Liz Bellward with Indah at Dreamworld's Tiger Island

When Liz Bellward was contemplating a career change, little did she know a day at the office would soon involve cuddling and caring for a dozen tigers.

With a business degree already under her belt, Ms Bellward was looking to take her passion for animals to the next level and enrolled in a Master of Animal Studies at UQ.

By mid-way through her degree, Ms Bellward was working for one of Australia’s best-known tiger tourism and conservation hotspots – Tiger Island at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

Ms Bellward described her time as a tiger handler as not only a professionally rewarding experience but also a personal one.

“There’s an honesty and innocence with animals that you don’t find with people,” she said.

“Having a cuddle with a 200kg tiger or having it chuff at you (a chuff is a friendly greeting) and experiencing their acceptance of you is the most incredible feeling in the world.”

Part of Ms Bellward’s work at Tiger Island was to assist with the conservation and breeding efforts of Sumatran tigers.

“There are only 300–400 of this species left in the wild and knowing I have been part of helping increase their numbers is very rewarding,” she said.

Liz Bellward swimming with Indah

Four years on and Ms Bellward is combining her skills in business and tiger handling in establishing Karma Cats – a not-for-profit organisation aimed at conserving endangered big cat species.

“I created Karma Cats because I saw an opportunity to participate in breeding programs for endangered species and raise money for conservation,” she said.

“Some zoos see ‘making money’ as a bad thing and as exploiting the animals, but you can make money without compromising the animals’ welfare and in many cases it enriches the animals’ lives in captivity.”

Since her time at UQ, Ms Bellward has maintained excellent relationships with UQ teaching staff, and her masters supervisor now joins her on the Karma Cats board.

Ms Bellward is currently looking for more funders to support her organisation.

By Caroline Bird

Cody Freeman

For Cody Freeman, what started as a hobby during his university days has since seen him go from international performer to educator to entrepreneur.

The professional balloon sculptor has featured on Channel 9’s kids’ TV show The Shak, entertained crowds at Brisbane Broncos games for the past three years, and created giant balloon floats involving lights and lasers.

His talent has taken him to the stages of Europe, Africa, India and Australia.

From the simplest animal to giant installations, Mr Freeman’s specialty is being able to create anything people ask for within a couple of minutes.

“If someone says, ‘I want an F-111 fighter jet’, I’ll be able to make it right there and do it fast,” he said.

Mr Freeman said his passion for circus stemmed back to his days studying at UQ.

“My friend and I started a small juggling club that would meet once a week in the Great Court to practise.

“Sometimes 15 to 20 people would turn up to juggle, spin and twirl.”

After busking overseas and experimenting with balloon art for two years, Mr Freeman started a job teaching at an international school in Goa, India.

There, he taught circus to the kids as an extra-curricular activity.

However, his time in Goa was cut short by a motorcycle accident and Mr Freeman was forced to come back to his home in far north Queensland, where he had months of recovery enabling him to focus on his balloon designs.

Most recently, Mr Freeman opened a Circus Training Centre in Brisbane’s West End called The Ice Cream Factory and established his own balloon-sculpting business – Twisted Designs.

“Our creations and entertainment aim to twist people’s imagination by making things out of balloons that you would never have believed possible,” he said.

“We’re combining science, art and entertainment to take balloon sculpture into uncharted territory.”

Mr Freeman credits his UQ science degree with allowing him to experiment with more complex balloon creations.

“I’m using some parts of my degree more than ever at the moment and will continue to use this knowledge as I start to incorporate more lights, signal processing and electronics to circus performances,” he said.

“Having a science degree means I can bring a different approach to doing things in the circus community and allows me to think more creatively.”

By Caroline Bird

Patrick Chambers at the construction site of the new Global Change Institute building

Two years ago Patrick Chambers was walking the corridors of the St Lucia campus as an undergraduate engineer.

Today, he’s working on one of the University’s biggest construction projects.

Following graduation, Mr Chambers started working for Medland Metropolis, where his passion for sustainability has been put to good use working on the development of UQ’s new Global Change Institute (GCI).

He said being involved in the project was an excellent opportunity to advance his knowledge and skills in sustainable engineering.

“The building aspiration is to be completely zero-net energy, and thus is an extremely challenging engineering feat,” he said.

“One of my most important philosophies is that of sustainability, so to be associated with a building that pushes the boundaries of conventional buildings is something I am very proud of.

“It feels great to be working on a site that I walked past every day during my student days and it will feel even better to be able to tell people that I was involved in its design.”

As part of his role on the project, Mr Chambers has constructed a 3D model of the complex to accurately gauge the building’s thermal performance.

“This involved constructing the building geometry, inputting material thicknesses, and thermodynamic properties for every single element of the building structure and façade,” Mr Chambers said.

“I also had to liaise with the architect and GCI staff to pre-determine energy distribution and usage in the building.”

In September, Mr Chambers, along with a Medland Metropolis colleague, presented a lecture to UQ architecture students on how to integrate mechanics with architecture, with a focus on the GCI building.

Mr Chambers said he had been interested in science from a young age, and in particular the difference between certain materials.

“I would continually break chopstick and rulers, trying to bend them as far as possible,” Mr Chambers said.

“I was interested in why they would bend and break differently.”

But it was his father’s passion for physics and mathematics that inspired him to study mechanical engineering at university.

“While studying, I began to appreciate how well Dad prepared me for this career path,” he said.

By Caroline Bird

Samantha Zurvas

As the first-ever graduate of UQ’s new Master of Nursing Studies program, Samantha Zurvas is fast on her way to a rewarding career.

Ms Zurvas fulfilled a lifelong ambition of becoming a nurse when she graduated in July this year.

“I’ve always been interested in the healthcare field,” she said.

“I even started a nursing degree in 2004, but decided to take a year off.

“When I returned to university in 2005, I didn’t choose nursing and I still wonder why I didn’t, but I certainly never got over the interest in this career.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Social Science in 2007, Ms Zurvas went to work for a newspaper on the Gold Coast for two years.

“Although I enjoyed working as a marketing analyst, I had never been able to get nursing out of my head,” she said.

“For two years I searched for the courage to start again and decided to enrol in a UQ Master of Nursing Studies (Graduate Entry) program.

“I had been looking for a long time for a program that could give me the amount of clinical learning I felt I needed to work confidently as a nurse.

“I chose UQ because it looked like a fantastic opportunity to combine my previous qualifications and get a Masters in Nursing in as little at 18 months.”

Since graduating from UQ a second time around, Ms Zurvas has started a specialty paediatric graduate program at the Mater Children’s Hospital.

“I am very interested in working in paediatric intensive care and gaining further education in this area,” Ms Zurvas said.

“Nursing offers many career options – I’m interested in education and leadership roles, or perhaps even becoming a nurse practitioner in the future.

“I finally feel like I am where I am meant to be and this is thanks to the opportunities made available through the new Masters of Nursing Studies program.”

By Lya McTaggart

Sarah Greenhalgh, Bachelor of Journalism

Earlier this year when most of Brisbane was either tucked up in bed or just starting their day, Sarah Greenhalgh was flying high above the city to keep commuters informed on the best routes to work.

Ms Greenhalgh spent four months working as the traffic reporter for Channel 9’s Today Show, and has recently secured a job at WIN TV Mackay and Whitsundays.

Her 4am wake-up call as a traffic reporter was tough at times, but Ms Greenhalgh said it was all worth it once she was cruising the skies above Brisbane.

“It was an incredible way to start the day,” she said.

“But it was a job that had its highs and lows. In my first two weeks I had to report on a fatal accident and it was difficult to keep the emotion out of my voice.

“Then there were times when I reported on incidents that were quite funny, like when there was a cow strolling down the East-West Arterial Road the night of the Katy Perry concert – we thought she might have been a big fan who had got a little lost.”

Ms Greenhalgh started work at The Australian Traffic Network at the start of the year while completing the final semester of her degree. In addition to reporting for the Today Show and 97.3FM each morning, she was also the traffic reporter for Nova, 4KQ and Hot 91 on the Sunshine Coast in the afternoons.

The busiest times for a traffic reporter are peak morning and peak afternoon, which meant she drove from her Paddington home to the aerodrome at Redcliffe twice a day.

Never picturing that she would be reporting on traffic from a helicopter, Ms Greenhalgh said not knowing the difference between the Ipswich Motorway and the Pacific Motorway soon changed.

“I have learnt in this industry that you need to take any job that becomes available and just run with it,” she said.

“In journalism, and the media industry as a whole, contacts are crucial. It’s not so much what you know, but certainly a case of who you know.”

Ms Greenhalgh said she had developed a particular interest in television reporting.

“It wasn’t until 2010 that I decided I wanted to do something in television, and when the chance arose to do a 10-day internship with Channel Nine at the Ekka, I jumped at the opportunity and applied,” she said.

By Kathy Grube

Jerico Fransiscus Pardosi

Jerico Fransiscus Pardosi is using his skills to reduce child mortality rates in a remote part of Indonesia.

He is currently working on an AusAID project in the Nusa Tengara Timur Province (Ende District) where a significant number of children die during birth or under the age of five due to unknown causes.

“These statistics are terrifying. There are inequalities accessing health services across Ende in relation to antenatal care and it’s important to do an in-depth analysis to determine the unknown causes of death in this region,” Mr Pardosi said.

Notably, the death toll for infants and children aged under five is three times higher in rural than urban areas in Ende District.

Research undertaken during his masters enabled Mr Pardosi to complete field work in Indonesia with the support of his advisors.

Mr Pardosi is currently a junior researcher for the National Institute of Health Research and Development in the Ministry of Health in Jakarta.

He leads antenatal care and birth delivery research in Karawang District, West Java, and also manages the Health Science Journal of Indonesia. He hopes to become a leading expert in the region in the field of maternal and child mortality research.

Mr Pardosi was also a recipient of 2010 UQ Indonesian Alumni Award.

The honour has allowed Mr Pardosi to share his experiences and build ongoing health research collaborations between UQ and the National Institute of Health Research and Development in areas including HIV-AIDS.

By Jessica Gallagher

Lucas Goh

Lucas Goh is protecting Australia.

Not as a soldier or an employee with the Australian Federal Police, but as a researcher preventing a fatal mosquito-borne virus from reaching our shores.

Although similar to Dengue fever in symptoms, the new virus, known as Chikungunya virus, causes fever, rashes and joint pain that can last for years.

A newly mutated genotype has recently been reported to cause chronic arthritis, gastrointestinal and neurological complications, is able to be transmitted from mother to child, and has been associated with some deaths.

And like dengue, there is currently no treatment and no vaccine.

Mr Goh, originally from Singapore, is a PhD student undertaking research in the development and evaluation of diagnostic tools for Chikungunya virus. He is undertaking his doctorate under the supervision of Associate Professor Roy Hall.

“We are aiming to develop antibodies for use in a diagnostic kit to detect and identify Chikungunya virus,” Mr Goh said.

“This would allow us to potentially generate antibodies for immunotherapy.”

The Chikungunya virus is currently present in Europe, Asia, India, Africa and some parts of the United States, but is exotic to Australia.

“We are working on counter measures in order to prevent an incursion into the country as there is an abundance of competent mosquito vectors that are able to transmit the virus, which could cause an epidemic in Australia,” Mr Goh said.

“During my PhD at UQ, I have undoubtedly improved myself both as a person and as a young scientist.

“I am very confident that the strong network of influential scientists I am working with will push me to newer heights.”

Mr Goh attributes the challenges of research and the satisfaction of success as the main contributors to deciding to pursue a research higher degree (RHD) in science.

“I knew that undertaking a RHD at UQ would not only drastically improve my writing, presenting, interpretational and analytical skills, but also play a part in helping me become a mature adult,” he said.

