30 March 2015: The University of Canberra will hold its graduation ceremonies in the Great Hall at Parliament House starting tomorrow (31 March, 1-2 April).
Nearly 2,400 students will receive their degrees in eight ceremonies. They include:
- Wallabies and Brumbies prop Ben Alexander: please note Mr Alexander is unable to attend his graduation ceremony but is available for interview and photograph opportunities on Wednesday 1 April at 11.45am at Brumbies HQ at the Sporting Commons, University of Canberra. For media enquires contact Brumbies media and communications manager Elliot Woods on 0449 252 120
- Doctor of Philosophy graduate Emdad Hossain whose research into people's gait, or how they walk, is helping security agencies identify persons of interest
- Twin brothers James and Patrick Askew who have completed identical double degrees
- The inaugural Tom Calma medallist, Bachelor of Midwifery graduate and mother-of-four Karel Williams who is working as a graduate midwife at Canberra's Centenary Hospital for Women and Children
- Doctor of Philosophy graduate Somayeh (Mona) Soleymani, whose thesis examined the effects of colourants on paper, commonly used in the repair and conservation of books, manuscripts and other irreplaceable documents
The University will also confer honorary doctorates to award-winning music festival director and violinist Christopher Latham and world-leading climate change researcher Will Steffen.
Ceremony 1 - 10.30am Tuesday 31 March
Faculty of Business, Government & Law
Guest speaker: Craig Sloan, Partner, KPMG Canberra
James and Patrick Askew, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies/Bachelor of Laws
It will be a case of seeing double on Tuesday when twin brothers James and Patrick Askew, 24, graduate with the same University of Canberra double degree.
They will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies/Bachelor of Laws, with both agreeing that graduating together will be a memorable occasion.
"Graduating alongside my brother is very special because it means that we have both achieved our goals and have done our very best," James said.
"It means that we have both completed a major part of our lives and I can be proud of not only what I have achieved, but proud of what my brother has achieved as well," Patrick added.
They said that the University's good reputation and emphasis on providing practical and hands-on education was a deciding factor when choosing a University.
"I originally planned to study just arts in international studies because I enjoy learning about other cultures but I added a law degree because of its high quality and the challenges it would present me," Patrick said.
James said he chose the double degree because of the wide range of opportunities it offered upon graduating.
"The range of electives and subjects within each degree meant that I was always able to not just do core subjects, but other subjects I was interested in as well. The quality of teaching was something that also allowed me to get the most out of my degrees," he added.
"When my brother and I did study together it was very helpful being able to talk to someone who also understood not only the work involved but also had a similar way of thinking to help explain things if necessary," James said.
Patrick and James agree that going on exchange to Canada was the highlight of their degree, having both spent a semester studying at Dalhousie University in Halifax in 2012, and three weeks at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver in 2014. The pair also toured the Microsoft Cybercrime Centre in Seattle and attended a National Crime Victim Law Conference in Portland in the US.
"These were fantastic experiences for me, with the opportunity to study different units and gain a more international perspective to my degree. I'd encourage anyone to go on exchange, even if it's just for a few weeks. It is a worthwhile and exciting thing to do and opens up new friendships and new opportunities to learn," Patrick said.
James added: "It is a wonderful opportunity to study in a different environment and culture, while getting in some travel and fun as well."
- James and Patrick are available for interview
Ceremony 2 - 2.30pm Tuesday 31 March
Faculty of Business, Government & Law
Guest speaker: Dr John Boersig, CEO Legal Aid
Ceremony 3 - 6pm Tuesday 31 March
Faculty of Business, Government & Law, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis and Faculty of Health
Guest speaker: Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council
Ceremony 4 - 10.30am Wednesday 1 April
Faculty of Health
Guest speaker: Katy Gallagher, former ACT Chief Minister
Karel Williams, Bachelor of Midwifery
For Aboriginal woman and inaugural Tom Calma medallist Karel Williams, graduating with a Bachelor of Midwifery from the University of Canberra and working as a registered midwife is the realisation of a life-long ambition.
After working in the public service for many years, the mother-of-four said she never stopped wondering what it would have been like to be a midwife. When the University of Canberra offered a Bachelor of Midwifery in 2009 she applied and was accepted into the first intake.
"I have always found the whole process of pregnancy and birth fascinating. I have wanted to be a midwife since I was at school, but there were life events that prevented me from pursuing this goal," she said.
