Suzanne Lazaroo
10 June 2026: The Â鶹´«Ã½’s Professor Mark Lintermans AM was named a Member of the Order of Australia in conjunction with the King’s Birthday Honours on Monday, joining 18 other members of the University community on the honours list.
A Professor of Fish Biology with the University’s Faculty of Science and Technology and a leading fisheries ecologist, Professor Lintermans was recognised for his service to freshwater conservation and the environment, and to fisheries ecology.
With a career spanning over 40 years, his areas of focus have been in the management of threatened species, as well as the interaction of native and alien fish species.
“Receiving the award was a great honour, that I certainly wasn't expecting,” Professor Lintermans said.
“It's nice to know that someone out there has recognised the work – and not just what I’ve done, there's a whole tribe of fish ecologists and general ecologists out there beavering away to save threatened species, and I’m just proud to have made a contribution.”
Professor Lintermans hopes that receiving the award goes some way to shine a light on the plight of the freshwater environments he has dedicated his life’s work to.
“Our freshwater environments are severely contested – everyone wants water, whether it’s for domestic consumption, agriculture, recreational, or industrial use – and ecological values often get lost in the process. It can be hard for people to appreciate what’s underwater because they can’t see it – ‘underwater, out of sight’ is a term I often use.”
On a mission to raise awareness on ecological issues, Professor Lintermans’ work has been a combination of science and outreach.
“A big part of my work over the decades has been participating in committee and expert advisory panels to try and get government and industry to understand what's going on in freshwater habitats. I worked with the ACT government for 25 years. You need to be at the coalface, where the rubber hits the road, to really make a difference – because that is how you can ensure that the science gets heard,” he said.
In addition to his work with the University, Professor Lintermans has worked as a fisheries scientist for the ACT Government, the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, and the Murray–Darling Basin Commission.
At the University, Professor Lintermans was previously an Associate Professor in Freshwater Fisheries Ecology and Management at the faculty’s Institute for Applied Ecology and a Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Water Science, both from 2008 to 2024.
Professor Lintermans’ love of fish goes way back to a childhood in Victoria, when he started snorkelling in Westernport Bay at age five.
“I started snorkelling with my dad, and was really into it by the time I was eight. I was a spear fisherman at first, and then gave up the consumptive side of it and just snorkelled to see fish in their habitats,” he said.
Professor Lintermans initially did an Honours degree in possum biology – “because I chose the best supervisor rather than the area that I really wanted to work in” – before moving to Canberra, where he had the opportunity to work in a government-run aquatic lab, and picked up that passion for fish again.
“At that stage, I don’t think I could even name all the freshwater fish in those tanks, but I realised how different they all were. I started doing field surveys around the ACT region, in the Cotter and Tidbinbilla, and that work just reignited my passion for them,” he said.
Professor Lintermans has a Master’s degree from the Australian National University (ANU), and completed his PhD at the Â鶹´«Ã½ in 2022, with a focus on the ecology and management of Australia’s threatened freshwater fish.
A Life Member of the Australian Society for Fish Biology, he has headed several committees within it, including the Threatened Fishes Committee (2009 to 2018) and Alien Fish Committee (2004 to 2008).
Professor Lintermans has also served in roles with the International Union for Conservation of Nature; ACT Government Scientific Committee; NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee; Commonwealth Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Friends of Mongarlowe River; RiverSmart Australia’s Advisory Board; Board of Management of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands; and is a member of the American Fisheries Society. He has published over 400 scientific articles.
“It’s always a great experience when students and researchers come up to you after you've given a seminar or a presentation to ask you about things. To be able to share knowledge, and to learn that I’ve been able to play a part in helping to start some careers in that way is rewarding, and something I really value,” he said.
That’s what he hopes to expand on even further at the University.
“My hope is to mentor students and fish researchers at UC, to raise the profile of freshwater fish research and management because it's a vastly overlooked field and it needs more prominence,” he said.
“UC has been very active in doing work in the Cotter River catchment, because there's a number of threatened fish species there and water management is key to protecting and recovering those species. There has been 25 years of research going on there. UC is also very active in the Lachlan River catchment where they're involved in the Long-Term Intervention Monitoring (LTIM) Project.”