“The outstanding learning and research supervision from my advisors has provided me with the utmost support and assistance any budding scientist could ask for.

“Plus, UQ’s teaching and research excellence makes it one of the best universities to study at.”

By Carly Dengate

Benjamin Kay

Benjamin Kay is on a mission to protect the environment and help create a sustainable planet through education.

Combining his biology degree from the University of California and his marine studies from UQ, Mr Kay is working as a science teacher in Santa Monica, California.

On his lists of green accomplishments, Mr Kay has helped ban single-use plastic bags in Santa Monica, lobbied government to support clean waterways, and designed marine and environmental sustainability curricula for several organisations.

But he said his major goal was to develop easy ways to teach students the benefits of living sustainably.

“As early as high school I discovered I had a knack for transmitting information in a way that others could more easily understand, “ Mr Kay said.

In 2006, he and his students founded Team Marine and Heal the Bay Surfrider Club – groups of eco-minded students from Santa Monica High School who raise awareness about climate change, plastic pollution and overfishing.

As a result of the students’ efforts, Team Marine earned The Ocean Hero Award from the state environmental steering committee, the Wyland Foundation Grand Prize, and the Best Community Outreach Award presented by the Jane Goodall Institute.

So far, Mr Kay and his students have recycled more than 60,000 drinking containers to raise money for water purifying LifeStraws, which are distributed in developing countries to monitor the quality of drinking water.

They have also begun a gas-to-electric car conversion project.

“I teach not only to augment brain capacity and inspire my pupils to pursue science, but also to plant seeds of sustainability and instil a critical thinking lens regarding environmental issues,” Mr Kay said.

“My hope is that my enthusiasm for the marine environment and its long-term preservation will be contagious amongst the students, and that each year’s cohort will adopt the conservation ethic.”

Mr Kay credits much of his inspiration to two of his educators – a high school science teacher, who he still surfs with today, and his UQ thesis advisor, who he calls his “marine science guru”.

By Allison Rock

Simon Cullen

Journalism alumnus Simon Cullen has always been interested in politics.

Following graduation, Mr Cullen began his career as a casual reporter at ABC’s Brisbane office.

From there, he began his reporting crusade up and down the east coast of Australia, making a two-year stop in Bundaberg and spending time in Tasmania following state politics.

However, in 2009 Mr Cullen secured a full-time job reporting from the ABC’s Canberra Parliament House bureau and couldn’t be happier.

Since then, he has covered everything from carbon pricing, to health reform, and foreign affairs.

“I get to spend a lot of time with federal politicians and their staff, which can be a privilege and it’s how we get a lot of our stories,” Mr Cullen said.

“It’s exciting to be at the heart of where big decisions are made.”

By covering Australian politics, Mr Cullen views his role as a crucial public service – being able to report on policy, ethics, and questionable behaviour.

“Journalism is an important part of government accountability,” he said.

“We ask the questions on behalf of members of the public who don’t get the opportunity to do so.”

Another key part of his job is sifting actual policy from political spin.

“The best part about this job is being given access to people I otherwise wouldn’t be able to speak with,” he said.

Mr Cullen said Malcolm Turnbull’s downfall as the Federal Liberal leader and Kevin Rudd’s removal from Prime Minister were two of the most exciting events he had covered to date.

“The 2010 election campaign was a great opportunity to travel, criss-crossing the country and filing hourly reports for ABC Radio on what the leaders were talking about,” he said.

To sustain the constant demand for information, Mr Cullen has embraced the rise of multi-media reporting.

“It used to be the case that stories were first aired on the radio. Now they go online as soon as possible because the next radio bulletin could be 50 minutes away. It’s really changed the way we work,” Mr Cullen said.

To those interested in covering politics, Mr Cullen suggests starting out in regional areas.

“If I wasn’t reporting on political news, I’d like to cover issues that affect people living outside the big cities,” he said.

By Allison Rock

Christian Bartens

Christian Bartens spends his days showing others how data can be used to make smarter business decisions – when he’s not underwater that is.

The former scuba diving instructor turned entrepreneur moved from Germany 10 years ago to commence studies at UQ, and worked for Tourism Australia in the UK before setting up his own consultancy in Sydney in 2007 called Datalicious.

The company is now the Australian market leader in web analytics and offers a range of services from data warehousing to the planning and development of data-driven campaigns and websites. Datalicious’s clients include top brands such as Telstra, ANZ and Tourism New Zealand.

Mr Bartens said consumer data was invaluable to businesses, and provided clear competitive advantages if applied correctly.

He used the example of data agency Dunhumby in the UK that was bought by its client Tesco for a large sum due to the value of the intellectual property it had gathered.

“Companies that can capitalise on their raw data and figure out how to turn it into actionable insights win, simple as that,” Mr Bartens said.

“They’ll have the competitive edge, develop the best products and capitalise on their assets and customers in the most effective way.”

Mr Bartens said one of his favourite parts of the job was combining his passions for travel and business to present at conferences around the world.

“I enjoy interacting with the audience and teaching people new things. It’s a really gratifying feeling if you tell someone something new they didn’t know before.”

Mr Bartens encouraged entrepreneurial students to believe in their business ideas and stay focused on success.

“Keep trying, it’ll work out eventually but don’t expect the first attempt to be successful,” he said.

By Cameron Pegg

Dr Shirley Worland (front centre) with students and staff from Thoo Mweh Khee Senior College

Shirley Worland, Bachelor of Social Work, PhD

An eight-month contract as a volunteer teacher in a refugee camp on the Thai–Burma border has ignited a passion in Dr Shirley Worland to make education more accessible for marginalised people.

The UQ alumnus lived in Mae La Refugee Camp, Thailand as part of her PhD study into the national identity of the displaced ethnic minority, the Christian Karen.

During this period, she formed a close connection with the Karen people after spending time in their communities, and with those who have resettled under the UNHCR scheme to Australia.

In 2009, Dr Worland partnered with local Karen leaders to establish Thoo Mweh Khee Senior College (TMKSC) in Phopra, Thailand, which is providing a senior level of education for young adult refugees on the Thai-Burma border.

“We provide a two or three year program in English to the students who are from families that have fled the persecution in Burma’s troubled ethnic states,” she said.

“The refugee students, who are aged in their teens or early 20s, are not registered as residents in Thailand and therefore are not able to attend Thai schools for Years 11 and 12.”

The aim of the college is to provide a level of education that will enable students to secure gainful employment along the border or attend one of the international universities in Thailand by passing the International General English Diploma exam.

“TMKSC is located right on the border near where the renewed fighting has been taking place since the November 7th Burma election. Many of our students’ families are located in the villages in these areas,” Dr Worland said.

“Recently, the fighting has been very fierce just across the border from us and mortar fire and the sound of landmine explosions can be heard regularly.
“So many refugees have poured across the border and come to our school seeking refuge from the fighting and we are all trying to help as best we can.”

By Kathy Grube

Marcel Dorney and partner Emily Tomlins at the announcement of the 2010 Queensland Premier's Drama Award

The spotlight is on Marcel Dorney, who since graduating from UQ has taken the theatre world by storm.

His honours thesis on rehearsal techniques in political theatre groomed him well as a playwright.

“For the purpose, I wrote and directed my first play, Bulldog Front, at what’s now the Geoffrey Rush Studio, but was then the Cement Box Theatre,” Mr Dorney said.

Following university, Mr Dorney went on to receive the Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Fellowship in 2002, enabling him to study at the Maly Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia.

He has worked as a professional playwright, director and performer and his work has been commissioned by Queensland Theatre Company (QTC), Merrigong Theatre Company, Hothouse Theatre, La Boite, Brisbane Powerhouse, and the Melbourne Next Wave Festival, and has also been published by Playlab Press.

His latest production, Fractions, about an ancient Egyptian female mathematician, received the 2010 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award and will be performed by QTC in November and December.

“To have one of my plays performed by the flagship theatre company in my home city is wonderful,” he said.

Mr Dorney said both the best and worst part of his job was that there was always a new challenge awaiting him.

His determined attitude has led him to undertake further study in the dramatic field.

“I’m currently completing a masters by research in directing at the Victorian College of the Arts,” he said.

The playwright has fond memories of his time at UQ, and said that it was there he learnt some of his most valuable skills.

“No one is coming to save you, you’ve got to do it yourself. Partly that was because funding to my discipline was being viciously cut at the time, and partly because the performing arts were fairly marginal in the wider university culture,” Mr Dorney said.

“The other thing that has stayed with me from UQ is always to tell the truth, whether or not everyone wants to hear it.”

Mr Dorney has also recently reconnected with his honours supervisor – former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Richard Fotheringham – who has recently become Chair of QTC.

The premiere season of Fractions plays at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre until December 10.

By Ingrid Rubie

Andrew Cameron assisting a local in South Ossetia

There’s never a dull moment for Andrew Cameron.

The award-winning nurse is currently in a remote village in South Ossetia (former USSR) distributing seed potatoes to those cut off by the 2008 South Ossetia War.

But it’s not unusual for Mr Cameron to go above and beyond the call of duty, which hasn’t gone unoticed. He is a recipient of the Gary Quayle Memorial Prize for Excellence in Research and most recently, was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal – the highest international distinction in nursing.

It was Mr Cameron’s drive that led him to become a nurse in remote areas of Australia, which, although at times challenging, was ultimately rewarding.

“I was the Director of Nursing at Mornington Island Hospital for seven years, which was an exceedingly difficult job, but I stuck with it and managed well,” Mr Cameron said.

He then became a registered midwife, working in a labour ward for two years.

“Not an easy road for a male, but I did it,” he said.

Always ready for a new challenge, Mr Cameron went on to work as the sole nurse in the historic township of Cue in Western Australia.

“While I was there, I was voted Australian Nurse of the Year in 2004. There are over 300,000 nurses in Australia, so I felt honoured to be the one chosen,” he said.

Over the past six years, Mr Cameron has worked as a nurse with the International Committee of the Red Cross and is often sent to conflict-affected countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan, with the main objective to assist and protect victims of war.

“The best part of my job is the sense that I have helped someone – a family, or a community – even if in some small way,” he said.

Now in South Ossetia, a land still struggling after the war, Mr Cameron is working with all manner of unusual and complex problems.

“These are people who have not had the same opportunities as we have had, people who suffer in their day-to-day lives and who are victims of war,” he said.

So what’s next for the inspirational nurse?

“Some day I’d like to return to UQ and take on studies to do a PhD – before I get too old,” he said.

By Ingrid Rubie

Ruth Pye (right) with colleagues at the veterinary clinic in Ladakh

Ladakh is the northernmost region of the Republic of India and is where UQ graduate Ruth Pye has been working for the past three years.

The veterinarian is the manager of the Ladakh program with Vets Beyond Borders (VBB), an Australian-based not-for-profit organisation that runs animal welfare and public health programs in developing communities in the Asia-Pacific region.

“This is a seasonal program running for the summer months from June to September to surgically sterilise and vaccinate the street dogs against rabies to improve the health and welfare of the dogs and the local community,” Ms Pye said.

She said the incredible landscapes and the kindness of the local people were among the most enjoyable aspects of her job.

“The best part is the opportunity to carry out some meaningful work in the amazing environment of Ladakh – a high-altitude desert sandwiched between the Himalayan and Karakorum mountain ranges,” she said.

“It is a privilege to work within the Ladakhi culture. The Ladakhis are predominantly Tibetan Buddhists and their pervading sense of compassion and kindness towards all living beings is an inspiration to all.”

Ms Pye said while her work had been rewarding, there had been challenges along the way.

“Perhaps the most difficult aspect of managing a VBB program is dealing with the notorious Indian bureaucracy. As with travelling in India, the best ways to deal with administrative headaches are with patience and a sense of humour (often easier said than done),” she said.

