The NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering seek to recognise excellence in science and engineering, and reward leading researchers for cutting-edge work that has generated economic, environmental, health, social or technological benefits for New South Wales.
The Prizes aim to raise community awareness and appreciation of the important contribution scientists and engineers make to our daily lives and encourage careers in both fields.
2025 NSW Scientist of the Year
Professor Nalini Joshi AO is a world-leading mathematician whose pioneering work has transformed the field of integrable systems. She is internationally recognised for introducing geometric and asymptotic methods to study discrete and continuous nonlinear mathematical models. Her results have led to crucial information about singularity structure and to improved tests for the identification of critical models called integrable systems.
2025 Category Winners
Professor Anita Ho-Baillie is a world-leading researcher in solar cell technology. Her work focuses on the development of multi-junction metal halide perovskite solar cells – known for their high efficiencies – particularly to address challenges of accessing cost-effective photovoltaics in space.
Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh is a world-leading soil ecologist whose research has advanced global ecosystem science. Brajesh’s work has brought about fundamental shifts in our understanding of functional soil ecology, demonstrating that functional redundancy in soil communities is overstated and loss of soil biodiversity leads to direct and proportional loss of ecosystem function. He has also demonstrated the use of soil microbial information to predict, mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey is pioneering how we manage cognitive ageing and dementia risk reduction. Her epidemiological studies and systematic reviews have identified the key modifiable risk factors for dementia, including obesity, smoking, alcohol use, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol in mid-life, adherence to the MIND diet, air pollution and hypertension.
Distinguished Professor Vivian WY Tam is an award-winning researcher in construction engineering and management. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, her innovative technologies convert construction waste into high-grade resources to combat the climate crisis and build a low carbon, circular economy.
Dr Jennifer Matthews is an emerging leader in marine biochemistry whose research is transforming our understanding of coral nutrition and physiology, creating science-led solutions for conservation and climate-resilient policy. She is Deputy Team Leader of the Future Reefs group at the University of Technology Sydney, an exceptional leadership role for an early career researcher.
Dr Felix Rizzuto is an international expert in DNA nanotechnology and self-assembly. Felix has worked with academic, industry and international partners to develop synthetic molecules that respond to, adapt to and compute chemical signals. Since joining UNSW Sydney in 2022, Felix has focused on engineering nanorobots from DNA.
Professor Paul Keall is a medical physics researcher leading scientists, clinical partners and international collaborators to create novel cancer imaging and targeted radiation therapy methods, translating many of these into clinical practice.
Dr Brad Law has worked in public service as a wildlife research scientist for over 30 years. In this time, Brad has become an international leader in wildlife ecology and ecologically sustainable forest management. His work focuses on threatened species ecology and developing methods to monitor the long-term population trends of cryptic wildlife.
Ryland O’Connell is a technological and applied sciences teacher who, over the past seven years, has emerged as a passionate and innovative STEM educator within the NSW public education system.
Feature Image: The 2025 Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering (l to r): the Hon Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology (front), Dr Brad Law, Distinguished Professor Vivian Tam, Professor Nalini Joshi, 2025 NSW Scientist of the Year, Professor Paul Keall, Associate Professor Catriona Macdonald, representing Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh, Mr Simon Draper, Secretary, Premier’s Department, the Hon Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, Mr Ryland O’Connell, Mr Dennis Wilson, Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Felix Rizzuto, Dr Jennifer Matthews, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, Chief Scientist & Engineer.
The NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering seek to recognise excellence in science and engineering, and reward leading researchers for cutting-edge work that has generated economic, environmental, health, social or technological benefits for New South Wales.
The Prizes aim to raise community awareness and appreciation of the important contribution scientists and engineers make to our daily lives and encourage careers in both fields.
2025 NSW Scientist of the Year
Professor Nalini Joshi AO is a world-leading mathematician whose pioneering work has transformed the field of integrable systems. She is internationally recognised for introducing geometric and asymptotic methods to study discrete and continuous nonlinear mathematical models. Her results have led to crucial information about singularity structure and to improved tests for the identification of critical models called integrable systems.
2025 Category Winners
Professor Anita Ho-Baillie is a world-leading researcher in solar cell technology. Her work focuses on the development of multi-junction metal halide perovskite solar cells – known for their high efficiencies – particularly to address challenges of accessing cost-effective photovoltaics in space.
Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh is a world-leading soil ecologist whose research has advanced global ecosystem science. Brajesh’s work has brought about fundamental shifts in our understanding of functional soil ecology, demonstrating that functional redundancy in soil communities is overstated and loss of soil biodiversity leads to direct and proportional loss of ecosystem function. He has also demonstrated the use of soil microbial information to predict, mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey is pioneering how we manage cognitive ageing and dementia risk reduction. Her epidemiological studies and systematic reviews have identified the key modifiable risk factors for dementia, including obesity, smoking, alcohol use, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol in mid-life, adherence to the MIND diet, air pollution and hypertension.
Distinguished Professor Vivian WY Tam is an award-winning researcher in construction engineering and management. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, her innovative technologies convert construction waste into high-grade resources to combat the climate crisis and build a low carbon, circular economy.
Dr Jennifer Matthews is an emerging leader in marine biochemistry whose research is transforming our understanding of coral nutrition and physiology, creating science-led solutions for conservation and climate-resilient policy. She is Deputy Team Leader of the Future Reefs group at the University of Technology Sydney, an exceptional leadership role for an early career researcher.
Dr Felix Rizzuto is an international expert in DNA nanotechnology and self-assembly. Felix has worked with academic, industry and international partners to develop synthetic molecules that respond to, adapt to and compute chemical signals. Since joining UNSW Sydney in 2022, Felix has focused on engineering nanorobots from DNA.
Professor Paul Keall is a medical physics researcher leading scientists, clinical partners and international collaborators to create novel cancer imaging and targeted radiation therapy methods, translating many of these into clinical practice.
Dr Brad Law has worked in public service as a wildlife research scientist for over 30 years. In this time, Brad has become an international leader in wildlife ecology and ecologically sustainable forest management. His work focuses on threatened species ecology and developing methods to monitor the long-term population trends of cryptic wildlife.
Ryland O’Connell is a technological and applied sciences teacher who, over the past seven years, has emerged as a passionate and innovative STEM educator within the NSW public education system.
Feature Image: The 2025 Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering (l to r): the Hon Anoulack Chanthivong MP, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology (front), Dr Brad Law, Distinguished Professor Vivian Tam, Professor Nalini Joshi, 2025 NSW Scientist of the Year, Professor Paul Keall, Associate Professor Catriona Macdonald, representing Distinguished Professor Brajesh Singh, Mr Simon Draper, Secretary, Premier’s Department, the Hon Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, Mr Ryland O’Connell, Mr Dennis Wilson, Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Felix Rizzuto, Dr Jennifer Matthews, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, Chief Scientist & Engineer.
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