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Emeritus Professors

The titles of Emeritus Professor and John Curtin Distinguished Emeritus Professor are awarded to a Professor who is within six months of retirement from the University, and has demonstrated a distinguished service to research, learning and teaching and has raised the profile of the University, nationally and internationally.

More information on the John Curtin Distinguished Emeritus Professors and the Emeritus Professor’s Forum can be found below.

Emeritus Professors

Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne (second from left) with Emeriti Professors Steering Committee (L-R) Dr Brian Evans, Dr Joanna Waddell (née Barker) and Dr Mervyn Lynch at the final 2025 Emeriti Professors Forum and Sundowner.

This year’s event also honoured Jo and Merv, who are concluding their time on the Steering Committee, after leaving their enduring mark on Curtin and the broader community through decades of leadership, innovation and service.

The criteria for the award are that the nominee:

  1. is normally within six months of retirement from academia or has retired from Curtin University for no more than six months; and
  2. held the title of Professor at Curtin University (which includes global campuses) at the time of their retirement; and
  3. has demonstrated distinguished service and commitment to the University over a period of normally five years of continuous service prior to retirement; and
  4. is respected by their peers and colleagues, their discipline/profession and the community.

John Curtin Distinguished Emeritus Professors

The criteria for the award are that the nominee:

  1. is normally within six months of retirement from academia or has retired from Curtin University for no more than six months; and
  2. held the title of John Curtin Distinguished Professor at Curtin University (which includes global campuses) at the time of their retirement; and
  3. has demonstrated distinguished service and commitment to the University over a period of normally five years of continuous service prior to retirement; and
  4. is respected by their peers and colleagues, their discipline/profession and the community.
The previous Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry and previous Provost, Professor John Cordery, with Emeritus Professors Peter O’Leary, Andy Lee, Graham Seal and Simon Forrest.

Emeritus Professor’s Forum

The Curtin Emeritus Professor’s Forum is a quarterly lecture which aims to foster community connection through networking and the common interest topic. The Forum also helps colleagues build advocacy for change whether through government lobbying, influencing private and public funding for research, developing new research interests, and provides support for other university outreach activities where appropriate.