Automotive Centre of Excellence and later as Executive Director, Student Journey Transformation at Bendigo Kangan Institute.
Amongst his many achievements, he is most recognised for leading the creation and operation of the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE). He was instrumental in garnering support from industry and government to develop the state of the art automotive facility. Under his leadership, ACE has transformed the automotive training industry and is a model for other similar centres around the world.
Mr Murphy has provided dedicated and exemplary service to the Victorian public service, and to community education.
Karyn Lee MYERS PSM
For outstanding public service to youth justice custodial services in Victoria.
Ms Myers has made an outstanding contribution to improving services and care to vulnerable children and young people in custody.
In extremely challenging and complex circumstances she has led key initiatives to improve the lives of young offenders, including expanding education opportunities, and strengthening mental health and rehabilitation treatment programs.
Ms Myers’ dedication and commitment to Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety, and to young Victorians at-risk, has been exemplary.
An Luu NGUYEN PSM
For outstanding public service to major infrastructure delivery in Victoria.
Ms Nguyen has successfully kept Victoria at the forefront of major infrastructure procurement and financing, ensuring that the state is a preferred destination for Australian and international capital to invest.
Her leadership helped Victoria navigate the Global Financial Crisis and enabled projects to be successfully delivered, despite the challenges in financial markets at the time.
Ms Nguyen has had an influential role in a broad range of major infrastructure projects that will serve Victorians for many decades, and her dedication and commitment to the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance has also been exemplary.
