Queen’s Birthday honours for prominent WA leaders

Nicola Forrest, Sue Murphy, Neville Owen, and Diane Smith-Gander have been recognised for their service at this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

All four received an Officer of the Order of Australia, which is awarded for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or humanity.

The co-founder of Minderoo Foundation, Ms Forrest was given the award for service to the community though philanthropic support for education, the arts, business, and to the broader community. 

Former Water Corporation chief executive Sue Murphy was presented with the honour for service to the natural resources sector in Western Australia and to engineering.

Former justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia Neville Owen was recognised for his service to the law, judiciary, legal education, and to the broader community of WA.

Wesfarmers non-executive director Diane Smith-Gander was given the honour for service to business, to women’s engagement in executive roles, to gender equality, and to the community.

Ms Smith-Gander has also been on the boards Tourism WA, NBN Co and CBH Group, and the former president of Chief Executive Women.

Capricorn chief executive Greg Wall was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to business and the community.

The Member of the Order of Australia is awarded for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.

Wallis Drilling managing director Graeme Wallis also won the award, for service to the mining sector.

Other Western Australians to be named a Member of the Order of Australia were property developer Harry Hoffman, who received the award for service to the community through charitable organisations, and Saracen Minerals chair Anthony Kiernan, who was recognised for service business and the community.

Former Perth Wildcats players Luc Longley and Ricky Grace also were named Member of the Order of Australia.

Mr Longley won the award for service to basketball as a player, coach and administrator, while Mr Grace received the honour for service to the indigenous community of WA.