Alumni awards event lights up Great Court

Alumni from around the world gathered in ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹϒs Great Court this week for a ceremony celebrating their achievements and community contributions.

A diverse range of graduates attended the 2017 ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏAlumni Awards, which are announced at the annual Courting the Greats ceremony.

Awardees this year included humanitarians, business leaders, researchers and a journalist.

½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏChancellor Peter N Varghese and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj attended the ceremony.

This year’s 2017 Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Awards were presented to:

• Mr Malcolm Broomhead – a business leader and philanthropist who has driven change in the education and resource sectors through hard work and generosity.
• Ms Susan Buckley – an industry leader and pioneer of women in finance.
• Mr Andrew Cameron OAM – a highly decorated nurse and humanitarian aid worker who has provided emergency relief, health care and training in some of the world’s most volatile conflicts and crises.
• Professor Melissa Little – an internationally recognised researcher whose breakthrough work included growing “mini kidneys” in a laboratory.
• Ms Marian Wilkinson – a multi award-winning investigative journalist whose contributions have included some of Australia’s most significant reportage.

Distinguished Young Alumni Awards were presented to:

• Dr Andrew Barnes – an entrepreneur, Rhodes Scholar and the founder of two successful start-up businesses focused on educational tools and resources.
• Ms Michelle Grant – a food systems specialist and educator who runs a world-leading research centre tackling the world’s most profound global food system challenges.
• Mr Carl Hartmann – a multi award-winning Australian entrepreneur best known for his work as co-founder and chief executive officer of Temando. 
• Dr Retnagowri Rajandram -- a researcher and academic who is pioneering collaborative approaches between surgeons and researchers to provide excellent outcomes for patients.

International Alumnus of the Year

• Ms Shandana Aurangzeb Durrani – an advocate for social justice and girls’ empowerment in her home country of Pakistan, through her work in the development sector.

Indigenous Community Impact Award

• Associate Professor Noel Hayman – one of Australia’s leading Indigenous health experts and advocates.

Colleges’ ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏAlumni Award

• Mr Maxwell Gaylard (Emmanuel College 1964 – 1966) – a diplomat, human rights advocate and humanitarian who has had a profound impact on communities around the world through his work with the United Nations and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏAlumnus of the Year and ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏGraduate of the Year Awards, created and supported by the Alumni Friends of ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Inc, included:

½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏAlumnus of the Year

• Adjunct Professor John Story AO - a lawyer and company director who has served as Chancellor, a Senator and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at UQ.

½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏGraduate of the Year                                                                 

• Ms Kaela Armitage - Bachelor of Pharmacy (First Class Honours) 2016, Valedictorian, University medallist and former Co-Chair of the ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏYoung Scholars Program.

The ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏSportswoman and Sportsman of the Year Awards celebrate sporting excellence and contributions to University life.

Sportswoman of the Year:

• Ms Jacinta Carroll - a world number-one water-skier and the reigning champion of water ski jumping.

Sportsman of the Year:

• Mr Dane Bird-Smith - an Olympic medallist who won bronze representing Australia in the Rio 2016 Olympics in the men's 20km walk.

More details of this year’s Alumni Award recipients can be seen here.

Contact: Mark Schroder, ½ñÈÕ¿´ÁϳԹÏAdvancement Communications, m.schroder@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 3921.