Introducing the 2023 UQ Alumni Award winners
The University of Queensland Alumni Awards recognise nine prestigious categories of accomplishment and celebrate alumni who have achieved outstanding success in their careers and in service to their communities.
UQ Alumnus of the Year
Created by Alumni Friends to recognise an alum whose distinguished achievements have brought national or international recognition to UQ. It celebrates the significant contributions made by alumni in the local community and beyond.
Professor George Mellick
Bachelor of Science (Hons) 1990
Doctor of Philosophy 1996
Graduate Certificate in Education 2000
St John’s College
UQ Alumnus of the Year Award for outstanding contributions and leadership in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and in medical research broadly.
For the past 25 years, Professor George Mellick has been dedicated to alleviating the suffering of people with neurodegenerative diseases.
A passionate advocate for people affected by Parkinson’s disease, he is currently the President of Parkinson’s Queensland and Parkinson’s Australia. Professor Mellick also contributed significantly to the leadership of important Parkinson’s Research initiatives such as the Queensland Parkinson’s Project, Neurobank and Genetic Epidemiology of Parkinson’s Disease Consortium.
He is an internationally recognised expert, who has authored more than 250 research publications.
He was the Foundation Head of School for Griffith University’s School of Environment and Science, is a previous Deputy Director of the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery and has held adjunct positions at Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and UQ.
Professor Mellick is actively involved with UQ’s St John’s College, as a long-term member of the Old Johnians Association (OJA) and OJA President for many years. He currently serves on both the College Council and College Foundation and is a mentor to students and other young alumni.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"In many respects, my career found me. I was always a very inquisitive person with a desire to learn about the world and to make a difference. The light bulb flashed at the end of my third year and during my Honours Research. It opened my eyes to the wonders of scientific research and the possibilities of putting into action the theory and methods that we had learnt in the early undergraduate courses. I started to realise research was not only something I enjoyed, but also something that could make a real difference."
Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there any advice you would give that person now?
"I have vivid memories of my first arrival at the St Lucia campus. It was the Sunday of Orientation Week. For a young boy from Mareeba, on the Atherton Tablelands in regional Far North Queensland, this was only my second visit to Brisbane. It was my first-time experience of a university campus. I was excited and terrified in equal measures.
"My advice to that person today would be to maintain that excitement, but to put aside any anxiety or shyness and be willing to ask as many questions to as many people as possible, whether it be your lecturers, tutors, fellow students or acquaintances. The opportunity to share university with some of the brightest and most impressive people in the world is such an opportunity and privilege. Make the most of it!"
Who are your heroes?
"My heroes are the people who persist despite the significant challenges they face, to make the most of their opportunities in life. These are the people who provide me with inspiration to work harder, to be grateful for the privileges we enjoy and not to waste the chance to help others whenever you can."
Vice-Chancellor's Alumni Excellence Awards
Recognises the significant contributions made by outstanding alumni in the local community and beyond.
The Honourable Dr Anna Bligh AC
Bachelor of Arts 1981
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) 2010
The Women’s College
Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award for unwavering commitment to positive change, leadership, and serving communities.
The Honourable Dr Anna Bligh is a respected Australian leader and former Premier of Queensland. In 2017, she was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for services to the Parliament of Queensland, and as an advocate for education and the role of women in public life, and services to the not-for-profit sector.
In politics, Dr Bligh spearheaded significant economic reforms and led Queensland with compassion and authority during the 2011 flood crisis and recovery.
Subsequently, in her role at Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) she made an important contribution to furthering the organisation’s goal of creating a safer world for women and children.
At the Australian Banking Association, Dr Bligh has played a pivotal leadership role through a period of critical reform, delivering on the recommendations of the Royal Commission, and leading
through COVID-19.
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"In my early twenties I was briefly part of a women's fire-eating troupe! We performed at several events and did some street busking. It was a lot of fun, and something I can still do, but I don't anymore."
What is your favourite UQ memory?
"My years at UQ were some of the most exhilarating of my life so it's not easy to pick one single moment. My two years on the student union executive were some of my favourite times. It was a terrific opportunity to learn political skills, build confidence in public speaking and debate ideas, all of which served me well in the years to come, but it was also just a lot of fun and an experience that brought me some lifelong friends."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"On the day I was sworn in as a member of parliament, my mother gave me a card with the simple quote "to thine own self be true". I pinned the card on the notice board of every office I held as an important reminder to listen to my own compass and resist the many forces that can push people around in public life.
For students I think the sentiment in this quote means learn about yourself and find the things that excite and motivate you and then hold onto them dearly."
What are you most proud of?
"The chance to hold the reins of Government is a rare privilege and one that brings an obligation to use the power you have and to use it wisely. I'm pleased that my government and I used our time in power to make many positive changes for Queenslanders. For me one of the big ones is the introduction of an extra year of school – Queensland's prep year. It was a huge reform, an important investment in the early years of learning and it finally brought Queensland's schooling system in line with every other State in Australia."
Karina Holden
Graduate Diploma in Science 1994
The Women’s College
Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award for exceptional achievement as a filmmaker and Executive Producer, shining a light on conservation and the struggles of marginalised communities.
Ms Karina Holden is a dynamic leader in the film and television industry. She is now the Head of Factual at Northern Pictures and one of Australia’s most recognised creators of original non-fiction programming.
