Geoff Wilson (professor)

Geoffrey Victor Herbert Wilson AM (1938 – 9 January 2020) was an internationally distinguished nuclear physicist who made contributions to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and low temperature physics. His research team achieved the lowest temperature ever recorded in Australia.

Professor Geoff Wilson AM
4th Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University
In office 1996–2002
Preceded by	John Hay
Succeeded by	Sally Walker
Personal details
Born	Geoffrey Victor Herbert Wilson 1938
Died	9 January 2020
Nationality	Australian
Profession	Physicist, administrator
Academic work
Discipline	Physics
Sub-discipline	nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, low temperature physics
Institutions	Central Queensland University Deakin University

He was National President of the Australian Institute of Physics and held appointments as Chair of the Victorian and Queensland Vice-Chancellors’ Committees, Vice President and Acting President of the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. He has been Chair of the Boards of Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre, Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre and the Graduate Careers Council of Australia.

Professor Wilson had a distinguished career as a physicist with more than 100 published papers in international scientific journals. He was a member of the Australian College of Educators and a director of the Australian Institute of Management.[1]

After retiring from Deakin University he carried out extensive consulting including the development of drafts of the new National Protocols on Higher Education Processes and was a member of the Cooperative Research Centres Committee. He chaired the Board of AMCSearch. Deakin University awards the Geoff Wilson Medal "to celebrate the career of Professor Geoffrey Victor Herbert Wilson AM".[2]

Wilson died on 9 January 2020 in Geelong, Victoria at the age of 81.[3]

Appointments

• Vice-Chancellor and President of Deakin University, 1996–2002.
• Vice-President, Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, 1996–1997, a member of the Board of Directors, 1994–1999 and Chair of the Standing Committee on Research.
• Vice-Chancellor of Central Queensland University, 1991–1996.
• Member of the Australian Research Council, 1988–1991, Deputy Chair of the Council, 1989–1990, and held the inaugural chair of the Council's Research Grants Committee.
• Inaugural Rector of the University College of the UNSW at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

He held appointments at Monash and Oxford universities and the Free University of Berlin.[4]

Awards

Wilson made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours.[5] He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for "For service to tertiary education and academic achievement in the field of physics".[6]

References

1. Wilson, Geoff (July 2003). "First Year Experience". Retrieved 23 May 2012.
2. "The Geoff Wilson Medal". Retrieved 23 May 2012.
3. "GEOFFREY VICTOR HERBERT WILSON AM". The Age. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
4. "Professor Geoff Wilson — AMC Board". The Australian Maritime College. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
5. "Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Professor Geoffrey Victor Herbert Wilson". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 9 June 1997. Retrieved 16 June 2020. For SERVICE TO TERTIARY EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION, TO BUSINESS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND, AND TO PHYSICS.
6. "Centenary Medal entry for Professor Geoffrey Victor Wilson". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2020. For service to tertiary education and academic achievement in the field of physics.