Honorary awards
Five people who have been leaders in their industry have been awarded Honorary Awards at the recent graduation ceremonies.
The Adelaide graduation ceremonies saw David Klingberg AO, Martin Albrecht AC and Professor Jarl Rosenhold awarded Honorary Doctorate degrees; and Professors Alan Reid and Marjory Ebbeck given the title of Emeritus Professor.
David Klingberg AO Klingberg was the Chancellor of UniSA from 1998-2008, using his business acumen, focus on results and attention to the bottom line, to put the Uni in a very strong position for future growth and development.
The strong relationships and networks that he established contributed to the realisation of a number of ambitious projects, all for the better of the community. He was the Chair of the Mawson Lakes Joint Venture and helped transform the precinct from a small campus in a paddock to a bustling, self-contained community.
He has also been involved with the University Foundation which manages the University’s philanthropic activities. With Klingberg’s help, the Foundation has raised about $15 million over the past 10 years, enabling scholarships for students of varying backgrounds.
Martin Albrecht AC Albrecht began his engineering career after studying at the South Australian Institute of Technology and went onto become a recognised leader in the construction and engineering industry.
Albrecht worked at one of Australia’s leading integrated engineering and construction organisations, Thiess, since 1984, rising from Operations Manager all the way through to Chief Executive Officer. He is also Chairman of Geodynamics, which focuses on developing renewable geothermal energy.
Since retiring from Thiess, Albrecht has been recognised for his commitment and dedication to education, the community and corporate social responsibility, and is involved with a number of boards and committees. He received the Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2002 for services to the construction industry.
Alan Reid Prof Reid worked at UniSA from 1987 until 2008. He started as a lecturer in Curriculum Studies and went on to hold the position of Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning.
During his time as Dean of Education, he applied for and won, on behalf of the Schools of Education, a $1.2 million government consultancy to write the first Year 12 South Australian curriculum. He was the Co-Director of the writing team, and the finished product continues to be the State’s compulsory curriculum.
In 2004, Prof Reid was awarded the MacKillop Medal for distinguished services to education, and was named by The Bulletin as one of Australia’s 10 smartest thinkers in education.
Marjory Ebbeck Prof Ebbeck was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor in recognition of her long serving and distinguished contribution to UniSA. At the end of 2008, she retired from her position as Professor of Early Childhood Education, after 22 years with the Uni.
She began her career at UniSA as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, and went on to hold several other positions including Head of School, and Dean of Campus.
She has been instrumental in establishing transnational programs for early childhood education that are now some of the University’s most successful transnational programs. Her work includes a range of programs from degree, to Masters and PhD level.
Jarl Rosenholm Prof Rosenholm is a Professor of Chemistry at Finland’s Åbo Akademi University with a distinguished career as a scientist, researcher and entrepreneurial leader. He has been awarded numerous awards of distinction throughout his career, but it is his links to UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute that has earned him the honorary title of Doctor of the University.
Prof Rosenholm has been a strong supporter of the Ian Wark Research Institute for many years. He has helped to establish a student exchange program between the Institute, UniSA and Åbo Akademi University, as well as more than 20 reciprocal research visits between them, and numerous joint publications.