Australia’s first female Governor-General Her Excellency Dr Quentin Bryce, AC, is The University of Queensland’s Alumnus of the Year for 2008.
Dr Bryce, formerly Governor of Queensland from 2003 until this year, will be recognised along with UQ’s International Alumnus of the Year, Cambodian labour camp survivor, Path Heang, and Young Alumnus of the Year, music therapist Alissa Phillips, at a special ceremony at Customs House from 11.30am, tomorrow, Thursday, September 25.
The Courting the Greats luncheon will be hosted by UQ’s Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards, AC, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield, AO, as well as President of the Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc., Feona Walker
Dr Bryce, who was the official Visitor to the University, is a University of Queensland graduate, former UQ academic and an honorary Doctor of Laws recipient.
She was sworn in as Australia’s 25th Governor-General at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on September 5 this year.
Professor Greenfield said UQ was honoured to have such extraordinary alumni.
“Dr Bryce, Mr Heang and Ms Phillips have used the knowledge and experience they gained at UQ to remarkable effect, and their work will have lasting positive impacts on the lives of individuals, communities and even nations,” he said.
“Dr Bryce might have used her UQ Arts and Law degrees in any number of ways, but she chose to devote many years to furthering human rights and equality.
“I am delighted that she has accepted this award, and we look forward to honouring her in person on a future occasion.”
Ms Walker said the Alumni Friends were honoured that Dr Bryce had accepted the award of Alumnus of the Year for 2008.
Dr Bryce graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from UQ where she later spent 14 years teaching Introduction to Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law and Legal Aspects of Social Work.
She has been Principal and Chief Executive Officer of The Women's College within the University of Sydney; founding Chair and Chief Executive Officer, National Childcare Accreditation Council; Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner; Queensland Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; and inaugural Director, Women’s Information Service Queensland, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The International Alumnus of the Year Award was introduced in 2002 to recognise the outstanding personal and professional achievements of the University’s international alumni community. The criteria of the award considers contributions to the community and career achievements since graduating.
Mr Heang was taken from his parents at age six and forced into a Khmer Rouge labour camp.
He graduated in 2004 from The University of Queensland with a Masters of International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution).
As a young boy, Mr Heang endured the most severe hardships during the internal conflicts of Cambodia. In the labour camp, he battled hunger and chaos for three years from the age of six. After he was able to escape, he was reunited with his parents in 1979.
Also awarded a Commendation in the 2008 Queensland Education and Training International Award in Brisbane earlier this month, Mr Heang lived through decades of armed conflict in Cambodia.
He taught himself English by reading the labels on food commodities sent by UNICEF when the Khmer Rouge was overthrown.
From these beginnings he triumphed over adversity to win a Rotary World Peace Fellowship to study and graduate with a Masters in International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution) through UQ’s School of Political Science and International Studies in 2004.
He worked with the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, was program officer for the World Bank’s Justice for the Poor program and is currently working for the United Nations Development Program, in its
Access to Justice project.
UQ Reader in International Relations Dr Marianne Hanson said the University was very proud of Mr Heang’s remarkable achievements and his commitment to promoting Queensland education and speaking about his experiences as a Rotary World Peace Fellow to help others.
Dr Hanson said people with an interest in international politics and peace and conflict resolution requiring information about applying for Rotary World Peace Fellowships could visit: http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/EducationalPrograms/RotaryPeaceAndConflictStudies/Pages/ridefault.aspx
Nominees for UQ’s Young Alumnus of the Year must be under the age of 35 and are judged on their post-graduation career achievements and future plans, their innovation and creativity, their involvement within their communities and how their career achievements had benefited the community.
Ms Phillips graduated with her Masters in Music Therapy from UQ in 2006 and last year won the Lord Mayor’s Young Citizen of the Year award.
As a Registered Music Therapist, she created a centre for young people with disabilities where they and their families can access allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and speech therapists.
The Specialised Programs and Community Endeavours or SPACE is also where young people with speech and language impairments, autism, acquired brain injuries and other disabilities can socialise.
Ms Phillips has already developed a music therapy program called BEAT (Be Enriched and Together with Music) aimed at teaching social skills to young people with intellectual impairments and autism.
She is a tireless worker with residents and clients of YoungCare which provides relevant and dignified lifestyles for young Australians with high-care. She also works as a music therapist at the Glenleighden School for children with speech language impairments.
Media: Lynne Norris, Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland (3365 1561), Kylie McIntyre, Alumni & Events Officer, Advancement Office (3346 3903) or Shirley Glaister at UQ Communications (3365 1931). Please note Ms Bryce will not be attending the luncheon and will be presented with her award at a later date to be announced.