The clinic in Ladakh

Operating in such a harsh physical environment – with hot summers and extreme winters – does not dampen the spirits of those there to help however.

“Working with the local staff and volunteer vets from around the world to treat many beautiful and friendly street dogs to improve their health and welfare and that of the local community is extremely rewarding,” Ms Pye said.

Not forgetting her university roots, Ms Pye has been involved with the work of UQ veterinary parasitologist Dr Rebecca Traub.

“Dr Traub has conducted research on parasites of dogs in India by collecting samples from the dogs in various regions including Ladakh,” Ms Pye said.

There is also a VBB student chapter at UQ and Ms Pye has given talks to final-year students about working in India.

By Ingrid Rubie

Lorraine Stephenson

Lorraine Stephenson, Bachelor of Science, Master of Business Administration

Dr Lorraine Stephenson is combining her science and business skills to benefit the environment in her new role as Chief Clean Energy Advisor to the Queensland Government.

With experience in senior management roles at Caltex and Origin Energy, regular attendance at the annual United Nations climate change meetings since 2000, and participating in the 2020 Summit in Canberra, Dr Stephenson knows a thing or two about sustainability.

A love of chemistry and research initially led Dr Stephenson to complete a science degree at UQ, which was followed by a PhD at Macquarie University.

However, after working in business for a few years, Dr Stephenson was looking to gain specific education in areas such as economics, accounting and marketing, so she decided to enrol in an MBA at UQ.

“My studies have given me the skills in science, research and business that are ideal for sustainability and climate change work,” she said.

“It is one of the great global challenges to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to a growing population.

“Queensland is extremely well placed with a wide range of energy resources, including renewable options.”

Dr Stephenson has recently returned to UQ, not as a student, but as a contributor to the development of a new Master of Energy Studies (MES) being offered in 2012.

“The MES will be a multi-disciplinary degree to equip students for the transition to a low-carbon future,” she said.

“This is very important as the decision-making is quite complex and crosses over disciplines when you have to consider energy issues overlaid with climate change factors such as an increasing carbon price.”

With the support of corporate funding, the program will be administered by the International Energy Centre, which is being formed by UQ, the University of Western Australia and the University of Newcastle.

“Students will work as a cohort through coursework and practical activities to better appreciate the range of technologies available, and the challenge and opportunities to provide energy to match demand in the coming decades,” Dr Stephenson said.

And if her roles at the Queensland Government and UQ aren’t enough to keep her busy, Dr Stephenson has recently opened her own business that provides energy and climate change strategic advice to the corporate sector and governments.

“Lightning Consulting Services helps companies interpret the new Australian legislation and the international regulations, identify opportunities and mitigate risks in the transition to a more sustainable future,” she said.

By Caroline Bird

Carolyn Richardson

While Professor Carolyn Richardson is used to having her feet firmly on the ground, most of her work has revolved around people who spend months at a time in zero gravity.

Professor Richardson is a pioneer in anti-gravity training and began her career as one of six students studying physiotherapy at UQ in the late 1960s.

Her knowledge of anti-gravity training was consolidated 20 years later, when she obtained her PhD at UQ under Professor Margaret Bullock, becoming only the second person in Queensland to achieve this level of qualification in physiotherapy.

Since this achievement, she has worked as a consultant for the European Space Agency (ESA) on exercise countermeasures for the International Space Station, conducted specialised anti-gravity research in Berlin, and has spoken at conferences for NASA and ESA scientists and astronauts from around the world.

Her involvement with ESA marked the first time Australia had partnered with the agency, and Professor Richardson said it was a step forward in recognising the significance of physiotherapy in space training.

“Astronauts need specific exercises because when they go into zero gravity they lose bone density and the anti-gravity muscles stop working,” she said.

“This means when they come back to earth they usually get back pain and other serious injuries because their bones and joints haven’t experienced the compression you get from living in a gravity zone.”

Along with other UQ physiotherapists, Professor Richardson developed exercises for the ESA astronauts to help with their transition from zero gravity back to life on Earth.

“We created walking programs, used special belts for core strengthening and also worked on the muscles in the back and other injury prone areas in the body,” she said.

Recently, Professor Richardson supervised a UQ PhD project on microgravity and the human musculo-skeletal system. The graduate is now working as a project coordinator at ESA.

Professor Richardson is currently running her own educational business on the Sunshine Coast, which focuses on gravity fitness.

“I started GravityFit with the aim to work with the fitness industry on anti-gravity training for sport performance and injury prevention,” she said.

By Caroline Bird

Tyson Stelzer

Tyson Stelzer, Bachelor of Arts, Postgraduate Diploma in Education Bachelor of Science

One of Australia’s premier wine writers, Tyson Stelzer, believes writing is an opportunity to celebrate the great things we have to enjoy in life.

His first book was titled Cellaring Wine – a do-it-yourself guide to building home wine cellars that instructs readers on how to successfully modify refrigerators, regulate humidity, light and temperature.

Beginning his higher education at UQ in the early 90s, Mr Stelzer is neither a graduate of writing or agriculture; instead he completed dual majors in mathematics and studies of religion in 1995, a Diploma of Education in 1996, and finished a physics degree in 1999.

In 2001, after 10 years teaching high school students, Mr Stelzer shifted his hobby into a full-time writing job, aiming to break down the elitism of wine.

Now the co-owner of Brisbane’s World Wine Discovery, Mr Stelzer teaches interactive wine education courses to groups of local consumers.

Mr Stelzer said the courses provide an opportunity to “wow” people with great wines of the world and tutor them through unlocking the aromas and flavours they are experiencing.

“In spite of floods, droughts, heatwaves, brushfires, and locust plagues, Australian grape growers are holding their ground, producing a strong and diverse quality of wines,” he said.

Following the Queensland floods, Mr Stelzer acted as a community link between growers, producers and sellers around the country.

As a result of multiple offers for aid and support, Mr Stelzer organised the Australian Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle.

Converting one of his seven websites, clearaboutwine.com.au, into campaign headquarters, the fundraiser collected more than $275,000 in a matter of weeks for flood and cyclone victims.

Mr Stelzer is also passionate about promoting alcohol education and safety through his writing, having released the Parent’s Guide to Teen Alcohol and Parties last year.

Sponsored by wineries from around the country, 200,000 copies were distributed to families throughout Australian schools.

By Allison Rock

Rob Ryan in New York

Rob Ryan, Bachelor of Social Work, Graduate Certificate in Management

Rob Ryan spent three months last year travelling between London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and San Francisco – not to see the sights, but to help advance the protection of Australia’s children.

A 2010 Churchill Fellow, Mr Ryan is the President of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), and Assistant Regional Director for the South East region at the Department of Communities in Child Safety Services.

While on his fellowship, he met with experts at the London School of Economics, lectured students at the University of Bangor in Northern Wales, attended a symposium on fairness and equity in child protection in California, and learnt about the “Be a Witness” campaign developed by the First Nations Children’s Society in Ottawa, Canada.

“Over the course of three months, I had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of experts in the field of child protection and to share in their approaches to training, learning and development,” Mr Ryan said.

“In most jurisdictions we are struggling with the same challenges in creating systems and models that work; the variance is usually legislation and local policy and procedure.”

Mr Ryan said he was impressed with the program ChildStat – an accountability tool used in New York to assess and strengthen child welfare case practice. The program brings together child protective leaders from around the city to discuss practice, performance, issues and review cases.

“The model of ChildStat is an excellent example of proactive learning and quality assurance and should be trialled in Australia,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan also found great value in the National Child Protection Training Center at Winona State University in Minnesota, which offers training courses in how to better recognise, react and respond to children who are being abused.

The centre includes practice courtrooms, forensic training facilities, and a “mock house”, which simulates child abuse investigations.

“All jurisdictions involved with training staff to work in child protection should consider the implementation and use of mock court rooms and a mock house,” Mr Ryan said.

While in Ottawa, he learnt about monitoring the accountability of the government and its treatment of First Nation children.

Upon his return, Mr Ryan presented his findings and recommendations to the board and staff of NAPCAN and the Department of Communities, in addition to vocational institutions and academics.

By Allison Rock

Mark Sowerby

Mark Sowerby, Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Master of Business Administration

By the time Mark Sowerby started his own private equity firm in 2006, the then 35-year- old had worked on five continents in some of the busiest cities in the world.

His work had taken him to places as diverse as Hong Kong, Nicaragua, China, Bangladesh, India, Mexico and parts of the United States.

However, when it came time to put together his management team, Mr Sowerby found he needed to look no further than his alma mater to find the best candidates.

Mr Sowerby is the founder and Director of Blue Sky Funds Management, which in four years has grown to a family of four companies with 18 staff, offices in Brisbane and Adelaide, and $160 million worth of funds under its management.

The firm’s success, according to Mr Sowerby, comes down to good ideas and being able to attract “some of the better intellectual property to come out of UQ” from the early 90s, including fellow graduate Rob Brooks, with whom he founded the firm.

While Mr Sowerby was studying his undergraduate degree and living at Emmanuel College, he had a healthy rivalry with St John’s College residents Tim Wilson and David Hobart.

More than a decade later, both alumni are now managing directors within the company, with Mr Hobart bringing his own award-winning hedge fund over to Blue Sky earlier this year.

Far from being a simple case of old school ties, Mr Sowerby said the pair had the exact expertise required for the company.

“Tim has worked around the world in private equity and investment banking and is probably one of the best networked guys in Brisbane. He’s a popular investment banker, which is an oxymoron if ever I heard one,” he said.

“David came along just as we were keen to branch out into a hedge fund, and he had just won the 2009 Alternative Investment Management Association Australia Best Emerging Manager Award.”

Other members of the team with UQ connections include economics/law graduate and University Medallist Alex McNab, and commerce/law graduate David Laverty, Managing Director of the company’s private real estate arm.

Team members’ CVs also list some of the world’s most prestigious business schools including London Business School, Harvard Business School and INSEAD in France.

“In our space, the premium is not on capital but on ideas, so we have sought to align ourselves with some of the leading thinkers in the field,” he said.

Mr Sowerby said the diversity of the team’s skills base and its shared global vision had been an essential component to the company’s growth.

Ben Cleary

Ben Cleary, Master of Business

A dual passion for Italian food and business enterprise have proven to be a successful recipe for UQ alumnus Ben Cleary.

The second generation Italian Australian recently established his own import and distribution business of fine Italian foods called Benfatti, which in Italian means “well made”.

After motorcycling around Italy with his father in 2008 – tasting delicacies from the regions and meeting with local farmers – Mr Cleary began thinking of a way to bring hard-to- find Italian foods into Australian homes.

Two years later he launched Benfatti through an online boutique store.

Mr Cleary said his knowledge of international business, seven years experience working in the industry and a strong passion for Italian food helped him to turn a concept into a reality.

“During my university years I travelled and studied in Italy and fell in love with everything Italian – the food, the lifestyle and the people – and this sparked my interest in Italian fine foods,” Mr Cleary said.

“During my masters, I learnt a great deal about importing and distribution business, international trade, business markets, management and strategic planning.

“Once I had a well thought-out business plan for Benfatti, I could then pitch to investors and get the business up-and-running.”

Creating the business from Australia meant Mr Cleary needed to call on his family and friends in Italy to help him source the country’s finest artisan foods.

“I received plenty of support from my network of friends in Italy, many of whom I met while studying at UQ,” he said.

“These international connections have been invaluable for bringing Benfatti to life.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Wollongong in 2003, Mr Cleary began working in export sales and logistics at Austral Bricks, and later joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as a human capital consultant.

He enrolled in a Master of Business (International Business) at UQ in 2004, while continuing to work full-time.

