By Michael Timms, Chair of ACRS NSW Chapter
A scholarship for road safety practitioners based in regional New South Wales to attend future Australasian Road Safety Conferences (ARSC) was announced during an event to honour the immediate past Chapter Chair, the late Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan.
The first annual ACRS NSW PhD Invitational Honouring Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan was held on 8 May 2025 at the University of New South Wales.
About 65 people were in attendance including members of the Prabhakharan family. ACRS President, Prof (Em.) Ann Williamson and CEO, Dr Ingrid Johnston, were also there.
“We are all devastated by the loss of Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan,” ACRS NSW Chapter Chair, Mr Michael Timms said.
“ACRS Fellow and past NSW Chapter Committee member, Prof Mike Regan famously said, ‘we have lost, prematurely, a colleague upon whose shoulders the next generations of road safety professionals would have stood.’”
“What better way to honour Prasannah, then to invite that next generation of safety researchers to speak about their work.
The PhD Invitational heard from four candidates who were each allocated ten minutes to talk about their road safety research. Those candidates were:
- Greg Casey, University of Western Sydney, Heavy Vehicles and fatigue
- Lyndall Cook, University of NSW, Child Restraint Safety
- Caitlin Reeves, University of Newcastle, Automated Vehicles and trust
- Anvay Parab, University of NSW, Motorcycle safety and pelvic injuries from fuel tank impacts
“We set a limit on time and even on the number of slides and threw in an elevated lecture room full of people,” Mr Timms said.
“They could have easily been presenting in an ARSC concurrent session.
“We will be hearing more from Greg, Lyndall, Caitlin and Anvay which is what Prasannah would want.
Following the presentations, heartfelt tributes were delivered by people who were pivotal in Prasannah’s academic and road safety life.
Mr Bernard Carlon, his boss at Transport for NSW, explained how Prasannah’s work has influenced policy making and will continue to do for years to come.
Prof Brett Molesworth, his PhD supervisor at University of NSW, talked about Prasannah’s contribution to academia and how he’d given back to the University by teaching human factors.
As a research collaborator, Dr Joanne Bennett, now with Australian Catholic University talked about the seeds Prasannah has sowed on current and future road safety research.
Finally, Mr David Wakelin, ACRS NSW Chapter Committee member said, “it would be difficult if not impossible to find another young leader who volunteered more hours and contributed more to the success of the ACRS than Prasannah – he was a true champion for the road safety cause.”
A response on behalf of the Prabhakaran family was delivered by Prasannah’s brother, Prakash. He described how much ACRS meant to his late brother by announcing Prasannah left the organisation a $5,000 bequest.
The bequest will fund the ARSC registration fee of a regionally based NSW road safety practitioner. The funding is expected to commence in time for the 2026 ARSC and run for four years.
“Prasannah’s concern for regional road trauma led to the NSW Chapter’s series of regional road safety forums,” Mr Timms said.
“The criteria emphasising regional practitioners was set by Prasannah, and we will proudly honour his vision.
The PhD Invitational was supported by UNSW School of Aviation who filmed the event. Prof Molesworth as Head of the School said he wants the PhD Invitational to become an annual event. ACRS will work with UNSW to ensure this occurs.
“My hope is that through this event and continuing to discuss and honour Prasannah and his legacy, we have many more self-confessed road safety nerds emerge in the next years and decades,” David Wakelin said.
Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan was the winner of the 2024 ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award. Henceforth, winners of this award will deliver the Prasannah Prabhakaran Oration.
The ACRS tribute to the life of Dr Prabhakaran can be read here: Tribute_Prasannah-Prabhakharan.pdf
