Recognition for Hurriyet

    The Cairns Post celebrated International Womens Day by highlighting who they believed to be the regions 30 most influential women in FNQ. Development in the Tropics team member Professor Hurriyet Babacan was one of those selected.

    Hurriyet has had a distinguished career of the last 25 years with a proven track record of achievement in senior leadership and strategic management roles. Professor Babacan has been recognised for her work through a number of awards including the Order of Australia 2014 (AM) for outstanding contribution, as academic and author, and for furthering multicultural community, education, and social policy development; Bi-Centenary Medal awarded by the Prime Minister, 2002 and the Multicultural Services Award by the Premier of Queensland. Hurriyet was the Queensland State Finalist in the Telstra Businesswomen’s Award in the for Community and Public Service category in 2003. Professor Babacan’s name has been listed in the Australian Women’s Archives as recognition of women leaders who have contributed to Australia.

    Other influential women in the FNQ listed by the Cairns post include Yidinji elder Professor Heneritta Marrie, Australian Soccer star Mary Fowler, Advance Cairns CEO Jacinta Reddan, ABC Far North breakfast presenter Charlie McKillop, Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Sonia Smith, CQU associate vice president Jodie Duignan-George and Cairns Regional Council CEO Mica Martin.

    Back to List


    More News


    SATSIE showcased at DNAC2025

    SATSIE showcased at DNAC2025

    The Developing Northern Australia Conference in Cairns provided an opportunity to show case some of the Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub's Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...

    Read More

    Rethinking the north

    Rethinking the north

    Long term colleague of the Development in the Tropics Team, Dr John Coyne is co author of recent report that frames Northern Australia as a developing economy within a developed nation.The A...

    Read More

    Nalisa is our Spirit of JCU

    Nalisa is our Spirit of JCU

    On Friday 8 August, six inspiring alumni, working across law, government, conservation, and medicine, were awarded for their outstanding contributions to their fields in a ceremony held at t...

    Read More

    Strong Northern Voices at the DNAC2025

    Strong Northern Voices at the DNAC2025

    The 2025 Developing Northern Australia Conference (DNAC) took place from the 22-24 July in Cairns, bringing together over 500 delegates from across the north, the rest of Australia and the&n...

    Read More

    FNQ Connect welcomes new director as initiative grows

    FNQ Connect welcomes new director as initiative grows

    FNQ Connect, located within The Cairns Institute, has welcomed a new director to guide the now fully-staffed backbone team ahead of its cross-sector leadership table in August. The initiative, inspire...

    Read More

    Building drought resilient grazing systems at Clarke Creek

    Building drought resilient grazing systems at Clarke Creek

    More than 25 Central Queensland producers took to the paddock at Clarke Creek for hub Node FBA’s recent Climate Smart Field Day, eager to learn how to build resilience in their grazing...

    Read More

    TCI welcomes Australia Awards recipients

    TCI welcomes Australia Awards recipients

    Strengthening Regional Cooperation through Learning and DialogueThe Northern Australia Universities Alliance (NAUA) proudly hosted the DFAT Australia Awards – Northern Australia 2025&n...

    Read More

    Sharing Climate Codesign Insights at AMOS 2025

    Sharing Climate Codesign Insights at AMOS 2025

    Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub (TNQDH) Knowledge Broker Karen George representing the hub at the Australian Meteorolgical Oceanographic Society (AMOS) 2025 Conference in Cairns r...

    Read More

    Top

    © 2025 The Cairns Institute | Site Map | Site by OracleStudio | Design by LeoSchoepflin