Staff Awards

Awards for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff

The University of Otago Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff was instituted in November 2004 by the Vice Chancellor's Advisory Group. The purpose of this annual award is to recognise and reward members of the professional staff who have made an outstanding contribution to the University of Otago.

Four awards are available, with one recipient also being awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award.

Health and Safety Initiative Awards

These awards are available to all staff to recognise their commitment to health and safety.

• University of Otago Health and Safety Initiative Award (Individual)
• University of Otago Health and Safety Initiative Award (Team)

Awards for Sustainable Practice by Staff

These awards have been instituted as a means of recognising and rewarding staff who have made an outstanding contribution to sustainability.

• University of Otago Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Individual)
• University of Otago Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Team)

The 2024 Staff Awards winners

Vice-Chancellor’s Award

• Michelle Taiaroa, Māori Centre | Te Huka Mātauraka

Awards for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff

• Jacqui Bradshaw, Divisional Services and Administration
• Thelma Fisher, Information Services – University of Otago Library
• Dr Alison Stewart, Organisational Development

Health and Safety Initiative Award (Team)

• Grounds – Campus Services

Health and Safety Initiative Award (Individual)

• Jose Garcia Flores

Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Team)

• University Flats

Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Individual)

• Amanda Hutchison, Information Services – University of Otago Library

Read the full Otago Bulletin news story

Previous Winners – Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff

• 2023: Claire Ramsay*, Samantha Campbell, Dr Rachel Elliot, Danella King
• 2022: Megan McPherson, Communications; Brent Pooley, Geology
• 2021: Russ Linwood*, Trade Services; Carol Dunstone, Anatomy; David Hood, Learning and Development; Chris Smith, Anatomy
• 2020: Megan Coleman*, Microbiology and Immunology; Cate Bardwell, Library; Communications Office; eConferencing
• 2019: Brian Donnelly, Promotions and Remuneration
• 2018: Claire Gallop, Client Services
• 2017: Joint winners Sally Carson, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, and Sze-En Watts, University Volunteer Centre
• 2016: Joint winners Kieran Columb, Department of Human Nutrition, and Fieke Neuman, Department of Anatomy
• 2015: Sally-Ann Howard, Department of Anatomy
• 2014: Mark Brunton, Office of Māori Development
• 2013: Helen Morrin, Christchurch Campus Department of Pathology
• 2012: 'The Goddard Boys' (Jeremy Anderson, Russell Phillips, Lindsay Robertson, Jason Campbell, Richard Hamelink, Meric Hoffman, William van der Vliet, Paul O'Donnell and Hadyn Youens), Department of Psychology. Also, Carole Scott, Higher Education Development Centre
• 2011: Joint winners Peter Stroud and Richard Sparrow, Physics Department's Mechanical Workshop Team
• 2010: Susan Deans, Department of Physiology
• 2009: Nicola Walmsley, Customer Services, Information Technology Services
• 2008: Linda Brown, Department of Languages and Cultures
• 2007: Nigel Barrett, School of Physical Education
• 2006: Joint winners, Management Team, Arana College and Allan Mitchell, Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology
• 2005: Joint winners, Louise Kewene, Department of Music and Murray McKenzie, Department of Zoology

* In 2020 the award was extended to four awards, with one recipient also being awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award.