Melbourne Professional Excellence Awards
2026 Awards
The Melbourne Professional Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding contributions made by the University’s professional staff. The awards provide development opportunities for the recipients and benefits to the University through the advancement of its administrative and management practices.
All Melbourne Professional Excellence Awards are open to professional staff only.
Award for Professional Excellence and Innovation
These awards recognise excellence and innovation in professional staff contributions towards fulfilling the goals, values, and mission of the University. They are awarded to individuals and teams who have, for example, given outstanding service to their work area, made a significant contribution to innovation, displayed outstanding teamwork and who have exhibited the values to which the University aspires. The University awards up to four Awards for Professional Excellence and Innovation to individuals and/or teams.
Bronwyn Jane Adams Memorial Award
This award was established in memory of Bronwyn Adams, a former member of the University who passed away suddenly in 1999 at the age of 48. Ms Adams was widely acknowledged as an exemplar of best practice as a manager and was passionate about the development of staff at all levels of the organisation. This award recognises outstanding professional staff by providing financial assistance to enable them to pursue a worthwhile activity in relation to their work. The proposed activity must be linked to a specific project or outcome that benefits the University and can include leadership, project or program development activities. Nominations of professional staff at all levels are encouraged. The University awards up to two Bronwyn Jane Adams Memorial Awards annually to individuals and/or teams.
Gerry Barretto Award for Outstanding Student Services
Gerry Barretto was Manager of Examinations, Graduations and Academic Records at the University of Melbourne, and made a 30-year contribution to the University. The Gerry Barretto Award was established in recognition of this contribution. Gerry Barretto died in December 2007 at the age of 50 after a short illness. The Gerry Barretto Award was established in Gerry Barretto’s honour and memory and is presented annually to professional staff members who demonstrate excellence in the provision of service to students.
The award recognises the outstanding contributions made by professional staff to the quality of students’ University experience. Award recipients are acknowledged for records of excellence and innovation in areas that contribute to a high-quality student experience, delivering services that are sustained over time and are of outstanding quality. The University awards up to two Garry Barretto Awards annually to individuals and/or teams.