Ms Holden played a crucial role in creating ground-breaking social issues series such as Love on the Spectrum, See What You Made Me Do and Go Back to Where you Came From, as well as producing and directing a twenty-year slate of natural history films for broadcasters around the world.
Her contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle, 10 gold medals at the New York Festivals, 6 AACTA awards, 2 Venice Television Awards, and 4 Emmys.
Ms Holden’s feature film BLUE received the Okeanos Prix for services to the ocean, following its premiere at the United Nations. She has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2021, UNESCO named Karina the Sydney City of Film, Film Maker of the Year.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"My mother knew I was keen to make it as a filmmaker, so she encouraged me to come at it from a different angle, by developing an expertise in science. It helped me to stand out when I went for my first job at ABC TV. Everyone else had Arts and Journalism degrees. Science truly set me apart."
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"I have pumped the stomach of crocodiles, given mouth to mouth to live snakes and jumped into the ocean in Antarctica wearing a Mexican Wrestler’s gold cape."
Who are your heroes?
"Nancy Wake, code-name ‘White Mouse’, the Australian spy who worked for the French Resistance and was the most decorated servicewoman of World War II."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"We are all blank pages, ready to be scribbled on. Make the story you write on your blank pages as interesting and diverse and challenging as you can dream."
What are you most proud of?
"Winning 4 Emmy awards in one year, being recognised by the Producer’s Guild of America for advancing the portrayal and employment of people with disabilities in media and presenting to the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York on the subject of Ocean conservation."
What are the top 3 items on your bucket list right now?
"Reversing climate change, advancing scientific literacy and getting a teenage son to leave his bedroom and see the light of day."
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"Ecosystem restoration. A rich, diverse, vibrant natural world, that will help our species to return to balance and allow co-existence. We simply won’t have a future on this planet without addressing it."
Dr Catherine Likhuta
Doctor of Philosophy (Music) 2020
Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in the field of music, with widespread critical acclaim.
Dr Catherine Likhuta is an acclaimed Ukrainian-Australian composer, pianist and recording artist. Her music has graced the stands of thousands of performers, from school-aged children to world-renowned icons.
Her compositions have been played in prestigious venues worldwide such as Carnegie Hall and Glyndebourne Opera House and performed by symphony orchestras across the globe including Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the National Radio of Ukraine.
She is a two-time winner of the International Horn Society Composition Contest (virtuoso division) and was the most performed composer at the 51st International Horn Symposium in Ghent in Belgium, 2019.
Dr Likhuta’s work makes a strong impact, with her piece Lesions featured at the World Multiple Sclerosis Days events in Portugal, and her collaboration with the Queensland Eye Institute supporting people with visual impairments.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"Having grown up in a family of music teachers, I wanted to be a teacher myself. That wish came true quite early on. When my mother got sick and had to undergo a number of surgeries, I took on her ear training and music theory classes at our local music school in Kyiv, Ukraine. I was just 13 years old at that time, with some of my students being older than myself."
What is your favourite UQ memory?
"3 Minute Thesis. What an incredible initiative that is!
"I participated in 2015 presenting on my oratorio-drama Scraps from a Madman’s Diary. I remember the initial terror while preparing for the presentation. It truly helped me crystallise what I wanted the piece to be like, and I received some much-needed added encouragement from winning people’s choice."
Who are your heroes?
"My mother would be my number one hero. A young single parent on a disability pension, she managed to give me an excellent education and taught me to strive for excellence.
"My great-great-grandmother is also my hero. During World War II, she hid a Jewish family in her attic in Ukraine from the Nazis. One of the Nazi soldiers hit her with his rifle on the knee very hard, after which her leg had to be amputated from the knee down. Despite that, she managed to raise six children and did daily gardening work on crutches.
"My two other heroes would be Dana Wilson and Steven Stucky. They were my composition mentors during my time in Ithaca, New York, right after I came to the US from Ukraine. They both mentored me on my composing free of charge for over 3 years, and I think I simply wouldn’t have survived as a composer if not for their support. I have learned from them what it is like to be a good person who also happens to be a successful composer."
What are you most proud of?
"Being able to share Ukrainian music and culture with global audiences. A lot of people have never heard Ukrainian music. At the same time, Ukrainian folklore and culture is rich and has a long history. As a sixth generation Ukrainian on both sides of my family, Ukrainian folk music runs through my veins. I love coming up with folk-inspired tunes and incorporating them into my otherwise contemporary and jazz-inspired musical language."
Professor John Pascoe
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) 1975
King’s College
Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award for unwavering commitment to advancing veterinary medical education, the veterinary profession globally, and academic leadership.
Professor John Pascoe is an accomplished veterinary surgeon, leader and mentor.
He is recognised for developing innovative ways for veterinary students to learn surgical principles. He collaborated with local animal shelters to provide neutering to mitigate over-population and other surgical procedures to increase adoption, and in doing so he assisted shelters financially, increased adoption rates and supported the successful development of community-based surgical rotations for veterinary students.
