With a prolific career in science spanning several decades, Emeritus Professor Mary O'Kane has been recognised for her contributions as one of the Australia's leading scientific experts and consultants.

Both a speech-recognition technology pioneer and chief government consultant, Professor O'Kane was made a companion of the Order of Australia for her eminent service to the field.

The NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer is a keen advocate for Australian innovation and has high hopes for the future generation of young scientists.

"The vision I have is that every school kid will love maths, and we'll have lots more people to go on to do science and engineering, so Australia will be an even better science player," Professor O'Kane said.

"The challenge for us Australians is to think big. I'm confident our scientists and engineers can rise to those challenges."

DAVID GALLOP, AM

Football Federation of Australia chief executive David John Gallop has been made a member of the Order of Australia in the general division for his service to sports administration and to the community.

Mr Gallop served as the National Rugby League chief executive from 2002 to 2012 and has held his position at the FFA for the past four years.

"I grew up watching and playing sports, so I feel very privileged to have held these positions in the sporting industry."

Mr Gallop said he had great ambitions for the future of football in Australia.

"The world game can make football more than a sport in our nation, but a source of social, political and economic growth.

"It's a safe, simple, skillful game for men and women, girls and boys," he said. "A sport that showcases the diversity and multiculturalism of this country like no other."

DEIRDRE GRUSOVIN, AM

Deirdre Grusovin pauses when asked about her greatest achievement. It's a tough ask for the 77-year-old, who has been made a member of the Order of Australia in the general division for her service to social welfare after a 25-year career in state politics.

A long-time figure in NSW Labor, Ms Grusovin's political run ended in 2002 after she lost preselection for the seat of Heffron to premier-to-be Kristina Keneally.

But, ultimately, it was her work through the 1990s and 2000s highlighting child abuse in the ranks of the powerful, culminating with the child sex abuse royal commission, of which she is most proud.

"It didn't make me popular at the time, but it's finally come to being," she said. "It's lovely to have some recognition for some of the work that you've done."

To young women entering politics, she says: "If you want to represent your community, become part of your community, understand local issues, gain local knowledge, and be in step with people in the community who are doing great things."

MICHAEL BALL, AO

After a lifetime career spent in advertising "doing things entirely commercial", Michael Ball, who has made an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia, decided it was time to give something back to the community.

His choice to take up more pro bono work was "vastly more difficult, but much more interesting".

From then on, it was a life dedicated to the National Trust of Australia, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the National Capital Authority, the National Museum of Australia, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and the Bradman Foundation.

It was his services to the Donald Bradman Museum in Bowral that led him to form the first and only International Cricket Hall of Fame, a feat he achieved with the help of then-prime minister and "cricket tragic" John Howard.

Mr Ball conceived the idea of conducting more than 100 digitised interviews with the world's leading cricketers, providing an unprecedented archive available for study by students, writers and fans of cricket worldwide.

GRAHAM CALDERSMITH, OAM

Graham Caldersmith​, regarded a pioneer of Australian guitar design, was recognised for his service to musical instrument making.

The luthier from Comboyne received a medal in the general division of the Order of Australia for his dedication to his craft for over 30 years.

He is most proud of designing a "family" of classical guitars in five different sizes – something he has developed since he made the first prototypes in 1980.

"I thought a classical guitar family would sound much more interesting than a single guitar.

"With the guitar family, you can play so much more music and it's so much more enjoyable. You get a lot more colour, you get a lot more dynamic, you get a lot more fun."

Mr Caldersmith crafts his instruments using Australian wood, rather than traditional European wood, and has had success on an international market.

Does he play? "A bit – I'm not very good," he laughed.

ROBYN COTTERELL-JONES, OAM

Over the past 23 years, thousands of people harmed by serious crime have turned to Robyn Cotterell-Jones for help dealing with personal trauma and the legal system.

Ms Cotterell-Jones wsa awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the general division for her support of victims of crime as chief executive of the Victims of Crime Assistance League.

"It's about being positive: teaching people how to breathe, how to relax, but, at the same time, preparing them for what's next," Ms Cotterell-Jones said.

"We give them support in court, so they don't feel alone when they have to face the person who absolutely wrecked their life," she said.

A survivor of domestic violence, Ms Cotterell-Jones said her past experiences helped her establish a rapport with other victims.

"I put it to them as ... 'You've been made a victim, and you've survived it. Now we have to teach you how to thrive and to inspire other people.'

"I think I model happy survival," she said.

THANH NGUYEN, OAM

Thanh Nguyen arrived in Australia 36 years ago on board a refugee boat after fleeing Vietnam with his family. He had just been released after spending five years in prison for his role as a South Vietnam army officer during the war.

This Australia Day, he was awarded a medal in the general division of the Order of Australia for his service to the Vietnamese community of NSW. As a caseworker for Vietnamese drug offenders, Mr Nguyen believes his own experience in prison has helped him empathise with the people with whom he works.

"Even though the reason I went to prison is different, when we come out of prison, we have the same situation. We have nothing at all, no support. I can understand and help them," he said.

Mr Nguyen has led numerous projects for the Vietnamese community, while also looking beyond Australian shores and organising fundraisers for refugees and victims of natural disasters worldwide.

LYN and PETER IVERSON, OAM

For Lyn Iverson, the most rewarding part of her work is "seeing those smiles on the children's faces".

Mrs Iverson and her husband, Peter, have been dedicated volunteers for the Children's Cancer Charity for more than 30 years.

The couple from Taree each received a medal in the general division of the Order of Australia for their generous service to children with cancer and their families.

They run camps for the families where the focus is "fun therapy" based on the motto: "Laughter is the best medicine."

"The aim is to give the whole family a break, because if the family can stay together, it makes the cancer journey that bit easier to get through," Mr Iverson said.

"It just gives them that little break from the horrible routine of the hospital", Mrs Iverson said.

She admitted she and her husband were both "so excited" to receive the honour, but humbly said there were many deserving people within the organisation.