Professor Katie Allen, Fran Kelly, Natasha Stott Despoja, Janet Calvert-Jones among those recognised
Professor Katie Allen, who died last December aged 59, was a medical researcher, doctor, MP, mother of four and a member of what she called the Pie and Eat Club.
While most people know him as a politician, the archipelago of his career across many fields was wide, deep and long, and saw him posthumously appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) to serve pediatric allergy and gastroenterology research and to serve the people and the federal parliament as a Member for Higgins. He is one of 949 Australians recognized in the King’s Birthday Honors List.
Her husband, management consultant Malcolm Allen, said last week: “She was never one to let an obstacle get in her way. She just worked her way around the obstacle and had tremendous confidence in her self-belief.”
This led him to turn to different, daunting areas of scientific endeavor and, ultimately, politics.
“He was at the height of his career in cutting-edge medical research and medicine and made the decision: ‘I’m going to throw everything away and stand in a train station in my early 50s handing out how to vote. [and say] Please vote for me.’ ”
Allen’s official honorary citation consists of approximately 80 lines and cites more than 423 peer-reviewed research articles and 15 book chapters he has written or co-authored. He is cited in nearly 100 conference papers, and he has also supervised more than 30 doctoral students, mostly women.
He is one of 703 laureates on the honor roll of the General Chapter of the Order of Australia. These include five Orders of Australia (ACs, the highest award), 40 AOs, 183 Members of the Order of Australia (AMs) and 475 Medals of the Order of Australia (OAMs). The military section has 34 awards, 149 meritorious awards and 63 notable awards.
Other recipients include writer Gerard Murnane, journalist Fran Kelly and former senator Natasha Stott Despoja.
Allen was born in 1966 and grew up in the Victoria-NSW border town of Albury. As a child, he followed his doctor father on hospital visits.
He was one of Australia’s most published scientists and led pioneering medical research in Chicago, including the use of stem cells to grow livers that could be transplanted into children, and the HealthNuts research project he directed. Murdoch Children’s Research InstituteThis has fundamentally changed the understanding and treatment of allergies in children.
He was the federal Liberal member for Higgins from 2018 to 2022, losing his seat to Labor. He ran for re-election in the seat of Chisholm in 2025, keeping his cancer diagnosis secret.
Following his defeat at the polls, Allen revealed that he suffered from cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.
Malcolm Allen said his wife told other women that she was a member of the Cake and Eater Club, had a successful career in many fields and was also raising children Monty, Jemima, Arabella and Archie.
“I’m in tears right now,” Malcolm Allen said, saying they were tears of happiness. “I’m sorry I won’t be able to give him a big hug when the announcement is made.”
Other honorees included 87-year-old philanthropist Janet Calvert-Jones, who was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for her services to philanthropy, the arts, medical research organizations and children and young people.
Calvert-Jones, who was chairman of the Herald and Weekly Times from 1989 to 2009 and whose brother is media baron Rupert Murdoch, supported institutions such as the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The Guardian. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and State Library of Victoria.
“I am deeply grateful and deeply touched by this recognition and feel it is more than I deserve,” he said.
Fran Kelly, veteran ABC journalist and presenter Radio National Hourreceived an AO for outstanding service to broadcast journalism.
Kelly, who joined Triple J in 1988, was also recognized for her achievements in equality, social justice and LGBTQ advocacy.
He learned of his honor eight weeks ago via email. “It was a complete surprise. I never expected something like this because I do a job I love.”
He said he was thrilled that he and his team were recognized for their work.
Kelly worked in Canberra, was a foreign correspondent in London and presented Radio National. Breakfast 17 years.
“I lost a lot of my job,” he said, highlighting his time there. Breakfast.
“Our mission was to create an agenda-setting program that had something for everyone to know what was going on in their state, their country and the world. I experienced absolute satisfaction every day, and it’s absolute adrenaline.”
Kelly now hosts weeknight show Radio National Hour. But not this Monday. He takes a day off and invites friends and colleagues from throughout his career. “Because I want to appreciate them too.”
Other recipients of this year’s King’s Birthday Honors have also made significant contributions in a variety of fields.
Gerard Murnane, author PlainsThe 1982 novel about a filmmaker who wanders mysterious plains in search of financing receives an AO for distinguished services to literature and education.
Sid Myer, chairman of Myer Family Investments and former head of the Zoos Victoria Foundation and the University of Melbourne’s Asialink centre, received an AO for services to equality, the arts and Asia-Australia relations.
Former South Australian Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja has been appointed AC to serve gender equality and violence prevention. She recently chaired the South Australian royal commission into domestic violence and is a member of the United Nations committee on the elimination of discrimination against women.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allen has been appointed as an AM to serve the community through social reform and human rights advocacy.
This year, the gender balance of the awards improved by 5 percent but still remained male-dominated.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn said the imbalance would only change if more people nominated women for recognition.
“Every Australian, regardless of gender, social, cultural or economic background, should be able to look at the honor roll and see themselves,” Mostyn said.
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Stephen Brook is a special correspondent for The Age and a CBD columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. He was previously deputy editor of The Sunday Age. He is the former media editor of The Australian and spent six years working for The Guardian in London.Connect with: X or email.
