MORE women than ever before (40 per cent) have been awarded in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, but it was a Griffith man who took out the top gong in Canberra.

Dennis Richardson was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for his eminent service to public administration through leadership roles in the national security, defence and foreign policy arenas, and to workplace cultural reform.

Before retiring as a public servant and diplomat in 2017, Mr Richardson worked as the secretary of the Department of Defence (2012-17). He also worked as the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Despite retirement Mr Richardson hasn’t slowed down and sits on the board for the Canberra Raiders, ACT RSPCA and the National Capital Authority.

He was also awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Sydney University last year and an honorary doctorate of laws from ANU in the same year.

Other local recipients include:

OFFICER (AO) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Mr Martin Gerard BOWLES, Canberra, for distinguished service to public administration at a senior level and to policy development and program implementation.

Emeritus Prof Andrew Peter HOPKINS, for distinguished service to higher education, particularly to industrial safety and accident analysis.

Mr Simon Joseph LEWIS, Sutton, for distinguished service to public administration in a range of portfolio areas and to transformational change and organisational design.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Emeritus Prof Neville Frank EXON, Chapman, for significant service to marine geology and to higher education.

Ms Lisa Kim FILIPETTO, for significant service to bilateral relations and to international humanitarian initiatives.

Rev Dr Thomas Robert FRAME, Tarago, for significant service to higher education, to the Anglican Church of Australia and to the community.

Mr Craig James HAMILTON, Monash, for significant service to public administration in defence policy.

Mrs Margery Heather HENDERSON, Yarralumla, for significant service to the community through the preservation of political history.

Ms Daryl Ann KARP, Turner, for significant service to the arts, particularly to the museums and galleries sector.

Mr Warren Leslie KING, Barton, for significant service to business, particularly in the area of defence industry capability.

Ms Mary Anne KIRK, Bruce, for significant service to midwifery and nursing, and to professional standards.

Mr Michael John LYNSKEY, Ainslie, for significant service to international eye health programs, and to the community

Mr Peter Ross MARTIN, ACT, for significant service to multi-platform and print media as an economics journalist.

Ms Louise Mary MAYO, O’Connor, for significant service to vocational education and training, and to the community.

Dr Helen Margaret MOORE, Cook, for significant service to English language education and to community music.

Prof Barbara Ann PAMPHILON, Duffy, for significant service to higher education and to the community.

Mr Andrew Michael PHELAN, Campbell, for significant service to judicial administration.

Dr Peter John READ, Turner, for significant service to Indigenous history.

Distinguished Prof Dharmendra Prakash SHARMA, McKellar, for significant service to higher education and to computer science.

Ms Margaret Eileen TWOMEY, Forrest, for significant service to international relations.

Ms Theanne Rae WALTERS, for significant service to medical education and accreditation.

MEDAL (OAM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Mr Peter Leslie CULLERNE, Wamboin, for service to veterans and their families.

Prof Jane Esther DAHLSTROM, Deakin, for service to medical education and to pathology.

Mr Kenneth Charles EYNON, Latham, for service to athletics.

The late Mr John Thomas FAHY, Ngunnawal, for service to National Wattle Day celebrations.

Ms Caroline Patricia FLYNN, O’Malley, for service to the community through a range of organisations.

Mr Peter Thomas FUNNELL, Florey, for service to hockey.

Mr Ivan HINTON-TEOH, Ainslie, for service to human rights, and to the LGBTIQ community.

Mrs Joyce Irene HYLES, Kingston, for service to the community of Bungendore and Queanbeyan.

Ms Colette Elizabeth MACKAY, Braddon, for service to the community of the ACT.

Mrs Judith Mary McNAY, Curtin, for service to veterans and their families.

Ms Sally MELHUISH, Hall, for service to baroque music.

Mrs Wendy MOORE, Ainslie, for service to the international community of Nepal.

Dr Krishna Dhana NADIMPALLI, Amaroo, for service to multiculturalism in the ACT.

Ms Vasiliki NIHAS-BOGIATZIS, Barton, for service to the arts and cultural heritage.

Squadron leader Gary William OAKLEY, Bonner, for service to the indigenous community through a range of organisations.

Mrs Vivien Elma PALMER, Isaacs, for service to education, and to the community.

Mr Jose Manuel ROSES, Monash, for service to karate.

Mr William Michael SPARKS, Braddon, for service to community health.

Mr Richard Llewellyn STONE, Fadden, for service to veterans and their families.

Mr Eric Serge THAUVETTE, Gilmore, for service to people with a disability.

Dr Vida VILIUNAS, Deakin, for service to medicine in the field of anaesthesiology.

Dr Gordon Eustace WHITE, Garran, for service to medicine, particularly sexual health.

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL

Dr Roslyn Kay BAXTER, O’Connor.

Mr Robert John BOLLARD, Hughes.

Mr Ryan Alexander FERNANDO, Holder.

Mrs Sarah Jane HITCHCOCK, Gordon.

Ms Michelle Anne LAUDER, Hawker.

Ms Hilary Margaret MANSON, Red Hill.

Mr Matthew RAMAGE, Wamboin.

Ms Beverley Maree SIMS, Nicholls.