University of Melbourne Names Philip Stern the 2026 Miegunyah Fellow

Philip Stern, professor of History, has been awarded the 2026 Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellowship at the University of Melbourne. Established in 1993, the fellowship brings internationally distinguished scholars to Melbourne to enrich the University’s academic, intellectual, and cultural life. 

Stern’s work examines the legal, political, intellectual and business histories that shaped the British Empire. His research interests include companies and corporations in colonial enterprise, overseas exploration and cartography, the historiography of British India, early modern economic thought, and digital and data visualization approaches to colonial sovereignty. He is the author of “Empire, Incorporated: The Corporations That Built British Colonialism.” 

During his fellowship, Stern will contribute to the University’s community through public lectures, seminars, student engagement, and collaborative research. The Miegunyah Fellowship is made possible through the support of the Russell and Mab Grimwade Miegunyah Fund. 

Stern joins both Mélanie Aimée Marie Lamotte and Hannah Conway as History faculty members to have recently received prestigious awards.   

“These accomplishments reflect the extraordinary scholarship and intellectual vibrancy of our department,” said Tamika Nunley, William & Sue Gross Professor of History and Department Chair. “We are fortunate to count Hannah, Mélanie and Philip among our colleagues.”