Swinburne Honors Indigenous Leaders With Doctorates
Swinburne University of Technology has recognised two outstanding Indigenous leaders, Jefa Greenaway and Ian Hamm, for their significant contributions to design and reconciliation. The university has proudly conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Design on Jefa Greenaway and an Honorary Doctorate in Business on Ian Hamm.
Ian Hamm delivering the 2023 Swinburne Annual Barak Wonga Oration.
Ian Hamm: champion for reconciliation and governance
Ian Hamm has dedicated nearly four decades to advancing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. He spent more than 30 years in the public sector, including as Executive Director of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and Director of Aboriginal Economic Development. Ian has also led an Aboriginal community organisation as CEO.
Beyond his government and community leadership roles, Ian has chaired the boards of the Community Broadcast Foundation, Connecting Home, First Nations Foundation, the Koorie Heritage Trust, Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, and the Western Region Football League. He also sits on numerous boards relating to public policy, social support and reconciliation. Ian is focused on increasing Aboriginal representation in governance, mentoring emerging Indigenous leaders and advocating for change at the board level.
At Swinburne, Ian has been a guiding force behind the university’s reconciliation journey. He has served as a member of Swinburne’s Indigenous Governance Group since 2016 and as Chair of the National Centre for Reconciliation Practice Advisory Board since 2022. Ian has been a guiding contributor to multiple Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) at Swinburne. Swinburne was the first university in the country to attain ‘Elevate’ status for its second RAP – the highest level of endorsement from Reconciliation Australia.
In 2023, Ian delivered Swinburne’s annual Barak Wonga Oration, speaking after the Voice to Parliament referendum. His work aligns with Swinburne’s commitment to advancing industry, community and academic understandings of reconciliation and leading national systemic change.
Jefa Greenaway speaking at the opening celebrations for Swinburne’s Indigenous Learning Circles in 2024.
Jefa Greenaway: leader in Indigenous design
Jefa Greenaway is a highly respected architect, educator and advocate for Indigenous-led design thinking. He was one of the first recognised Indigenous architects registered in Victoria and is the Founding Director of Greenaway Architects, leading projects across architecture, interior design, urban design and landscape design.
Jefa has been a trailblazer in the built environment sector. In 2010, he co-founded Indigenous Architecture Victoria, the only peak body representing Indigenous built environment practitioners, and chaired the group for more than a decade. He also co-authored the multi-award-winning International Indigenous Design Charter. He currently serves as the Regional Ambassador (Oceania) for the International Indigenous Design Network and sits on numerous boards relating to art, architecture and housing.
His notable projects include the original fit-out and the recent stage two expansion of the Koorie Heritage Trust that won the Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize in 2024, the urban design for Ngarara Place at RMIT, the award-winning new student precinct at the University of Melbourne and is currently working on the Garma Institute for the Yothu Yindi Foundation. His work has been exhibited three times at the Venice Architecture Biennale, and he was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 2020.
At Swinburne, Jefa was instrumental in designing the new Indigenous Learning Circles at the Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna campuses, launched in 2024. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners and community, the Indigenous Learning Circles pay tribute to the Traditional Owners of the lands on which Swinburne’s campuses are located, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and integrate aspects of Country, people, culture and art.
Both Jefa Greenaway and Ian Hamm’s dedication to reconciliation aligns with Swinburne’s commitment to be a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their heritage, cultures and spirituality are valued, respected and celebrated. The university is proud to honour their remarkable achievements.
https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/2025/05/Swinburne-recognises-Indigenous-leaders-with-honorary-doctorates/