A multi-award winning Australian author, an international finance leader, and medicine and research trailblazers have been recognised in The University of Queensland 2019 Alumni Awards.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said the awards were an opportunity to highlight the outstanding talent of alumni and the widespread impact of their work.
“We are honoured to recognise an incredible group of alumni who are making an impact in a diverse range of industries,” Professor Høj said.
“Between them, their achievements include breaking ground in humanitarian law, halting deadly viral outbreaks in their tracks, pioneering women in executive leadership, and more.
“The impact of their work locally, nationally and internationally simply cannot be overstated.”
The UQ Alumni Awards and the UQ Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year awards will be presented at the annual Courting the Greats ceremony on 16 October.
The 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Awards will be presented to:
- Ms Christa Davies – global business executive and a pioneer for women in leadership.
- Ms Jackie French AM – an acclaimed Australian author and conservationist.
- Ms Rowena Orr QC – senior counsel for the 2018 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
- Mr John Wylie AM – investment banker and philanthropist.
The award recipients were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee led by Professor Høj.
“Each of these winners drives success through their work and for communities around them, often by taking on community and philanthropic endeavours outside of their professional careers,” Professor Høj said.
“Many of them have taken on the challenge to leverage disruption and embrace opportunities they may not have considered in their initial aspirations – an agility we are proud to instil in all our graduates to prepare them for an increasingly fast-paced professional environment.”
The 2019 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipients are:
- Ms Clare Brown – a human rights lawyer with a focus on securing justice for sexual abuse survivors in Africa and the Middle East.
- Dr Jordan Cory – a medical doctor and leader in Indigenous health and gender equality.
- Associate Professor Andrew Mallett – a leading nephrologist in inherited kidney disease and co-founder of Australia’s first renal genetics clinical service and program.
- Dr Paula Parker – Senior Emergency and Critical Care veterinarian and youngest-ever Australian Veterinary Association president.
International Alumnus of the Year: Academician Emeritus Professor Dato' Dr Sai Kit Lam – an internationally recognised infectious viral disease researcher who headed the medical team that discovered the Nipah virus.
Indigenous Community Impact Award: Dr Lilla Watson – respected artist, writer, educator and researcher working towards better outcomes for Indigenous peoples.
Colleges’ UQ Alumni Award: The Honourable Justice Martin Daubney AM (King’s College 1980-81) – Supreme Court of Queensland judge and President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The UQ Alumnus of the Year and UQ Graduate of the Year Awards - both created and supported by the Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc - will also be presented at the Courting the Greats ceremony.
UQ Alumnus of the Year Award: Dr Paul Eliadis - a leading clinical haematologist, oncologist and co-founder of Icon Cancer Care, the biggest and most progressive provider of haematological and oncological day services in Australia.
UQ Graduate of the Year Award: Jason Lejcak - Bachelor of Economics 2017 and Bachelor of Economics (Honours) 2018 - University Medallist and class Valedictorian, analyst in markets and security services at Citigroup.
UQ Sportswoman of the Year Award: Lakeisha Patterson (swimming) - a gold medallist and world record holder, representing Australia at two Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
UQ Sportsman of the Year Award: Justin Cridland (Touch footballer) - World Cup-winning member of the Australian Touch Football mixed team, and a two-time National Touch League Elite Men’s premiership winner with the Queensland Cowboys.
Full details of the 2019 Alumni Award recipients are here.
Media: Mikaeli Costello, mikaeli.costello@uq.edu.au, +61 401 580 685.
