The Australian of the Year blew Ross and John’s minds exactly a year ago

A world-leading expert in quantum physics has been named Australian of the Year.

32 exceptional Australians from every state and territory converged on the nation’s capital last night, for the annual awards ceremony.

Professor Michelle Simmons took out the top honour for her pioneering work building a quantum computer.

The New South Wales physicist hopes it inspires young girls to enter the field.

Her gong last night came exactly 12 months after she made Ross and John’s heads fall off with ‘The Travelling Salesman Problem’.

Click PLAY to hear it

Soccer superstar Samantha Kerr won the Young Australian of the Year, while biophysicist Graham Farquhar took home the Senior category.

This year’s Local Hero is Eddie Woo, who famously uses YouTube to teach maths to students around the world.