Dr Suja Shan has been recognised with the 2026 ACT Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 35 years of work across nursing education, research, aged care and dementia care, alongside her community advocacy.
Dr Sujatha Shanmugasundaram, widely known as Dr Suja Shan, is a Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Canberra and has built a career spanning teaching, research, clinical practice and professional leadership.
The ACT Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognises a body of work built over many years that has created lasting positive change. Dr Shan was among four winners announced at the 2026 ACT Women’s Awards, alongside Ashlee Berry, Robyn Smith and Katherine Berney.
Dr Shan’s career has included work across acute, aged and palliative care, with a particular focus on nursing education, gerontology and dementia care. The ACT Government said her 35 years of research, teaching and professional leadership have contributed to nursing and aged care practice.
Her work has also included research into culturally diverse communities and advocacy for Indian communities in Australia. She currently serves as Chair of the Australian College of Nursing ACT Region, supporting professional practice and knowledge in nursing.
For Dr Shan, the award reflects the people she has worked with throughout her career. In comments published by the University of Canberra, she said the recognition was about the students and emerging leaders she had mentored, as well as the people she had served throughout her career.
Her professional record includes multiple fellowships, certifications and awards, as well as research publications and presentations at national and international conferences. The ACT Government noted that she has published 25 papers in refereed journals and presented 30 topics at national and international conferences.
The 2026 ACT Women’s Awards were refreshed this year to recognise contributions across a broader range of fields, including industry, research, advocacy, community leadership and social change.
The other 2026 winners were Ashlee Berry, who received the Excellence in Industry Award for her work in the property sector; Robyn Smith, who received the Gender Equity and Social Change Award for advocacy around inherited cancer risk; and Katherine Berney, who received the Minister’s Impact Award for her work in preventing gendered violence.
The awards ceremony also recognised 14 new inductees to the ACT Women’s Honour Roll, which acknowledges women and gender-diverse people whose contributions have had an impact in Canberra, Australia or internationally.
For Canberra’s Indian community, Dr Suja Shan’s recognition also highlights a career that has combined professional leadership in healthcare with community advocacy and a focus on improving care and support for culturally diverse communities.
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