Mr Cleary is now a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and was chosen for the exclusive PWC Young Leadership Team – a group of 40 high-achieving young employees selected from thousands of candidates around the country.

By Caroline Bird

Tamara James

Tamara James, Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Shortly after becoming a qualified physiotherapist, Tamara James was introduced to the practice of yoga.

“At uni I was quite interested in biomechanics – the mechanics of the moving body – and the more I got into yoga, the more fascinated I became with using the postures as potential self-treatment,” Ms James said.

In 2009, Ms James founded yogaphysio, which uses yoga and meditation as a rehabilitation technique. With the popularity of yogaphysio growing, Ms James has begun training fellow physiotherapy graduate Sonja Varendorff to conduct additional classes.

“Immediately, I saw the value in teaching people meditation, particularly when they had concerns about pain,” Ms James said.

She said the delivery of the physio component aligned with psychological principles and, through yoga, patients could find progressive ways to regain confidence in building strength and recovering from injury.

“Yogaphysio classes integrate education, so people can increase their understanding of their body, mind, and pain,” she said.

Ms James said there were many benefits of teaching yoga in tranquil environments, and has begun working with Absolutely Abruzzo, which offers boutique yoga travel tours through central Italy.

Group tours include a stay in a 13th century medieval monastery. Travellers begin each day with yoga and meditation, have an opportunity to attend traditional cooking classes led by local women, and visit some of Italy’s best markets.

Afternoon master classes are also scheduled between wine and cheese tastings, guided walks through the Gran Sasso National Park, and discovering hidden castles.

“For lovers of Italian culture, the trip is a fantastic opportunity to combine healthy passions,” Ms James said.

Yogaphysio also offers regional retreats to the Sine Cera Rainforest Retreat in Cougal, NSW. The four-day retreats include various types of yoga classes with walking and meditation sessions.

For in-studio treatment, Ms James offers a variety of sessions from beginner to advanced yoga, as well as core strengthening, meditation and philosophy.

By Allison Rock

Miguel Molina

Miguel Molina, Master of Environmental Management

Coordinating environmental impact assessments, reviewing legislation, maintaining green spaces and educating the public on recycling is all in a day’s work for Miguel Molina.

Mr Molina is the Head of the Department of Environment Projects and Studies within the Secretariat of Natural Environment and Ecology in the Municipality of Guadalajara, Mexico.

After graduating in 2009, he returned home where work was scarce and the country was gripped by the Global Financial Crisis.

However, his UQ studies put him ahead of the pack, and he secured a position in the environmental management field.

“I travelled all the way from Mexico to study at UQ because Australia has always been a fascinating country for me and its environmental programs and policies have become an example to the world on natural resource preservation, protection and management,” Mr Molina said.

“Choosing UQ was a matter of deciding where I would receive a high-quality education and what would be most useful to me in the future.

“The environmental management master´s program offered me the possibility to cater my course options depending on my interests and needs as an international full-time student, which is an important characteristic since getting accustomed to a new culture, language and education system is a difficult process.”

Mr Molina said his most memorable experience while studying at UQ was the opportunity to research carbon footprint reduction for the 42nd AIFST (Australian Institute of Food and Science Technology) International Conference.

“Being able to present my work at the international conference, watching how research was applied, and meeting very interesting people was priceless,” he said.

Mr Molina’s contract with the municipal government expires in 2013, but his thoughts are already on the future.

“My current plans at the moment are to continue my studies with a PhD,” he said.

“Even though I am in Mexico, I would like to return to UQ and work on topics including cleaner production or life cycle assessment.”

By Kate Swanson

Caroline Harris

Caroline Harris, Bachelor of Natural Resource Economics, Master of Rangeland Management

Studying externally has been a way of life for UQ alumnus Caroline Harris, who recently graduated with a Master of Rangeland Management.

Ms Harris grew up in the Ironpot district north of Dalby, where she completed primary school, her undergraduate economics studies and most recently her masters, all via distance education.

“I have no trouble doing distance education, but it is possibly from my background of starting school that way,” Ms Harris said.

“I have never really coped with classrooms.”

A natural resource economist, Ms Harris said she felt strongly about the importance of agriculture to the Australian economy.

“Eighty percent of the Australian land mass is classified as rangelands and in this area it is crucial that we look after our agricultural land,” Ms Harris said.

“A lot of us in the country feel we tend to get accused of not caring for the land by city people.

“We have an enormous amount of practical knowledge about our local areas and it’s important to connect this knowledge with the scientists and vice-versa.”

With an involvement in cattle and cropping properties since birth, plus her work with natural resource economics, Ms Harris said the benefits of undertaking postgraduate studies were clear.

“The program was very flexible and the people who coordinate it are very aware that the majority of us are on properties,” she said.

“When it’s harvest time, we have to drop everything, and the rangelands courses cater for that variability.

“It gives people in remote and rural areas an opportunity to take part in tertiary study.

“I think it’s wonderful that the younger generation of people working on the land are able to expand their knowledge and to learn the science behind the things that they know instinctively.”

Throughout her career, Ms Harris mainly took on consultancy roles, conducting cost-benefit analyses and viability assessments for new farming initiatives. She has previously been involved with mulga harvesting research, and has conducted assessments on tree planting for carbon sequestration and the impact of coal seam gas on aquifers.

Now semi-retired, Ms Harris still does the “odd bit of consulting” and helps out on her family’s cattle and crop property north of Dalby.

By Penny Robinson

Amanda Rasmussen

Amanda Rasmussen, Bachelor of Science (honours), Graduate Certificate Higher Education, PhD

PhD graduate Amanda Rasmussen is making her mark in the international science world after receiving the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship, which funds a 24-month research project anywhere in Europe.

Dr Rasmussen is currently working with research collaborators at the University of Ghent in Belgium.

After completing an undergraduate degree with honours in botany and ecology, Dr Rasmussen took a position with the Department of Conservation and Land Management in Western Australia.

This was followed by a research officer position at the then Department of Primary Industries (DPI), now known as the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

It was her work with DPI teamed with the encouragement from her honours advisor Associate Professor Christine Beveridge that led her back to UQ.

Dr Rasmussen’s research aims to improve plant root formation in stem cuttings in order to enhance propagation.

“Propagation of plants is extremely important for lots of industries from forestry to horticulture and my research aims to ensure these techniques will improve and increase the production of plants for a variety of reasons; even to the point of assisting keen backyard gardeners,” Dr Rasmussen said.

While completing her doctorate, Dr Rasmussen said she embraced every opportunity, participating in multiple skills training activities, UQ’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, and attending UniQuest’s commercialisation workshop.

She also won UniQuest’s Trailblazer competition, was a postgraduate student representative, and completed a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education concurrently.

“During my PhD at UQ, I spent seven months in Europe on travel grants attending very specific conferences, working in key laboratories and visiting the French National Institute of Agricultural Research,” she said.

“The people I met at universities and conferences were instrumental in attaining the Marie Curie.”

It was through a travel grant that Dr Rasmussen met Professor Danny Geelen, her current advisor at the University of Ghent.

By Carly Dengate

Ralf-Dieter Schroers

Ralf-Dieter Schroers, Master of Geographical Information Science

School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management graduate Ralf-Dieter Schroers has mapped out his own road to success.

After completing a Master of Geographic Information Science (GIS) in 2006, Mr Schroers worked for a number of high-profile organisations including the CSIRO.

He is now Director of his own company, Spatial Ventures, and is working as a consultant for projects in Afghanistan and New Caledonia.

In Afghanistan, Mr Schroers is advising the ministries of Rural Development and Agriculture on organisational development, planning, and capacity building.

He has been integrating GIS in existing information systems and teaching national ministry staff spatial analysis skills.

Mr Schroers was also engaged in strengthening the partnership between the Afghan Government and International Security Assistance Force for exchanging of geospatial information.

On the other side of the globe, Mr Schroers’ works with Conservation International is helping to protect the biodiversity of New Caledonia.

Using image analysis and GIS he is responsible for mapping ecosystem services and tracking key areas of biodiversity by applying systematic conservation planning methodologies.

“The skills I obtained through my degree helped significantly,” he said.

“Sound theoretical background and practical work during my study helped me develop concepts, methods and applications that are crucial for my daily work.”

While studying at UQ, Mr Schroers worked with the Department of Natural Resources, and his master’s thesis formed part of a government project mapping agricultural practices using satellite image data.

His thesis concept went on to be presented at an Australasian conference and was published in a textbook on remote sensing.

Mr Schroers hopes to continue with his work in the areas of conservation planning as well as assisting the Ministry of Agriculture in Afghanistan supporting land cover assessments, monitor nomad movements and related impacts on central Afghanistan.

In the future he may also contribute to counter-narcotic activities in Afghanistan’s southern regions.

Another goal is to develop open source GIS client solutions and provide services in the Afghan provinces, after successful trials at the national level. These ideas could also involve further research exploration.

In his spare time, Mr Schroers is a keen motorcyclist and hopes to one day cross the Simpson Desert on his motorcycle.

By Kate Swanson

David Lamotte

David LaMotte, Master of International Studies

Recent UQ graduate and former Rotary World Peace Fellow David LaMotte has been appointed to a prestigious committee that selects Nobel Peace Prize nominees.

Mr LaMotte graduated from UQ last year with a Master of International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution) and returned to the United States to work in the field of peace advocacy.

His commitment to peacemaking and humanitarian work has taken him to conflict zones from Bosnia and Belfast to Hebron and Haiti.

Mr LaMotte has been appointed to a three-year term on the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Committee.

The AFSC is a Quaker social justice, peace and humanitarian organisation which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 – an honour which earned it the privilege of nominating a potential recipient each year.

Past nominees put forward by the committee have included Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.

The committee consists of 12 people across three continents who together make a list of potential nominees, winnow it down, conduct interviews and draft a nomination.

Not your typical student, Mr LaMotte also has had an 18-year career as a professional musician, releasing 10 albums.

He has performed more than 2000 shows in 47 US states and on four continents; a career that he put on hold in order to study at UQ.

Mr LaMotte came to Brisbane on a fellowship to study in the Rotary Centre for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution, housed within the School of Political Science and International Studies at St Lucia.

He credits the school’s masters program in peace and conflict resolution with helping him to develop the professional skills he uses for his every day work in peace advocacy, including his involvement in the Nobel Peace Prize nominating committee.

“I developed relationships that continue even now,” Mr LaMotte said.

“After attending a large undergraduate university, where I’m confident that none of the professors remember me, it’s refreshing to have that kind of involvement and to truly develop friendships with the academic staff.”

Mr LaMotte said he was looking forward to his work on the Nobel committee and continuing his hectic schedule of speaking engagements, concerts and directing a not-for-profit organisation, PEG Partners, which he founded in 2004 to support school and library projects in Guatemala.

By Gillian Ievers

Norman Rieder and his band

Norman Rieder, Master of Agribusiness

For Paraguayan rock star Norman Rieder, arriving at the Gatton campus as an international student was a bit of a culture shock.

Mr Rieder was lead singer and guitarist with Area 69 – the first Paraguayan band to sign a recording contract with Universal Music.

The band’s third album was recorded in Argentina and sold across South America, the US and Europe.

Formed in 2000, Area 69 was also the first band from Paraguay to have a music video broadcast on MTV.

“Living in Gatton wasn’t what I expected, but Gatton is an excellent campus,” Mr Rieder said.

“It has excellent courses and good teachers who were very helpful.

“I also met some other people from South America – there were students from Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay living at Gatton as well.”

The band members decided to part ways in February this year, but not before offering their fans a memorable farewell concert, with more than 3000 people attending the final gig in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion.

In March, Mr Rieder returned to Brisbane and is now pursuing a business initiative that involves linking the Paraguayan and Australian beef industries.