Professor Pascoe has successfully trained 34 surgical residents, 5 PhD candidates and 4 postdoctoral fellows, and guided the surgical training of thousands of veterinary students. Under his leadership at UC Davis, including 2 decades as Editor-in-Chief, he guided the development of Veterinary Surgery, the official journal of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. He has forged paths that have created important roles for veterinarians such as advising governments across the US, Asia and Africa. He also facilitated pandemic preparedness and response systems in more than 30 countries.
Professor Pascoe recently received the 2023 Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, recognising his significant contribution to the veterinary academic medical community at large.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"My father was a veterinarian who graduated in the first cohort from UQ in 1951. He had a profound influence on the profession in Australia, especially in equine practice, as well as a long association with UQ.
"I recall him telling me veterinary medicine was a family. That continues to hold true and was definitely influential in my pursuing a veterinary degree."
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"I was a member of the UQ Kings-Grace players, performing as a London Bobby in Dear Delinquent at the Schonell Theatre in my first year. Acting didn’t (and doesn’t) come naturally to me and I was certainly outside of my comfort zone. It is probably one of the most challenging things I’ve done."
What is your favourite UQ memory?
"My 5 years at Kings College. The opportunity to interact with individuals with varied life experiences, learning over dining hall meals about the disciplines they were studying, and engaging in the social, cultural and sporting interactions we had across the Colleges.
"I was actively involved in student leadership and particularly with the King’s College Students’ Club, and those formative leadership experiences were certainly foundational in my career development.
"I was thrilled when Kings eventually went co-ed, because I believe that experience would be even more enriching today than when I was a resident."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"Embrace diversity, keep an open mind and continue learning."
Dr Glen Richards
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) 1988
St John’s College
Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award for outstanding contributions as an entrepreneurial leader, veterinarian and philanthropist.
Dr Glen Richards is a business leader, entrepreneur
and veterinarian.
At 27 Dr Richards bought a small veterinary practice in Townsville and within 10 short years had developed 5 veterinary clinics and a large format pet store in Townsville, as well as 2 veterinary hospitals in China.
His long-term vision was for high quality veterinary medicine, investment in excellent equipment and facilities and support for veterinarian mental health. Dr Richards turned that vision into a pet care empire of 300 pet stores and 200 veterinary clinics, now known as Greencross trading under the brands of Petbarn, Cityfarmers, Animates, Greencross Vets, AEC, and Animal
Referral Hospitals.
Dr Richards was a resident panellist and investor on Channel 10’s Shark Tank series, identifying and nurturing successful startups and providing mentorship and guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Dr Richards is also deeply committed to volunteer work including his role as co-founder and director of the PetBarn Foundation, supporting animal welfare initiatives across Australia. This includes free veterinary care and supplies to animals in need, promoting animal welfare legislation and funding animal
rescue organisations.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"Growing up in Western Queensland I spent my childhood helping my parents on our sheep and cattle station. I always thought I would become a grazier and business owner. The trials and tribulations of watching rain clouds and commodity prices of wool and beef dented my enthusiasm as I entered my adult years."
Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there any advice you would give that person now?
"University is about getting a holistic education, strongly supported by the eclectic mix of students and lecturers one gets to meet from all walks of life.
"Embrace it, involve yourself in as many sporting teams, societies, activities and social gatherings as one can tolerate without getting in the way of your studies. Never again in your life will you have so many amazing people in one place at one time... how lucky you are!"
What is your favourite UQ memory?
"Taking part in the inaugural UQ Great Court Race in 1985. Racing at top speed through the cloisters with thousands of cheering students packed into the courtyard urging us on.
"I just missed out on the finals, but I thoroughly enjoyed pretending we were in Chariots of Fire. The Duchess of Kent was invited to present the prizes, and I explained to her the importance of the race and the likelihood that this was the start of great UQ tradition. It’s wonderful to see it’s still going."
What are you most proud of?
"Knowing that my investment of time and capital into, with and alongside a large group of fellow entrepreneurial founders over the last 30 years has helped to drive innovation in multiple industries that have supported and improved (directly or indirectly) the lives of thousands of professional people, as well as our clients, our patients and our customers.
"The range of industries includes veterinary science, pet care, medicine, allied health, food technology, medical devices and talent solutions."
Distinguished Young Alumni Awards
Recognises young alumni whose early-career accomplishments provide inspiration to the University’s students and alumni community.
Famin Ahmed
Bachelor of Arts 2019
Bachelor of Laws 2019
Distinguished Young Alumni Award for commitment to social justice and outstanding contributions to the prevention of domestic violence.
Ms Famin Ahmed is the creative brain behind the feel-good fashion brand and social enterprise project, Famin Makes. She makes hats, scrunchies and masks, donating 100% of profits to Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ) which provides free legal advice to women facing domestic violence.
While working full-time and, at times, managing her own family’s domestic violence situation, Ms Ahmed has devoted weeknights and weekends to the project for 4 years, raising over $65,000 to date.
Ms Ahmed has been recognised as an emerging leader in domestic violence prevention, is named on the Queensland Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll and is an official WLSQ ambassador. As a full-time lawyer, Ms Ahmed works in the Pro Bono and Community Investment team at one of the country’s biggest law firms, MinterEllison, providing free advice to members of the community who otherwise might not get the representation they need or the justice they deserve.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"Growing up with migrant parents from Bangladesh where many people live in poverty, we were raised to be conscious of people less fortunate than us.
