A multi-award winning Australian author, an international finance leader, and medicine and research trailblazers have been recognised in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» of Queensland 2019 Alumni Awards.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the awards were an opportunity to highlight the outstanding talent of alumni and the widespread impact of their work.
“We are honoured to recognise an incredible group of alumni who are making an impact in a diverse range of industries,” Professor Høj said.
“Between them, their achievements include breaking ground in humanitarian law, halting deadly viral outbreaks in their tracks, pioneering women in executive leadership, and more.
“The impact of their work locally, nationally and internationally simply cannot be overstated.”
The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Alumni Awards and the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year awards will be presented at the annual ceremony on 16 October.
The 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Awards will be presented to:
- – global business executive and a pioneer for women in leadership.
- – an acclaimed Australian author and conservationist.
- – senior counsel for the 2018 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
- – investment banker and philanthropist.
The award recipients were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee led by Professor Høj.
“Each of these winners drives success through their work and for communities around them, often by taking on community and philanthropic endeavours outside of their professional careers,” Professor Høj said.
“Many of them have taken on the challenge to leverage disruption and embrace opportunities they may not have considered in their initial aspirations – an agility we are proud to instil in all our graduates to prepare them for an increasingly fast-paced professional environment.”
The 2019 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipients are:
- – a human rights lawyer with a focus on securing justice for sexual abuse survivors in Africa and the Middle East.
- – a medical doctor and leader in Indigenous health and gender equality.
- – a leading nephrologist in inherited kidney disease and co-founder of Australia’s first renal genetics clinical service and program.
- – Senior Emergency and Critical Care veterinarian and youngest-ever Australian Veterinary Association president.
International Alumnus of the Year: – an internationally recognised infectious viral disease researcher who headed the medical team that discovered the Nipah virus.
Indigenous Community Impact Award: – respected artist, writer, educator and researcher working towards better outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
Colleges’ Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Alumni Award: (King’s College 1980-81) – Supreme Court of Queensland judge and President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Alumnus of the Year and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Graduate of the Year Awards - both created and supported by the Alumni Friends of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» of Queensland Inc - will also be presented at the Courting the Greats ceremony.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Alumnus of the Year Award: - a leading clinical haematologist, oncologist and co-founder of Icon Cancer Care, the biggest and most progressive provider of haematological and oncological day services in Australia.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Graduate of the Year Award: - Bachelor of Economics 2017 and Bachelor of Economics (Honours) 2018 - University Medallist and class Valedictorian, analyst in markets and security services at Citigroup.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sportswoman of the Year Award: (swimming) - a gold medallist and world record holder, representing Australia at two Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sportsman of the Year Award: (Touch footballer) - World Cup-winning member of the Australian Touch Football mixed team, and a two-time National Touch League Elite Men’s premiership winner with the Queensland Cowboys.
Full details of the 2019 Alumni Award recipients are .
Media: Mikaeli Costello, mikaeli.costello@uq.edu.au, +61 401 580 685.
