Media: Achievements, accolades, appointments (applause!)

Media: Achievements, accolades, appointments

Australian actress Maggie Dence has been awarded a 2011 Equity Lifetime Achievement Award. In a career spanning more than four decades, Dence has played TV characters Rose Sullivan (The Sullivans) and Mavis Bramston (The Mavis Brampton Show), as well as starring in some of our most successful TV series, including Prisoner, A Country Practice, All Saints, Neighbours, Flying Doctors and Blue Heelers, and the AFI Award-winning film Look Both Ways. She has also been a long-term supporter of the Actors Benevolent Fund, which raises money for performers who are unable to work due to injury, illness or disability. The Award, sponsored by FOXTEL, will be presented to Dence at a ceremony in Sydney next month.

Susan Muldowney has been appointed editor of architecture and design magazine Monument, published by Pacific Magazines. Prior to joining Monument, Muldowney held the position of editorial director within the Pacific+ Melbourne office. Her career in magazine publishing spans 15 years. "I’m excited to be working on a magazine that celebrates and supports some of Australia’s most creative minds," says Muldowney. "I have big shoes to fill and I look forward to taking Monument to new heights." Helen Morassut, Publisher, Monument said: "Susan brings a wealth of experience and passion to one of Australia’s leading magazines of architecture and design – and we’re delighted to have her on board at Monument." Monument has enjoyed much success, winning a gold FOLIO award earlier this year and celebrating 100 editions in print in 2010.

The Bill Bryson of economics writing, The Sydney Morning Herald's Ross Gittins has received a Doctor of Letters from Macquarie University. One of the country's most respected economics writers and authors, Gittins has been the paper's economics editor since 1978 and is also a columnist for The Age. "He is known for his ability to make dry, hard-to-understand economics and economic policy relevant to ordinary Australians," reported Nicky Phillips for SMH.

Michael Stutchbury, economics editor for The Australian, has been made editor-in-chief of The Australian Financial Review. "We are very pleased to have Michael joining us," said Brett Clegg, CEO and publisher of the Financial Review Group. "He has a unique combination of professional experience and intellectual gravitas making him the ideal candidate to assume one of the most important roles in Australian journalism. Michael and I share a vision and passion to revitalise the Financial Review Group offerings and to advance the participation and place of our quality journalism in the national discourse."

Stutchbury graduated with first class honours in economics from the University of Adelaide while completing a cadetship with The Advertiser, before moving into the public service, then working as a journalist at AFR for 16 years. He has also held the positions of Deputy Editor – Business, and Editor at The Australian (2001-2006). The AFR Magazine's annual Power Issue is out today.

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