"During high school, I became interested in human rights and particularly the issue of refugees. I studied legal studies which I enjoyed the social justice element of – so studying law made sense. I originally planned to work in corporate law for a few years before moving onto something social justice oriented, but I was lucky enough to land a full-time pro bono lawyer role at MinterEllison after a few years – so I now do both."
Who are your heroes?
"Pretty much anyone, well-known or not, who has a passion for helping others is inspirational to me. I frequently listen to podcasts where people like this share their story, including their 'how' and 'why'."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"If you have privilege, you have a responsibility to use it. If you are a graduate, you have the privilege of education, which many people around the world – and even within Australia – cannot access due to circumstances beyond their control, like being born into a war-torn country or a family that has been stuck in a cycle of disadvantage .
"That privilege of education will then lead you to other privileges, like secure employment. Think about how you can use your skills and resources to give back to those less fortunate, whether it be through donating money regularly or volunteering. If everyone did a little, imagine how much we could achieve!"
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"Ending violence in all forms against women."
Hailey Brown
Bachelor of Arts 2021
Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management 2021
Union College
Distinguished Young Alumni Award for entrepreneurial achievement in the tourism industry, and empowerment of the blind and low vision community.
Ms Hailey Brown in the founder and CEO of Vacayit, Australia’s first audio tourism platform. Vacayit embraces diversity and allows everyone to make independent, informed decisions about where they would like to travel. It also encourages tourism organisations to enhance their engagement and content for those who are blind or have low vision.
Ms Brown’s innovative idea won the Innovation category of the Forum’s Young Talent Programme in Switzerland, as part of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne 2021, and she was the Australian Government Accelerator For Enterprising Women Winner.
She is an advocate for innovation and accessibility in the tourism industry, which continues through her work for the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport as their Young Tourism Leader. Hailey has received numerous accolades for Vacayit and ranked as one of Australia’s 9 most influential women entrepreneurs in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian’s Top 20 under 40.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"A conversation with my friend Henry. While I was studying at UQ I had a remarkable opportunity to pitch an idea about a gap in the tourism industry to the World Tourism Forum Lucerne Young Talent Programme. Henry, an enthusiastic traveller who is blind, opened my eyes to the problem of visual tourism marketing and the lack of accessible information online.
"We formulated a concept: an 'audio guide to the world' app. This idea not only earned us the innovation award globally, but also exposed me to the experiences of more than 250 million individuals worldwide who are blind or have low vision. Hearing their stories and knowing the potential impact of our app, I decided to take the company full-time."
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"I'm completing a 'year of activities' where I am saying yes to (almost) everything.
"I wanted to do something to help me disconnect outside of work. Since January, I have run a marathon, learnt how to wax seal wine bottles, solved a rubix cube in under a minute and learnt ukulele (unfortunately for everyone in my life), gone geocaching and much more. I'm currently studying Sign Language and Spanish."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"I love the quote "you can't give life more time, so give the time you have left more life".
"The first few years after university can be confusing. Often graduate jobs don't match up with our dreams, but it's important to pick a job that genuinely makes you happy. Life is too short to not experience fulfilment in every aspect of it. Just after graduation is the perfect time to embrace risks and pave your own unique path."
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"I want to see a world where my app becomes redundant. My goal is to see a society where inclusivity is inherently integrated in all our designs and innovations. Where individuals with disabilities, whether physical or non-physical, don't have to fight to be heard and can access and enjoy experiences without the barriers created by the industry."
Dr Jordan English
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) 2016
Bachelor of Commerce 2016
Distinguished Young Alumni Award for exceptional leadership, a commitment to meaningful change and advancing Indigenous representation in the field of law.
Dr Jordan English is an Indigenous lawyer, UQ University Medal in Law recipient and Monash and Rhodes Scholar, now working as a Supernumerary Teaching Fellow in Law at St John’s College, Oxford.
Dr English’s research has contributed significantly to the fields of private law and civil asset recovery, and has been cited by the High Court of Australia, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia, and the England and Wales High Court (Commercial Court). He co-authored The Law of Tracing (Federation Press, 2021), which has made an essential contribution to the field of equity and trusts, and recently completed the co-written manuscript for Federal Proceeds of Crime Law (Thomson Reuters, 2023).
He is due to publish his third book, Discharge of Contractual Obligations for Failure of Condition with Oxford University Press in 2024. His research has influenced the development of the law and has had a positive impact on legal practice.
Dr English is committed to the educational success of Indigenous Australians. Through his work as an Aurora Fellow with the Aurora Education Foundation, Dr English mentors and provides support to Indigenous scholars studying in the United Kingdom.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"I had an economics teacher, Dr Barry Neighbour (who happens to be a UQ graduate) who was so enthusiastic about his subject that it ignited my own intellectual curiosity. Looking back, I can say with some certainty that he is the reason I am an academic today.
"Though originally I had wanted to study economics, he suggested that I do a commerce degree and law was intended simply to complement that. But it only took a few weeks of classes in my first year at university for me to realise how much I enjoyed law and comparatively how little interest I had in much else."
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
“That I am a loyal Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson fan, having watched almost every movie that he has appeared in. My dream is to invite him to a high table dinner at Oxford. He has a great quote that I try to live by: ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.’”
Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there any advice you would give that person now?
"That people are just people. A lot of time in my early years in law school were spent either putting people at certain advanced stages in their career on a pedestal or comparing myself to my peers. In the short-term it drove me to work hard, but it was not a healthy way to be.
"As I have gotten older, I have come to realise that everybody has something going on, and no decision in life is completely free of sacrifice. It is a matter of deciding what kind of life you want to live and not prioritising one kind of success over others."
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"That the place a person is born, the circumstances of their upbringing, or a person's background does not dictate the opportunities that life affords them."
Dr Paul Hodge
Bachelor of Music (Hons) 2008
Doctor of Philosophy (Music) 2016
Distinguished Young Alumni Award for a remarkable quality of artistic works captivating audiences across the world, with widespread critical acclaim.
Dr Paul Hodge is an award-winning writer-composer-producer, whose work has appeared Off-Broadway, in London, Edinburgh, at the Sydney Opera House and across Australia.
His work includes a musical adaptation of the iconic children’s TV series Round The Twist, the five-time Matilda Award-nominated musical comedy Joh for P.M., and his original musical comedy Clinton.
Clinton received a New York Times Critics’ Pick, nominations for Best Musical from the Off-Broadway Alliance and Edinburgh Festival Fringe and won Best Production in the Performing Arts WA Awards and Best Off-Broadway Cast Album in the Broadway World Awards.
Dr Hodge has held prestigious residencies including a Ground Floor Residency at the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Rep in California, the inaugural Vanguard Arts Project at Olney Theatre Center, Maryland, and artist-in-residence with La Boite Theatre Company, Brisbane.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"I did mostly STEM subjects at school, intending to study medicine at university. However, after I performed in the high school musical in Grade 11, the Dean of Studies of my school was so impressed she asked me, "Paul, why are you doing all these maths and science subjects instead of music and drama?!" So, I started to look towards doing a music degree at university.
"My high school piano and singing teacher had recommended UQ because he said I would get bored as just a performer and UQ would give me an excellent grounding in the theory, composition and history of music, as well as performance. It was the best advice I ever received and set me on the path to become a composer rather than a performer."
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"My Siri is set to French to make sure I keep up my French. When you're relying on a computer to understand you in another language, it forces you to make sure you're pronouncing things properly."
Who are your heroes?
"I have many heroes, but Stephen Sondheim is the first that comes to mind in terms of the writing of music theatre. On a personal level, my grandma and my parents nurtured my love of the arts and have always supported me in pursuing a career in the theatre industry."
What are you most proud of?
"I was very proud when songs that I had written with Boublil and Schoenberg, the writers of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, premiered at the Sydney Opera House last year.
"I'm proud of the resilience that theatre artists have shown throughout COVID, which decimated our industry. I'm very excited that several projects that have been on the boil are going to premiere next year."
Daniel Wessels
Bachelor of Business Management 2012
Distinguished Young Alumni Award for outstanding achievements and innovation in the finance and technology sectors.
Mr Daniel Wessels is a respected entrepreneur who has built one of the fastest growing digital lending companies in Australia.
As founder and CEO of Jacaranda Finance, his vision to revolutionise the concept of fast, fair and responsible short-term lending has seen the company ranked in the Australian Financial Review Fast 100 list in 2021.
Mr Wessels has received numerous industry awards including Australia’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and ranking 25th in Australia’s Top 100 Young Entrepreneurs in 2023.
He is committed to having a positive impact on the community, advocating for causes such as the Hear and Say Foundation, the Cancer Council and Down Syndrome Australia. He also launched the Jacaranda Finance Scholarship for Entrepreneurs to help young Australians support themselves and grow businesses of their own.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"I grew up in Zimbabwe in the 90s in Harare. This was a transformational period for the country, and a chain of events ultimately led to the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy and my family immigrated to Australia.
"As a kid, my parents did a great job of sheltering my brother and I from the unfolding social and political unrest. Sport was our main focus, particularly cricket, field hockey, squash and rugby. Both my brother and I are ultra-competitive and aspired to play sports at the highest level. We didn't care which sport, we just knew we wanted to be professional sportspeople. Some of my favourite memories from UQ were on the squash courts!"
Who are your heroes?
"This is an easy one – my parents, Peter and Carol Wessels -- as I wouldn’t be here today without them. Literally and metaphorically.
"They made the bold decision in 2003 to leave behind their whole world in Zimbabwe and immigrate to Brisbane, Australia. Imagine your life right now, and what it would be like to leave behind your childhood friends, family, pets, a generational family business that has taken years to build. Not to mention the things you grow up with that make your home your home. It was tough, but they did it to give my brother and I more opportunity, and we will eternally be grateful for the decision and sacrifices they made for us."
What are some of the things on your bucket list right now?
"When my children are old enough to remember the trip, my wife and I are going to take one year off from everything to travel to different corners of the world. We plan to visit at least one country in every continent.
"I also absolutely love my cooking and I’m going to publish a cookbook filled with all my favourite recipes."
Indigenous Community Impact Award
Recognises and honours an alum whose outstanding work has improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as contributed to the reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Dr Alicia Veasey
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery 2011
Indigenous Community Impact Award for community leadership, and advocacy for Indigenous self-determination within health systems.
