Celebrating Swinburne’s 2024 Media and External Communications Recognition Award winners

The 2024 Media and External Communications Recognition Awards have brought the Swinburne community together to celebrate the achievements of the university’s academics in media and social media.

Over 40 academics have been recognised across the eight categories, highlighting the dedication Swinburne researchers have shown to sharing their world-leading expertise with the public. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Professor Karen Hapgood says, “the MECRAs are a wonderful opportunity to recognise the success and talent here at the university as One Swinburne, and the positive impact that collaboration between our researchers, media and social media teams is having”.  

“I want to congratulate all the winners of this year’s MECRAs, I cannot wait to see what groundbreaking work is nominated next year.”

Swinburne’s Director of Communications and Media Matt Macklin says that traditional and social media provides our researchers a powerful platform to showcase their expertise to the public. 

“Swinburne has some of the best academics and researchers in the country, and we know that their expertise is highly sought after by journalists.” 

“Our experts recognise the crucial role media plays in positive public discourse and when media need a trusted expert, they know they can come to Swinburne.”

Working with media and social media provides an opportunity for us to present our work, achievements and show what Swinburne is all about – bringing people and technology together for a better world.” 

The inaugural finalists and winners are:

Emerging Talent Award

Recognising outstanding media outreach from emerging talent, such as PhD students and early career researchers, or mid-career researchers who have seen a significant increase in media appearances in 2024. 

Christian Brackenridge - Applied Science

Melinda Davis - Education

WINNER: Dr Daniel Eldridge - Chemistry

Dr Amie Hayley - Pharmacology

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mark Hanson - Accessibility in aviation

Xavier Mills - Queer families

Breaking News Award

Recognising Swinburne academics who added their expertise to time-critical and breaking news stories in 2024.

WINNER: Helen Bird - Corporate governance

Dr Sarah McLean - Legionaries 

Dr Dimitrios Salampasis - Finance

Professor Sean Sands - Business and retail

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Milovan Savic - TikTok and social media trends

Social Impact Award

Recognising media outreach that made an impact on major social and political issues. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Rachael Burgin - Domestic violence

Professor John Evans - Indigenous engagement

WINNER: Dr Stephen Glackin, Zoë Goodall, Weijie Hu, Professor Wendy Stone – Housing

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Joel McGregor - Youth justice

Dr Ryan Storr - LGBTQIA+ participation in sports

​New Social Media Talent Award​

Recognising outstanding social media outreach through Swinburne’s channels from emerging talent, such as PhD students and early career researchers, or mid-career researchers who have appeared on our channels for the first time in 2024. ​

Dr Rachael Burgin - Domestic violence

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Andy Lynch - Streaming services

WINNER: Lauren Miller - Social media filters

Dr Kelvin Wong - Animal-assisted therapy

Social Media Engagement Award​

Most engaging and impactful posts on Swinburne social media featuring our academics. 

Professor Matthew Bailes - Astronomy

Professor Virginia Kilborn - Science

WINNER: Dr Sara Webb - Astronomy

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Professor Steve Worthington - Payment systems

Director, Communications and Media Award ​

Opportunity for Director, Communications and Media to recognise an outstanding achievement in media and external engagement that captured the attention of the public. 

Dr Rebecca Allen - Astronomy and space news

WINNER: Dr Tom Arkell, Professor Luke Downey, Dr Amie Hayley, Brooke Manning - Medical cannabis and driving

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Christian Brakenridge - Sitting, sleeping, standing research

Professor Susan Rossell - Psilocybin research

DVCR Media and Research Collaboration Award​

Opportunity for the DVCR to recognise excellent collaboration between the Swinburne communications and media team and researchers to get a great media outcome.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dr Evie Kendal - Bioethics

Dr Adriano Di Pietro - Drones and the future of aviation

Professor Mehdi Seyedmehmoudian - Energy and sustainability

WINNER: Dr Katie Wood -Child psychology and twins research

Most Media Coverage Award​

​Top 10 researchers with the most media appearances in 2024 (including syndications).​ 

Dr Rebecca Allen - Astronomy

Helen Bird - Corporate governance

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Professor Hussein Dia - Transport

Associate Professor John Hopkins - Future of work

Dr Joel McGregor - Youth Justice

Dr Julian Novitz - Literature

Dr Ryan Storr - Diversity in sport

Professor Enzo Palombo - Microbiology 

WINNER: Dr Sara Webb - Astronomy

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Professor Steve Worthington - Payment systems

To learn more about Swinburne’s communications and media activities, and to get involved in 2025, contact the team via the Communications and Media Wiki.

If you want to sign up to the daily In The News wrap up of media stories from Swinburne, email media@swin.edu.au.