Australia Day honours for UTAS staff
Three great Peters honoured
Two current UTAS staff members and one former staffer have been honoured this Australia Day: Professor Peter Davies, Dr Peter Smith and Mr Peter Byers.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania, Professor Peter Rathjen, extended his congratulations to the three.
“The tireless commitments to science, education, the arts and business shown by Prof Davies, Dr Smith and Mr Byers is to be commended,” he said.
“The honours they have received on Australia Day are much deserved, and their connection to with the university fills us with pride.”
Mr Peter Byers was honoured for service to educational administration, to the arts and to business. Mr Byers was Business Manager and Deputy Principal at UTAS from1981-1993.
He was President of the Federation of Australian University Staff Associations, for three years in the 1970s and Executive Member for 20 years. He was also Founding Director and Chairman, Investment Committee, Superannuation Scheme for Australia Universities (UniSuper).
Mr Byers was also Founding Chair of the Zootango Theatre Company and Founding Chair, Tasmanian Dance Company (Tasdance). He is Chair of the Tasmanian Design Development Company (now DOT).
Among his many achievements, Mr Byers was responsible for the redevelopment of the former IXL Jam Factory in Hunter Street, Hobart for the UTAS School of Art, a national prize-winning project.
Professor Peter Davies, Professor at the UTAS Centre for Environment and Adjunct Professor with the School of Zoology, was honoured for his ongoing work in freshwater ecology for 30 years.
He has been recognised for his contribution and service to conservation and the environment as a highly regarded scientist who has “contributed to national water policy development and through research of Australia’s rivers and waterways.
As founder of Freshwater Systems, Australia’s first science consultancy to focus exclusively on freshwater ecological issues, Prof Davies has maintained a core philosophy of achieving and facilitating genuine environmental outcomes using quality scientific information and research.
Working outside established institutions, often in partnership with them, Prof Davies has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the need for good, quality science in environmental management.
Dr Peter Warnock Smith, Honorary Research Associate in the UTAS School of Chemistry was honoured for his services to science education and to philanthropy. Dr Smith has long been a prominent figure in student welfare and much valued as a mentor to students. He endows the Dr Peter Smith Scholarship in the Physical Sciences.
Image: Professor Peter Davies