Emeritus Professor Prem Ramburuth, UNSW, has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours list. Professor Ramburuth has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division .
Professor Ramburuth has lived in Lane Cove for over 50 years.
The honour, announced as part of the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, recognises. Professor Ramburuth’s decades-long contribution to higher education leadership, governance and global engagement, spanning Australia, Africa, Asia and beyond.
The Australia Day 2026 Honours List recognises 949 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards, and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service. This represents an increase of over 200 awards compared to Australia Day last year.
“On my second Australia Day as your Governor-General, I am delighted to announce the Australia Day 2026 Honours List.” The Governor-General said.
“Throughout 2025, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Australian honours system and the people who for the past half century have epitomised the best of Australia.”
“The qualities and accomplishments of this year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values for service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care.”
“Congratulations to everyone recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List. As the list so vividly showcases, so many Australians continue to give the best of themselves across many endeavours, in the interest of others. It is rewarding to see an increase in the number of awards, which reflects more nominations and recognition of the many Australians who inspire the best in all of us.”
Emeritus Professor Prem Ramburuth, UNSW Sydney – AM
In the Cove asked Professor Ramburuth to tell us what the honour means to her:
“I am deeply honoured to have my work in Higher Education recognised by the award. This has involved teaching, researching, and engaging in the dynamic disciplinary areas of International Business and Cross-Cultural Management in a challenging, fast-changing global environment; establishing International Partnerships; and working in emerging economies in Capacity Building and Training, especially in Africa and Asia.
During this journey, I have been inspired by amazing students, worked with the most accomplished and talented colleagues, supported by innovative academic leaders, and engaged with far-reaching global partners.
Strategic partnerships and collaborations have evolved in my roles as Visiting Professor and Co-Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee, Gulu University, Uganda; Visiting Professor, Vietnam National University, Vietnam; Visiting Scholar, University of Colorado, Denver, US; and UNSW representative on the Pacific Asia Consortium for International Business Education and Research (PACIBER) The award is a credit to their contributions as well, as one does not travel on such a journey alone!
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work across many different scholarly roles at UNSW, enabling me to have an impact and make a difference through several education-related initiatives.
As discipline lead and Professor in International Business, I sought to facilitate understanding in ‘Managing Across Cultures’ in a highly challenging globalised world. As former President of the UNSW Academic Board and former Chair of the Academic Board of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), I had the opportunity to work with dedicated teams across the disciplines to ensure the ‘highest quality’ of programs and program delivery. I continue to contribute to this area as a Reviewer for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
On another dimension, I continue to engage in initiatives that advance education opportunities for Australia’s outstanding Higher and Further Education students and candidates by serving on the Sir John Monash Foundation Scholarship Selection Panel (National) and the Sir John Monash Foundation Academic Review Panel. The commitment to Higher Education by the many teams I worked with is acknowledged in this award.
As the ‘Academic Lead for Africa’ at the former UNSW Institute for Global Development, in collaboration with colleagues in Africa, I delivered capacity building programs in teaching, research, leadership, and the empowerment of women in academia in Uganda (Gulu University) and other countries in Africa and devised international partnerships with Higher Education institutions.
I also acknowledge the support of the Australia Africa Universities Network, which provided funding that enabled me to collaboratively deliver research and development projects in Africa.
My passionate commitment to quality in Higher Education is accompanied by an equally passionate commitment to equity in education – influenced by my background in South Africa in the time of apartheid, and the influence of leaders such as Nelson Mandela, who placed equal education at the forefront as the driver to build a nation, and to address inequities. Hence, my determination to ensure that all students and staff I work with have the opportunity to realise their potential and reach their goals and aspirations.
Family and friends play an important role in support. My strongest supporter on this tremendous (and sometimes challenging) journey of engagement in and contribution to Higher Education in Australia and globally has been my husband, Raj, who has encouraged me throughout my career. He, together with our two daughters and their families, has provided tremendous love, support and joy during this journey. To them I say a huge ‘thank you’. ”
Citation
For significant service to tertiary education, particularly through international partnerships.
The University of New South Wales
- President, Academic Board, 2011-2016.
- Former Chair, Academic Board Advisory Committee.
- Former Chair and Member, over 30 Committees.
- Academic Lead, Africa, Institute for Global Development, 2016-2020.
- Fellow and Academic Lead, Africa, PLuS Alliance (UNSW, Kings College London, Arizona State University), 2019-2020.
- Member, Vice Chancellor’s Executive Team, 2011-2016.
- Member, UNSW Council, 2011-2016.
- Member, Finance Committee of Council, 2011-2016.
- Member, Nominations and Remunerations Committee of Council, 2011-2016.
- Member, Cultural Diversity Board, 2011-2014.
- Former Representative, Asia Pacific Women in Leadership Network.
- Former Member, Business School Senior Academic Women’s Group.
