My condolences to Anita and Alana, and all Jim's many friends who will miss him. Jim was a decent bloke, unpretentious, energetic but not overbearing, he could share a joke and laugh at  and with the university world we inhabited. My late partner Pat Ryan had stories she could have told about Jim, of which I  have only second hand knowledge. Jim was a great colleague to have in our school, in our union and in physics, he helped many academics develop. He got me to give a course on the mathematics of quantum mechanics to his physics students that helped me understand the subject better.

So thank you Jim, you made a difference to all our lives.

Jim was a visionary leader who was loved by many. He was warm, smart, funny and had a generosity of spirit. A true family man and people person. Working with Jim was fun and never ever dull.

For me, Jim embodies the word “legend”. A true inspiration. My sincerest condolences to Jim’s family. RIP Jim. 

Dear Anita and Family,

I'm very sorry that Jim is no longer with us. Anita, you and Jim were such a great team.

I have fond memories of Jim as DVC-Research at Macquarie, where I worked for him, for Tori Hocking and Louise Fleck (2008-14). I valued the leadership he provided strategically for Macquarie's research direction, the ways he led individuals and groups of researchers, the way he supported his management teams and especially the support and trust he showed me. I grew in many ways under his leadership and that of his colleagues. 

Whilst he was always busy, he was also always approachable and happy to clarify or share something new.

I know Jim will be very much missed. May you be comforted in your loss and able to celebrate an amazing life. 

With fond regards, Dianne

I first met Jim in 1984 when I joined CSIRO Lindfield. He was collaborating with Phil Ciddor on frequency-stabilisation of the helium cadmium hollow cathode discharge lasers that he had pioneered with Colin Webb. That was Jim - always looking for new opportunities for his research and always building collaborations. We worked with each other on and off over the next 30 years, culminating in our participation in the CUDOS Centre of Excellence. 

As others have mentioned, Jim was an internationally known researcher who built strong research teams in and outside of Macquarie and into industry. At the same time he was one of the least pretentious people I have known, and his laconic manner and sunny demeanour immediately put colleagues at ease. He always had time to talk, and his wisdom and insights came from a wealth of experience that he was happy to share. Vale Jim, you were one of the very best. 

I am extremely sad that my friend and colleague Jim Piper has died. I knew that he had not been well for some time, but it is always a shock when such unwelcome news arrives. Marilyn and I send our condolences to Anita and the family.

I first met Jim soon after he arrived in Sydney ~48 years ago and we struck up an immediate friendship as fellow ‘laser jocks’. We cooked up various collaborative schemes (including organisation of the Fourth Australian Laser Conference, held at Macquarie University in 1985 and chaired by Jim) while I was still at UNSW. However, it was not until 1988, shortly after I took up MQ’s Chair of Chemistry, that we struck real paydirt: a well-funded ARC Special Research Centre known as the Centre for Laser Applications (CLA), with Jim as its Director and myself as his Deputy. The CLA was the precursor of today’s MQ Photonics research centre and lots more.

Our respective lives changed around the turn of 2002/3 when Jim became MQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). At the same time, I retired as Professor of Chemistry, remained active as an Emeritus Professor and moved from Chemistry to Physics – all facilitated behind the scenes, I imagine, by Jim.

It is hard to imagine a MQ campus without Jim’s infectious ‘can-do’ approach to scientific and technological goals. I always found him to be a highly supportive colleague and leader of an enthusiastic CLA-based research community. Some of those exceptionally lively early CLA members are today’s professors in Physics and Engineering and one was until recently CEO of Australia’s CSIRO!

Like many others, I have lasting memories of Jim and still coming to terms with his premature passing …

Brian Orr

Jim’s legacy lives on in so many areas of Macquarie University but a standout example is the Australian Hearing Hub. Jim’s tireless efforts to bring the concept to life through early relationship building and, importantly, the application for and navigation of Government support, were extraordinary. The foundations for organizational collaboration that Jim laid and his genuine commitment to seeing that collaboration flourish have borne amazing fruit. NextSense (formerly the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children), along with other Hub partners, owe Jim a great debt of gratitude.

My sincere condolences to Jim’s family. I hope that knowledge of Jim’s many enduring contributions to the good of our society will help sustain you in your loss.

I will remember Jim so fondly as a mentor and colleague. When I first became a DVC, he helped me enormously to find my feet. We were colleagues in the DVC (Research ) group for about 8 years and he was always a gentleman, able to think and act strategically whilst always thinking about the ramifications for the people involved. I had enormous respect for him and will remember him fondly.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Judy Raper