More than 800 students will graduate from two University of Queensland ceremonies on Wednesday 23 July at 3pm and 6pm.
Dr Marta Sinclair will be one of 400 graduates attending the 3pm ceremony for UQ’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (BEL).
Dr Sinclair will receive a PhD for her internationally-recognised research into decision making.
With more than 20 years of management experience in a number of industries, including Silicon Valley in the USA, Dr Sinclair’s research interest developed after witnessing decision-making in high-pressure work environments.
Her research found that better quality decisions require both analysis and intuition, and that people can develop the ability to switch between decision-making styles by learning how to manipulate their emotions.
Guest speaker at the 3pm ceremony will be Mr Haydon Coles, Head of Corporate Banking Queensland, Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
A fellow of the National Institute of Accountants, Mr Coles has more than 40 years national and international banking experience. He will address students on the changes that have taken place in the finance sector and the challenge graduates face to continue pushing for appropriate changes, with particular consideration to environmental issues.
Before the ceremony, Mr Coles will present a cheque to the BEL Faculty towards a chair in banking and finance.
Student valedictorian will be Bachelor of Business Management Honours graduate Megan Axelsen.
More than 400 students from the Faculties of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture; Health Sciences; and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science will also be graduating at the 6pm ceremony.
Dr Alex Pudmenzky will receive a PhD for his research showing that creativity is part of an optimised search strategy used by molecules, individual organisms or populations of organisms.
Dr Pudmenzky was a finalist in the prestigious 2000 Australian Skeptics Eureka Prize for Critical Thinking for his research, which was stimulated by a paper on the errors in communication between ants.
Based at UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Pudmenzky has developed a mathematical model and computer simulations of the phenomena.
Dylan Radcliffe will receive one of 20 University medals being presented at the ceremony. He will also receive a UQ Alumni Association Graduate of the Year Award for achieving a GPA of 7 for his Bachelor of Engineering degree.
Guest speaker at the 6pm ceremony will be the Chair of Queensland Biotechnology Advisory Council Emeritus Professor Peter Andrews, who will address graduates on the opportunities of building knowledge based industries in Queensland, particularly in biotechnology.
Professor Andrews is a former co-director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland and former CEO of its commercialisation arm, IMBcom Pty Ltd.
Student valedictorian will be Bachelor of Engineering honours student Matthew Gregora.
Media: For further information contact UQ Graduations Officer Peter Brady (07 3365 9194) or Lynda Flower at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339).