“The only difference between Australia and Paraguay is the language,” he said.

“We have the same soil, the same climate and the same breeds.

“Potentially Australians could breed cattle in Paraguay where production costs are cheaper, then sell the beef to the European Union.”

Mr Rieder is finalising his business plan before travelling around Australia to pitch the idea to farmers.

By Penny Robinson

Sarah Duncan, Bachelor of Journalism

Some of Sarah Duncan's designs

In October last year, Ms Duncan opened the web boutique Zafiro.com.au, selling her designs inspired by a trip through the Caribbean Coast region of Colombia.

“From a young age I have loved how it feels to get dressed up and look different; for me fashion has always been a fun, exciting way to express myself,” Ms Duncan said.

Upon returning to Brisbane, she began working on her first collection, which was filled with orange, pink, yellow and purple prints.

After a successful launch party in November, Ms Duncan knew she had created something unique for the Australian market.

“I sent a press release to the editor of Vogue Australia about who we are and what we do and they were really supportive,” she said.

“The fashion editor then encouraged me to keep going and to be sure to let her know of any of our future projects, which is very inspiring.”

Vogue Australia featured Zafiro as part of their “Vogue Loves” series in January.

Since then, Style, Black Dove, Brisbane News and mX have also recognised the brand.

The name Zafiro – which means sapphire in Spanish – is just one way Ms Duncan recognises the communities that inspired her company.

Partnering with design groups in Colombia, Ms Duncan works with manufacturers that train and employ single mothers from low socio-economic communities as seamstresses.

“We are working with a really beautiful group of people here in Australia and in Colombia,” she said.

Ms Duncan travels to Colombia once a year and is continually corresponding with manufacturers and designers through Skype.

“While Zafiro is a brand and company, we really hope to make an impact on the people we work with,” she said.

And when she can, Ms Duncan goes one step further, setting aside a percentage of profits from various events for groups like Room to Read and Project WOSE (Women Organisation for Sustainable Empowerment).

She said her time as a journalism student, learning about ethical responsibilities and grassroots organisations, instilled a motivation to give back.

“At UQ I learnt about citizen journalism and communication for social change; this has influenced what Zafiro has become,” she said.

“In the long term I would like to have Zafiro funding different projects and charities in line with our philanthropic ideals and perhaps even create a scholarship program for kids in developing countries.”

Ms Duncan is also designing a line of shoes and is gathering ideas for accessories and handbags.

“I think it’s important to set a goal and go for it,” she said.

“New York Fashion Week here we come!”

By Allison Rock

Cole Gainer

Cole gainer, Master of Environmental Management

A UQ postgraduate swapped St Lucia for New York recently after receiving a coveted internship with the United Nations.

Master of Environmental Management graduate Cole Gainer completed his final semester while working in the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Development.

Mr Gainer, originally from New Orleans, said his time at UQ had proven a great preparation for the internship.

“My environmental problem solving course did a fantastic job because the reports I worked on mirrored the assignments we completed in class,” he said.

During his internship, Mr Gainer worked on projects examining climate change and the management of water scarcity and drought in post-conflict countries.

He was also involved with the organisation of the upcoming UN conference on sustainable development, Rio+20, to be held next year in Brazil.

A trip to the west coast of Africa allowed Mr Gainer to see one of his projects in action.

“I was able to go to Liberia for a training workshop that I helped develop within a sustainable development principles project,” he said.

Mr Gainer’s journey to the headquarters of international diplomacy began after taking an elective course in environmental studies as an undergraduate, coupled with personal experiences with climate change.

“The class made me realise that the future of the planet was ultimately going to be way more important than most other professions I had been preparing for,” he said.

After mastering evacuation tactics through five seasons of New Orleans hurricanes, Mr Gainer sought refuge in Seattle to work for an environmental consulting firm, only to encounter more rain.

On a 2010 trip through South America he was one of hundreds of tourists stranded at Machu Picchu by mudslides and made headlines by being the first person to make the 10-hour hike out of the jungle.

Deciding he needed a change of scenery and weather, Mr Gainer thought the environmental management program at UQ seemed like the perfect fit. It proved to be a wise move, with his studies in Brisbane preparing him well for life in New York.

“My international regulatory frameworks class was like a UN internship crash course,” he said.

“It introduced me to a majority of the treaties, conventions, and concepts that are hands down what every environmental management graduate should know.”

With the internship wrapping up in June, Mr Gainer plans to stay in New York City and seek a permanent position in the field.

By Allison Rock

Toni Jordan

Toni Jordan, Bachelor of Science

Toni Jordan never anticipated she would become a novelist, and certainly never thought she would see one of her stories on the big screen.

Ms Jordan started her working life as a molecular biologist and quality control chemist, but sought a new career in the arts.

She enrolled in a professional writing program, and signed up for a creative writing course where she began writing her debut novel Addition.

“Once I started writing fiction I just couldn’t stop. I still find it completely addictive,” Ms Jordan said.

With her new book Fall Girl recently released, Ms Jordan is still reeling from the success of Addition, now in the process of becoming a motion picture.

“Addition is the story of Grace, an intelligent, attractive, funny woman whose compulsion to count things seriously affects her life,” Ms Jordan said.

“I love how grumpy she is. Clearly I’m a repressed grump.”

Fall Girl follows Della, who poses as an academic to investigate the existence of a supposedly extinct animal roaming Australia’s national parks.

“My favourite part of the characters is their inconsistencies: their hypocrisies and blind spots. Della is riddled with them but she just can’t see it,” Ms Jordan said.

To visualise an ideal setting for the novel, Ms Jordan spent time at the University of Melbourne, observing the academic environment.

To portray Della as a true con artist, she researched some of history’s most infamous villains.

Ms Jordan said her biggest challenge as a writer had been coming up with ideas.

“You need to read enough novels to have stories bubble up inside you,” she said.

“Writing fiction without being a voracious reader is like being a chef without tastebuds.”

By Allison Rock

Don Graham

Don Graham, Bachelor of Commerce

When Don Graham started his commerce studies in the 1980s, the concept of making a living from cloud computing and the Internet seemed like science fiction.

Thirty years later, Mr Graham is riding a wave of technological innovation, earning a living as founder and Managing Director of BusinessNAV, a management systems and software company specialising in cash flow, and sales and marketing metrics.

“There was a clear gap in the market for a straightforward measure for cash flow and tracking of marketing activity,” he said.

“Working with big successful companies you just take for granted the cash flow systems that small to medium enterprises (SMEs) simply don’t know they are missing, or don’t have efficient access to.

“Most analysis systems are too complex, and have been built with accountants in mind, not the person on the ground.

“The ultimate objective of our business is to be a provider of a globally recognised index for financial analysis and business growth.”

After working in public practice accounting and attaining his professional qualifications, Mr Graham went on to be taxation accountant for the Bundaberg Sugar – Bundaberg Rum group.

Upon returning to Brisbane in the early 2000s, Mr Graham co-founded a B2B referral operation before moving into SME consulting and the development of cloud computing business applications.

Mr Graham said his time at UQ gave him the foundations necessary to develop a successful software company and provided him with an invaluable network of industry contacts.

“My commerce degree gave me a very good theoretical framework for the later development of the BusinessNAV systems,” he said.

“I am reliant on those old uni contacts to get the name of the right person in companies and places we want to work with.

“New students to UQ should count this network as an important asset to them, not just the piece of paper they receive.”

Mr Graham has added new functionality into BusinessNAV to assist franchise groups and multi-outlet corporates record and report on financial, sales and marketing information across teams.

Mr Graham’s contribution to innovation in his field has been recognised by peak industry body CPA Australia. He was made a Fellow of the organisation and this year took on the role of Deputy President of CPA Australia’s Queensland Division.

By Caroline Bird

John Pittendreigh

John Pittendreigh, Bachelor of Arts

When John Pittendreigh’s business was inundated by the Brisbane floods in January, he wasn’t about to bite the dust.

With determination and a whole lot of community support, Mr Pittendreigh was able to re-open his business and local icon Epic Cycles within a week.

“Although we were inundated with over two metres of water, I always like to point out that our experience was nowhere near as dramatic as what people experienced in the Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba,” he said.

“Complete removal of all income for what appeared initially to be an indefinite period is just a bit unsettling – especially when the bills don’t seem to disappear anywhere near as abruptly!

“During the floods I was really blown away by how eager all sorts of people were to get in and muck mud out of pretty much anything.”
Mr Pittendreigh graduated with an arts degree in 1986, majoring in government.

“I found such a broad, liberal education to be a great foundation from which to understand the hows and whys of the world we live in,” he said.
Mr Pittendreigh also spent one semester of his degree studying political science, history and psychology at Calgary University in Canada.

After a career with The Wilderness Society, CSIRO and experiencing life as a parent, Mr Pittendreigh and his wife opened Epic Cycles in Rosalie, a western suburb of Brisbane.

Over the past seven-and-a-half years, it has become one of Brisbane’s most well-known local businesses thanks to its striking purple storefront.

“Given that I was a very active mountain bike racer, commuter, and touring cyclist it seemed almost natural to combine my retail experience with my love of cycling,” Mr Pittendreigh said.

However, he said there were some negatives involved with owning your own small business.

“The downside is that for most people it will mean taking on a significant degree of financial risk, working very hard and very long hours, often without seeming to receive reasonably commensurate remuneration, and usually with no one to blame but yourself for being there if things don’t work out,” he said.

“On the other hand…you will never again have an excuse for being bored.”

By Janardin Kewin

Kevin Melton in Afghanistan

For Kevin Melton, starting the day with a babywipe shower was a world away from life when he was completing a Master of International Studies at UQ.

But, working for USAid in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, the poor shower facilities were the least of his worries.

Until September, Mr Melton worked as a field program manager for a small bureau within USAid called the Office of Transition Initiatives.

Embedded with coalition forces, he worked with community leaders to coordinate and develop rebuilding strategies.

“Stabilising a country needs civilian input,” Mr Melton said.

“No matter how well-trained the military are, they are always perceived as being there for a different reason.

“It takes time to build trust but I believe that process is as important as the result.

“If an initiative is driven by the community it creates its own momentum and the result is that what is generated is what is most needed.”

Originally from Washington DC, Mr Melton came to UQ on a Rotary Peace Fellow Scholarship, studying at the prestigious Rotary Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution based in the School of Political Science and International Studies.

“I use the skills I learnt at UQ every day,” he said.

“And my colleagues frequently use my thesis to understand the work that is being done.”

Mr Melton started in September 2009 and said he had seen first hand the violence that still prevails.

“Early on I found myself caught up in an incident and saw exactly what war is like,” he said.

“I went through a short training period before I was deployed but nothing prepares you.

“I realised very quickly how dangerous this place is.”

“The work is exhausting and you need to keep a balance,” he said.

Mr Melton said he understood the job’s emotional demands, having worked on and off in Afghanistan for five years before applying for the MIS program.

“It was part of my impetus to apply to UQ,” he said.

“The program is well regarded for its teaching of international security which is my area of interest.

“I was in Afghanistan toward the end of 2007 and I’m sad to say I didn’t see a great many changes when I went back.

“But there is now a move to a more coordinated and strategic approach to peacemaking.”

By Gillian Ievers

Daniel Bongers with the SmartCap

Predicting things before they happen has been a common career theme for Dr Daniel Bongers.

The PhD graduate completed his thesis on developing a system for fault detection in coal mining machines in conjunction with the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and the Cooperative Research Centre for Mining (CRCMining).

Using a combination of engineering knowledge and artificial intelligence, the system is able to detect machine faults up to five minutes in advance of the event, allowing operators to change their behaviour and avoid the fault occurring.

