The 8th Malaspina Awards Ceremony took place at the Australian Shine Dome of the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra on Friday 31st October 2025 at 11am.
From left to right: A/Prof. Ángel López-Sánchez, Dr TJ Higgins, Mr Bill Bennett, H.E. Ms Esther Monterrubio Villar, Prof Simon Handley and Prof. Sergio León-Saval.
The 2025 Malaspina Awards have been conferred to:
- Mr Bill Bennett (Individual)
- Macquarie University (Institution)
The event counted with the participation of Dr TJ Higgins (Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering), HE Mrs Esther Monterrubio Villar (Ambassador of Spain in Australia), A/Prof Ángel R. López Sánchez (SRAP President – Macquarie University), Prof Simon Handley, (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Graduate Research, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Macquarie University) and Prof Sergio León-Saval (Secretary of the 8th Malaspina Awards, SRAP Honorary President – University of Sydney and Master of Ceremony).
The Malaspina Awards are an honour bestowed by the Spanish Embassy in Canberra and the Association of Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific (SRAP). They are awarded to individuals or organisations who have made a significant contribution to the scientific and/or cultural relationships between Spain and Australia. The Alejandro Malaspina Spanish World Scientific Expedition, was the first foreign mission to visit Sydney in 1793, just five years after the arrival of the First Fleet.
The 8th Malaspina Awards have been sponsored by Navantia Australia. The award is embodied by the statuette “Heart” designed by the internationally renowned Spanish artist Óscar Martín de Burgos.