Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton accepting the award alongside Macquarie University colleagues.
The accomplishment marks Macquarie as the first university in Australia to achieve Platinum status for both the institution and its sporting entities, and a highly festive kick off for Pride Month across the broader MQ community.
In 2024, MQ Sport became the first sporting organisation to achieve Platinum Tier in Australia’s Pride in Sport (PIS) Index and has proudly retained this status for three years running.
At the organisational level, Platinum is the highest obtainable accolade within the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) and awarded to organisations demonstrating exceptional leadership in LGBTQIA+ inclusion through sustained Gold Tier performance in four of the last five years.
Hosted by Pride in Diversity at Sydney’s ICC Grand Ballroom, the annual awards honour the contributions of Australia’s organisations and leaders committed to LGBTQIA+ equality, spotlighting their invaluable work in promoting workplace inclusion.
The MQ Ally Network has been instrumental in driving cultural change within the university, fostering awareness, education, advocacy, and allyship for LGBTQIA+ inclusion. In a joint statement, Ally Network Co-Chairs Professor Michelle Power and Emre Ilhan extended the celebrations out to the LGBTQ+ community and Allies across the university.
“We want to thank the Ally Network Steering committee members who have been paramount for achieving Platinum and for ensuring that we continued to meet the AWEI benchmarking criteria to a significant level over the last five years.
“We also recognise the wonderful and growing MQ Ally Network and the impact of the increasingly visible rainbow across campus. Growing the visibility of allies ensures that members of our LGBTQ+ community feel safe and can bring their whole selves to work.
“Achieving Platinum Tier shows that our efforts to champion diversity and build a culture of belonging are making a real difference for the LGBTQ+ community every day.”
In 2025, Professor Power also received a National Network Leader Award in recognition of her inspiring advocacy of the LGBTQ+ community.
Celebrating alongside staff at the ceremony was Professor S Bruce Dowton, Vice-Chancellor and President of Macquarie University, reflected on the significance of this achievement.
“This Platinum status honours our commitment to fostering kindness, fairness, and inclusion – values that inspire and unite our diverse community. Achievements like this affirm our resolve to remain leaders in creating spaces where belonging thrives,” Professor Dowton said.
Professor Samuel Muller, Executive Dean of the Macquarie’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Executive Sponsor of the MQ Ally Network, praised his colleagues for their valuable work.
“This recognition affirms the incredible dedication of our MQ Ally Network and its members. On behalf of Macquarie, I thank everyone for their resilience and unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion.”