A West Australian cancer epidemiologist is among those to have been bestowed the highest of Australia Day honours, alongside a doctor who was held captive by Al-Qa’ida-linked jihadists for seven years.
Emeritus Professor Bruce Armstrong was appointed an Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List.
He was recognised for his eminent service to medical research, environmental and genetic cancer epidemiology, screening service development, academia, and public health administration.
A world-leading authority on cancer epidemiology, he is an adjunct professor at UWA and an Emeritus Professor with the Sydney University’s School of Public Health. He is also a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Professor Armstrong has held many leadership and advisory positions in health, including at Cancer Council Australia, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the National Health and Medical Research Council, and was the founding chairman of the Sax Institute.
At Cancer Council WA Dr Armstrong chaired a committee that successfully called for the establishment of breast cancer screening in WA and led the way to campaign against harmful products like tobacco.
Cancer Council WA cancer prevention and research director Melissa Ledger said the recognition was well deserved.
“He’s had such a distinguished career in cancer control, and also as a professor and in public health administration,” she said.
“His research has informed better understanding of the causes of cancer and preventing cancer.
“He had such enormous achievements across his career it seemed appropriate we would name our career achievement award – the Professor Bruce Armstrong Award – after him. It is our most prestigious award for cancer researchers.”
Other West Australians working in medical fields were also acknowledged, including husband and wife team Dr Kenneth Elliott and Jocelyn Elliott, who were both honoured for distinguished service to international relations through humanitarian medical care in remote regions of Burkina Faso.
The couple spent 44 years working pro bono providing surgery and medicine at a hospital they built in Djibo in the southern province of Burkina Faso, West Africa.
The couple were kidnapped by Al-Qa’ida-linked jihadists in 2016. While Mrs Elliott was released after three weeks, Dr Elliott was held captive for seven years before he was freed in 2023 at the age of 88.
Officers of the Order of Australia
Emeritus Professor Jeffery Spickett was recognised for his distinguished service to tertiary education, public and occupational health, and environmental toxicology research and Robert Fitzpatrick for significant service to plastic and reconstructive surgery. Both were appointed as Officers of the Order of Australia (AO).
Member of the Order of Australia
Professor Shirley Jansen’s significant service to vascular surgery as a clinician and researcher earned her an appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Other AM appointees were Dr Barry Lewis for significant service to biochemical paediatrics and genetics and Professor Robert Newton for significant service to exercise medicine, to cancer research, and to the community.
Professor Wei Wang’s work as a researcher and academic in predictive and personalised medicine and Emeritus Professor Dianne Wynaden’s service to academic and clinical mental health nursing also saw them honoured as Members of the Order of Australia .
Also on the list was Head of Bone and Brain Research at the Perron Institute and UWA Professor Minghao Zheng, a global leader in regenerative medicine and musculoskeletal and neuro tissue engineering.
Other honourees
Dr Geoff Knight was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (AOM) for services to paediatric medicine and Dr Anita Bourke received an Order of Australia, Honorary Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to the community and to radiology.
Dr Bourke was the first dual-trained nuclear physician and senior breast radiologist in WA. She worked as a consultant radiologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and at BreastScreen WA for more than 30 years, introducing multiple new imaging and interventional breast techniques.
Retired WA doctor John Taylor was also recognised in the honours list for services to conservation and the environment.
A total of 949 Australians received honours this Australia Day.
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