UTS Business School’s Professor Simon Darcy has been honoured with the Chancellor’s Medal for Research Excellence, recognising his longstanding research and advocacy in improving the lives of people with disability (PWD) and other marginalised identities.
UTS Business School Professor Simon Darcy and UTS Chancellor Catherine Livingstone AC
The award – one of the university’s top accolades for academic researchers, recognising sustained research excellence at the highest level – was presented by UTS Chancellor Catherine Livingstone AC, who acknowledged Professor Darcy’s extensive research achievements traversing many sectors including transport, tourism, employment, entrepreneurship, the built environment, sport and disability services, and his commitment to evidence-based approaches to affecting change in business, government and the not-for-profit sector.
She also noted his significant contributions have been recognised through three prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, his involvement with the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre, other category one grants with the Department of Social Services and his involvement in major national and international projects involving mega event legacy.
“This is one of many accolades recognising Simon’s exceptional contribution in advancing disability research in Australia. With around one in five Australians living with disability, Simon’s work has not only made a significant contribution in shaping and influencing the national disability research agenda, but has made a real-world impact in creating a more accessible and inclusive society for the millions of people with disability,” said Professor Carl Rhodes, Dean of UTS Business School.
“Simon is a tireless advocate for the social participation of marginalised groups, disability citizenship and developing transformative solutions to discriminatory practices – underpinned by his collaborative approach to deeply engaging with disability advocacy groups, community organisations, policymakers and business to reduce disadvantage and inequities in our society and make meaningful social change.”
Professor Darcy’s research has had significant impact in informing policy and practice globally, including advisory work with the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization, the International Paralympic Committee, and Commonwealth and State government organisations and initiatives, including the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, the Disability Council of NSW, National Disability Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Professor Darcy’s leadership in the sector is also reflected in his role as co-founder of the UTS Disability Research Network, bringing together interdisciplinary expertise from business, education, design, health, law, science and technology to address the real-world ‘wicked problems’ facing people with disability.
Most recently, this has contributed to the production of three key research reports informing the Australian government's National Disability Research Partnership Research Agenda, contributing to a $60m government funding investment into university sector disability research.
UTS Disability Research Network co-founders Professor Simon Darcy and Professor Bronwen Hemsley
Professor Darcy’s colleague, and fellow co-founder of the UTS Disability Research Network, Professor Bronwyn Hemsley from the UTS Faculty of Health, was also honoured, receiving the Chancellor’s Medal for Research Impact, recognising her work in enhancing communication and swallowing functions through innovative technologies and methods, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
“The recognition of the work and the UTS Disability Research Network is tremendous and can only be achieved through extraordinary interdisciplinary teams working together on wicked disability problems through co-designing with people with disability and organisations that represent them”, said Professor Darcy.
Professor Darcy also indicated that there was still much that business and governments can to do to create an inclusive and accessible society.
“While much has been achieved there is still a great deal to be done as outlined by the Disability Royal Commission and I would implore every person in a decision-making position in organisations to ask themselves whether they are doing all they can to create accessible and inclusive attitudes towards employing people with disability, universally designing their systems and ensuring that their products and services can reach all people in the community including those with disability”.
Learn more about Professor Darcy's research:
