UQ celebrates outstanding community members in July graduations

Global leaders in science, law, engineering and education have been conferred honorary awards by The University of Queensland during mid-year graduation ceremonies.   

Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, The Honourable Peter Applegarth AM KC, biotechnology entrepreneur Dr Roslyn Hendriks and distinguished engineer and educator Emeritus Professor John Simmons AM FTSE were awarded honorary doctorates for their exceptional contributions to the community.

Emeritus Professor Tracey Bunda AM was presented with one of the University’s most prestigious honours, the R.H. Roe Award, in recognition of her commitment to Indigenous education.

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AC said the awards were an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of exceptional individuals. 

“Mr Applegarth, Emeritus Professor Simmons and Dr Hendriks have each made a considerable impact across the course of their careers,” Professor Terry said.

“Their contributions across the judiciary, biotechnology startups and aerospace engineering are impressive. 

“We are also thrilled to acknowledge Emeritus Professor Bunda AM and her decades of service to the University and significant advancement of Indigenous education and empowerment.” 

Nominations for UQ Honorary Awards remain open year-round.

The Honourable Peter Applegarth AM KC

Renowned jurist and legal scholar The Honourable Peter Applegarth AM KC has made exceptional contributions to the law, the judiciary and social justice throughout his career. 

While representing media organisations during the Fitzgerald Inquiry in Queensland he helped defend press freedom and the public disclosure of evidence of corruption, contributing to major democratic and legal reforms. 

Mr Applegarth served as Chair of the Queensland Law Reform Commission from 2020-2023, before retiring from the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2024. He generously volunteers his expertise and time to support emerging members of the legal profession through lecturing and as a patron of the UQ Pro Bono Centre.
 

Dr Roslyn Hendriks

Dr Roslyn Hendriks is an accomplished entrepreneur and highly respected leader in the field of biotechnology. She has advanced innovative health technologies, particularly in early disease detection.

Dr Hendriks co-founded and served as Founding CEO of 3 startups – Genetrax in Australia and Immunexpress and Tend Health in the United States. 

As Founding CEO of Immunexpress, Dr Hendriks led the development of SeptiCyte technology, the first RNA-based multiplex molecular diagnostic to be cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration for infectious disease. The technology transformed diagnostics by enabling rapid sepsis diagnosis.

 

Emeritus Professor John Simmons AM FTSE

Distinguished mechanical engineer and academic Emeritus Professor John Simmons AM FTSE has made significant contributions to the field of aerospace, vibration engineering and engineering education. 

After joining UQ in 1972, he served as Professor, Dean of Engineering and later Head of the School of Engineering from 1990 to 2004. His accomplished career includes conducting research for NASA in laser optics, holographic camera design and diffraction interferometry.

Emeritus Professor Simmons’ leadership transformed engineering education and strengthened the University’s research standing, positioning UQ as a global leader in hypersonic aerodynamics.
 

Emeritus Professor Tracey Bunda AM

A proud Ngugi/Wakka Wakka woman, Emeritus Professor Tracey Bunda AM has been a leading voice in Indigenous education and a passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for more than 30 years. 

As a Professor of Indigenous Education at UQ from 2019-2026, she championed the integration of Indigenous perspectives and methodologies into higher education, along with research that has shaped pedagogy across Australia’s higher education sector. 

Emeritus Professor Bunda has authored numerous books, chapters, articles and conference papers but her greater legacy is the impact of her teaching on Australia’s future leaders and her mentorship of the next generation of young Indigenous scholars.