The 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List for Australia has officially been published, shining a spotlight on 949 extraordinary individuals whose contributions span philanthropy, politics, science, business, media, the arts and community service. Five standout figures have been awarded the nation’s highest civic distinction, the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), honoring their decades of transformative impact across multiple sectors.
Among the five AC recipients is veteran philanthropist Janet Calvert-Jones, whose lifelong commitment to public good has shaped medical research, the arts, youth development and public green spaces across Australia. Raised by her mother Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, who instilled in her a core belief that giving requires both financial support and personal engagement, Calvert-Jones has championed causes from the Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s Hospital to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, which her family helped found. After her son James developed permanent hearing impairment, she co-founded Taralye, an oral language center for deaf and hearing-impaired children in 1968. She has also led the Tapestry Foundation of Australia, supported the Royal Botanic Gardens and opened her family’s historic Cruden Farm to the public, all while maintaining that the greatest reward comes from seeing communities thrive. “I don’t deserve this award at all,” she said in response to the honor. “I have been so lucky in every part of my life.”
Other AC recipients include former Tasmanian premier William Hodgman, virologist and infectious diseases expert Professor William Rawlinson, trailblazing gender equality advocate and former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja, and world-renowned mathematician Terence Chi-Shen Tao. Stott Despoja, whose decades of work have centered on ending family and domestic violence and advancing women’s human rights globally, was recognized for her service to gender equity and human rights. Currently serving her second term on the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, she said she remains dedicated to building a future where gender equality is the norm, and all girls can count on a secure, bright future. Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher described Stott Despoja as a fierce, unwavering advocate for women’s representation and rights both in Australia and globally.
Beyond the top tier of honorees, the list celebrates a broad spectrum of achievement, from the 34-year-old youngest recipient Sarah Ward to 106-year-old volunteer Florence Drury, the oldest acknowledged this year. One of the most high-profile honorees is prominent Australian business leader Christine Holgate, chief executive of Team Global Express, who was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to business through decades of senior executive roles. Holgate, who became a household name amid the 2021 Cartier watch controversy when she was Australia Post CEO—an investigation later cleared her of any wrongdoing—said the experience made her stronger. A diehard Collingwood Magpies supporter, she plans to celebrate her honor by watching her team play from a local pub. Reflecting on her non-traditional journey to the top, which began when she worked as an 18-year-old waitress and gained early mentorship from former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, Holgate said she hopes her recognition inspires others facing hardship to persevere. “I’m just a girl who came from the train station floor,” she said. “When you’ve had nothing it doesn’t really leave you, and I think that is a very strong motivation to change things.”
Beloved comedian and broadcaster Rove McManus, also awarded an AM for his service to broadcast media, entertainment and community, said he was relieved to finally share the news after being sworn to secrecy following his notification last month. The three-time Gold Logie winner only told his wife Tasma Walton and 12-year-old daughter Ruby, accidentally leaving his mother waiting a full week for the announcement because he mixed up the holiday date in Western Australia. He plans to celebrate with a low-key family barbecue in Perth, and joked that he is still waiting to discover the unadvertised perks of the honor—hopefully including priority bathroom access and a secret handshake. McManus, whose current stand-up tour reflects on his decades as a iconic chat show host, said the recognition feels particularly meaningful as a validation of his life’s work: making audiences feel better at the end of a long day.
A moving posthumous tribute also features on this year’s list, with late ABC broadcaster and musician James Valentine awarded an AM for his service to media, music and children’s literature. The nomination began as a playful offhand comment at Valentine’s “living wake” in February, held shortly after he announced a terminal cancer diagnosis. When a guest joked that the beloved saxophonist and ABC Local Radio host deserved an Order of Australia for lifting Sydney’s spirits, Governor-General Sam Mostyn—who was in attendance as a family friend—responded “Well, I’m here!” The joke quickly turned into a formal campaign by Valentine’s friends and colleagues, and the honor was conferred to his children just four days before he died in April, who delivered it to him at home. His wife Joanne Corrigan said Valentine had initially opposed the award, believing it should go to people who went above and beyond daily duty, but receiving the honor became “the last moment of sunshine in his brain.” He was touched that his lifelong commitment to kindness had been recognized, Corrigan said.
Other notable honorees include Vogue Australia Editorial Director Edwina McCann, who received an AM for her service to journalism, arts governance and the fashion industry. McCann, who pioneered the STEM-focused Vogue Codes initiative and has chaired the Australian Ballet Foundation, almost missed the notification email and will celebrate with a glass of champagne while on a work trip in Paris. Former federal Liberal MP Katie Allen, who died last year from a rare form of cancer, was posthumously awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her pioneering medical research into pediatric allergies and gastroenterology, and her service to parliament. Allen, who crossed the floor in 2022 to vote with Labor to extend anti-discrimination protections to transgender students, was remembered by her husband Malcolm as a woman of integrity who prioritized her family above all other achievements, and mentored generations of women pursuing both family and careers. Legendary ABC journalist Fran Kelly also received an AO for her decades of groundbreaking journalism and advocacy for social justice and LGBTQIA+ equality. Kelly, who hosted RN Breakfast for 17 years, said she was completely surprised by the honor, and has long aimed to contribute to inclusive national conversation that helps Australia grow rather than shrink inward.
As Australia celebrates the King’s Birthday, the 2025 honours list highlights the extraordinary impact ordinary Australians can make across every corner of national life, from boardrooms and research labs to community centers and airwaves.