02 October 2025
Local leaders make up a small cohort of eminent South Australians who are receiving honorary doctorate degrees at the current University of South Australia graduation ceremonies.
(L-R) SA Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, Australian arts administrator Douglas Gautier AM and former UniSA Chancellor and now Adelaide University Chancellor, Pauline Carr.
Professor Nicola Spurrier was awarded an honorary doctorate yesterday in recognition of her outstanding services to South Australia. A respected leader in health, Prof Spurrier’s 30-year career spans clinical practice, academia, policy and leadership.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens APM LEM was also celebrated yesterday, receiving an honorary doctorate for distinctive services to the community through his 42-year career with South Australia Police (SAPOL).
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd welcomed Prof Spurrier to the UniSA community and congratulated Commissioner Stevens – a UniSA alumnus and previous Alumni Award winner – on his newest accolade.
“Chief Public Health Officer Professor Spurrier’s illustrious career included taking a leading role in the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where her calm and transparent manner earned her the respect of the South Australian community,” Prof Lloyd said.
“She has made an enormous contribution to the SA community through her services to health, including her prior roles as a paediatrician and leading policy and programs in child health, obesity prevention and Aboriginal health.
“Commissioner Stevens is another respected South Australian who is highly regarded within the public sector and the broader community, specifically for his integrity and commitment to community safety, and justice and reform.
“He has shaped SAPOL into a more responsive, inclusive and community-focused organisation, and helped SA emerge as a leader in areas such as domestic violence response and child protection enforcement.”
Honorary doctorates were also awarded to Douglas Gautier AM and Chancellor Pauline Carr.
An internationally recognised leader in the arts, Douglas Gautier AM has been the CEO and artistic director of the Adelaide Festival Centre since 2006 where he established major festivals and initiatives including OzAsia, the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, and First Nations arts programming.
He has grown the iconic Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has been responsible for bringing major productions to the state – all of which contributed to Adelaide’s honour as Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music.
Chancellor of the new Adelaide University and previous UniSA Chancellor, Pauline Carr has contributed her executive expertise in business improvement, governance, compliance and risk management to some of the nation’s most significant enterprises and ASX-listed companies.
Deeply committed to higher education and South Australia, Chancellor Carr’s leadership was integral to the complex negotiations and careful navigation that led to the creation of Adelaide University.
Two Fellows of the University were awarded to UniSA Council members Ian Richard Smith AM and Mary Patetsos AM, together with a posthumous Emeritus Professorship to Roger Eston, who pioneered the development of UniSA’s Invictus Pathways Program.
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Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au
