Victoria University of Wellington celebrates Queen’s Birthday Honours recipients

Victoria University of Wellington congratulates all staff, alumni, and friends who have been recognised in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Karen Smith, Associate Dean Teaching and Learning at Victoria Business School, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and volunteering. Professor Smith has both an academic and a personal interest in volunteering and is the former Chairperson of Volunteering New Zealand.

Several accomplished and influential alumni were also honoured, including Fran Walsh, co-screenwriter of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, who was made a Dame Companion of the Order for services to film. Prolific playwright Roger Hall became a Knight Companion of the Order for services to theatre, while former Councillor for the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Chief Review Officer of the Education Review Office, Dr Judith Aitken, was made a Companion of the Order.

Artist Edith Amituanai, whose work is currently being exhibited at the University’s Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, was also made a Member of the Order for services to photography and the community.

Victoria University of Wellington congratulates the following alumni, staff, and friends who were honoured:

THE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT

To be Dame Companion of the said Order (DNZM):
Ms Frances Rosemary Walsh (alumna), MNZM, for services to film.

To be Knight Companion of the said Order (KNZM):
Mr Roger Leighton Hall (alumnus), CNZM, QSO, for services to theatre.

To be Companion of the said Order (CNZM):
Dr Judith Estranna Aitken (alumna), QSO, for services to local government, the community and education.

To be Officers of the said Order (ONZM):
Mr Jeffrey Edward Connell (alumnus), for services to conservation.
Mr Ivan Kwok (alumnus), for services to the State.

To be members of the said Order (MNZM):
Professor Karen Alison Smith (staff), for services to education and volunteering.
Ms Allison Muriel Dobbie (alumna), for services to library and information management and the arts.
Mrs Jan Elizabeth Dowland (alumna), for services to people with intellectual disabilities.
Mr Jonathan William Mosen (alumnus), for services to the blind community.
Ms Nicole Dione Murray (alumna), for services to the community.
Professor Devon Leigh Logan Polaschek (alumna), for services to criminal psychology.

The Queen's Service Order (QSO):
Ms Helene Elizabeth Quilter (alumna), for services to the State.

The Queen’s Service Medal (QSM):
Mr Andrew Paul Bicknell (alumnus), for services to music.
Ms Kathryn Jane Orbell (alumna), for services to music.
Ms Kathryn Lesley Reid (alumna), for services to palliative care.
Mrs Rachel Ada Underwood (alumna), for services to the community.