17 September 2015: Co-founder of Mental Health First Aid program Betty Kitchener AM, former Olympian swimming champion Petria Thomas OAM and Indigenous inventor, whose work led to the development of Australia's first and only petrol electric hybrid vehicle, Eric Willmot AM are among the University of Canberra graduates announced as winners of the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
The awards, to be presented at a gala dinner TONIGHT, recognise the outstanding contributions that University of Canberra alumni are making in their communities and professions.
These are the winners:
Chancellor's Alumni Medal winner Betty Kitchener AM: Ms Kitchener is a four-time graduate of the University of Canberra and co-founder of the Mental Health First Aid Program. This innovative training program teaches members of the public and healthcare professionals how to provide initial help to a person developing mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. She graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Special Education (1987), a Graduate Diploma in Community Counselling (1990), a Bachelor (1994) and Master of Nursing (1998).
"I am naturally very happy and honoured [to receive this award]. However, the greater meaning of this award to me is that it gives prominence to a cause dear to my heart, namely the need for greater mental health first aid skills in the community. I hope more people will hear about my work in this area and take the step of increasing their mental health first aid skills," Ms Kitchener said.
"I studied education, counselling and nursing at UC, and worked casually as a tutor in physiology and anatomy and with Indigenous students at the University's Ngunnawal Centre. I think my work in developing Mental Health First Aid training and disseminating it internationally drew on these diverse areas of training. It all turned out to be relevant in ways I would never have imagined at the time."
Chancellor's Young Alumni Medal winner Pierre Johannessen: Mr Johannessen, 33, is the CEO of international NGO Big Bang Ballers, which uses basketball and education to tackle youth poverty and disadvantage.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism (2003) and a Bachelor of Law (2007), Mr Johannessen went on to work with Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh, as part of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program. He was also named ACT Young Australian of the Year in 2010.
"I am honoured and humbled. Being recognised by the University which provided so very much of the groundwork for my achievements is really far more than I ever would have expected. The University of Canberra helped mold my way of thinking and solving problems which has proven invaluable in "real world" situations, and I am grateful for both the theoretical and practical experiences I had during my tenure at UC," Mr Johannessen said.
"I learned early on to take part in as many opportunities as I could, and UC provided a bounty of them, from student organisations to the Law Society to international exchanges. I was able to partake in all and treasure my time there."
Chancellor's Award for Contribution to Sport joint winners Petria Thomas OAM and Adrian Faccioni: Ms Thomas is an Olympic gold-medalist Australian swimmer, who graduated with a Bachelor of Sports Administration in 2004. With 15 national titles under her belt, she was inducted into the AIS Swimming Hall of Fame in 1996. Ms Thomas is now the Podium Program Manager, overseeing the coordination of a number of Swimming Australia activities at the Australian Institute of Sport. Since leaving the sport, Ms Thomas has spoken openly about her battle with depression throughout her swimming career and has raised her voice to reduce the stigma of mental health issues and raise awareness around them.
"I feel very honoured to be recognised with the Chancellor's Award for Contribution to Sport through the University of Canberra's Distinguished Alumni Awards. It is very humbling to be selected for this award from the high number of skillful and successful graduates that UC produces," Ms Thomas said.
"My UC education prepared me well for life after my sporting days. The coursework provided both the theory and practical experience that enabled me to successfully transition into a professional career in sports administration."
Mr Faccioni is a leading sports scientist and innovator, best known for developing GPS tracking technology used by high-performance athletes to reduce injury rates, increase fitness levels specific to the demands of their different sports and to alert coaches of potential muscle fatigue and strain.
Mr Faccioni, who graduated with a Master of Exercise Physiology (1994), was also a lecturer and course convener at the University. He has established GPSports in Canberra and has introduced an Australian-first GPS Athlete Management System to the market.
"When I first started at the University of Canberra in 1989 as a first year student in Sports Coaching, I was passionate about becoming the best coach I could be and to assist aspiring athletes to achieve their potential. I then had the opportunity to teach the Sports Coaching course and focused on ensuring that my students were the best prepared students in the country to take on the challenges of working in elite sport.
"To have taken all that learning and applied it to a technology that has had such a positive impact on elite sport globally is of great pride to me – and this award is a well-timed reminder that what I have learnt and applied over the past 26 years has been worthwhile."