- Former Member, Academic Women in Leadership Program.
- Former Member, Professional Women in Leadership Program.
- Former Member, Senior Women in Leadership Program.
- Former Member, Women in Research Network.
The University of New South Wales – Business and Education
- Emeritus Professor, International Business, current.
- Professor and Discipline Lead, International Business, 2011-2020.
- Associate Dean, Education, 2007-2011.
- Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs, Business School, 2007-2009.
- Head, School of Management, 2006-2007.
- Associate Head, School of Management, 2005.
- Associate Head, School of International Business, 2004.
- Inaugural Director, Education Development Centre, Business School, 1997-2000.
Australia Africa Universities Network
- Executive Member of the Board, since 2016.
- University of New South Wales AAUN Research Representative, since 2016.
- Member, Women in Africa Research Network, since 2016.
National Institute of Dramatic Art
- Director, 2012-2019.
- Chair, Academic Board, 2012-2019.
- Member, Governance, Nominations and Remunerations Committee, 2012-2019.
Gulu University, Uganda (and Africa)
- Visiting Professor, since 2016.
- Visiting Co-Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee, since 2016.
- Academic Lead: Capacity Building, Research and Teacher Training Programs, since 2016.
- Advisor to the Vice Chancellor, on Academic Governance, Quality Assurance, Higher Education.
- Convenor, UNSW Roundtable for Africa in collaboration with the Institute for Global Development: Engaging for Global Impact at Home and Abroad, 2018.
- Co-Organiser, Leadership and Management Studies in Sub-Sahara Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 2010; Accra, Ghana, 2008; Zanzibar, Tanzania, 2006.
Higher Education
- Expert Panel Member, Tertiary Education Qualifications and Standards Agency, since 2014.
- National Selection Panel, Sir John Monash Foundation Scholarship, since 2023.
- Academic Review Panel, Sir John Monash Foundation Scholarship, since 2024.
- Academic Board Member, Australian International Institute of Higher Education, 2025.
- Academic Board Member, Lincoln Higher Education Australia, 2020-2024.
- UNSW International Business Representative, Pacific Asian Consortium for International Business Education and Research, 2004-2020.
- Visiting Professor, Vietnam National University, 2010.
- Visiting Scholar, University of Colorado, 2009.
- External Assessor and Program Quality Assurance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia, 2011-2016.
Editorial Boards
- Editorial Review Board, Chinese Management Studies.
- Editorial Review Board, International Journal of Emerging Markets.
- Editorial Advisory Board, Journal for Multicultural Education.
- Editorial Review Board, Academy of Management Learning and Education.
Publications
- Co-Editor, Dynamics of International Business: Asia-Pacific Business Cases, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
- Co-Editor, Thirty Years of China’s Economic Reform: Management Organizations and Foreign Investment, Nova Science Publishers, 2010.
- Co-Editor, Improving Assessment in Higher Education: a whole-of-institution approach, UNSW Press, 2013.
- Co-Editor, Leadership and Management in Sub-Sahara Africa, Volume 1, University Readers, 2010.
- Co-Editor, Casebook in International Business: Australian and Asian Perspectives, Pearson Education, 2004.
- Author and Co-Author of more than 40 peer reviewed journal articles, 20 academic book chapters, 100 conference presentations and 15 reports.
Professional Memberships
- Pacific Asia Consortium for International Business Education and Research, current.
- African Research Universities Alliance, current.
- Cross Cultural Research Network, Auckland University of Technology, current.
- Multi-National Teaching Fellows, current.
- University Fellows International Research Consortium, University of Oklahoma, current.
- Fellow, Royal Society of New South Wales, 2023.
- Women on Boards, current.
- Australian Institute for Company Directors.
- Academy of International Business South East Asia Region.
- Australia New Zealand International Business Academy.
- Women in the Academy of International Business.
- UN Women.
Awards and Recognition include:
- Teaching Excellence Award, School of Management, The University of New South Wales, 2020.
- Business Dean’s Distinguished Leadership Award, The University of New South Wales, 2019.
- National Award, Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, Australian Learning and Teaching Council, 2009.
- Outstanding Reviewer Award, Academy of Management Learning and Teaching, 2005.
- Inaugural Pearson Educator of the Year Award, Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management, 2003.
- Vice Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence, The University of New South Wales, 2002.
How Do You Nominate Someone For An Order of Australia?
The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.
Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at gg.gov.au.
The Order of Australia also has a Military Division. Awards in the Military Division are recommended to the Governor-General by the Minister for Defence.
There are four levels of award:
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- AC: Companion of the Order of Australia, for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large
- AO: Officer of the Order of Australia, for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large
- AM: Member of the Order of Australia, for service in a particular locality or field of activity, or to a particular group
- OAM: Medal of the Order of Australia, for service worthy of particular recognition
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