The other recipients were Emeritus Professor Catherine Bull, financial advisor Noel Whittaker, Springfield co-developer Bob Sharpless, human resources expert Janine Walker, artist Lindy Lee, Aboriginal activist Les Malezer and academic optometrist Professor Christine Wildsoet.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil said awarding honorary doctorates acknowledged the recipients’ distinguished contributions and formalised the relationship between them and the university.

“We appreciate the achievements and contributions of the recipients of our Honorary Doctorates and we are looking forward to further engagement as they become part of the QUT community,” Professor Sheil said.

The university said Catherine Holmes had been a prominent figure in the Australian legal profession who has exemplified excellence in every aspect of her long and distinguished career in criminal, administrative and mental health law.

Following her retirement from the Supreme Court she headed the Robodebt Royal Commission which QUT said showcased her unwavering commitment to public administration and her concern for citizens impacted by maladministration.

Bull was awarded her honorary doctorate for her a long-standing history with QUT, including ties back to the Queensland Institute of Technology (QIT), where as senior lecturer in QIT’s Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture, Emeritus Professor Bull led the research study that informed the development of the QIT/Brisbane City Council strategy resulting in the access and beautiful campus outlook enjoyed at Gardens Point today.

QUT said Lee was one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists with a significant international reputation, having exhibited in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Lee is a founding member of Gallery 4A in Sydney, a former trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, former board member of Artspace (Sydney) and Australian Centre of Photography (Melbourne), as well as a former president of the Asian Australian Artists Association and former deputy chair of the Visual Arts and Craft Fund, Australia Council.

Malezar had spent his career fighting for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

QUT said Malezer has demonstrated expert knowledge on global Indigenous peoples and human rights statutory and was central to the design and preparations for a UN representative body for Indigenous peoples.

Sharpless was honoured as a “visionary entrepreneur” who, in partnership with Maha Sinnathamby, developed Springfield – Australia’s first privately constructed city.

Walker has held numerous senior management positions including Human Resources Director for Griffith University and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Director of Industrial Relations for Queensland Health, and Industrial Director and General Secretary of the Queensland Public Sector Union.

Whittaker was recognised as one of Australia’s leading and most trusted experts on personal finance – having written 20 bestselling books and reaching more than two million people a week through his columns in major newspapers in every state in Australia. he also co-founded Whittaker McNaught which was one of Queensland’s biggest financial advisory firms.

Wildsoet was said to be a significant role model, mentor and a trail-blazing woman in academic optometry and vision science.