Chancellor's Award for Service and Philanthropy winner Nicola Forrest: Mrs Forrest is the CEO and pioneer behind the Minderoo Foundation, one of Australia's largest philanthropic organisations. Mrs Forrest and her husband Andrew Forrest, chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, established the Minderoo Foundation in 2001 and are internationally known philanthropists aiming to help all Australians, particularly children and Indigenous Australians.
"I'm deeply moved to receive the Chancellor's Award for Service and Philanthropy from the University of Canberra and humbled to be nominated alongside Damian De Marco and Nip Wijewickrema; their contribution to our community has been invaluable," Mrs Forrest, who graduated from the then Canberra College of Advanced Education with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) in 1981, said.
"I am especially honoured that the [University of Canberra] distinguished Alumni, known for their passion and commitment to philanthropy, have recognised our work to address Indigenous disparity, to end the scourge of modern slavery, and to create opportunities for disadvantaged children through education in Australia.
"My time at the University of Canberra was a very special and empowering period that guided me towards developing the knowledge, critical thinking and passion required for my philanthropic work. I am so grateful for all the friendships and the networks I built - wonderful connections that I continue to draw upon today."
Alumni Excellence Awards
These awards are bestowed in recognition of outstanding achievement in professional practice.
Arts and Design winner Kabu Okai-Davies: Mr Okai-Davies is an African-Australian poet, playwright and novelist. The Ghana-born writer graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Professional Writing (2007), a Master of Creative Writing (2008), a Bachelor of Philosophy (2010) and a PhD in Communications (2014). He has written numerous plays, short stories, poetry collections and has produced Broadway musicals in the U.S.A. He was also the director of the National Multicultural Festival in 2008 and 2009.
"I was truly delighted and surprised at the same time when I heard I was a nominee and then later won the award. This award serves as an affirmation, a morale booster and an inspiration for a writer like me. The Award also represents the greatest stamp of approval any former student can receive. It has provided me with hope that great things are yet to come and more can be achieved if I remain committed to my goals, Mr Okai-Davies said.
Business, Government and Law winner Helen McDermott: Ms McDermott, assistant director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been a relentless advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment in Australia. Ms McDermott's advocacy gave women and non-sworn employees a voice in the Australian Federal Police, which for many years had been a male-dominated institution. Her current work with DFAT focuses on Australia's global and regional work in implementing gender equality, women's empowerment and ending violence against women. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1994.
Education, Science, Technology and Maths winner Professor Eric Willmot AM: Professor Willmot is an Aboriginal scholar, educator and engineer, best known for his book on Pemulwuy: The Rainbow Warrior. He has held a number of key educational leadership positions, such as the Secretary of the ACT Department of Education and Director General of Education in South Australia. Professor Willmot, who graduated with a Master in Education (1980) from the then Canberra College of Advanced Education, has carried out significant research in engineering. An important outcome of his work was the development of Australia's first and only petrol electric hybrid vehicle. He has 90 international patents to his name.
"It is indeed a great honour to receive this award. Back in the 70's and 80's when I was completing a Master's Degree, and then subsequently lecturing at this University, it was regarded as a leading-edge Australian experimental institution in tertiary education. It combined University level research supported by a strong teaching emphasis and this very much suited my approach to education and my Masters work here," he said.
Health winner Pamela Russell: Internationally renowned for her work on bladder and prostate cancer, Ms Russell has led an extraordinary career in medical research with a significant impact in the field of oncology. Ms Russell, who graduated with a Graduate Diploma of Education (Applied Science) in 1976, founded the Urological Cancer Research Centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and was the director of the Oncology Research Centre at the Prince of Wales Hospital from 1992 to 2009.
"I am very honoured to be awarded the Alumni Excellence Award (Health). No-one makes such achievements without the help of a terrific team, and I have been especially blessed with a changing guard of devoted, hard-working and gifted young people who have contributed ideas to bring our research work to fruition, and helped to translate some of the findings to the clinic, whilst moving forward in their own careers.
"I am very proud of my role in helping to establish the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which has grown enormously and is providing awareness and education, some research funding, specialist nurses and other huge benefits both to men with this disease and to their families."
The University of Canberra alumni network is made up of nearly 70,000 graduates, friends and former staff from the University of Canberra and the former Canberra College of Advanced Education.
- To arrange interviews with the winners please contact the Media and Communications team. Please note that some of the winners will not be attending the ceremony and are not available for interview.