University of Queensland Honorary Awards

Anna Frederika (Freda) Bage OBE MSc, LLD, FLS was an Australian biologist, university professor and principal and women's activist. Following her graduation with a Master of Science in 1907, Freda worked as a junior demonstrator in Biology and in 1908 won the King's College scholarship. In 1909, she travelled to London working under Arthur Dendy, which led Freda to receiving a fellowship by the Linnean Society. Freda then returned to the University of Melbourne where she worked as a senior demonstrator, and in 1913 she was offered a job at The University of Queensland where she became a biology lecturer.

On 8 February 1914, Freda became the first principal of The Women's College, a role she held until 1946.

• M. Science (1907), the University of Melbourne
• Doctor of Laws honoris causa (1951), The University of Queensland

OBE (1941)

The Honourable Dr Penelope Wensley AC is an Australian former public servant and diplomat who served as the 25th Governor of Queensland from 2008 to 2014. She was previously High Commissioner to India from 2001 to 2004 and Ambassador to France from 2005 to 2008.

• B. Arts (1967), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa (1994), The University of Queensland

• UQ Alumnus of the Year (1994)
• AC for eminent contribution to the people of Queensland, and to Australia’s international relations through senior diplomatic representational roles and as a key contributor to initiatives of the United Nations. (2011)

Dr Maureen Aitken PhD (Qld), DU honoris causa (Qld), PhD, BA Hons, PGDipEd (Qld) was Principal of The Women's College from 1991 to 2008.

During her career, Maureen was the Head of Modern Languages at Ipswich Girls Grammar School, and a Lecturer in Humanities, specifically foreign languages, at the UQ School of Music, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She was a President of The University of Queensland Chapter of the Australian Heads of Colleges Association and of the Alumni Association Inc. of The University of Queensland. She also held roles as the Vice-President of the Queensland branch of the Australian Federation of University Women, as an Executive Member of the Australian Universities Alumni Council, Secretary of the National Association of Heads of Australian University Colleges and Halls of Residence, and was a member of the Queensland Department of Education's Curriculum Development Committee and Language Reference Group.

An active participant in promoting female participation in tertiary educaiton, Maureen was a founding member of the International Women's Education Worldwide group, which met in Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges, Massachusetts, USA, in 2004.

• B. Arts (Hons), The University of Queensland
• Grad. Dip in Education, The University of Queensland
• Doctor of the University honoris causa (2007), The University of Queensland

Sallyanne Atkinson AO FAIM, FAICD, FAPI is a Business Leader and Former Politician.

Sallyanne began an arts degree at The University of Queensland, before becoming a journalist on the Brisbane Telegraph from 1960 to 1962, the Sydney Telegraph from 1962 to 1963, and The Courier-Mail from 1963 to 1964. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in History and Political Science, in 1967. She was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1985 to 1991 and to date has been the only woman to have held this position.

Sallyanne was the College Council President from 2009 to 2020. In honour of Sallyanne’s leadership and service, in 2021 the College renamed ‘Old Wing’ – the building where she resided at The Women’s College in 1960 – to the Sallyanne Atkinson Building. 

• B. Arts (1967), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of the University honoris causa (2007), The University of Queensland

• AO in recognition of service to the community and local government (1993)
• Centenary Medal for distinguished service to local government and to business (2001)
• UQ Alumnus of the Year (2014)
• Queensland Greats Award (2014)

The Honourable Anna Bligh AC resided at The Women’s College in 1978, during her first year of studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at The University of Queensland (UQ).

Before entering politics, Anna worked for various community organisations. She was then first elected to the State Parliament in 1995. In July 2005, Anna was promoted to Deputy Premier, and was subsequently promoted to Queensland Premier in 2007. In office from 2007 to 2012, Anna served as the 37th Premier of Queensland. After retiring from politics, Anna was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Banking Association, a role she held from 2017 to 2025.

• B. Arts (1981), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of Laws honoris causa (2010), The University of Queensland

• AC for eminent service to the Parliament of Queensland, particularly as Premier, to infrastructure development and education reform, as an advocate for the role of women in public life, and to the not-for-profit sector. (2017)
• UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award (2023)

Dr Else Shepherd AM was a pioneer and role model in breaking through the barriers to women's professional acceptance particularly in "non-traditional" fields such as engineering. She was one of the first two women to graduate from electrical engineering at The University of Queensland, in 1965, and at one time she was one of only two female engineers working in Queensland. 

She was an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. For three consecutive years, Engineers Australia ranked Dr Shepherd as one of Australia’s "Top 100 Most Influential Engineers", and in 2007, she was ranked one of Australia's "Top 25 Most Influential Female Engineers".

• B. Engineering (1966), The University of Queensland
• Grad. Dip. Music (1984), Queensland Conservatorium
• Doctor of Engineering honoris causa (2011), The University of Queensland

• UQ Alumnus of the Year (2009)
• AM for service to the engineering profession, particularly electrical and electronic engineering, to education, to the electricity distribution industry, and to the community (2003)
• Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in information technology (2001)
• Queensland Greats Award (2022)