Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull presented Professor Mackay-Sim with the trophy at a ceremony in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday evening. 

An inspirational scientist and international leader in stem cell research, Professor Mackay-Sim’s decades of dedicated research and international leadership in the field have given hope to thousands of Australians and people across the world with spinal cord injuries.

Professor Mackay-Sim was joined in the Australia Day honours by Vicki Jollie as Australia's Local Hero, Sister Anne Gardiner as Senior Australian of the Year and  Paul Vasileff as Young Australian of the Year. 

“Alan, Vicki, Sister Anne and Paul are Australians we can all be richly proud of and inspired by,” National Australia Day Council chairman Ben Roberts-Smith said. 

“They have all made valuable contributions – to medical science and their communities, by creating jobs and keeping heritage and culture alive, and through helping others and creating a better future.

“They remind us to dream big, work hard and believe in what you’re doing.”

Professor Mackay-Sim is a global authority on the human sense of smell and the biology of nasal cells and led the world’s first clinical trial using these cells in spinal cord injury.

In 2014, his research helped play a central role in the world’s first successful restoration of mobility in a quadriplegic man – a breakthrough described as the scientific equivalent to the moon landing.  

As the director of the National Centre for Adult Stem Cell Research, Professor Mackay-Sim’s research has championed the use of stem cells to understand the biological bases of brain disorders and diseases such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia.

His pioneering work has also led to collaborations with teams of health professionals who are translating his research into clinical practice.

Without his decades of work, many new breakthroughs in medical science would not be possible.

Ian Narev, chief executive officer of major sponsor Commonwealth Bank, congratulated this ear’s Australian of the Year Award recipients.

“Each of you has made a remarkable contribution to the country. Your achievements are an inspiration to all your fellow Australians,” he said.

Professor Mackay-Sim, Ms Jellie, Sr Anne and Mr Vasileff will take part in Australia Day activities in Canberra on Thursday, including the National Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony, the ACT Chief Minister’s Australia Day luncheon, the Canberra Australia Day Concert and the Prime Minister’s Australia day Reception. 

Vicki Jellie is the quintessential everyday Australian who does not take no for an answer.

She has united a community to make the impossible possible and demonstrated the power one individual can have in bringing about huge change for the benefit of many.

After her husband Peter died of cancer in 2008, Ms Jellie found his plans for a local cancer fundraising event.

His dream had been to bring radiotherapy services to the South West of Victoria as during treatment, he spent weeks away from home in Warrnambool, travelling to Melbourne for radiotherapy treatment.

His dream soon became Vicki’s passion.

In 2009, Ms Jellie brought together local leaders to initiate Peter's Project – a community group dedicated to fighting for better cancer services.

Despite being told that a cancer centre in Warrnambool would “never happen”, she relentlessly lobbied governments, rallying the community and raising funds.

In May 2014, Ms Jellie announced that the dream had been achieved with $5 million raised by the local community, $25 million to be funded by state and federal governments.

In July 2016, the new South West Regional Cancer Centre opened its doors, offering radiotherapy treatment for regional patients.

Ms Jellie’s persistence has proven that ‘nothing is impossible’ and she will continue to support “all the Peters” who are facing their own cancer battles.  

Sister Anne Gardiner has given a lifetime to connecting cultures and championing the power of community.

The 85-year-old’s selfless approach to helping others and sense of giving have made a big impact at a grass roots level.

As a 22-year-old member of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Sr Anne was asked to move to Bathurst Island to live among the Tiwi people.

In the 62 years since, she has devoted her life to enriching community, enhancing opportunity and supporting the Tiwi culture.

An advocate of peace, love and the traditional Tiwi way of life, Sr Anne has worked tirelessly with the local people to document and preserve the Tiwi language for future generations.

As the principal of the local primary school, Sr Anne educated generations of children while also establishing community clubs, from mothers’ groups to Little Athletics.

She runs regular prayer meetings, founded an op shop and established a café to raise funds to support her much-loved community.

Sr Anne’s labour of love, the Patakajiyali museum, shares valuable Tiwi stories, language and traditional customs, while also bringing financial benefit to the people.

A cornerstone of the community, Sr Anne has earned an enduring place in the hearts of the Tiwi people and her work has helped preserve and empower a culture which is integral to the Australian story.

At just 26 years of age, Paul Vasileff has achieved extraordinary success as an international fashion designer.

Passionate, determined, and committed to running his business from his hometown of Adelaide, his achievements prove that anything is possible. 

Mr Vasileff’s passion for fashion started at the tender age of 11, when he stitched his first dress with the help of his grandmother.

Since then, he has gone on to graduate from Milan’s prestigious Europeo Istituto di Design and is now the brains behind couture label Paolo Sebastian.  

This home-grown, down-to-earth designer has defied all odds. Although he was told he could never achieve international success without uprooting his life and leaving Australia, Mr Vasileff now operates his business from South Australia.

His luxurious creations are all hand-made by his thirteen locally employed staff, and are now favourites on the world’s runways, stocked in boutiques in New York and around the globe, and worn by celebrities walking the red carpet at the Oscars and Logies.

Mr Vasileff’s view of success serves as an inspiration to all young Australians pursuing big dreams – proof that global success can be achieved from anywhere with the right attitude.

His commitment to creating local jobs and keeping his business in Australia is to be admired as is his self-belief in pursuing his creativity and art as an entrepreneurial pathway.

Nominations for the 2018 Australian of the Year are now open. If there's someone you think should be considered, you can nominate them now at australianoftheyear.org.au.