Dr Alicia Veasey, a proud Torres Strait Islander woman, is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a subspeciality fellowship in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology. She is Co-Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Network at Queensland Health, where she provides leadership on systemic cultural safety and strengths-based reforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the health system.
In 2023, Dr Veasey was awarded a Fellowship with the prestigious Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity, where she is completing a Master of Social Change Leadership, exploring approaches to embed Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty within health systems.
Prior to medicine, Dr Veasey was a Paediatric Registered Nurse. She served on the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Board of Directors, was a founding member of Health Workforce Australia’s Future Health Leaders Council and was a delegate with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
She currently resides on beautiful Bundjalung Country with her husband and three jarjum.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"I've always been interested in working in health. At the end of primary school, I wrote on my graduation certificate that I wanted to be an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, like my Dad. What I didn’t realise at that time was the joy I would find in providing women-centred care, especially in gynaecology."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"For graduating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students – ground yourself in Country. You need to know where you have come from to know where you are moving to. Use your education to confront settler-colonial institutions and systems, including those we have internalised, as scary as that may be.
"Former University of Waikato Professor of Indigenous Education Linda Tuhiwai Smith said, 'In reflecting on the work of Indigenous workers, there is a need for all of us to appreciate that what may seem a utopian vision is worth striving for and maybe won through a series of small and incremental gains rather than singular and spectacular actions.'"
What are you most proud of?
"Whilst it's not always easy, I'm proud of my marriage and family. We have a busy house with 2 doctors, numerous additional professional and community responsibilities, 3 young children and a dog. Life is messy and chaotic at times, but most Sunday afternoons you'll find us all down at the beach taking in the last rays of sun and laughing."
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"That every single person realised the importance of Country and Land, and recognised our relationship to land is just as important as the relationships we have with other people."
International Alumnus of the Year
Recognises and honours the outstanding achievements of an international alum who has achieved distinction in their chosen field.
Dr Raijeli Taga
Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) 2010
Doctor of Philosophy (Mining Engineering) 2016
International Alumnus of the Year Award for exceptional efforts in Pacific Island development, sustainability, gender equality, environmental health and work with Indigenous communities.
Dr Raijeli Taga serves as the Permanent Secretary for the Fiji Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources.
She led the reform of the Fiji Employment Relations Act to remove Section 88, which prohibited the employment of women in underground mines. The bill passed on International Women’s Day and was a milestone achievement for women. Dr Taga was subsequently awarded the Women in Business Executive Woman of the Year Award for the Public Sector in 2018.
As Facilitator for the Informal Working Group (IWG) on the Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment, Dr Taga’s leadership and advocacy on environmental issues has had a profound impact on environmental regulations for Deep Sea Minerals.
Dr Taga has advocated for Indigenous communities to express their concerns with deep sea mining and the protection of their customs and traditional connections to the ocean. She was also integral to the establishment of the Blue Concrete Initiative which will improve disaster and climate resilience in the Pacific.
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"My science teachers in high school inspired me to pursue this field. My competitive spirit and knowing that just a handful of Taukei students took science subjects drove me forward. My interest in mining and the environment specifically began at the Mineral Resources Department laboratory, seeing the expatriate staff from Australia who came to work in Fiji, to conduct research to inform policy decisions. I was greatly inspired by these foreign scientists – geologists, hydrogeologists, seismologists, engineers. Their work drove my research into mining impacts and its influence on human health and communities. With environmental issues expanding and becoming urgent, I feel the studies I have done so far are relevant to connecting science to the development of policy in Fiji."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"'There is nothing impossible to they who try” – Alexander the 'Great."
What are you most proud of?
"I am just grateful for the opportunities I have been given in education and at work – that I have been able to deliver and impact the lives of people, my staff and the communities I serve. If I change or positively impact the lives of people I work with, I am thankful for that opportunity. Small changes lead to big changes."
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"Encourage more women to enter the mineral sector, especially Fijian Women. I would educate them to be changemakers in Fiji. This could lead to a domino effect of improvement in people's lives, families, communities and beyond."
Contribution to Sport Alumni Award
Recognises an alum for their outstanding contribution to sport and the positive impact this has on the wider community, nationally or internationally.
Tim Kerrison
Bachelor of Applied Science 1995
Bachelor of Science (Hons) 1996
Bachelor of Arts 1998
Contribution to Sport Alumni Award for remarkable achievements as a coach and sports scientist, unparalleled success in rowing, swimming and professional cycling, and for nurturing the next generation of elite coaches and athletes.
Mr Tim Kerrison is one of the most respected high-performance coaches and sports scientists in the world.
His coaching career began guiding Australia’s rowers to international success in 2002. He worked as a sport scientist, overseeing the development of many of Australia’s leading swimmers, including Jodie Henry, Grant Hackett and Liesel Jones, through to the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He went on to support the British swimming team to win 2 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
As Head Coach for Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers from 2009-2021, he guided the team to 7 Tour de France victories, leading them from a simple startup to the number one cycling team in the world.
He nurtured several athletes that have gone on to become legends, such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas OBE, and oversaw the planning, preparation and completion of the world-first marathon under 2 hours by athlete Eliud Kipchoge.
