2000 winners

 

(Please note: This is archival information and may not reflect current profiles)

Robert Tannion

Faculty of Arts Winner

Since graduating from QUT in 1992, Robert has steadily built a reputation in the competitive world of professional dance. He has performed with several of the world's leading dance companies in Australia and overseas, and is currently based in London with premier contemporary performance company DV8 Physical Theatre. Robert's roles in DV8's productions such as Enter Achilles (1998) and The Happiest Day of My Life (1999) have promoted the innovation and quality of his work and training at QUT, and Australian dance. He is currently rehearsing DV8's Wasted, which will premiere at the Sydney Olympic Arts Festival in August before returning for a London season. Robert's achievements also include choreography for promotional work in film and TV, and providing dance masterclasses in countries across Europe. Recently he choreographed and performed in a Chris Cunningham film, yet to be released.

Noel Robinson

Faculty of Built Environment and Professional Excellence Award Winner

Leading Brisbane architect and designer Noel Robinson is known for his award-winning building designs, urban scale designs and interiors. His outstanding achievement in business has been the development of Robinson Design Inc, an entrepreneurial design firm that is active internationally. The firm has been appointed to design the new city of Jiangbei and the Pujiang Tunnel, Shanghai, China. Noel was instrumental in forming the Asia Pacific Design Group, cited by Austrade and the Federal Government as the most appropriate model for new networks to use as their export vehicle. Noel has received more than 45 awards for achievements in architecture, environment and business. He takes a sustainable approach to design and has been heavily involved in a variety of community action groups in Queensland. Noel has also lectured at QUT and tertiary institutions in Papua New Guinea and Tasmania.

David Moffatt

Chancellor's Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Business Winner

As the CEO of General Electric (GE) Australia and New Zealand, David Moffatt is responsible for sales of $1.5 billion, almost 4,000 employees and more than 2.5 million customers. David's career at GE is the result of leadership, innovation and vision/values that were tested when he launched, from nothing, GE Capital Australia and New Zealand in 1995. "My greatest business achievement is conceiving and building a profitable, successful and sustainable financial services franchise for GE in the highly competitive Australian market," David said. In just five years, David has developed GE Australia to an $8 billion business and pioneered Australian business initiatives globally. He is a member of GE Capital Services Global Leadership Council, the world's largest non-bank financial institution, and the Asian Corporate Executive Council, responsible for GE's Asian interests. Just 15 years after graduating from QIT with a Bachelor of Business (Management), 39-year old David is well-positioned to take advantage of Australia's new business opportunities. "The combination of e-business and Australia's developed intellectual capital base is a perfect incubator for the development of world-class businesses," he explained. "I propose to be right in the middle of that equation." David's achievements also include co-founding Interfinancial Limited in 1987, a boutique investment bank that has arranged debt and equity transactions totalling $140 million and $28 million respectively, advised acquisitions, and completed two Australian Stock Exchange listings. At 24, while still a student at QIT, David was one of the youngest assistant vice-presidents and managers at Citibank in Brisbane. In 1989 he moved to Chicago as chief financial officer for Palmer Tube Mills. He joined GE in 1991. David attributes his success to energy, integrity, having a plan, and a very supportive family. He is the founding director of Giant Steps (Sydney), part of an international organisation supporting education for autistic children, and founding chair of the Australian chapter of ELFUN, a GE-employee organisation promoting community service. David also regularly raises funds for hospitals in Melbourne, where he lives with his family, and where GE's Australian head office is based.

Vicki Wilson OAM

Faculty of Education Winner

Champion netballer Vicki Wilson OAM has made an outstanding contribution to sport and the promotion of sport in Education. Representing Australia in netball since 1985, Vicki has been a Sports Promotion Officer for Education Queensland since 1992 and also served as a Ministerial Policy Adviser on sport. Earlier this year, Vicki became a project manager in events coordination for the Premier's Department. A teacher until 1992, Vicki has served on numerous sporting and community committees including the Australian Institute of Sport Advisory Board and the National Breast Cancer Centre. Vicki's sporting achievements include three World Championship awards, the first Commonwealth Games gold medal for netball, and playing 99 Tests for her country. She has received numerous civic awards for sporting excellence.

Glynis Nunn-Cearns OAM

Faculty of Health Winner

Renowned athlete and coach Glynis Nunn-Cearns OAM has extended her career in athletics to managing the Sports Super Centre, a purpose-built training facility she hopes will become the best in Australia. Glynis's sporting achievements include gold medals for heptathlon at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and 1984 Olympics. She has also coached national youth teams and athletes in Australia, Germany and America. Her programs for children, coaches and the disabled help participants achieve their goals and allow her to share her love of sport and health with others. A PE teacher for many years, Glynis was also a School Sport Development Officer and chair of the State Government's Youth Action Program. Glynis helped develop an education unit at Couran Cove resort, South Stradbroke Island, to enhance children's interaction with the environment. Holder of numerous civic awards, Glynis regularly attends Camp Quality, Paradise Kids respite unit and is a patron of ACCESS, a group assisting IVF couples.

Brett Hooker

Faculty of Information Technology Winner

Outstanding IT graduate Brett Hooker has established an exceptional career in the global information technology industry. Since 1993, Brett has worked for the second largest software firm in the world, Oracle Corporation. As senior director of software development and based at Oracle's headquarters in California, Brett leads a team of 60 developers. Best known for developing the Applications Desktop Integrator, a product that is translated into 22 languages and used by thousands of companies worldwide, Brett believes the only barriers to solving a business problem are your imagination, focus, determination and ability to deliver. It is with this determination that he has contributed greatly to the software industry in Australia by convincing Oracle to establish a software development centre in Brisbane.

Jane Macdonnell

Faculty of Law Winner

Twelve years after graduating from QIT with honours in Law, Jane Macdonnell is Director-General of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General in Queensland. In 1988, Jane received the James Archibald Douglas Prize for a law student with the most promise to enter practice. She has certainly fulfilled that promise/Jane is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court in Queensland and the ACT, a practitioner of the High Court of Australia, and can practice as a barrister in any Australian Federal Court. Jane is a career public servant, holding a number of senior positions in both State and Federal Government during the past 25 years. Prior to making the law her career, Jane headed aged care and corporate services programs for the State Government. After graduating, Jane spent some time in private practice before moving to the Queensland Treasury and then to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

Mary Magee

Faculty of Science and Excellence in Contribution to the Community Award Winner

As one of the first women to build a career in pharmacy in Queensland, Mary Magee brings extensive business experience to her role as the President of Zonta International, the prestigious women's organisation that is active in 71 countries worldwide. Mary has given nearly thirty years of her life to Zonta, which aims to raise the status of women, and has personally assisted the development of numerous Zonta clubs worldwide. Mary has also assisted a variety of community organisations including the Red Cross, the Brain Foundation, and the Breast Cancer Association of Queensland, among others. Mary also serves a critical role on the Premier's Council for Women, advising on health and violence against women and children. The owner of two thriving pharmacies in Brisbane, in 1998 Mary received the Telstra Business Woman of the Year (Qld) Award and the Westpac Business Owner Award. She remains a tremendous advocate for the advancement of women.