News Archive

At its Autumn Ordinary Meeting Convocation recognised three outstanding contributors to the University with the presentation of Convocation Medals to Ms Hilary Silbert, Dr Susan King and Adjunct Professor Warren Kerr AM.

All three have dedicated many years to UWA and the medals are just reward for their contributions.

Ms Hilary Silbert

Ms Hilary Silbert studied for her Bachelor of Education from 1967 to 1971 and graduated in 1986 with a Master of Education by thesis. While at UWA she was active in athletics and fencing and was awarded a Half Blue for Athletics in 1969. She worked at UWA as an Extension Officer from 1986 to 1992.

Hilary Silbert’s service is outstanding and enduring.

She has been or is a Member of Australian Federation of University Women Graduate Women WA, was President of the Australian Federation of University Women, is a Life Member of Graduate Women WA, and is a Member of Scholarship panel of GWWA

Hilary also assisted at UWA Graduation ceremonies as a volunteer in regalia on many occasions, designed and event managed 15 months of the celebrations for the 90th Anniversary of Graduate Women WA in 2013

Hilary has a long association with St Catherine’s College and was a Member of the Centenary Trust for Women.

Hilary has also served with distinction on the UWA Senate, as a Convocation Elected Member, where she was involved with the selection of two Vice Chancellors and one Chancellor, was a Member of Honorary Doctorate Committee, and was invited to participate in the review of Graduation Ceremonies.

Dr Susan King

Dr Susan King has just completed an incredibly dedicated six-year term on Convocation Council.

Her CV proved to be well suited to leading Council’s planning and governance, having held positions as Executive Director (Governance & Planning) at ECU, and Executive Director (Strategic Resource Management) with the WA Department of Training. She also held policy roles in the Commonwealth Government and has been an academic at UWA.

Susan holds or has held many important Board positions, and is a multiple scholarship and prize winner.

She joined Council in 2013 and immediately took on the challenges of chairing committees and participating in others.

Once elected to Council, she joined Convocation’s Statutes Committee and over six years she has never stopped challenging and contributing to improvement for Convocation, its Council and the relationship with the University. We have been extremely fortunate.

Susan is a self-proclaimed Governance junkie; exactly what Council has needed over the last six years. She has chaired the Statutes, Strategic Planning and Governance committees.

Nowhere did she shine more brightly than in her leadership of the ongoing statute review that has followed the recent revision of the UWA Act. Her understanding of Convocation’s position and operations within the University is second to none.

Susan is tactful and sharp, yet forthright, an ideal member of Council and she will be greatly missed on Council.

Adjunct Professor Warren Kerr AM

Warren graduated from UWA with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1974 and has a Masters Degree from the University of NSW in health administration and planning.

He maintains an active interest in teaching and research at UWA and through various voluntary roles for the Institute of Architects and the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

Warren has been a member of the Council Convocation since 2010 and gave great service as the Warden of Convocation for four years and as a member of the UWA Senate elected by Convocation since 2015 and now ongoing until 2022. He is an active Immediate Past Warden, chairing the Honours Committee, contributing broadly to Convocation Council.

Warren initiated Convocation Day in 2013, to annually recognise the formation of Convocation in 1913, confirming a strong partnership with the Guild of Undergraduates, and a place on the campus grounds that recognises Convocation as one of the legal parts of UWA.

Warren led Convocation’s approach to the recent legislative changes to the UWA Act.  Without his leadership, Convocation might not have retained its prominence in the UWA Act. He continues to contribute knowledge and experience to the amendments now proposed to the UWA Statutes.

Warren’s tireless efforts set extremely high standards for all who follow. He has been especially active in cultivating and building relationships with key University staff and members of Convocation.

Media references

Dr Doug McGhie , Warden of Convocation