2025 Research Awards showcasing impact and innovation

Since 2019, we have proudly showcased the accomplishments of the research community through the annual Research Awards. An inspiring celebration of excellence, real-world impact, and the powerful connection between research, teaching, and practice. Additionally, these awards highlight the university’s unwavering commitment to its Be Good philosophy and its role as a purpose-driven Certified B Corporation.

Reflecting on the journey, Professor Kerry London, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, was thrilled to honour the achievements of the university’s researchers, supervisors, and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates who have contributed significantly to our growth, momentum, and maturity in research.

“All staff and students who are actively researching are to be acknowledged for their commitment to creating a scholarly, thought-provoking environment that educates the next generation of university-trained professionals, leaders, and researchers. However, the awards acknowledge those of us who have achieved something extra special and inspirational.”

Professor Kerry London

Torrens University staff and students awarded

Professor London was joined at the event by Professor Alwyn Louw, Vice-Chancellor and President, with Dan Cockerell, CEO of Torrens Global Education, where prizes were awarded in the following seven categories to staff and students:

• Research Excellence: Dr Ganesh Naik & Associate Professor Rachel Ambagtsheer (Joint Winners)
• Research Impact: Professor Lillian Mwanri (Winner), Dr Madalyn Scerri (Commendation)
• Research–Teaching–Practice Nexus: Dr Amber Moore
• Early Career Research Excellence: Dr Kamran Shaukat (Winner), Dr Anita Manfreda (Commendation)
• Research Supervision Excellence: Business and Hospitality faculty, and Centre for Organisational Change and Agility
• Higher Degree by Research Excellence: Dr Kelly Galvin
• Higher Degree by Research Outputs: Gideon Dzando

“These exceptional individuals' accomplishments are a testament to their dedication and hard work, and I am proud to acknowledge their contributions.” said Professor Kerry London

“It is a genuine privilege to celebrate the success of our researchers, which reflects the dedication and impact of the entire Research and Innovation Office.” said Professor Alwyn Louw.

The 2025 Research Excellence Award

The Torrens University Research Excellence Award honours a researcher who has demonstrated the highest level of achievement over the past three years, advancing knowledge, driving innovation, and embodying the university’s Be Good mission. This year, we proudly celebrate joint winners: Dr Ganesh Naik and Associate Professor Rachel Ambagtsheer.

Dr Naik’s high-quality interdisciplinary research integrates biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, and signal processing fields of research. His work aligns with our purpose-driven mission and also pioneers technological innovation for real-world impact. With an outstanding track record including high citation counts, a notable h-index, and success in securing nationally competitive grants, Dr Naik ranks among the top 2% of researchers in his field globally.

Associate Professor Ambagtsheer has made significant contributions to understanding the experiences and perceptions of older Australians within the health and aged care systems. Her research is deeply aligned with the Be Good mission, focusing on improving lives through evidence-based insight.

The 2025 Research Impact Award

The Research Impact Award honours an individual researcher who has demonstrated excellence in collaborative research and engagement with external stakeholders, translating knowledge into meaningful outcomes that reflect our mission to “Be Good.” This year, the award recognises both a commendation and a winner, each making significant contributions to societal and economic impact through their research.

As the award winner, Professor Lillian Mwanri was recognised for her outstanding research supporting policy and practice initiatives aimed at addressing health inequities among marginalised populations both in Australia and internationally. Her long-standing commitment to building relationships with external partners has resulted in substantial research funding and deep engagement with community groups.

Dr Madalyn Scerri received a commendation for her research advancing workforce inclusion and shaping the future of work in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Her work aligns strongly with our mission, promoting equity and opportunity in industries undergoing rapid transformation.

The 2025 Research-Teaching Practice Nexus

The Research-Teaching-Practice Nexus Award celebrates an individual academic who exemplifies the integration of research-informed teaching and practice-based approaches to enhance student learning. This prestigious award highlights innovative educational initiatives grounded in robust research and industry relevance, aligning with our Be Good Mission.

This year’s deserving recipient is Dr Amber Moore, whose work reflects a strong commitment to evidence-based teaching and learning and fostering scholarly activities in the Health and Education community.

The 2025 Early Career Research Excellence Award

The Early Career Research Excellence Award celebrates emerging academic talent, recognising those who have demonstrated exceptional research achievements within the first stages of their career. This award supports our mission to “Be Good” by fostering innovation, impact, and scholarly excellence.

Dr Kamran Shaukat is the recipient of this year’s Early Career Research Excellence Award, acknowledged for his remarkable contributions to the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, which include 40 papers, achieving a H-index of 35, over 4,980 citations, and being recognised in the top 2% of global researchers in his field.

Dr Anita Manfreda receives a commendation for her outstanding early career research, which explores how tourism and hospitality experiences can promote human flourishing, ethical consumption, and community wellbeing. Anita has been involved in high-quality publications, keynote addresses, and is recognised with a state government award.

The Research Awards illustrate the expert researchers who are contributing to Torrens University’s growing research capacities.

This celebration also highlighted outstanding contributions from Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) candidates and supervisors through the HDR Excellence Award, HDR Supervision Award, and HDR Outputs Award.