Dr Bongers’ latest invention is the SmartCap, a baseball hat with a number of sophisticated sensors built into the cap’s lining that monitor a mining machine operator’s fatigue level via their brainwave information.

If a potentially dangerous fatigue level is reached, a warning message is sent to the driver’s in-cab display, alerting them to the need to stop, rest and refresh.

The SmartCap has been deployed in a number of Australian mines, but Dr Bongers isn’t stopping there.

“The SmartCap was originally developed for the mining industry, but it has the same application in the oil and gas, aviation and public transport industries,” Dr Bongers said.

“But we are also looking into possible application for ordinary car drivers.”

Dr Bongers credits his drive to innovate to the resources provided at UQ.

“UQ’s strong partnerships with CRCs played an integral part in my studies,” Dr Bongers said. “The unique mix of research and industry collaboration resulted in a very stimulating and challenging environment.”

By Andrew Long

Rebecca Rowling in The Hague

Sitting in on major trials at The Hague in the Netherlands has brought the career goals of law graduate Rebecca Rowling into greater focus.

Ms Rowling commenced a six-month internship at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) shortly after graduating in 2009.

Her interest in the area was piqued while competing in the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Mooting Competition in 2007, where she explored the jurisprudence of tribunals including the ICTY.

The Hague is home to the ICTY, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda appeals chamber, the International Court of Justice, thePermanent Court of Arbitration and the International Criminal Court. It is also the seat of the Dutch government.

A regular day during the internship involved managing issues before the trial chamber, summarising evidence of witnesses, and assisting in the preparation of orders of the chamber.

A highlight of the placement came when a procedural matter Ms Rowling had been working on was broadcast on the ICTY news service and within internal staff updates.

“My work was both challenging and rewarding, and I felt that at the end of my internship I had many new skills, and that I had obtained an insight into the work of international tribunals,” she said.

Her time at The Hague coincided with several large trials including that of accused Bosnian and Croatian War criminals.

“Seeing witnesses give evidence on such serious topics in their native language, whilst hearing live translations between BCS (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian), English and French was captivating,” she said.

Since returning to Brisbane, Ms Rowling has commenced an 18-month associateship with The Honourable Justice Margaret Wilson of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

By Cameron Pegg

Amy Gilmore (front), Caroline Heim and Jai Higgs at the Brisbane Powerhouse

Caroline Heim may be a theatre expert, but she’s often more interested in observing what happens off the stage than on it.

Her latest project, Shadowlands, the intriguing story of C.S Lewis’s relationship with American poet Joy Davidman, challenged audiences to understand love and embrace life.

The show ran during July and August at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

To fully engage the audience and provide a theatrical experience for all, the play was interpreted in sign language and tactile tours were offered prior to each performance.

Dr Heim runs Crossbow Productions, the only theatre company in Queensland which offers this service and has been a great resource for Deaf Services Queensland.

While at UQ, Dr Heim focused her studies on the audience/stage relationship and the power of theatre to affect change in audiences.

She has also studied the new participatory role audiences have begun to play in the last century and their desire to be provided with more than just entertainment.

Dr Heim facilitated discussions after performances of The Miracle Worker: the story of Helen Keller, at the Brisbane Powerhouse in 2009.

The audience discussed how changes in the perception of people with disabilities needed to take place in society.

Dr Heim was the first person to complete a UQ PhD in performance and research.

After graduating, she was offered an associate lectureship position at QUT in performance studies.

“My time as a postgraduate researcher at UQ has laid the foundations for a successful career as an academic,” Dr Heim said.

Dr Heim said she hopes to grow Crossbow Productions, with a Sydney performance scheduled in 2011 and future international dates on the cards.

By Dania Lawrence

Yana Jones

One of UQ’s first nursing graduates was recognised for her work raising awareness of prevention and early detection of cancer by being named the Cancer Council Queensland’s 2009 Nurse of the Year.

Yana Jones was awarded the title after raising $35,000 for the Cancer Council Queensland and campaigning heavily to spread the message of sun safety.

Now based in Ipswich, Ms Jones was inspired to enter the contest after experiencing the effects of cancer on her own family and working in cancer care at Innisfail Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

As part of her win, Ms Jones attended the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care convention in Atlanta in March.

“Attending the convention was a wonderful opportunity to meet other cancer care nurses from across the world and hear about the latest research in areas such as patient care,” Ms Jones said.

Ms Jones said UQ’s combination of academic learning and practical, hospital-based teaching was fundamental in preparing her for a career in nursing.

“The small-group, problem-based learning that I experienced at UQ meant that I was ready to face any challenge from my first day on the job,” she said.

Ms Jones said she looked forward to continuing her career in cancer care and possibly advancing her studies with postgraduate training in the field.

Madeline Veenstra

Fashions may come and go but Madeline Veenstra hopes she may be able to keep the trends alive in the online world.

Ms Veenstra, whose passion for fashion stems from working as a retail sales assistant while completing her degree, has created Wikifashion – a site containing information about style icons, blogs, fashion shows, brands, writers and models.

The site launched in 2008 and now has around 1000 members, with more than 150,000 page views per month.

“I created Wikifashion so that there would be a place on the Internet to collaborate and compile images, information and videos about fashion and I really loved the idea of creating a site that others could edit and contribute to,” Ms Veenstra said.

“The fantastic thing about the site is that it can include anything that the users want it to, provided it has something to do with fashion.

“The site also has pages for specific garments. Users have edited these pages to include images of the garment, colourways, size, price, material and fit.”

Ms Veenstra has big ambitions for Wikifashion, with hopes that it becomes a picture-intense Wikipedia-like resource.

However, the success of the database is dependent on the quality of the content, and Ms Veenstra is calling upon all fashion lovers to contribute to the site.

“We’d like for it to be a depository of clothing images,” she said.

“Over the next few years I hope to make Wikifashion a site for up-to-date fashion information, with a strong community of editors, that’s as simple and easy to use as possible.

“I’d also like to continue building a solid community around the site, so that it can become the best source of fashion information on the web.

“If there is anyone who enjoys fashion and writing or feels that they could contribute to the site in any way, that would be fantastic.”

After graduating in 2008, Ms Veenstra began working as an economist, but is now working full-time on developing Wikifashion.

In the future, she hopes to continue building Wikifashion and possibly dabble in freelance fashion journalism.

By Penny Robinson

Emma Browne with children in Mongolia

Young Mongolian people now have a medium to discuss and explore local issues, thanks to UQ graduate Emma Browne.

Ms Browne helped launch an English language radio program earlier this year which was developed in response to the growing demand for authentic and locally placed English language practice, particularly among students.

Called The Hive, and broadcast by the 107 Zugii (Bee) radio station, the program is delivered by Mongolian English-speaking volunteers.

“The Hive gives young people in Ulaanbaatar the chance to celebrate cultural diversity and reinforce the benefits of language learning,” Ms Browne said.

Ten program segments include discussion forums, an arts appreciation series, local news summaries, information sessions, world music and radio drama.

Ms Browne first moved to Mongolia in 2008 as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development, a program run by AusAID, and returned in 2009.

She has worked as a trainer for the AusAid Australian Development Scholarships, a program which prepares scholarship candidates for postgraduate study in Australia and with a local NGO on the expansion of teacher training programs.

“My time here has certainly emphasised the value of listening and the importance of process in institutional strengthening and project sustainability,” she said.

One of her fondest memories from her first Mongolian trip was ice-skating on Lake Khuvsgul.

“The experience was amazing: the skating, the fishing, riding on a horse sled across the frozen lake. As you skated or sledded across it, you could hear the ice cracking as loud as thunder,” she said.

“I would have been worried, except I had seen a chainsaw struggle to cut through two metres of ice for fishing.”

Ms Browne is now studying for a Master of Arts in Education and Development at the University of Sussex.

By Allison Rock

Chris Demartini. Image courtesy The Australian

Chris Demartini, BE Civil (hons)

Queenslanders now have twice as many reasons to be proud of an iconic Brisbane structure, thanks to engineering graduate Chris Demartini.

Mr Demartini was in charge of managing the design and construction of the second Gateway Bridge, which opened six months ahead of schedule in May.

Named the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge, it forms part of the $2.12 billion Gateway Upgrade Project (GUP), one of the largest road projects in Queensland’s history, covering 20km.

“Working on such an iconic bridge for Brisbane always makes it easier to come into work,” he said.

“However, the most enjoyable aspect has been working with a close-knit team that is passionate about what they are doing.”

Four lanes of the new bridge opened to southbound traffic in May and all six were operational in August.

The bridge includes a crossing for pedestrians and cyclists and can accommodate more than 100,000 vehicles per day.

Motivated by Brisbane’s progression and modernism, the bridge’s new connection route acts as a “gateway” and a symbol of the city’s future potential.

“This, coupled with the new stretch of motorway north to Nudgee Road and the upgraded motorway south to the Pacific Highway will mean significantly less congestion during peak time and reduced travel times for commuters,” Mr Demartini said.

Large projects often attract talented designers and Mr Demartini said he had an opportunity to work with and learn from world-class engineers from Scotland, France, Hong Kong, England and Malaysia.

Minimising environmental impact was an important design component, with more than 1.3 million predominantly native and drought-resistant plants brought on site.

The team employed wildlife spotters to survey all construction sites before construction began and implemented waste management and water conservation programs throughout.

Mr Demartini is also responsible for the upgrade of the old Gateway Bridge.

When refurbishment is completed in late 2010, there will be six northbound and six southbound lanes running between Eagle Farm and Murrarie.

By Allison Rock

Melanie Wee

UQ journalism graduate Melanie Wee tested her physical and mental abilities when she ran across the driest place on Earth – the Atacama Desert in Chile.

“The race takes you out from your daily life and comfort zone. I got to see the world in a whole different perspective,” Ms Wee said.

“In many ways I ran my own race.”

Part of the Racing the Planet event – a series of four ultra-endurance races across major deserts of the world – the Atacama Crossing is usually a seven-day, 250km self-supporting race taking place at over 3000m above sea level.

Day time temperatures hit 45°C, while competitors carry their own food, clothes and gear required for seven days.

However, due to the devastating Chilean earthquake in February, the race was shortened by one day and competitors had to complete the course in six stages rather than the usual seven.

Ms Wee, a journalist for Argus Media based in Singapore, said the added test of strength and endurance bolstered her sense of accomplishment.

During day four of the race, she had to pull out due to the cut-off time she had missed for that stage.

“I had given my all – and wanted to see how far I could go,” she said.

While Ms Wee said she had risen to the physical challenge of the event, she was more surprised by her mental and inner strength.

“I remember the determination I had in me. I remember pushing myself amid the pain and realised the pain somehow subsides,” she said.

The race was rated the second-most difficult endurance competition in the world by Time Magazine, with competitors required to battle altitude, extreme heat, long grass, salt flats, rocks, rivers and kilometres of sand dunes.

Ms Wee, whose father is a cancer survivor, raised more than $12,000 to donate to the Singapore Cancer Society.

By Allison Rock

Scott Griffin

UQ Business School graduate Scott Griffin successfully completed a six-day, 250km ultra-marathon across the Kimberlies to raise funds for contemporary Australian music.

One-hundred-and-eighty-five competitors ran across the desert in Western Australia, with Mr Griffin, a Brisbane-based accountant, placing 33rd.

His injuries included blisters on his feet and a damaged tailbone. He also lost five toenails.

“On day 5 at 8pm, when I reached the 60km mark of the 100km challenge, I had to decide whether to keep running in the dark through 20km of croc territory or pull out,” Mr Griffin said.

“The main reason people pulled out was too much pain and this race had the highest drop-out rate of any race they have held.”

Mr Griffin said while making it to the finish line was tough, the race was a valuable experience.

