Alumni Awards 2017

Celebrating excellence

From inspirational young achievers to leaders in their chosen fields, meet the outstanding recipients of The University of Queensland Alumni Awards 2017.

The University of Queensland’s Alumni Awards 2017 recognise a diverse range of leaders who have created change by advancing knowledge, powering economies and advocating for human rights and dignity.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj paid tribute to the recipients at the annual Courting the Greats ceremony held in October in UQ’s Great Court.

Watch a video from the 2017 Courting the Greats ceremony.

Professor Høj said the awards recognised alumni who had accomplished outstanding success and made exemplary contributions to their fields and communities within Australia and globally.

“This year’s recipients range from an award-winning journalist to humanitarians, visionary philanthropists and business leaders,” he said.

This year there are five Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Awards and four Distinguished Young Alumni Awards, an International Alumnus of the Year, an Indigenous Community Impact Award and a Colleges’ UQ Alumni Award.

“The recipients exemplify the immense change individuals can create by taking action and giving back through research, volunteering, public service or philanthropy."

Professor Peter Høj

“The 2017 Alumni Awards recipients are leaders and innovators in their fields and have shown the powerful ways people can create change through applying their passion and dedication to a cause.

“We continue to equip our graduates with the critical-thinking skills and acumen that prepare them for a multitude of career opportunities and the ability to tackle the world’s biggest problems.”

The UQ Alumnus of the Year and UQ Graduate of the Year Awards – both created and supported by the Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc. – were also presented at the Courting the Greats ceremony.

The UQ Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year were celebrated for their excellence in sport and their contributions to University life.

To read about all the 2017 award winners and to see photos from the Courting the Greats ceremony, visit alumni.uq.edu.au/awards/alumni.