Ms Williams, whose previous career included stints at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and the Australian Public Service in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and program areas, said the degree offered the right combination of practice and theory.
"We worked with women right from the beginning of the course, attending their antenatal and postnatal visits as well as their births, and undertaking rostered practice in a range of hospital and community settings.
"Supporting women and their families through this period was and continues to be a privilege," she added.
Ms Williams will be presented with the inaugural Tom Calma Medal at her graduation ceremony. It is awarded in honour of the University's first Indigenous Chancellor to a graduating Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who has achieved outstanding academic results while making a valuable contribution to the University or wider community.
In her second-year, Ms Williams, whose mother is a Wybra woman from south-east Tasmania and her father an Arrernte/Waramungu man from Central Australia, did a placement at the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in Narrabundah. There she worked with Aboriginal women offering antenatal and postnatal care and returned to the service in her third-year where she provided supervised continuity of care to a number of women throughout their pregnancy, during labour and following birth.
"It was really important for me to be able to work with women in my community and they told me this made a great deal of difference. Having an Aboriginal midwife who they were familiar with helped them to feel safe and made their experiences better and special for them. It was really special for me too," she said.
Ms Williams has begun work as a graduate midwife at Canberra's Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, where she will spend the next six months working in the Canberra Midwifery Program at the Birth Centre, which is a low-intervention, continuity of care model.
Her long-term goal is to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families, saying there is a need for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals.
"The challenges in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health are multiple and complex and need to be addressed in a holistic way, and increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals in the workforce is just one of the ways we can begin to address this," she said.
"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery workforce for example, needs to be increased almost fivefold to achieve parity according to the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives."
- Ms Williams is available for interview
Ceremony 5 - 2.30pm Wednesday 1 April
Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics
Guest speaker: Dr Will Steffen, climate change researcher
Will Steffen, Honorary doctorate
World-leading climate change researcher Will Steffen believes the challenges of a changing globe could be addressed by the newest batch of University of Canberra graduates.
Dr Steffen, who will be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Canberra on Wednesday, said graduates: "are going out into the world at a time that is absolutely unique in the history of humans on planet Earth."
"We now have the knowledge that it is our own activities that are destabilising the planetary system – and we are the first generation of humans to be in this position," Dr Steffen said.
"University of Canberra graduates can go into the world with confidence in a period that is unprecedented in human history because they have an excellent education and all the tools to contribute to the great transformation that we need.
"No one can predict the future but there are several ways graduates can help shape it. No matter what graduates have studied there is a role for them in the great transformation that is needed to build a just and sustainable society."
Dr Steffen is an adjunct professor at the University of Canberra and was co-founder of Canberra Urban and Regional Futures, or CURF, an initiative based at the University that is a joint venture with the Australian National University and the ACT Government.
He said it feels great to be receiving an honorary degree from the University of Canberra.
"It's a really nice feeling to have your work recognised in this way by your peers in academia and research. It's a personal pleasure for me as I do a lot of work at the University of Canberra. My daughter Sonja also graduated from the University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Communications with first class honours," Dr Steffen said.
He said he hopes to share with graduates during his occasional address speech how they can best utilise their education and also what it is worth, saying: "the true value of a university education is in the ability to create well-informed citizens."
Born in the US, after his university studies Dr Steffen moved to Australia to work at the ANU, where he filled a number of roles in senior management including Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, executive director of their Climate Change Institute and director of the Institute for Environment.
He also spent a decade working with the CSIRO studying soil-plant atmosphere systems, before having the opportunity to be based in Sweden as executive director and then chief scientist of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme.
He has also held the title of Climate Commissioner with former Australian Government's Climate Commission, along with a number of roles on international and local climate change panels.
Dr Steffen has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri and a PhD from the University of Florida.
- Dr Steffen is available for interview
Emdad Hossain, Doctor of Philosophy
The old joke 'three people walk into a bar' may soon have a new twist thanks to University of Canberra PhD graduate Emdad Hossain, whose research into gait analysis means he's able to identify each of them by the way they walk.
Dr Hossain's Doctor of Philosophy research involved filming and analysing more than 3,000 different video sequences of people's gaits (or walk) to aid in identifying individuals. When linked to facial recognition software, his system, which is being keenly sought after by law enforcement agencies worldwide, returns 99 per cent accuracy.
