2024 FBE/MBSL Deans' Excellence Awards

Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Awards

This award category was established in 2022 to recognise and celebrate individuals and groups who have made exceptional contributions to further the strategic objectives of FBE’s diversity and inclusion agenda.

The awards showcase the Faculty’s commitment to promoting and rewarding diversity and inclusion, reaffirming joint EQUIS and AACSB accreditations, aligning with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), and building awareness of the importance of advancing diversity and inclusion in practice.

Deputy Dean Professor Paul Jensen announced these awards on behalf of Assistant Dean (Diversity and Inclusion) Professor Flora Kuang.

Thought Leadership and Intellectual Contribution Award

This award recognises thought leadership and intellectual contribution including (but not limited to):

• Research to better understand how business education can promote and advance diversity and inclusion;
• Successful applications for major grants, Linkage Projects or equivalent across diversity and inclusion priority areas;
• Research that facilitates and supports thought leadership, dialogue/debate among stakeholders, media, civil society organisations, and/or other interested groups; or
• The development of effective research and/or strategies for engaging with industry and partners and jointly exploring effective approaches to meeting challenges in diversity and inclusion practices.

Awardees: Professor Hari Bapuji (Department of Management and Marketing) and Professor Isabel Metz (Melbourne Business School).

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion Award

This award recognises the promotion of diversity and inclusion including (but not limited to):

• Initiatives aimed at advancing diversity and inclusion internally or externally within communities for priority underserved groups;
• Development and implementation of policies and procedures that promote diversity and inclusion internally or externally;
• The implementation and/or support for events, programs, initiatives, policies, interventions, or alike, aiming to raise awareness and capability relating to diversity and inclusion; or
• Demonstration of exceptional leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion.

Awardees: Professor Carole Comerton-Forde (Department of Management and Marketing).

Faculty Executive Director's Awards for Professional Staff

These awards recognise the excellent performance of the professional staff of the Faculty of Business and Economics, their contribution to Faculty and University goals and priorities, and their commitment to the Faculty’s professional staff values: Collaboration, Respect, Inclusion, and Innovation.

Awardees: Uliana Buldakova (Student Experience Officer, Student Experience), Andrew Shortridge (Senior Manager, Accreditation), Michelle Leeson (Administrative Support Officer, Melbourne Institute), and Christopher Strong (Strategic Communications Manager (FBE, FOE, MLS), Advancement, Communications and Marketing).

Deans’ Research Awards

The Deans’ Awards recognise and reward excellence in research, research engagement and partnerships, research in business education, research training and lifetime exceptional distinction in research activities in FBE and MBS.

Associate Dean (Research) Associate Professor Michal Carrington presented the awards.

Prize for Exceptional Distinction in Research for Research Excellence at Level D-E

This award acknowledges research excellence by a researcher who published in a top-tier discipline journal in 2023 and showed exceptional distinction in research over two years or more.

Awardee: Dr Ferdi Botha (Melbourne Institute).

Prize for Exceptional Distinction in Research for Research Excellence at Level D-E

This award acknowledges research excellence by a researcher who published in a top-tier discipline journal in 2023 and showed exceptional distinction in research over two years or more.

Awardee: Professor Benjamin Avanzi (Department of  Economics).

Deans’ Teaching Excellence Awards

The awards allow us to celebrate the achievements of our academics in the classroom where they seek to maximise the learning outcomes of our students and engage them in a fully immersive learning experience. These experiences allow us to keep placing students at the heart of what we do – a cornerstone of the Advancing Melbourne strategy.

Teaching awards have long been used to foster an environment of teaching excellence in FBE. This year’s award recipients have shown resilience, fortitude, adaptability and innovation in their teaching. All of them have led student-centred teaching approaches in what continues to be an environment in considerable flux.

Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) Professor Peter Gahan presented awards and commendations.

Dean’s Excellence in Tutoring Award

This award recognises and rewards the valuable contribution of tutors to promoting excellent learning opportunities for our students in the faculty.

Awardees: Ashley Hanson (Department of Economics) and Dr Li Xie-Carson (Department of Management and Marketing).

Carol Johnston Outstanding Early Career Educator Award

This award recognises and rewards exceptional teaching by an early career academic.

Awardee: Associate Professor Minsoo Kim (Department of Finance).

Teaching and Learning Innovation Award

This award recognises innovative teaching and learning practices which have improved student experiences and learning outcomes.

Awardee: Dr Sarah Yang Spencer (Department of Accounting).

Ross Williams Career Achievement in Teaching Award

This award recognises and rewards the valuable career contributions of teachers in business and economics. The award recognises inspiring teachers who have motivated students to excel and have promoted excellent learning opportunities for our students in the faculty over a prolonged period. It is presented by Emeritus Professor Ross Williams.

Awardee: Professor Jill Klein (Melbourne Business School).