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: Diane Smith-Gander

Achievement: UWA Chancellor Diane Smith-Gander AO FAICD received the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Gold Medal Award at the institute’s WA Annual Lunch. The medal was one of three 2026 WA Director Awards announced during the event. Dr Smith-Gander, who in 2025 became the first female chancellor of UWA, also chairs Perenti, Zip Co and HBF Health. David Lock, FAICD, acting president of the AICD WA Division Council, said the award recognised an individual who had made an outstanding and enduring contribution to corporate life in Western Australia. Accepting the award, Dr Smith-Gander called it “an absolute joy to be acknowledged by my peers,” and said the practice of directorship had rarely mattered more, pointing to geopolitical uncertainty and the disruption posed by artificial intelligence.

Name: Davis Atkin and Iona Anderson

Achievement: UWA students Davis Atkin and Iona Anderson are recipients of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athlete Education Scholarships. Iona, a Bachelor of Commerce student, is a Glasgow Commonwealth Games women's 100 backstroke gold medallist. Iona said her degree provided ger with leadership skills and management insights which she can implement into my training as she navigates her sporting career. "Receiving financial assistance not only helps me manage educational expenses but also allow me to dedicate more time and energy to my swimming career, including training, competitions, and recovery," Iona said. Davis is a Master of Public Health student and field hockey player was called into the Kookaburras squad for the first time in 2023. Davis said his studies strengthened analytical thinking, discipline, and evidence-based decision-making — skills that enhanced both his performance as an athlete and capacity to contribute meaningfully beyond sport. "This grant directly contributes to my ability to sustain a dual-career pathway, ensuring I can continue developing as an athlete while investing in long-term professional qualifications," David said. "It would strengthen my capacity to represent Australian sport at a high level while preparing for meaningful contribution beyond my competitive career."

Name:  Shawn Raphael Tan, David Lim and Rawdah Juma'at

Achievement:  Dr Shawn Raphael Tan, from UWA’s School of Population and Global Health, Dr David Lim, from UWA’s Dental School, and Rawdah Juma'at, from the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), have been awarded Fellowships of the Higher Education Academy Advance HE through UWA’s Centre for Integrity & Impact in Teaching Excellence.  Advance HE partners with higher education institutions worldwide to enhance outcomes for staff, students and society. Dr Tan's application highlighted his theoretical approach to the design and planning of learning activities using a social constructivist approach. He applies Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of learning and UDL principles, a framework designed to optimise teaching and learning by addressing human variability and removing barriers in educational environments, to achieve his outcomes. Dr Lim uses a strategic approach to curriculum development in Special Needs Dentistry, particularly in his use of constructive alignment, cross-module collaboration, and ongoing refinement based on student and staff feedback. His design of the international webinar series demonstrates a strong awareness of diverse learner contexts, including differences in geography, language, and professional experience.  Ms Juma'at uses evidence-based, best-practice approaches and demonstrates an ability to critically reflect on education. Her application highlighted her use of constructive alignment, Universal Design for Learning, feedback literacy and assessment-validity scholarship. Her attention to the hidden curriculum, clarity, equity and digital learning environments, and collaborative work with unit coordinators was also noted.

Name: Michaela Lucas and Piyush Grover

Achievement:  UWA Medical School’s Professor Michaela Lucas and oncologist Dr Piyush Grover have been named as finalists in this year’s North Metropolitan Health Service Going the Extra Mile (GEM) Awards in the Driving Innovation Category. They were recognised for their work exploring allergy to anti-cancer drugs and the impacts on those who experience them. The GEM Awards are designed to recognise people and teams that go over and above to provide high-quality service to patients, the organisation and the broader community.

Name: Amelia Harray

Achievement: UWA Medical School’s Dr Amelia Harray has been named a national finalist for 2026 FameLab Australia, hosted by WA Museum Boola Bardip. Created in 2007 by Cheltenham Festivals in the United Kingdom and now held in more than 40 countries, FameLab is the world’s leading science communication competition. Competitors have three minutes to explain their work in clear, engaging language, using only the props they can carry on stage, and are judged on the three Cs of FameLab: Content, Clarity and Charisma. Dr Harray, an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Nutritionist and Clinical Researcher, was recognised for her dynamic talk focused on whether a low-plastic diet and lifestyle impacts health. She will compete at the national final on Thursday 24 September, with the winner to represent Australia at FameLab International in front of a global audience.

Congratulations UWA staff, alumni and students.

Image top: (L-R) Chancellor Diane Smith-Gander, Shawn Raphael Tan, David Lim and Rawdah Juma'at, Dr Amelia Harray