The 2025 AHEIA Higher Education Awards were presented by MC Jane Booth on 21 May 2025 at the AHEIA Conference in Sydney.

Launched in 2024, these awards recognise and celebrate the vital contributions of professional staff within Australia's higher education sector. They acknowledge the talent, innovation and dedication demonstrated by university professionals who play essential roles in advancing higher education outcomes.

The individuals and teams recognised in 2025 have shown outstanding initiative, delivered meaningful outcomes and exhibited strong potential for future leadership through innovative thinking, collaborative approaches and commitment to excellence.

The Rising Star Award

This award recognises emerging talent who have shown exceptional capability within their first five years in higher education. Our winner has impressively reduced a significant complaint backlog while maintaining procedural fairness, established clear processes for HR partners, and demonstrated leadership by fostering team unity across multiple campuses.

2025 Winner: Bronte Buesnell, Senior Employee Relations Specialist, Charles Sturt University

Workplace Relations Excellence Award

This award acknowledges innovative approaches to workplace relations strategies that support university success. Our winning team revised their Enterprise Agreement to empower management, implemented a comprehensive health and safety system with a groundbreaking Critical Risk Management Framework and dramatically reduced workers' compensation claims and costs through proactive management.

2025 Winner: Southern Cross University, accepted by Brendan Pearce, Director, Workplace Relations on behalf of the team

Workplace Culture Excellence Award

This award acknowledges initiatives that have created measurable improvements in workplace culture through diversity programs, staff wellbeing, and development frameworks. Our winning team has created an inclusive workplace environment, dramatically improved support systems, and significantly increased both staff engagement and disclosure rates. Their COO and Vice President noted: 'I have directly witnessed the transformative impact their initiatives have had on our workplace culture. The work represents the best of what we aspire to be as an institution.'

2025 Winner: The Inclusion Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Team - RMIT University, accepted by Tara Waller, Director Employee Experience and Capability on behalf of the IDEA Team - Mat Lewis and Carla Rawlins

Workplace Innovation Excellence Award

This award recognises breakthrough innovations that have transformed operations, services or outcomes in higher education through programs such as digital transformation, strategic talent acquisition, environmental sustainability, process improvement, and change management.

Our winning team demonstrated exceptional innovation by redesigning a critical administrative system to meet new legislative requirements. They achieved the remarkable feat of rebuilding a complex enterprise system in just three weeks instead of the typical eight. Their collaborative approach ensured zero critical issues during launch, with stakeholders commenting that the transition was seamless. Beyond technical excellence, they created a community of practice where ongoing improvements are continuously implemented based on user feedback.

2025 Winner: Casual Administration System team, UniSA, accepted by Natalie Black, Deputy Director, Advisory Services

Enterprise Bargaining Excellence Award 

This award acknowledges outstanding achievement in enterprise bargaining within the higher education sector. Recipients have demonstrated excellence in negotiation, stakeholder engagement and strategic thinking to achieve positive outcomes through collaborative relationships, innovative solutions and sustainable agreements that benefit both staff and the university.

Our winning team has achieved remarkable results through strategic negotiation. They successfully rewrote or substantially revised approximately 35% of their legacy agreement, creating a more streamlined document that reduced length by around 20% while improving clarity.

Their innovative approach to dispute resolution and consultation procedures has removed barriers to change while still maintaining appropriate staff protections. By aligning leave provisions with National Employment Standards and addressing known sector-wide compliance issues, they've created a framework that supports both financial sustainability and operational efficiency.

2025 Winner: Southern Cross University, accepted by Brendan Pearce, Director, Workplace Relations on behalf of the team

Lifetime Achievement Award 

This award honours individuals who have made sustained, significant contributions to Australian higher education throughout their career. Recipients, whether in frontline, specialist or leadership roles, have demonstrated outstanding commitment to excellence over numerous years in the sector, creating lasting positive impact through their work, mentorship and advancement of professional staff capabilities in higher education.

The judges were unable to separate two of the nominations in this category, so after referring to the Awards Committee, it was agreed they should both be acknowledged.

The first winner tonight has demonstrated extraordinary expertise in employee relations for over two decades. They've successfully managed complex ER cases with respect and diligence, led multiple enterprise agreement negotiations, and contributed significantly to university-wide strategic initiatives. Their calm considered approach and personal authenticity have made them a trusted advisor across their institution. They've generously shared knowledge with colleagues across the sector, building relationships of trust with union representatives while effectively advancing their university's interests.

2025 Winner: Donna Cuthbert, Senior Employment Relations Specialist, Edith Cowan University

The second Lifetime Achievement recipient has been a transformative force in higher education workforce reform for over 22 years. They've led major organisational restructures, implemented innovative enterprise agreements, and pioneered new academic career pathways now widely adopted across the sector. Their strategic vision established new models for online education and academic leadership. Most recently, they've been instrumental in the unprecedented creation of a new university through a merger, successfully managing the transition of 9,000 staff without service disruption. Throughout their career, they've balanced strategic outcomes with people-focused policies that improve conditions for staff at all levels.

2025 Winner: Mark Gladigau, Deputy Director: Workforce Strategy and Transformation, UniSA

Leadership Excellence Award 

This award recognises senior leaders at the CPO, VP or Director level who have demonstrated exceptional vision, influence and achievement in advancing their university's mission and the broader higher education sector. Recipients have successfully led significant change initiatives, fostered innovation and developed high-performing teams, creating measurable positive impact on performance and culture.

The winner has been described as truly transformative in their approach to human resources. They've championed staff wellbeing, workplace equity and strategic organisational development with unwavering commitment. Their leadership has modernised workforce practices during periods of sector-wide uncertainty, balancing empathy with strategic foresight. They've fostered a culture built on trust, collaboration and shared purpose while contributing to national forums and cross-institutional initiatives. As their Vice Chancellor noted, they exemplify the kind of leadership our sector needs—compassionate, strategic and deeply committed to the betterment of others.

2025 Winner: Barbara Miller, Executive Director, People and Culture, CQ University, accepted on Barbara's behalf by Sharon Parr

Awards Committee

AHEIA would like to acknowledge and thank the Awards Committee for their important contribution in developing these awards:

· Kim Franks, Vice President People and Culture, Southern Cross University

· Martin Sainsbury, Chief People and Culture Officer, University of Newcastle

· Deborah Walker, Director, People and Culture, University of the Sunshine Coast

2025 Judging Panel

On behalf of the committee, we'd also like to acknowledge the panel of judges who evaluated the nominations:

· Charles Sturt University: Maria Crisante and Lisa Forstner

· Southern Cross University: Kath Drew and Mark Krnjaic

· Western Sydney University: Kirsty Dwyer

· The University of Southern Queensland: Jacinta Forsyth

· The University of Newcastle: Ruth Hartmann

· University of South Australia: Sarah Holling

· Griffith University: Chris Reilly

· The University of Western Australia: Drew Williams

· Monash University: Angelo Yoannidis