"The system uses profile views of people's faces, even down to the shape of someone's ear, and when coupled with the way they walk, I am confident security agencies will be able to identify target individuals," Dr Hossain said.
The initial inspiration for his research came when he thought about the way security agencies currently identify persons of interest.
"The increasing security needs of the world mean we need accurate and fast methods of identifying people," he said. "But I could see a problem. Facial recognition fails if the person's face is even partially obscured and fingerprints can also be surgically altered, so how do you minimise cases of mistaken identity?"
His research found that even when walking at different paces, carrying items or wearing bulky clothing, a person's walk is still identifiable.
His work is designed to be used in high-level security and target identification systems and he's in talks with the New South Wales Police and international agencies that are interested in putting his work into practice.
Dr Hossain is also investigating whether his research could be further developed for use in health and sport areas.
"I'd love to see it used widely in the health space or by high-level sporting teams, taking data about a person's walk and identifying small changes before they are noticeably in pain, and assisting in early diagnosis of an injury," he added.
Dr Hossain now plans to write a book and is interested in a career combining his love of research and teaching.
"I want to continue to do research, it remains my main driver. Like any researcher, I want my work to be the best it can be. That's what excites me."
- Dr Hossain is available for interview
Ceremony 6 - 6pm Wednesday 1 April
Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics
Guest speaker: Dr Justin Garrick, head of school, Canberra Grammar School
Ceremony 7- 10.30am Thursday 2 April
Faculty of Arts and Design
Guest speaker: Christopher Latham, former artistic director Canberra International Music Festival, Gallipoli Symphony director
Christopher Latham, Honorary doctorate
Award-winning music festival director and violinist Christopher Latham will add another string to his bow when he receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra on Thursday.
"This honorary doctorate is a great kindness given to me and it means a lot. To have my work recognised through receiving a University of Canberra honorary doctorate is very gratifying; it validates what I've done," Dr Latham said.
Dr Latham is best known locally as artistic director of the Canberra International Music Festival from 2009-2014, for which he was named Canberra Critics' Circle Artist of the Year in 2013.
He is currently music director of the Gallipoli Symphony, a ten-year project that will culminate in concerts premiered as part of the 2015 ANZAC Centenary. For the next four years he will be an ANZAC Fellow, exploring and researching the music and art of World War I and also taking on a reciprocal role with the French Government.
In speaking to the University's latest graduates at his commencement address, the curator, composer and conductor said he will advise them that the secret to success is to make good work – and for them to trust their curiosity in choosing what that work is.
"If you want to be good at something, pursue what interests you. Pay great attention to what captures your imagination. Trust your curiosity – it will lead you towards an interesting working life," he said.
"Find your truth and live it. The world so thirsts for authenticity that if you really succeed in being yourself, you will be noticed."
Having studied for ten years in the US, Dr Latham holds a Master of Chamber Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. After he completed his studies, he travelled the world as a musician with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in the 90s.
Dr Latham praised the University for the calibre of its students and graduates, particularly those in the architecture fields who he previously worked with alongside their lecturer Ann Cleary for the Amazing Space series, which showcased music in interesting architectural spaces around Canberra. For this project Dr Latham was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Clem Cummins Medal for services to architecture by a non-architect.
"It was a cross-arts collaboration that brought spaces to life in a way that hasn't been done before. It was like hearing architecture rather than seeing it. I really enjoyed working with the architecture staff, students and graduates at UC – they are the best and brightest I've ever seen."
- Dr Latham is available for interview
Ben Alexander, Bachelor of Sports Media
The most experienced prop in Australian rugby history can now add a University of Canberra degree to his impressive list of achievements.
After more than 12 years of study on-and-off while juggling an international sporting career, Wallabies and Brumbies prop Ben Alexander will graduate with a Bachelor of Sports Media on Thursday.
"It's a big relief to be graduating. I started my degree in 2003, so it's fair to say it has been a long time coming," Mr Alexander said, who is unable to attend his graduation ceremony due to training commitments.
- Mr Alexander is available for interview and photo opportunities on Wednesday 1 April at 11.45am at Brumbies HQ at the Sporting Commons, University of Canberra. For media enquires contact Brumbies media and communications manager Elliot Woods.