Mr Kerrison’s dedication to data analytics and innovation towards nutrition, recovery and altitude adaptation ushered in a new era for cycling, and the impact of this work is felt in professional sport across the world.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"Growing up, I was probably the least sporting kid at school – no one would have expected me to have a career in professional sport, least of all myself! I was quite academic and very musical. I don’t remember ever being sure about what I wanted to do for a career but it definitely wouldn’t have been anything to do with sport!"
What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?
"I was introduced to rowing at school, which I continued through university. Although I wasn’t sporty, I had a competitive streak, and the measurability of success in sport appealed to me. I started studying Medicine at UQ, while trying to be a competitive rower. It was through involvement in rowing that I was first exposed to sport science.
"I liked the idea of applying something I was quite good at, maths and science, to something I wanted to be good at, rowing, and switched from Medicine to Human Movement Studies with the dream of pursuing a career in sport science or coaching. After graduating, I completed a degree at UQ majoring in Information Management, recognising the increasing role that data was likely to play in sports performance if we could be better manage, analyse and extract meaningful insights from the data."
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"In the late 80s and early 90s, I could often be found busking in the Queen Street Mall or gigging around Brisbane pubs with the band Magnus Octopus."
Who are your heroes?
"I admire people with diverse talents who channel them into making a positive difference in the world. Sir Brian May, for example, is one of the greatest contemporary musicians of his era, an accomplished scientist with a PhD in Astrophysics, and a compassionate human deeply involved in environmental activism. Whilst best known for his musical talents, he would much rather be remembered for his efforts to protect wildlife."
What are you most proud of?
"I am proud of the various sporting achievements that I've been part of, but it's the approach we took that stands out. To each new sport, we were able to build world-beating systems and solutions by integrating conventional knowledge and experiences with data and scientific insights, shaped by inspiration from the previous sports I’d worked with.
"This approach was applied successfully to multiple athletes, and across multiple sports. Many of the innovations we introduced have since become standard practice, and I am most proud of this legacy."
Colleges' UQ Alumni Award
Honours an alum for their outstanding contribution to a residential college and UQ, who continues to make a positive impact on the wider community, nationally or internationally.
The Honourable Dr Mary Crawford AM
Bachelor of Arts 1968
Graduate Diploma of Education 1969
Duchesne College
College’s UQ Alumni Award for an enduring commitment to public policy and gender equality.
The Honourable Dr Mary Crawford AM was the third Queensland woman to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to public policy and gender equality.
During her time in parliament, Dr Crawford joined the Status of Women Committee in the active pursuit of equal pay, universal superannuation, entry of mature women into tertiary education, childcare and women’s health services. She also chaired the Crawford Committee working to ensure that childcare was affordable and readily available so women could enter the paid workforce.
Dr Crawford championed and established many community programmes including the first women’s only Job Clubs, the Logan campus of Griffith University, Logan TAFE, aged care programmes, childcare centres and community organisations such as the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association and the Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland.
In 2020, Dr Crawford was awarded an AM for her service to the education of women and to the Parliament of Australia. She continues to advocate for gender equity, notably throughout the Duchesne College Create Change Create Wise Women Campaign.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"I always wanted to be a teacher. I played school with my siblings and just loved the idea of teaching. I was always an avid reader."
Who are your heroes?
"My heroes are firstly my mother. Her father died when she was 11 years old and that effectively ended her formal education. She was determined that her children would have every educational opportunity available. She was so supportive and worked hard so we were able to participate fully in all aspects of student life.
"The second person was my aunt, my father’s sister. She went off to East Pakistan or Bangladesh as it is known now and opened a leprosarium. When advances in medical treatment made it unnecessary, she opened schools for girls – ground-breaking in that area in the 1950s."
Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?
"Take every opportunity that comes along! It is unlikely to come again."
What are the top 3 items on your bucket list right now?
"Keep healthy, active and curious!"
Can you tell us about your time at Dushesne College?
"It was a wonderful experience. It provided a supportive environment in which to grow and develop. Some of my closest friends are from those days and we are still in touch. It was an opportunity to fully live a university life with others who were interested in exploring new ideas and thinking about the world in which we all live."
Gatton Gold Medal
Recognises and honours a UQ Gatton alum for their outstanding achievements and ongoing contributions to their chosen field or to the Gatton campus.
Tim Neale
Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) 1995
Gatton Gold Medal for leadership in agricultural technology and significant impact on sustainable agricultural production.
Mr Tim Neale is the co-founder of DataFarming, servicing over 35,000 farms across 50 countries with satellite imagery every 5 days.
Mr Neale has transformed the traditional high value, high cost agricultural consultancy business model into a mass market, low price digital platform that growers, agronomists and allied industry personnel can easily access, use and interpret. He has had a global impact on the use and development of, and investment in, digital technology for the sustainability of agricultural production.
Mr Neale is considered a thought leader in the agricultural technology space, and has received several awards for his work, including Rural Consultant of the Year by Kondinin Group and ABC Rural, Innovation and Technology Award by Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, and Queensland ICT Entrepreneur of the Year by Pearcey Foundation. The business was also recently awarded Australia’s Best AgriTech 2023.
What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?
"I worked for 12 years in Queensland fire and rescue as an auxiliary fire fighter. This is an on-call role performed by thousands of people across Queensland in towns where no permanent fire fighters exist."
Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there any advice you would give that person now?
"Where you end up personally and professionally is only limited by your imagination. Have confidence in yourself; it doesn't really matter where you have come from."
What is your favourite UQ memory?
"I have lots! The crazy stuff we did on Gatton campus probably shouldn't be mentioned! But certainly being one of the last students to reside in Old Morrison Hall is pretty special. It was a war hospital during World War II and has now been converted to offices."
What are you most proud of?
"Being a well-respected member of the agricultural community is very important to me. I am very proud I have made an impact to the farming community in Australia and overseas."
If you could change one thing about the world for the next generation, what would it be?
"To allow agriculture to be properly recognised for its role in society, and for it to be appropriately paid for the value it provides. Too much of our food system is taken for granted, and if it were more profitable, then sustainability would be much easier to achieve. Farmers are price takers, not price makers, and that is such a shame."
UQ Graduates of the Year
Award created by Alumni Friends
Brodie Crouch
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Hons) 2022
Graduate of the year for exceptional academic achievement and contributions to the community.
Mr Brodie Crouch graduated with a Bachelor of Advanced Science with First Class Honours and a GPA of 6.94.
Mr Crouch’s academic excellence has been recognised through multiple prizes, scholarships and bursaries, including the UQ Excellence Scholarship, Maude Walker Prize, multiple Dean’s Commendations, AW Howard Memorial Trust Honours and Masters Scholarship and a University Medal.
Mr Crouch is passionate about finding low-cost strategies to conserve biodiversity on farms at the smallest cost to agricultural productivity. He has shown exemplary commitment to rural outreach through his honours, establishing a joint project with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in central Queensland.
Committed to improving access to higher education, he has mentored students from regional and remote communities as a UQ Student Ambassador and mentor with UQ’s Young Leaders Conference and Young Scholars program.
He has shown a commitment to the community locally and globally, volunteering to deliver STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) activities to students in Peru and supporting the local Brisbane community with the flood clean-up effort in 2022.
What’s a surprising or fun fact about you?
"I can identify about 70 different woodland birds just from hearing their call... a pretty niche skill but it came in handy doing bird surveys on the farms!"
What are you most proud of?
"I'm proud that I was able to use the 4 years of my degree to really set myself up in a field of study that I'm super passionate about, surrounded by wonderful people that I am learning so much from.
"During my honours project, I collaborated with government and non-government organisations, and established new partnerships with landholders who hadn’t previously engaged with the University before. It made me consider wide-ranging perspectives on complex issues with those that have the ability to enact change.
"In the end, I was able to produce a thesis that I think is just as relevant to a productivity focused farmer as it is a conservationist. I'm really proud of that."
Dr Chloe Yap
Bachelor of Science 2016
Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership 2020
Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy 2022
Graduate of the year for exceptional academic achievement and contributions to the community.
Dr Chloe Yap graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) as a University Medallist with a GPA of 6.85 in 2022. In addition, Dr Yap completed a Doctor of Philosophy 2022, combined with the MD program and a Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership (Medical Leadership Program) in 2020.
Dr Yap’s achievements have been recognised through multiple commendations and awards including a Fulbright Future Scholarship (University of California Los Angeles), CSL Florey Next Generation Award, International Society for Autism Research Early Career Investigator Award, Queensland Women in STEM Prize, Yuen Family Excellence in Medical Research Scholarship, Mater Research Institute HDR Prize, Ralph Doherty Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Contribution to Community, William Nathaniel Robertson Scholarship, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Women’s Health Prize, and Dean’s Award for Outstanding Higher Degree by Research Theses.
She created Charting Med, a medical education website to help fellow students and has regularly volunteered as a peer tutor with the UQ Medical Society. She is also a passionate advocate of the arts, performing in multiple orchestras including in the Australian Medical Student’s Orchestra, National University of Singapore Orchestra and as Principal cellist in the Queensland Youth Symphony.
What’s a surprising or fun fact about you?
"I love walking – ideally of the hiking variety, but any will do. It’s free exercise, transport/exploration, and a mental boost (st)rolled into one. I have been told that I might take this too far at times … my 'walkability' radius is 1 to 1.5 hours, which can lead to disagreements when other people’s legs are on the line!"
What is your favourite UQ memory?
"Rather than being a single episode, my favourite UQ memory is really an interlinked series of “sliding door” moments that occurred as a first-year undergraduate and which set the course of the next 8–9 years.
"It started with Advanced Study Program in Science (ASPinS), where I was able to fully embrace being a science nerd: with weekly seminars that exposed me to the wonder and diversity of science; a Minjerribah retreat under the auspices of “team building”; and being pushed to think independently and creatively within coursework.
"Even as first-years, we were implicitly encouraged to apply for summer research projects, despite being advertised for second- or third-years, so I did. Through a combination of chance logistical factors, I filtered the list down to one potential project, sent a hopeful email to the listed contact, and somehow 'got the gig'. I found myself captivated – even consumed – by the ethos of inquiry and discovery, egged on by some truly amazing supervisors.
"Fast forward eight years, and I sat on the graduation stage with those same supervisors (Jake Gratten and Naomi Wray) who had supported me throughout this entire journey. That was a wonderful moment."
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