2006 winners
Alison Macintyre
2006 Student Leader of the Year
Since commencing a Bachelor of Business degree in 2004, Alison has made a valuable contribution to the University through her community involvement, student leadership, professional development activities and academic excellence. Alison has used her leadership skills to instigate a number of key initiatives at QUT which have greatly contributed to University community. Just a few examples include the 'Brisbane Rural and Isolated Students Network', and the Faculty of Business 'Student Choice Awards'. Alison has represented the University at a number of major conferences, seminars and events designed to foster student leadership. In 2005 Alison attended the 'United Nations International Conference on Engaging Communities', which provided the opportunity to showcase QUT's leading youth engagement initiatives to the international community. Alison is committed to enhancing her own professional development and has completed a wide range of modules in the Faculty of Business's 'Business Advantage Program', designed to develop future leaders. Recognising the importance of education, Alison has delivered a range of personal development and entrepreneurship seminars to high school students and students from low socio-economic backgrounds, encouraging and motivating these young students to achieve their best. Alison has also been a QUT Peer Mentor, a member of the Faculty of Business 'Buddy Scheme', and a spokesperson for Regional and Mature Age Students; acting as a role model to these students and encouraging them to make the most of their university experience. Alison's course GPA of 6.64 is a testament to her academic ability and dedication.
Hayley Angell
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Hayley has been actively involved in a wide range of QUT student organisations, an example of which is 'QUT Initiate', a student organisation focussed on fostering a community engagement culture amongst students. Hayley is passionate about youth engagement and actively undertakes activities which support youth participation, such as the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament and the 2005 Queensland Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values. In terms of professional development activities, Hayley is a participant in the QUT Career Mentor Scheme and attended the '2005 Higher Education Workplace Skills Olympiad'. Hayley is currently completing a Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Journalism dual degree majoring in Public Relations. She is a recipient of the Castlemaine Perkins Business Scholarship and is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Nemanja Antic
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Nemanja has been an enthusiastic participant of a number of QUT student leadership initiatives such as 'Business Icon Queensland' and 'QUT Initiate'. He has also been active in representing the views of his fellow students through the Executive Dean's Student Liaison Committee, and the QUT Community Engagement Strategic Workshop. Nemanja has generously given his time to the local community both as a mentor to young aspiring entrepreneurs in the IT industry, and as a judge in the 'Optiminds' regional competition. A recipient of a Corporate Partner's in Excellence Scholarship, Nemanja gained industry and professional development experience through an industry placement with the Queensland Treasury Corporation, where he continues to work as an Analyst. Currently studying a Bachelor of Business majoring in economics, Nemanja has a GPA of 6.947 and has consistently featured on the Dean's Honour Roll.
Deanna Borland-Sentinella
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
During her time at QUT, Deanna has been an active member of the Student Guild as well as a number of University boards and committees such as the University Academic Board. Deanna has been proactive in using the skills she has gained through her studies to assist in a range of community events such as the 'Out of the Box Festival of Early Childhood' and the 'Straight Out of Brisbane's Ideas Festival'. Deanna has undertaken an extensive range of professional training activities in leadership and facilitation, physical theatre, acting and choreography. In 2005 her design was featured in 'Watermark', the opening event of the Brisbane River Festival. Deanna is currently completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries majoring in Drama. Her excellent academic achievement has been recognised through her admission to the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Joshua Caeiro
2005 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Joshua has made a considerable contribution to the University community as a member of the student management team behind 'Business Icon Queensland', a competition for young entrepreneurs. In terms of community service activities, Joshua has undertaken a number of volunteer duties to help raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation, the Red Cross, and the 40 Hour Famine. Joshua was awarded a work experience placement with the Queensland Audit Office as part of the Institute of Chartered Accountant's Achievement Program, where he undertook a range of 'real world' professional development activities. Currently studying a Bachelor of Business (Accounting)/ Bachelor of Laws dual degree, Joshua's excellent academic record saw him recently be invited to join the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Lauren Carr
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Lauren is a Senior Student Ambassador and has represented QUT at range of promotional events. She also works as a tutor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students as part of the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme. Lauren is a regular volunteer carer and fundraiser for the Fairfield RSPCA shelter where she cares for sick, injured or abandoned pets and wildlife. As a Visual Arts student, Lauren regularly exhibits her work in art competitions; currently she is one of only four Queensland finalists in the 2006 'Place in the World' Visual Arts Prize, sponsored by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the University of Adelaide. Lauren is currently completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Visual Arts) degree; she also has a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Eduction honours degree from QUT. Lauren is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Sandra Kafrouni
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Sandra's involvement in qut activities includes her participation in the 2005 law founders debate, where qut law students debated against distinguished professionals such as the executive dean of law professor michael lavarch, and mr eddie scuderi, a partner at corrs chambers westgarth. sandra has used her journalism skills to work on a number of community projects as a writer, broadcaster and presenter. in march 2005 she produced a mini documentary on the abc show 'australian story' about the president of amnesty international in australia. sandra has undertaken a wide range of legal work experience with a number of brisbane law firms, in addition to extensive media experience with channel 9, channel 10 and the abc. she has also been a participant in qut's career mentor scheme. sandra is currently completing a bachelor of law/ bachelor of journalism dual degree.
Damian Leonard
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
As a Senior Student Ambassador, Damian has represented QUT at numerous events including careers fairs, high school presentations, and Faculty Open Days. Damian is actively involved in his local community and helped establish 'United Academic Friendships', a volunteer tutoring service for underprivileged school children. Damian's extensive professional development activities have included the QUT Career Mentor Scheme and the 'Boeing Australia Summer Work Experience Program'. He is also a member of numerous industry organisations such as Engineers Australia and is current President of the Australian Students Space Association. Damian is currently completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Avionics); he also has a Bachelor of Information Technology from QUT in 2002. Damian's excellent academic record gained him admission into the Golden Key International Honour Society in 2001, of which he is an active member.
Nikketah McGrath
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
Nikketah's significant contribution to the university community has included mentoring first year accounting students through the accounting connexions program, and her involvement with qut student company 'eyas' as part of the young achievement australia program. nikketah has been active member of the scouting movement and is currently vice-chair of the national youth council for scouts australia. nikketah is also active in her local ipswich community and was named as the 2005 ipswich young citizen of the year. as a corporate partner's in excellence scholarship winner, nikketah recently undertook a work placement with the golden casket lottery corporation. nikketah was also a recipient of an 'achiever award' from the institute of chartered accountant's australia, and completed a vacation work placement with bdo kendalls. nikketah is currently completing a bachelor of business majoring in accounting and banking & finance, and is a member of the golden key international honour society.
John Zunker
2006 Student Leadership Excellence Award Winner
John has displayed a strong commitment to enhancing the university experience of his fellow students through his membership of numerous Faculty committees, and through his extensive involvement in 'Escape', the Engineering Systems Club at QUT, of which he is the current President. John was recently involved in establishing the 'Engineers without Borders' QUT chapter, an Australian organisation working with disadvantaged communities around the world to improve their quality of life through the education and implementation of sustainable engineering projects. John is a member of several industry organisations such as Engineers Australia and the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and regularly attends professional development seminars to further his knowledge. John has been a QUT student since 2001 and is currently completing a Bachelor of Engineering/ Bachelor of Information Technology double degree.