The 30-year-old started playing rugby at age 12 and made his debut for the Brumbies in 2008. Since then he has gone on to play over 100 games for the Brumbies and represented Australia in multiple tours, including the 2011 Rugby World Cup. With 72 test caps, Mr Alexander is the most capped prop in Wallabies history.
Mr Alexander said the best thing about studying at the University of Canberra is the resources and facilities available to students to assist them during their degree.
"The best thing about studying a sports-related degree at UC is having access to a number of sporting organisations; the Brumbies, UC Vikings, Raiders and the Australian Institute of Sport are just a few," he said.
Mr Alexander added that being in front of the camera during his rugby career helped in his degree as it gave him a unique insight into the world of sports media.
"Throughout my rugby career I have had plenty of experience working with sports journalists from all over the world, so I've been able to experience sports journalism from both sides."
During his studies, Mr Alexander was part of the University's Elite Athlete Program, which provides support to student athletes to pursue their sporting goals whilst studying.
"The support available for elite athletes at UC is great. The University was very understanding of my training and travel schedules, whilst also being extremely helpful and flexible," he said.
The tighthead prop – whose career sees him travel for up to five months of the year – said the biggest lesson he learnt while balancing rugby and university study was the ability to be disciplined and focus on the task at hand.
Mr Alexander hopes to take this same discipline that has seen him finish his degree and travel the world playing professional rugby into his latest venture: The Dock bar at the Kingston Foreshore he part-owns with Brumbies teammate Scott Fardy.
"It's been an awesome experience running a business. Our main aim for the bar is to try and recreate a stadium atmosphere for big sporting events."
Back on the field, it's been 11 years since the Brumbies were crowned Super Rugby champions, but after a solid start to their 2015 campaign Mr Alexander is confident the team can take home the title.
"I think we have a good chance of winning this year. We just have to stick with what we have been doing, play consistently and keep improving our game so the other teams don't catch up."
Somayeh (Mona) Soleymani, Doctor of Philosophy
What do Japanese tissue paper and a forklift have in common? They both played a role in research undertaken by University of Canberra PhD graduate Somayeh (Mona) Soleymani.
Dr Soleymani's thesis examined the effects of colourants on tissue paper, which is commonly used in the repair and conservation of books, manuscripts and other irreplaceable documents.
Dr Soleymani believes she may be the first person in Australia to gain a PhD in paper conservation, saying the process is vital to the long term survival of our cultural heritage in libraries and archives. Her research involved applying techniques normally reserved for forensic analysis in assessing the role of dyes, paint and other colourants on Japanese tissue paper.
To do this, she needed access to a machine which could age her paper samples.
Dr Soleymani found an ageing chamber at the National Archives of Australia and was able to borrow it for her research. The machine was taken from the archives and transported via forklift where it was then installed in the forensics labs at the University of Canberra.
Her paper samples were treated with various colouring materials, then rapidly aged by the machine to show what impact they may have on original documents over long periods of time.
"We found there is a real need to study the long-term properties of Japanese mending papers in a scientific way rather than just relying on practical experience," Dr Soleymani said.
"Various groups of colourants, such as dyes, paints and inks, are used in paper conservation, but they perform differently when exposed to environmental agents and ageing in museum exhibitions or storage," she added.
Dr Soleymani said conservators have been handing down the knowledge and techniques to repair and preserve paper in a process similar to artisans or apprentices, using the experience of past masters, but there is little scientific evidence on the processes.
"I believe my study has opened the way for further research to benefit cultural heritage and the work of the paper conservation community. Disciplines such as forensics can also help us to improve our knowledge in heritage materials conservation."
Dr Soleymani is hoping to continue her work as a researcher in heritage materials conservation and museum studies, while looking to expand her skills as an academic lecturer. She would also love to be able to work with medieval manuscripts.
"My dream would be being able to work on the earliest surviving copy of the Shahnameh or the Book of Kings by the Persian poet Ferdowsi, which dates back to 1217 CE and resides today in the National Central Library (Florence, Italy)," Dr Soleymani said.
- Dr Soleymani is available for interview.
Ceremony 8 - 2.30pm Thursday 2 April
Faculty of Arts and Design
Guest speaker: Christopher Doyle, director, Christopher Doyle & Co
The graduation ceremonies will also be live streamed.
To arrange interviews please contact the University of Canberra media team:
Amanda Jones: 0409 140 415
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362
Marcus Butler: 0438 447 810