Queensland Museum Medallists

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2012 – Professor Ronald Quinn AM
Prof Quinn is the Director of the Eskitis Institute at Griffith University and is recognised for his pioneering work in the field of biodiscovery, turning chemicals from natural products into potential pharmaceuticals. He was instrumental in creating Nature Bank, a unique storehouse of chemical diversity derived from nature, of which Queensland plants and marine invertebrates form the major part. This vast resource has been used for research by global pharmaceutical companies and major international research organisations.

2011 – Dr John Stanisic
Dr Stanisic is Australia’s foremost expert on land snails, and during his position at the QueenslandMuseum as Curator of Molluscs he was instrumental in increasingthe Museum’s collection of land snails by 190,000 specimens. He is an outstanding exemplar of passion and commitment to increasing scientific knowledge, conserving invertebrate biodiversity and promoting native fauna.

2011 – Professor Peter Andrews AO
Professor Andrews is a bio-entrepreneur, the author of more than 100 publications and an inventor on two patents. He was appointed as Queensland’s first Chief Scientist from 2003 to 2010, and has made an extensive contribution to science as a pioneer of Queensland’s thriving biotechnology sector.

2010 – Dr John Hooper
Dr Hooper is the Head of Biodiversity and Geosciences at the QueenslandMuseum andan international authority on marine sponges. He has described over 600 new species, 10 new genera, and two new families and suborders of sponges. His dedication to understanding the biodiversity of Queensland is invaluable.
2010 – Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough’s career as a naturalist is without peer, spanning more than half a century.A respected broadcaster, he is known internationally as the face and voice of natural history documentaries.
2009 – Mr Michael Quinnell
MrQuinnell is a highly respected researcher and anthropologist, whose activities have played an important role in changing the relationships between museums and Indigenous people in the Australasian region.
2009 – Dr Carden Wallace
Dr Wallace is an internationally recognised expert on coral reefs, whose current research focuses on the evolution and persistence of the corals of the Great Barrier Reef and staghorn corals from around the world. Her contributions to the scientific community, and drive for researching and understanding the natural world make her one of Australia’s most valued scientists.

2009 – Ms Anne Jones
Ms Jones was the Chair of the QueenslandMuseum for six years from 2002 to 2008, during which she substantially furthered the development and reputation of the Museum. Her work not only contributed to the QueenslandMuseum, but inspired and benefited the wider community.
2008 - Mr Vince O’Rourke AM
Mr O’Rourke was the last Commissioner of Railways and first Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Rail, retiring from QR in December 2000. He has made outstanding contributions to preserving Queensland’s rail heritage, in particular helping to establish The Workshops Rail Museum, ensuring the State’s remarkable rail heritage lives on.
2008 - Dr Steve Van Dyck
Dr Van Dyck is one of Australia’s most respected mammal biologists.A skilled science-communicator, Dr Van Dyck has discovered various new mammal species, contributed vastly to the QueenslandMuseum’s mammal collection and furthered the understanding of our native fauna through his outstanding research.
2007 - Dr Geoff Monteith
Dr Monteith’s prestigious career has been distinguished by his scientific research into Australia’s insect fauna. His immense contribution to the scientific community and to the QueenslandMuseumthrough exhibition development and public programs has cemented him as one of Australia’s foremost naturalists.

2007 - Mr Bill KitsonMr Kitson is one of Queensland’s most esteemed surveyors. Not only a skilled practitioner of his profession, he is also an outstanding museum curator and historian, having managed the Lands, Mapping and SurveyingMuseum for more than 26 years.

2006 - Mr Bill O’Brien OBE
Mr O’Brien has been a member of the Cobb+Co Museum Advisory Committee since its inception in November 1988 and chaired the Committee for 15 years. Through his leadership and knowledge of local history he played a pivotal role in developing the Museum into the dynamic showcase of the local Toowoomba area that it is today.
2006 - The Elliott Family: Mr David Elliott, Mrs Judy Elliott, Mr Bob Elliott,
Ms Irene Elliott, Mr Harry Elliott, and Ms Koraleigh Elliott
The Elliott family discovered the remains of Australia’s largest known sauropod dinosaur andhave now developed the internationally recognised Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History in Winton. Their leadership in the field of palaeotourism continues to greatly benefit both the scientific and wider communities.