ANU honours distinguished alumni

Susan Ryan has been a formidable force in Australian society for decades and she remains a powerful role model for women everywhere. The Australian National University (ANU) has honoured its distinguished alumni at the 2018 ANU Alumni Awards, naming former cabinet minister and equal opportunity campaigner The Hon Susan Ryan AO to receive the University's Alumni of the Year Award. Throughout her career, Ms Ryan (MA '74) has been a tireless campaigner against all forms of discrimination and has contributed to the advancement of human rights in Australia in the areas of ageing, disability and equal opportunity. Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC said Ms Ryan had changed the lives of Australian women forever by introducing equal opportunity and affirmative action laws into Australia. "Susan Ryan has been a formidable force in Australian society for decades and she remains a powerful role model for women everywhere," Professor Schmidt said. "That's why the ANU awarded her an honorary doctorate at the end of last year and I congratulate her on being named ANU Alumna of the Year for 2018." Ms Ryan became Australia's first Age Discrimination Commissioner in 2011 and was appointed Disability Discrimination Commissioner in 2014. She was a founding member of Women's electoral lobby and elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 1974.