30 Jul 2007

Professor Paul Callaghan awarded Blake Medal for leadership

Professor Callaghan became the third recipient of the Blake Medal at a special ceremony hosted by His Excellency, Honourable Anand Satyanand, Governor General of New Zealand at Government House in Wellington on Saturday 28 July. The ceremony was attended by Pippa, Lady Blake and her daughter Sarah Jane Blake and other dignitaries.

Paul Callaghan has become New Zealand's preeminent and most highly respected scientist, both within the scientific community and among the wider population. He is a world leader in the fields of nanotechnology and magnetic resonance and has shown outstanding leadership over 30 years as a scientist, a teacher, a science administrator and communicator.

 

Professor Callaghan has taken on a role as a leader in science and science education in New Zealand and internationally. He has had a significant role in leading the establishment of New Zealand's performance based research funding system for tertiary institutions. He has also led the development of science communication to the wider public and has taken it as an almost personal crusade to de-mystify science and convey the relevance and excitement of science for all of society.

Sir Ron Carter, chair of the Awards Selection Panel commented: "The award of the Blake Medal to Professor Callaghan is indicative of the huge respect he has earned as a leader and a scientist, coupled with the devotion he has shown in bringing an understanding of science to the New Zealand public."

The Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Awards honour six younger leaders showing significant potential. For 2007 the recipients are: Waikato Primary Health Organisation chief executive, Shelly Campbell; The Halogen Foundation General Manager, Annette Fale; Commander of the HMNZS TE KAHA, Andrew Grant; Outward Bound Operations Manager, Steven Hall; Palmerston North Boys High School Principal, Tim O'Connor and chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, Dr Justin Vaughan.

Pippa, Lady Blake, a trustee of the Sir Peter Blake Trust who spoke at the awards stated: "The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards are an outstanding programme and the inspirational New Zealanders that we have honoured in 2007 and over the past three years show what extraordinary talent this country has."