Christine Nixon awarded honorary doctorate

Advisor to the Victorian Government on bushfire reconstruction and recovery Christine Nixon was awarded a doctor of laws honoris causa by Macquarie. As former chair of the Victorian Bushfire and Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Nixon oversaw the largest recovery and rebuilding operation Victoria has ever undertaken. In her new role, which she assumed in August 2010, she continues to support communities, to work with the bereaved community, and to remain a member of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal panel. Before joining the authority, following an extensive career in the New South Wales police force, where she rose to the rank of assistant commissioner, Nixon was sworn in as the 19th chief commissioner of Victoria Police. She was the first woman to lead the force, overseeing a staff of 14,000 and an annual budget of $1.7 billion. Dr Nixon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University in 1984 and went on to attain a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University.