News

Meet our new MacKillop Distinguished Professors

ACU has announced its next round of MacKillop Distinguished Professors, a title inspired by the legacy of Australia’s first saint, which recognises exceptional academic leadership and service.

Key points:

• Professors Louise M Burke OAM, Phil Parker, Anne Castles and Susan Broomhall have been named as the next recipients of the prestigious title inspired by the legacy of Australia’s first saint, which recognises exceptional academic leadership and service.
• ACU’s inaugural MacKillop Distinguished Professors were Professors Sandy Middleton, Herbert W. Marsh, Richard M. Ryan and John Hawley.

Leading global academics Professors Louise M Burke OAM, Phil Parker, Anne Castles and Susan Broomhall have been named as the next recipients of the prestigious title.

Professor Louise M Burke OAM, from the Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research's Centre for Exercise and Nutrition, is one of the world's leading scholars in sports nutrition.

Her internationally recognised research and leadership have made a substantial contribution to athlete health, performance and wellbeing.

Professor Burke's career is marked by an outstanding commitment to research translation, doctoral education, mentoring and the development of future researchers and practitioners.

Professor Phil Parker, ACU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), is internationally recognised for his research in educational psychology, particularly in student wellbeing, motivation, engagement, educational opportunity and inequality.

His research record is complemented by significant institutional leadership and sustained commitment to supporting colleagues, emerging researchers and research capability across ACU.

Professor Anne Castles, from ACU’s Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, is globally recognised for her research into reading development and dyslexia.

Her work has shaped understanding, policy and practice in literacy education, with a particular focus on improving educational outcomes for children experiencing learning difficulties and disadvantage.

Her research has also made a significant contribution to ACU's literacy research capability and the development of emerging researchers.

Professor Susan Broomhall is an internationally distinguished historian whose scholarship explores gender, religion, culture and society in the early modern world.

Through her research leadership, including as director of ACU's Gender and Women's History Research Centre, she has strengthened the university's humanities and social sciences profile while advancing scholarship focused on inclusion, equity, cultural understanding and human flourishing.

ACU Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Julie Cogin said the MacKillop Professorships recognise academics whose work is making a significant contribution to their field while reflecting Saint Mary MacKillop’s commitment to education, service and social justice.

“Our MacKillop Professors are outstanding scholars whose work has helped shape their fields and raised ACU’s profile internationally,” Professor Cogin said.

“They have achieved a great deal academically but what also stands out is their commitment to the dignity of every person. That combination makes them very worthy recipients of the MacKillop Distinguished Professorship.

“Saint Mary MacKillop believed strongly in the power of education and in giving people the opportunity to build better lives. Her commitment to compassion and social justice still has a lot to say to us today.

“Our recipients are doing that in their own way through the questions they ask, the work they do and the people and communities they serve.”

ACU’s inaugural MacKillop Distinguished Professors were Professors Sandy Middleton, Herbert W. Marsh, Richard M. Ryan and John Hawley.