The University of Western Australia has a continual roll call of awards, scholarships and prizes presented to staff and students.

To recognise these achievements, an article is published on the UWA news page on the website and in UWA Forward on the first week of every month. If you know of great awards or achievements across the University please email [email protected].

Name: Rana Munns

Achievement: Emeritus Professor Rana Munns, from UWA's School of Molecular Sciences and the ARC Centre for Plant Energy Biology, has been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences. Professor Munn's research characterised the critical plant processes involved in tolerance of salinity and showed what distinguishes salinity stress from drought stress. The research produced a technique for identifying salt tolerant plants and the discovery of genes for sodium exclusion. She led a research team on the genetic and physiological basis of salt tolerance in durum wheat, which resulted in developing a breeding line which yields 25 per cent more than its parent on saline soils. Members are elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive.

Name: Jason Beringer

Achievement:  Professor Jason Beringer, from UWA School of Agriculture and Environment and Centre for Water and Spatial Science, has retired. His research focused on understanding how ecosystems and the services they provide respond to climate change and disturbance to enable a fundamental basis for their future management. Professor Beringer developed and led the Land-Ecosystem-Atmosphere Processes and Interactions group, which is a skilled multidisciplinary team undertaking a research program to determine how the Australian terrestrial biosphere will respond to climate and land use change. The focus is on the major ecosystem cycles (water, carbon, and nitrogen), biotic composition and ecological community structure for understanding changes in the provision of ecosystem services and the impacts of people and a changing climate.

Name: Albert Farrugia

Achievement:  Clinical Professor Albert Farrugia, from the UWA Medical School, became the first Australian to receive the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) International Award for Outstanding Service. Established in 2010, the award is given to an individual or an organisation who has demonstrated outstanding service to the WFH and the bleeding disorders community. Professor Farrugia is a globally respected expert whose work has helped shape the safety and regulation of blood and blood products. Originally from Malta and now based in Australia, he has dedicated his career to strengthening systems that ensure safer treatment for patients – work that is also deeply personal, as he lives with mild hemophilia A and lost his brother to hemophilia 57 years ago. He played a pivotal role in the development of the Australian Blood Transfusion Services. The award was presented during the opening ceremony of the WFH 2026 World Congress.

Name: Australian Plant Phenomics Network, Biodiversity Genomics, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space

Achievement:  The University of Western Australia’s ‘Wild Plants, Big Harvests & Cosmic Super Crops’ stall won the  Silver Medal for Best in Show at the Perth Garden Show. The stall was a cross-disciplinary effort that showcased the importance of climate-resilient urban green spaces, sustainable plants in space and on Earth, and ways to tackle real-world agricultural challenges. The event highlighted the importance of plant science capturing the public's imagination and sparking conversations about the future of food, sustainability and exploration. Congratulation to everyone involved in designing, building and communicating the engaging and forward-looking display.

Name:  Fiona Wood

Achievement: Professor Fiona Wood AM, from UWA Medical School, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Burns Association. The award is in recognition of her more than three decades as a burns surgeon and researcher and was presented in Orlando, Florida at the American Burns Association 2026 annual meeting. As Director of the Burns Service of Western Australia, she has been a leader her field and is recognised internationally in burns care.  In 2002, Professor Wood became a household name when she led the Royal Perth Hospital team to treat victims of the Bali bombings with a spray-on skin solution she developed. Professor Wood is a consultant plastic surgeon at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital, co-founder of the first skin cell laboratory in WA and co-founder of the Fiona Wood Foundation.

Name: Jason Charng, Debora Correa, Yulianna Shiikha, Daniel Doh, Tobias Penno, Sipho Sibanda, Melissa Dinnison, Dougie Nelson, Meiju Fei, Erin Lloyd, Francis Lynch, Ryan Pain, Saeideh Sekhavat, Laura Skates and Brock Stannard-Brown.

Achievement: Dr Jason Charng, from the  School of Health and Clinical Sciences (Optometry); Dr Debora Correa, from the School of Maths, Physics and Computing; Dr Yulianna Shiikha, from the School of Health and Clinical Sciences (Pharmacy); Dr Daniel Doh, Mr Tobias Penno and Sipho Dr Sibanda, from the School of Health and Clinical Sciences (Social Work); Mrs Melissa Dinnison and Mr Dougie Nelson, from the Law School; Ms Meiju Fei, from the Business School; Dr Erin Lloyd, from the School of Human Sciences; Mr Francis Lynch, from McCusker Centre for Citizenship; Mr Ryan Pain, from UWA College;  Ms Saeideh Sekhavat, from the School of Engineering; Dr Laura Skates, from the School of Biological Sciences; and Mr Brock Stannard-Brown, from the Centre for Integrity and Impact in Teaching Excellence – Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) were awarded Fellowships of the Higher Education Academy. The Fellowship Scheme supports academic and professional staff to receive recognition for their excellence in teaching and/or learning support.  The Fellows enhance the student experience by reflecting on and understanding how students learn and the impact of their teaching and learner support.

Name: Amy Page, Saeed Anwar, Donella Caspersz, Marinella Caruso, Penny Comino, Catherine Crabb, Simone Duncan, Mohammed El-Hakim, Mostafa Elkholy, Mohammed Junaid, Kirsty Freeman, Barbara Nattabi, Ali Ogilvie, Brid Phillips, Sandra Salter, Kate Wang and Kerry Whitelaw.

Achievement: Dr Saeed Anwar, from the School of Maths, Physics and Computing; Associate Professor Donella Caspersz, from the Business School; Dr Marinella Caruso, from the School of Humanities; Ms Penny Comino, from the School of Molecular Sciences, Ms Catherine Crabb, from the School of Health and Clinical Sciences (Podiatric Medicine); Dr Simone Duncan, from the School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Mohammed El-Hakim, Dr Mostafa Elkholy and Dr Mohammed Junaid, from the Dental School; Associate Professor Kirsty Freeman, from the Medical School at Rural Clinical School of WA; Dr Barbara Nattabi, from the School of Population and Global Health, Ms Ali Ogilvie, Education, Innovation and Enterprise – Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Student Experience; Dr Brid Phillips, from the School of Health and Clinical Sciences (Nursing and Midwifery); and Associate Professor Sandra Salter, Dr Kate Wang and Ms Kerry Whitelaw, from the School of Health and Clinical Sciences (Pharmacy) were awarded Senior Fellowships of the Higher Education Academy. Associate Professor Amy Page, Director of  Centre for Optimisation of Medicines from the School of Health and Clinical Sciences, received the Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy from Advance HE. An event to celebrate UWA Excellence in Teaching Awards is on Monday 23 November from 3pm to 6pm in the Banquet Hall at The University Club of UWA.

Congratulations UWA staff, alumni and students.