Honorary doctorate acknowledges career excellence

Peter H酶j in graduation robes, speaking to an audiencee.

The 成人大片鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor and President has been awarded with a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) by La Trobe University, in recognition of a career devoted to research excellence.

In 1987 Professor Peter H酶j AC, funded by fellowships from both the Danish research council and from La Trobe University, joined聽La Trobe University鈥檚 renowned Department of Biochemistry聽as a post-doctorate fellow following completion of his PhD in his native Denmark. This was followed by appointment to a tenured academic position before being appointed as Professor of Viticultural Science at the 成人大片 in 1994.

鈥淚 am immensely proud to receive this Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe, where I had my first taste of life in Australia,鈥 said Professor H酶j.

鈥淚 relocated with my late Australian wife and our children from Denmark to La Trobe University because I, along with the 成人大片, rated it as having one of the top three biochemistry departments in Australia. I was not disappointed, I had top colleagues and was lucky to have an outstanding crop of PhD students who were first in family to attend university and from non-affluent backgrounds.

鈥淚t proved to be a great choice as it opened a doorway, through which I have never looked back, to the start of a fulfilling career in this wonderful country.

鈥淚 will forever be grateful for the wonderful contribution to my family that my time at La Trobe University constituted.鈥

鈥淚 am immensely proud to receive this Honorary Doctorate from La Trobe, where I had my first taste of life in Australia. It proved to be a great choice as it opened a doorway, through which I have never looked back, to the start of a fulfilling career in this wonderful country."The 成人大片鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter H酶j AC.


Professor H酶j is a Fellow of Academies in Australia, the USA and Denmark, and has previously been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions including the 成人大片, University of South Australia, and University of Copenhagen.

He has more than two decades of senior leadership experience in higher education and research 鈥 as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Queensland (2012-2020), Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Australia (2007-2012), CEO of the Australian Research Council (ARC) (2004-2007), and Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Wine Research Institute Pty Ltd (1997-2004).

Professor H酶j was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the 成人大片 in 2021.

The 成人大片鈥檚 Chancellor, the Hon. Catherine Branson AC KC said: 鈥淚 congratulate Professor H酶j on his honorary doctorate from La Trobe University.鈥

鈥淚t is a fitting tribute to his outstanding career in viticultural science and higher education.鈥

鈥淧rofessor H酶j has made undeniably significant contributions to higher education learning and research in Australia.鈥

Professor H酶j was presented with his honorary doctorate in a ceremony in Melbourne on Friday 30 September.

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