Inspirational alumni honoured

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Tags: honorary doctorate, summer-2011

UQ Chancellor Mr John Story (right) congratulates prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist Graeme Wood on receiving his honorary doctorate in July

A pioneering engineer and a visionary philanthropist have been recognised with The University of Queensland’s highest honour.

Wotif.com co-founder Graeme Wood and Chair of Powerlink Else Shepherd AM each received honorary doctorates during UQ’s mid-year graduations in July.

Dr Wood received his honorary doctorate at a Faculty of Business, Economics and Law ceremony, with Dr Shepherd presented with her award at a Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology ceremony.

Dr Wood, who received a Doctor of Economics honoris causa, is one of Queensland’s most successful entrepreneurs and a national leader in philanthropy for education, arts, the environment and youth.

His visionary philanthropy is having a major impact in higher education through his strategic resourcing of cutting edge research and his support for talented students.

He is co-founder and Chair of The University of Queensland Endowment Fund (UQef), Director of The Graeme Wood Foundation and founder and Chief Executive of WildMob.

Dr Wood, a UQ Bachelor of Economics and Master of Information Systems graduate, also gifted $15 million in March last year towards a sustainable building to house UQ’s Global Change Institute, which is targeting solutions for problems linked to global scale change.

Dr Shepherd, who received a Doctor of Engineering honoris causa, was one of the first two women to graduate from electrical engineering at UQ in 1965, and at one time was one of only two female engineers working in Queensland.

After graduating, Dr Shepherd worked as an operation research engineer at the Sugar Research Institute in Mackay. She had recently married, and during this period it was unusual for married women to work in factories with men.

The Institution of Engineers, Australia, named Dr Shepherd the 2000 Queensland Professional Engineer of the Year, yet when she joined in the 1960s she could not attend their meetings, which were held at the local men’s club.

The institution moved venues and Dr Shepherd went on to become an influential member, paving the way for other women engineers in Australia.

In 1994, she was appointed to her current position as Chair of Powerlink, which maintains Queensland’s electricity transmission.

Dr Shepherd is also a trained musician with vast experience as a choral conductor and director of arts organisations. She received a Graduate Diploma in Music from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1984, and in 2009 was named the UQ Alumnus of the Year.

Also receiving awards during the July graduation period were Dr Keith Greenland, who was recognised with a Doctor of Medicine in recognition of his contributions to the study of difficult airway management in Australia and internationally.

Professor Ross Thomas Barnard was also honoured with a Doctor of Science in recognition of his continued research and key role in passing on his knowledge through the UQ biotechnology program.

By Shirley Glaister

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