“I met amazingly inspirational people – a famous musician from Germany; a female Korean film producer, who has now run six desert races including Antarctica; and of course Salvador, the winner, who is an absolutely amazing athlete,” he said.

Mr Griffin said the race was also an apt opportunity to raise funds for a worthwhile cause – The Australian Voices (TAV), one of the country’s leading choirs.

“Without a doubt this race was an amazing event to help raise funds for TAV and Australian music,” he said.

“I have sung to audiences all over the world and we sing about Australia – about Uluru, the Glasshouse Mountains, the Great Barrier Reef and our deserts.

“What better way to really understand Australia than to travel across it on foot?”

His best advice to anyone thinking of taking on a big challenge was to stay positive.

“Sometimes big goals seem impossible or unachievable. The secret is to break them into small pieces and stay optimistic. Optimism is so underrated,” he said.

Louise Butwell

For husband and wife Louise and Mike Butwell, studying as mature-aged students brought them closer together and helped to secure their dream jobs.

While living in Victoria and owning and operating a security business, they decided it was time to transform a hobby into a viable career.

In their spare time the couple enjoyed spending time outdoors, hiking and experiencing Australia’s diverse natural wonders.

“We constantly enjoyed bush walking in our national parks and longed to help protect the wildlife,” Mrs Butwell said.

After moving to Queensland in 1995,  they enrolled in an Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Wilderness Reserves and Wildlife), graduating in 2000.

Both now work in Brisbane with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service in the import clearance department.

Mr Butwell is stationed at the International Airport, processing passengers arriving from around the world, while Mrs Butwell works in a surveillance role checking imported air and sea cargo.

Having accomplished their goals, the couple now feels they are doing their part to protect Australia’s flora and fauna.

“We are doing this by preventing exotic pests and diseases from  entering the country,” Mrs Butwell said.

The couple said they enjoyed their time studying at the Gatton campus while working as security officers at the international and domestic airports.

Although some subjects such as surveying and engineering were daunting, the couple said they recognised the advantages of their new skills.

“Studying together we found it helpful to consult each other and at the same time we were learning even more as we would each do different assignments,” Mrs Butwell said.

“All the science subjects were amazingly rewarding. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole course and at the end I wanted to keep learning more.”

For those thinking about changing career direction, Mrs Butwell said it was never too late.

“The atmosphere was wonderful and on graduation day we were rewarded for our hard work. If you want something bad enough you will achieve,” she said.

By Allison Rock

Dorothy Jenner in Bhutan with a colleague

By helping people help themselves, Dorothy Jenner has successfully improved education systems throughout the Pacific islands.

“Having the goal of making yourself obsolete sounds strange but it’s the key to most of the activities I am involved in,” Ms Jenner said.

Ms Jenner is the team leader for UniQuest’s Kiribati Education Management Information System (EMIS).

A specialist in education planning and policy, Ms Jenner was presented with UniQuest’s 2009 Award for Best Practice in International Development Assistance.

EMIS projects provide technical support for education authorities throughout the Pacific Islands, enabling schools to monitor and manage students’ learning outcomes using information technology.

Ms Jenner’s expertise in a range of education policy, planning and training issues has helped teachers from schools in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to build capacity for their education ministries.

“Observing the transformation as local colleagues are able to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their day-to-day work is very rewarding,” she said.

Ms Jenner began her career as a primary school teacher, working in a number of Queensland’s rural and urban community schools. Interested in furthering her education, she enrolled in a Masters of Education Studies (Guidance and Counselling), graduating in 1994.

While studying, she became involved in non-teaching roles with Education Queensland, further developing her interest in social justice, equity and disability-related issues.

In 2005, Ms Jenner became involved with international development projects for the Vanuatu Police Force and Ministry of Health and Medical Services in the Solomon Islands.

Ms Jenner also held senior positions at Port Moresby Grammar School before holding management roles within Education Queensland’s Murrumba District Office.

Ms Jenner said she was honoured to receive the award, which had been presented in previous years to colleagues for whom she had enormous respect and admiration.

“To be acknowledged in this way is very gratifying and I thank UniQuest for giving me the opportunity to do this work for the last four years,” Ms Jenner said.

“However, I did not work alone. I would like to say thank you to my colleagues on the EMIS projects – both those in-country and at the St Lucia office – for all of their support, advice and guidance which helped me to achieve the outcomes on the projects.”

By Allison Rock

Gary Kemble

Like most horror fans, Gary Kemble remembers the exact moment he was truly scared by a book; it was while reading Stephen King’s The Shining in high school.

He has been hooked on horror writing ever since.

The UQ graduate is one of the winners of the 2009 One Book Many Brisbanes competition, which aims to develop new and emerging Brisbane writers.

Bug Hunt – about survivors trying to escape Brisbane after an infestation of giant cockroaches – was published in One Book Many Brisbanes 5.

Mr Kemble, who has had more than 20 short stories published, works for the Brisbane-based ABC News Online service.

He started with the ABC in 2002, sub-editing radio and TV copy for the web.

He was also one of the journalists behind the 2005 launch of Articulate, ABC News Online’s arts blog.

Articulate was created to give staff an opportunity to cover any arts related news they come across in their day-to-day lives, and tends to feature a broad spectrum of pop culture themes.

Mr Kemble is currently ABC News Online’s social media coordinator, working on developing and implementing social media strategy.

“Our reporters have found Twitter to be a treasure trove of story ideas; it’s a great social-networking tool,” he said.

Outside of work, Mr Kemble continues to read and write horror and science fiction novels.

“I read heaps of science fiction and thriller novels when I was growing up, and still do, which is why my own writing tends to blend these genres,” Mr Kemble said.

He said he believes the key to powerful horror writing is building believable characters.

“Unless you care about the characters, why would you be worried about what happens to them?” he said.

He also produces his own blog, The Kemblog, which discusses his fiction writing endeavours.

For aspiring journalists, Mr Kemble’s advice is to be flexible.

“Don’t be fussy when you get out of uni, but also keep an eye on where you would like your career to go, and be ready to take advantage of any opportunities which come your way,” Mr Kemble said.

His next project is a novel about a bio-terrorism attack on Brisbane, where a biological agent wipes out about 90 percent of the population. The protagonists are a counter-terrorism agent and a major underworld figure, who team up and fight their way out of the city.

By Allison Rock

Lizzie Brown

As CEO of Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB), Lizzie Brown coordinates a diverse group of volunteers, all with the common goal of helping disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life.

“For some volunteers, this could mean undertaking a 12-month placement in a remote part of Nepal,” she said.

“For others, it means designing a flyer for a fundraising event or facilitating a workshop.”

A not-for-profit organisation, EWB implements sustainable engineering projects around the world.

Ms Brown was previously EWB’s operations director and took up her new role in May.

She founded the first Queensland chapter in 2004 and launched the EWB Challenge design program for first-year engineering students.

She said the organisation was always looking for new ways to engage individuals and companies in its work.

“During August we ran our first Dialogues on Country (DOC),” she said.

“During a two-week period, eight EWB volunteers travelled through the Murray-Darling Basin to talk to Aboriginal people about water and land management.

“The DOC initiative aims to create positive change in the engineering profession through a dialogue between professionals in the water industry and Aboriginal communities.”

Engineers Australia has named 2011 the Year of Humanitarian Engineering, with EWB embracing the initiative.

“We’ll be involved in a number of new events focused on the themes: educate, activate and celebrate,” Ms Brown said.

EWB has more than 5000 members, 20 chapters and 100 volunteers working on projects in Australia and overseas.

By Penny Robinson

Pamela Rushby

Pamela Rushby thinks some of the most exciting and imaginative books are written for children and young adults.

And since graduating with a Bachelor of Educational Studies (1982) and a Master of Literary Studies (1988), she has written more than 150 books and short stories with that audience in mind.

Her latest young adult novel, released in 2009, is When the Hipchicks Went to War.

Set during the 1960s in Brisbane and Vietnam, the story is about Kathy, an adventurous 16-year-old girl who leaves school to dance and entertain the Australian troops serving in the war.

Since its release, Hipchicks has been awarded the Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature as part of the 2010 New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards, and has been recognised as a Notable Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia awards for 2010.

Besides writing books, Ms Rushby has also written television and radio scripts, produced documentaries, worked for the Queensland Department of Education film unit and worked as a pre-school and primary teacher.

When searching for new topics for novels, she always chooses something that gets her thinking.

“Sometimes I’m asked by a publisher to write on a particular topic; other times it’s because I see something that interests me and makes me ask myself, ‘what if’,” Ms Rushby said.

“Then I do research and ask myself ‘what if’ some more and the story builds from there.”

In Hipchicks, what seems like the adventure of a lifetime turns into a trip filled with lessons in love, conflict, culture and war.

A Queenslander herself, Ms Rushby said her goal was to write about growing up in an interesting time.

“It’s set in Brisbane, in the 1960s; that was my teenage era,” she said.

Although she now has an impressive catalogue of books behind her, Ms Rusby still gets excited when a new one is published.

“When my first book appeared in the bookshops, I couldn’t stop going to them and looking at it. I even had my daughter take photos of me in front of the display,” she said.

Ms Rushby, who dreamed of becoming an author from the age of six, said her best advice to aspiring writers is to read.

“Read and then read some more, and when you start to write you will know how it’s done,” she said.

“Maybe other careers are safer, but you don’t want to be sitting in your rocker in the old people’s home wishing you’d had a go.”

By Allison Rock

Elizabeth Rosner

When Elizabeth Rosner got the call to say her second novel would soon be re-released in paperback, she had two reasons to be hopeful.

“The news of the deal came to me on the very same day that I shaved my head in preparation for my chemo treatments,” Ms Rosner said.

“So I feel that my own second chance at life is coinciding with the renewed life of this novel, which is in itself a story of hope and redemption.”

Blue Nude is a haunting love story which follows the tale of Danzig, a once prominent painter who now teaches at an art institute in San Francisco, and his muse Merav, the Israeli-born granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor and herself a former art student.

The paperback edition was published in September.

Ms Rosner’s writing is inspired by her heritage: both of her parents are Jewish Holocaust survivors.

Her father, who was born in Hamburg, was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp, while her mother survived the war by hiding in the Polish countryside.

Ms Rosner grew up in Schenectady, New York, and now lives in Berkeley, California, where she works as a full-time writer.

Ms Rosner said her time at UQ helped to advance her career.

“I remember many brilliant as well as generous people inside and outside my department, fellow students as well as faculty members who both inspired and assisted me,” she said.

“In particular I was thrilled to be exposed to post-colonial literature, and that interest has remained with me to this day.”

She was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 49th birthday – December 31, 2008.
For Ms Rosner, 2009 was defined by treatment, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

“Turning 50 on New Year’s Eve 2009 was an especially significant milestone, as you can imagine,” she said.

“Often people with cancer are told how necessary it is to have a ‘positive attitude’.

“But I believe that each of us has to find our own way of coping with the extraordinary emotional challenges of cancer.”

Now cancer-free and feeling “gratefully healthy”, she is penning her third novel, Electric City, which is set in her hometown in Upstate New York.

Her first novel, The Speed of Light, has been translated into nine languages and is the winner of several literary awards.

Record labels have previously been threatened by the rise of music sharing on the internet, but one UQ graduate is helping them put the online chatter to good use.

Nick Crocker

The Arts alumnus is the co-founder of We Are Hunted, a website that uses blogs, forums and social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to track the 99 most popular songs online each day.

Nick Crocker, who also runs internet innovation company Native Digital, said he came up with the idea for We Are Hunted after realising how much musical activity there was online.

“I figured it would be worth somehow tracking all that chatter but the problem was, I didn’t know how,” he said.

“It wasn’t until I sat on an industry panel with the founder of Wotnews, Stephen Phillips, until I realised that the technology was there and available and Brisbane-based.

