Congratulations to our 2025 award-winning educators

Published 5 December 2025

Group of award winning educators standing on a stage

We love to celebrate the achievements of our educators. Last week colleagues gathered at our 2025 Teaching Awards to recognise the outstanding efforts of their award-winning peers, acknowledging the productive year of learning and teaching we've had at UNSW.

The ceremony was held on the final day of the 2025 UNSW Education Festival on Thursday 27 November. More than 30 UNSW staff across all categories were presented with their awards by our Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs.

Winners were announced by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience, Professor Sarah Maddison, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education, Professor Tini Mathies and Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Training & Entrepreneurship, Professor Jonathan Morris.

Recognition of the achievements of our educators and third-space professionals - and their vital contributions to student learning, wellbeing and excellence - is essential. It helps ensure the dedication and enthusiasm that drive these contributions continue to thrive.

The wonderful community we have created here at UNSW is a direct result of your day to day actions… education activities underpin every single one of our strategic pillars. It’s through education and learning that all of our strategy will be delivered. Thank you very much for your wonderful work
– Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs

These awards are a testament to the commitment, creativity and passion that our colleagues offer to their students on their learning journeys, and the schemes help to celebrate how these colleagues strengthen UNSW’s reputation for academic and educational excellence.

Special congratulations to the winners of the Students' Choice Teaching Award, a unique recognition nominated and judged by the students themselves, for both academic and professional staff who have had a profound impact on their students’ learning experience. And also to the PASS Leader Participants’ Choice Award winners, highlighting the special contributions of senior students who are exceptional learning mentors to their peers.

We enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate our colleagues, and congratulate them all on receiving recognition this year! See the full lists of 2025 winners below.

Award Recipients

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UNSW Awards for Teaching

The 2025 winners of UNSW Teaching Awards, across various categories are:

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UNSW Award for Teaching Excellence

Associate Professor Lynn Gribble, School of Management & Governance

UNSW Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching

Professor Mira Kim, School of Humanities and Languages

UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Dr Natalie Oh, School of Banking and Finance & UNSW Global Consulting Group

UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Dr Seung Jung (SJ) Yeung, School of Management & Governance

UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Dr Sasha Vassar, Dr Jake Renzella & Associate Professor Andrew Taylor, Faculty of Engineering, School of Computer Science and Engineering

UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Sessional staff)

Dr Nicole Green, School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences

UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Early Career)

Dr Geraldine Townend, School of Education

UNSW Award for Programs that Enhance Learning

UNSW ALL-E Team (PVC Education Portfolio's Student Learning Team, Academic Development Team and Education Strategic Portfolio (Business).

UNSW Award for Programs that Enhance Learning

The School of Marketing team

Dr Songting Dong
Associate Professor Ting Yu

UNSW Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Wellbeing

Dr George Joukhadar, School of Information Systems and Technology Management

UNSW Award for Learning and Teaching Support

Law & Justice, Education Design & Quality

Dr Angie Nguyen
Sarah Wilkinson
Kyla Sumaylo
Rebecca Crosby

and

UNSW College

Aparna Jacob
Maria Naidoo

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Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree Research

The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree Research recognise sustained excellence in the supervision, mentoring and training of HDR candidates. They also highlight outstanding leadership in research training and recognise those who have built collaborations with industry for the benefit of Higher Degree Research candidates.

View recipient profiles and award titles will be available here shortly.

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Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision

Professor Stuart Clark, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision (Emerging Supervisor)

Dr Michael Nielsen, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering

Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Leadership

Dr David Eastwood, School of Art & Design

Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Promoting Industry Engagement in Higher Degree Research

Professor Garth Pearce, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Students Choice Teaching Award Group Image 2025

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Students' Choice Teaching Awards

The UNSW Students' Choice Teaching Award recognises UNSW staff for their contributions to their students' learning. As nominated and judged by the students themselves, the annual award highlights teachers who have made a real difference to their learning experience by inspiring, elevating, challenging, and most of all, by caring. Students are invited to nominate staff who go above and beyond; who inspire and challenge them and support their development as people and professionals.

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Dr Ebony Lewis, School of Population Health
Dr Christina Byun, School of Biomedical Sciences
Dr Daniel Falster, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Dr John Cusick, School of Chemistry
Bin Huang, School of Information Systems and Technology Management

Learn more about the award and stories from past winners here.

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PASS Leader Participants’ Choice Award

The PASS Leader Participants’ Choice Award highlights the special contributions of senior students who are exceptional learning mentors to their peers. The Peer Assisted Study Sessions (or PASS) program offers regularly scheduled study sessions in key courses, both online and in person, with groups of around 5-20 participants, led by trained PASS Leaders.

To honour their invaluable contributions, the PASS Leader Participants’ Choice Award was introduced last year. Students who attended PASS were asked to nominate a leader who has made meaningful impact on their learning journey. The response was overwhelming, with nominations sharing stories of support, mentorship and academic inspiration. Students who attend PASS tend to achieve higher grades and report feeling more confident in their studies as well as connected to their peers.

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PASS Leader Participants’ Choice Award