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Alumni from around the world gathered in ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø’s Great Court this week for a ceremony celebrating their achievements and community contributions.

A diverse range of graduates attended the 2017 ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Alumni Awards, which are announced at the annual Courting the Greats ceremony.

Awardees this year included humanitarians, business leaders, researchers and a journalist.

¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Chancellor Peter N Varghese and Vice-Chancellor and President  attended the ceremony.

This year’s 2017 Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Awards were presented to:

•  – a business leader and philanthropist who has driven change in the education and resource sectors through hard work and generosity.
•  – an industry leader and pioneer of women in finance.
•  – a highly decorated nurse and humanitarian aid worker who has provided emergency relief, health care and training in some of the world’s most volatile conflicts and crises.
•  – an internationally recognised researcher whose breakthrough work included growing “mini kidneys” in a laboratory.
•  – a multi award-winning investigative journalist whose contributions have included some of Australia’s most significant reportage.

Distinguished Young Alumni Awards were presented to:

•  – an entrepreneur, Rhodes Scholar and the founder of two successful start-up businesses focused on educational tools and resources.
•  – a food systems specialist and educator who runs a world-leading research centre tackling the world’s most profound global food system challenges.
•  – a multi award-winning Australian entrepreneur best known for his work as co-founder and chief executive officer of Temando. 
• - a researcher and academic who is pioneering collaborative approaches between surgeons and researchers to provide excellent outcomes for patients.

International Alumnus of the Year

•  – an advocate for social justice and girls’ empowerment in her home country of Pakistan, through her work in the development sector.

Indigenous Community Impact Award

•  – one of Australia’s leading Indigenous health experts and advocates.

Colleges’ ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Alumni Award

•  (Emmanuel College 1964 – 1966) – a diplomat, human rights advocate and humanitarian who has had a profound impact on communities around the world through his work with the United Nations and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Alumnus of the Year and ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Graduate of the Year Awards, created and supported by the Alumni Friends of ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Inc, included:

¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Alumnus of the Year

•  - a lawyer and company director who has served as Chancellor, a Senator and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø.

¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Graduate of the Year                                                                 

•  - Bachelor of Pharmacy (First Class Honours) 2016, Valedictorian, University medallist and former Co-Chair of the ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Young Scholars Program.

The ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year Awards celebrate sporting excellence and contributions to University life.

Sportswoman of the Year:

•  - a world number-one water-skier and the reigning champion of water ski jumping.

Sportsman of the Year:

•  - an Olympic medallist who won bronze representing Australia in the Rio 2016 Olympics in the men's 20km walk.

More details of this year’s Alumni Award recipients can be seen .

Contact: Mark Schroder, ¶¶Òõapp¹ÙÍø Advancement Communications, m.schroder@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 3921.