AVA members make 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List

^{Image (L-R): Philip Moses AM, Michael Pyne OAM, Tiggy Grillo AM and Geoffrey Wilson AM (image credits L-R: AVA/Philip Moses, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary/Michael Pyne, WHA/Tiggy Grillo, BOQ/Geoffrey Wilson)}

This year four veterinarians, including two long-standing AVA members, were recognised in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List.

Adjunct Professor Philip Moses AM

Adj. Prof. Moses was recognised as Member (AM) in the General Division for “significant service to the veterinary profession as a doctor, administrator and educator.”

Adj. Prof. Moses is a Life Member of the AVA and was awarded an AVA Meritorious Service Award in 2016. A graduate of the University of Sydney, Adj. Prof. Moses is a Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and co-founded Queensland’s Veterinary Specialist Services. His surgical interests include brachycephalic airway syndrome, spinal anomalies, as well as all aspects of soft tissue, neurological and orthopaedic surgery. He has lectured widely at a number of Australian and international conferences, and has published in numerous textbooks and veterinary scientific journals.

Adj. Prof. Moses also has a special interest in surgery of Australian marsupials. His work pioneering surgical techniques in koalas and kangaroos saw him awarded Australia Zoo’s inaugural Conservation Award.

His other activities include research projects with Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney and the University of Queensland, and acting as one of two elected members of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland since 2009.

Dr Michael Pyne OAM

Dr Michael Pyne was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) “for service to veterinary science.”

Dr Pyne is a long-term AVA member and the Head of Veterinary Sciences and Research Programs at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital (CWH) in Queensland.

He joined CWH in 2000, where he manages a team of veterinarians, support staff and volunteers who see over 14,000 native wildlife cases each year. Under his leadership, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital has grown into one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in the world. More recently, in conjunction with World Wildlife Fund Australia and the Queensland University of Technology, Dr Pyne has led a pioneering vaccination program to protect koalas from chlamydia, as part of the Koala Chlamydia Research Program. This program, instituted in 2020, helps to save the lives of this iconic Australian species, which is listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

“Saving our precious wildlife has never been so important and our commitment has never been so strong. I’m so grateful for this award and hope it really highlights the importance of the work we do,” Dr Pyne said.

Dr Victoria (Tiggy) Grillo AM

Dr Grillo, from Tasmania, was awarded an AM in the General Division “for significant service to conservation through education, research and leadership roles.”

Dr Grillo is the National Coordinator and Chief Operating Officer of Wildlife Health Australia (WHA). She is also Australia's World Organisation for Animal Health Focal Point for Wildlife Health and Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Dr Grillo moved to Australia in 2006 to lecture in parasitology and communication skills at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW, before moving to WHA in 2009. In 2016, she received the Wildlife Diseases Association Australasian Section Barry Munday Award for her outstanding services to wildlife health in Australia.

Dr Geoffrey Wilson AM

Dr Geoffrey Wilson was awarded an AM “for significant service to the community through charitable organisations.”

Dr Wilson founded the organisation VetLove in 2015, a group of clinics that centre the animals’ interests. Outside of his veterinary work, Dr Wilson is a polar explorer, holding multiple World Record for solo unsupported and wind-assisted polar exploration. During his initial Antarctic expedition he raised hundreds of thousands in funding for the McGrath Foundation, which supports breast cancer research.

The AVA congratulates all of them for their wonderful achievement.