“Stephen and I chatted over a beer after the event and within a week we struck up a partnership that became We Are Hunted.”

Mr Crocker’s first hints of his future in music and business came while he was a student at UQ, writing about the local music scene and profiling young entrepreneurs for the Sunday Mail.

He became general manager at a digital music company before launching Native Digital, which consults to companies including record labels, helping them evolve their presence and engagement online.

As well as being a resource for recording companies to track what is popular, Mr Crocker wanted We Are Hunted to be a way for music fans to discover new bands.

“If we can open people up to new music in new ways then we will have created something very special,” he said.

By Tegan Taylor

Helping people deal with their past and enjoy their future can be a difficult process, and for Suzanne Staal, working things out through art is a useful approach.

Suzanne Staal

After graduating from a Master of Mental Health at UQ in 2008, Ms Staal now works with refugee children and their families to help them overcome trauma experienced in their home countries, often from the result of war.

“Often there are no words to express the trauma the client has experienced. The ability to express ideas, stories and feelings in a non-verbal format is very useful to such people. In addition, they often have limited or no English, so a non-verbal way of communicating is particularly helpful,” she said.

Ms Staal said art therapy allowed her to combine her social work skills with her interest in art.

“It combined my love of working with people with a medium that allowed clients to work creatively. Therapeutically, the art is particularly useful because it is a primary process which taps the unconscious directly allowing hidden or partly hidden material to be brought to the conscious,” she said.

“I love working with families from different cultures and I really enjoy the fact that it is a relatively new field which provides ample opportunities for experimentation with different approaches and ways of working.”

According to Ms Staal, art therapy is also a useful tool for “observing family dynamics in a present context” which “can be more revealing and useful therapeutically than talking about what has been happening in the past tense”.

“Children are often natural artists, so the creative activities are fun and relaxing, and able to be used in an uninhibited way,” she said.

“The art and play provide the child with non-verbal activities that reveal issues the child is having difficulty mastering, and also what they find unspeakable.

“The use of art in communicating troubling issues externalises the problem insomuch as the problem is separated from the individual and is able to be looked at as a separate entity.”

Ms Staal said language barriers formed the most challenging part of her job.

“The use of interpreters and an understanding of the cultural background of the client adds a complexity to the work that counselling someone from one’s own culture does not usually have,” she said.

“The greatest reward is in offering interventions that can be utilised by the client in order to support a more successful settlement into their new environment.”

By Amanda Sproule

Working on the frontline of Australia’s exotic disease control is all part of a day’s work for veterinary science graduate Amy Burroughs.

Amy Burroughs

Based in Rockhampton, Dr Burroughs is a graduate veterinary officer with Biosecurity Queensland where she is employed to protect Australian herds from diseases such as foot-and-mouth and mad-cow disease, Equine and Avian Influenza and Hendra Virus.

Dr Burroughs initially studied veterinary science with a view to pursuing small animal practice, however in the last two years of her degree she developed a keen interest in public health and emerging infectious zoonotic diseases.

“My role so far has involved going out to properties in central Queensland experiencing significant losses in production or a significant number of deaths in their animals,” Dr Burroughs said.

“By responding to such disease outbreaks, we can make sure that if a significant exotic disease were to enter Australia, it would be detected sooner rather than later.

“The most exciting aspect of this job is the opportunity I have to be amongst the first response to incursions of exotic diseases which could have a negative impact on animal health, the productivity of Australian animal herds and human health.”

Dr Burroughs knows too well the industry implications of a disease outbreak and is always on the lookout for likely points of entry into the country, a skill she learned through her degree at UQ.

“The outbreak of disease could threaten our ability to export and thus would affect the income of many producers,” she said.

“On a domestic level, the Australian public may lose confidence in the safety of our food; again producers would lose income. There would be a great cost to industry, the government and to individuals in the control of such diseases.

“The degree at UQ provided me with the knowledge of diseases, how to obtain a thorough history from clients, how to go out and perform a post-mortem and how to investigate the outbreak of a disease – all very important in enabling me to perform my current role satisfactorily.”

By Eliza Plant

UQ graduate Tom Gole’s vision to find the best economic and legal responses to the current global challenges has won him a Fellowship to study at Harvard University in the USA.

Tom Gole

A graduate of UQ’s School of Economics and the TC Beirne School of Law, Mr Gole departed for Harvard in August last year.

“Today’s society is encountering new challenges on an almost daily basis and economics and law are two of the primary fields shaping how we respond,” Mr Gole said.

“We need to rethink how markets are designed, how resources are allocated, and how to effectively handle the global cycles of boom and bust.”

Mr Gole received one of three Australian Frank Knox Memorial Fellowships earlier this year after completing a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws dual degree program and economics and law honours years.

The funding provides for students to undertake graduate study at Harvard and fellows are selected on the basis of “future promise of leadership, strength of character, a keen mind, balanced judgment and a devotion to the democratic ideal.”

Mr Gole credits his award of the Harvard Fellowship to the knowledge and skills he gained while studying at UQ.

“Many academics at the School of Economics and the TC Beirne School of Law are recognised internationally as leaders in their respective fields and studying these two disciplines has given me a solid grounding for the future,” he said.

“Economics is the study of how choices are made, while law is the study of how interactions are regulated, and the two make a comprehensive picture of how society is, and ought to be, regulated.”

Mr Gole will be undertaking a PhD in Economics at Harvard.

“Ideally I’d like to work in government, the private sector and academia as I believe that by moving between these three fields I’ll be able to make the most worthwhile and greatest contribution to the challenges of our day,” he said.

By Lynda Flower

When UQ graduate Katherine Gould completed her degree her sights were set on flying to the home of the Olympic Games to attend the IOA 17th International Seminar on Olympic Studies for Postgraduate Students.

Katherin Gould

Ms Gould, a Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning graduate, was awarded a place in the month-long seminar, run by the International Olympic Academy (IOA) in Greece.

As a participant, Ms Gould was involved in talks regarding all aspects of the modern and Ancient Olympic Games, and she also presented a paper regarding the post-utilisation of mega-event facilities.

Her prior research had indicated that the scale and impact of mega-events had dramatically escalated in recent decades.

“The appropriate planning of mega-event facilities has become an increasingly important topic of discussion and debate,” she said.

“Mega-events are extremely difficult to plan for due to the large scale multi-faceted nature of the project and the lasting physical impacts associated with their development, which stretch decades into the future of a city.

“More often than not in recent decades, the sport facilities used to host Olympic events become the landmarks of the host city and in some cases the country.

“So it’s critical that facilities built to host the Olympics are appropriately planned before, during and after the Games to ensure these landmarks are functional and provide long-term benefits for the host city.”

Ms Gould said being accepted as one of just 35 students internationally to attend the IOA seminar would not have been possible without a bit of luck, hard work and the help of Planning Program Director Associate Professor John Minnery, and Dr Ian Jobling, Honorary Reader and Director of the Centre for Olympic Studies.

“UQ has opened doors I never thought possible and the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management in particular has been extremely supportive, helpful and generous,” she said.

“Had I not attended UQ, the possibility of being nominated for such an amazing opportunity would not have occurred.

“UQ provides not just the knowledge necessary to be successful, and the drive to want to do so, but also the contacts to ensure that that knowledge and drive are put to good use.”

By Alex Osuch

A background in chemical engineering does not necessarily have to spell a future in oil, gas or mining, UQ alumnus Arthur Kollaras has discovered.

Arthur Kollaras

The Master of Philosophy graduate has turned his education into a career developing green technologies as Manager of Bioprocess Engineering with yeast research company Microbiogen.

Mr Kollaras’ role involves adapting traditional yeast-dependent processes used in baking and brewing to produce cellulosic ethanol, which is produced from wood-derived sugars.

“The era of cheap oil for transportation fuel is coming towards an end,” he said.

“Our demand and dependence on such a finite resource is a highly charged political football. Ethanol is a clean-burning and renewable liquid fuel.

“It can be converted relatively cheaply and efficiently from starch or glucose sugars into ‘beer’ using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same type of yeast used for thousands of years for baking and brewing.”

Crops including corn, wheat, sorghum, cassava and sugarcane can be used to produce ethanol, and Mr Kollaras said Microbiogen was refining the process, through the adaption of non-genetically modified yeasts, to allow them to use plant shoots, stems, fruits and leaves.

“The challenge of developing high volumes of cheap ethanol and protein from agricultural wastes is being addressed,” he said.

“For ethanol to be considered as a true substitute to petroleum, the next generation of ethanol-plants need to be able to use the whole accompaniment of ‘wood sugars’ by converting them into value added products, which not only include ethanol, but high protein animal feed supplements.

“It is exciting and rewarding to be part of a fledgling industry working towards securing sustainable biofuels for transportation.”

Mr Kollaras said he hoped his career path would encourage chemical engineering students to consider environmentally friendly options.

By Tegan Taylor

UQ architecture graduates Bill Elyett, Jade Myers and Phil Tillotson at a training session for last year's challenge

When Brisbane physiotherapist Adam Smiddy passed away in 2006 his death shocked the UQ community.

Mr Smiddy, a UQ graduate and former King’s College resident, was only 26 when he lost a short battle to an aggressive melanoma, leaving behind an indelible mark on those who knew him.

Born from the grief is the annual Smiling for Smiddy Challenge – a gruelling 1600 kilometre cycle from the UQ Aquatic Centre in Brisbane to Home Hill to raise funds for cancer research in memory of Mr Smiddy.

UQ graduate architect Jade Myers, who felt the impact Adam’s sudden death had on mutual friends, joined the trip last year.

The 27-year-old works in the Brisbane studio of BVN Architecture and rides to his office in Fortitude Valley every day.

Mr Myers set off with 50 other riders on September 5 on a grueling 1600 kilometre journey across eight days, arriving in Home Hill in the state’s north on September 12.

“I was asked by a friend to join the ride this year and jumped at the opportunity to be involved because Adam was an incredible guy and his death was such a tragedy,” Mr Myers said.

“Many of my friends knew him well and the ride organiser was one of his close mates and shares a lot of emotional memories with the ride group – he is certainly missed by many.”

Smiling for Smiddy began three years ago and since then has raised more than $600,000 for cancer research.

The Adam Smiddy Cancer Fund at the Mater Foundation sees the money distributed to a variety of initiatives, including prostate cancer research and melanoma drug trials.

UQ Business School Alumnus and cybercrime expert Dr Kim Kwang (Raymond) Choo has been awarded a 2009 Fulbright professional scholarship.

Kim Kwang (Raymond) Choo

Sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australia-US Alliance Studies Scholarship will allow Dr Choo to undertake research into the current and future trends in cybercrime at Rutgers University’s School of Criminal Justice in New Jersey, and the Palo Alto Research Centre in California.

“Criminals and other actors with malicious intent have, undeniably, recognised the value of leveraging information and communications technologies to facilitate or enhance the commission of crimes and are dynamic in identifying new opportunities and ways to overcome counter-measures,” Dr Choo said.

Dr Choo enrolled in UQ Business School’s MBA program part-time in July 2004 while undertaking his PhD in Information Technology at QUT.

“I decided to undertake part-time studies with UQ mainly due to UQ’s reputation in delivering quality education and also UQ has a focused and targeted MBA degree with a flexible structure,” he said.

“I would not have submitted one of my assignments to a journal for peer review if not for the encouragement from my lecturer, Dr Peter Clutterbuck.”

The article was later published in the journal, Information Management & Computer Security.

Dr Choo works for the Australian Institute of Criminology, Australia’s pre-eminent national crime and criminal justice research agency.

His research for the institute encompasses the criminological aspects of technology-enabled crime as well as money laundering and terrorist financing through exploitation.

By Fiona Sutton