This WMS Postgraduate Supervision Excellence Award is designed to recognise demonstrated excellence in postgraduate supervision.

Sustained excellence in postgraduate supervision includes, but is not limited to, the attraction, retention, and successful completion of postgraduate researchers, assisting such researchers to work effectively in both national and international contexts, contributing to effective supervision practice at the University of Waikato, and participating in and promoting postgraduate research culture at the University.

Postgraduate Supervision Excellence recipients


2022: Professor Kathryn Pavlovich

The selection panel really liked Kathryn's reflective and comprehensive contextual summary.

Her attention to detail is evident by the number of successful defences with no revisions she has supervised, as well as the number of awards her students have received.

The panel also appreciated Kathryn's service to the Division by being willing to take on some more of the complicated students to enable them to complete their studies.


High Commendation 2022: Dr Cheryl Cockburn-Wootten

The panel could clearly see Cheryl's effectiveness of, and experience with, PhD supervision.

From her list of publications, the panel could see how she has continued to publish with completed PhD students, speaking to the deep relationships that have evolved with her PhDs.

In addition, the panel noted the success of Cheryl's supervision as evidenced by her students not being required to do revisions.