In the New Years Honours List of January 1995, Sturkey was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his services as the Official Secretary to the Governor-General.[2] In the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 1999, Sturkey was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services as the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, to the Australian Diplomatic Service, and to the Canberra community.[3] Dr Sturkey is also a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and is currently a Priory Officer of the Order in Australia, being the Order's Director of Ceremonies.