He also has his own fish consultancy business, Fish Fondler Pty Ltd.
“People raise their eyebrows at the name, but it's what I've colloquially called myself for the last 30 years, because that’s what I do – I go out and handle fish with care. That consultancy focuses on threatened fish research, monitoring and management, mainly in the Murray-Darling Basin, but also more broadly around Australia.”
Â鶹´«Ã½ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor The Honourable Bill Shorten paid tribute to all the awards recipients, saying that the recognition was a testament to their leadership, dedication, and service.
“I’d like to extend my warm congratulations to the 20 members of the UC community who were honoured yesterday. Each of the recipients has made a remarkable contribution to their fields, communities, and the nation,” he said.
“Their achievements reflect values that we hold dear at UC: service, integrity, and commitment to meaningful, real world impact.”
KING’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2026 FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA COMMUNITY
Order of Australia – General Division
Dr Gordon John De Brouwer PSM AO
Appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to public administration, policy and reform, to diversity, to environmental conservation, and to education.
Former Â鶹´«Ã½ Adjunct
Ms Patricia Ann Turner AM AO
Appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the Indigenous community through policy development, to governance and leaderships roles, and to improving health outcomes.
Graduate Certificate in Management Studies, 1993
Master of Public Administration, 1995
Distinguished Alumni, 2001
The Honourable Dr Kenneth John Crispin KC AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the judiciary, to the law, and to the ACT community.
Doctorate By Research, Business and Commercial Law 1997
Former Adjunct, till 2010
Distinguished Alumni 2001
Ms Bronwyn Kate Fagan AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to sports administration, to broadcast media, and to the community.
Graduate Diploma Legal Studies, 1998
Bachelor of Laws 1998
Professor Mark Lintermans AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to freshwater conservation and the environment, and to fisheries ecology.
Associate Professor in Freshwater Fisheries Ecology and Management, Institute for Applied Ecology, 2008 to 2024
Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Water Science, 2008 to 2024.
PhD, 2022
Professor of Fish Biology
Dr Helen Mackie AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to rehabilitation medicine, and to research and treatment of lymphoedema.
Graduate Certificate Clinical Trials Management, 2000
Mr Barry James Sandison AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to public administration, particularly in health and welfare.
Bachelor of Business (Management), 1995
Mr Anthony John Sheehan AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to Australia's national security, and to public administration.
Bachelor of Applied Science, 1996
Mr Gary Ronald Worboys APM AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community through emergency response organisations.
Master of Public Health Administration 2012
Mr Michael Norman Hawking OAM
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to cricket, and to sports administration.
Graduate Certificate in Performance Auditing, 2003
Mr Geoffrey Joy OAM
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to education.
Masters of Education (Research), 1987
Dr Rodney Kirkpatrick OAM
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to community history.
Bachelor ofProfessional Writing, 1976
Mr Andrew Peter Satsia OAM
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of Canberra.
Graduate Diploma Legal Studies, 1994
Bachelor of Laws, 1996
Mrs Susan Elizabeth Skinner OAM
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to youth with disability.
Graduate Diploma in Special Education, 1994
Order of Australia – Military Division
Commodore Heath Jay Robertson CSC RAN AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division (AM) for exceptional service to the Royal Australian Navy in training, strategic engagement, and senior leadership roles.
Master of Management in Defence Studies, 2004
Brigadier Shaun James Hoffmann AM
Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division (AM) for exceptional performance of duty as Director General, Land Manoeuvre Systems.
Master of Management in Defence Studies, 2003
Meritorious Awards
Dr Wayne Andrew Beswick PSM
Awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service in systemic change to government practices and changes aimed at improving outcomes for First Nations people.
Master of Management in Defence Studies, 2004
Ms Margaret Ann Chilcott ASM
Awarded the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) for distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service Graduate Diploma in Public Health Nutrition, 1993.
Bachelor of Health Education, 1990
Mr Patrick John Coffey ESM
Awarded the Emergency Services Medal (ESM) for distinguished service as a member of an Australian emergency service.
Bachelor of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2000