Professor Kathryn Burdon from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research has received the prestigious Australian Council of Graduate Research (ACGR) Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Leadership.
Professor Burdon received the award for her transformative contributions to graduate research strategy, supervisor practice, and student-centred culture at the Menzies Institute.
“It is an honour to receive this award. I believe that good leadership and student-centred support can change the lives of young researchers navigating what can be a challenging industry.
“I hope that by supporting the next generation of medical researchers, we can empower them to make positive changes to the lives of Tasmanians,” Professor Burdon said.
As Deputy Director of Menzies, Professor Burdon has led outstanding reforms, including the Institute’s first comprehensive HDR Strategy and a highly successful recruitment campaign that doubled domestic candidate applications.
A passionate advocate for equity and pastoral care, she addressed student financial stress by expanding top-up scholarships to factor in financial need, increasing recipient numbers from 9 to 73.
“Financial hardships should not disqualify brilliant students from pursuing their careers in medical research, and we’re proud to be able to provide support to those who need it,” she said.
Professor Burdon supported the co-design of a student-led ‘Buddy to Buddy’ peer-mentoring program to reduce isolation, particularly for international candidates. To foster a connected, interdisciplinary community, she established the annual HDR Development Day, extending participation to candidates across the broader university Health portfolio, and launched the annual HDR Excellence Award.
She has also strengthened supervisor development, developed practical guidance and transformed Candidature Support Plans into supportive, early-intervention tools.
Professor Burdon is a champion of inclusive, empathetic, and values-driven leadership whose strategic vision has elevated research training so that both candidates and supervisors thrive.
Original article here: https://www.acgr.edu.au/awardee/graduate-research-leadership-2026/.