The Outstanding Alumni Awards recognise graduates of QUT (and predecessor institutions) for exceptional professional, academic or research achievements and contributions to the community at the local, state, national or international levels.
The annual event is an initiative of the QUT Alumni Board, which consists of graduates, past and present staff, past and present Council, and other qualified members.
Each year we award our outstanding alumni who've achieved great things in their fields since graduation.
Award categories
Awards include:
- QUT Alumnus of the Year
- Young Alumnus of the Year for graduates under the age of 35
- Outstanding Alumni Award for each faculty
- Special Excellence Awards made at the discretion of the Chancellor's judging panel
- Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Young Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Nominations
Nominations can be received from any member of the community, including QUT staff and past Outstanding Alumni Award winners. An individual may also nominate themselves.
Permission must be obtained from an alumnus before proceeding with a nomination.
Check the rules, guidelines and eligibility criteria (PDF file, 575.4 KB) for the nominations process.
2019 award winners
2019 Alumnus of the Year
Lex Greensill CBE
Lex Greensill is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and the Supreme Court of Queensland. He founded Greensill, which after just eight years, has become a world leader in working capital finance with more than $60 billion extended to more than eight million customers in more than 165 countries.
Young Alumni of the Year
Josh Cameron, Alex Ghiculescu, Jake Phillpot and Tasmin Trezise
This year's QUT’s Young Alumni of the Year winners founded TANDA, the hugely successful global workforce management company. It's used today by more than 5,000 companies across a range of industries.
Caitriona Fay (Business)
A passionate advocate for social investment and leader in the philanthropy, financial services and nonprofit sectors, Caitriona Fay obtained her Graduate Certificate in Business (Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies) from QUT in 2013.
She is General Manager, Community and Social Investments, with Perpetual Ltd, one of Australia’s oldest financial services companies and one of the largest managers of philanthropic funds.
Joseph Kwan MH (Creative Industries)
A Founding Director of UDA (Universal Design & Accessibility) Consultants, Joseph has provided expert advice on accessibility design and audit services for numerous industry and government bodies, including Hong Kong Housing and Airport authorities, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the World Bank.
Norman Hunter OAM (Education)
Norm Hunter obtained his Certificate of Teaching from predecessor institution Kelvin Grove Teachers’ College in 1965, and has gone on to a distinguished career as a teacher, principal, educational consultant and sector leader.
He was founding Co-Principal, then Principal, of Hillbrook Anglican School, which developed a ground-breaking philosophy centred on the inclusion and active involvement of teachers, parents and students in all facets of its operation and teaching program.
Professor Wen-I Liu (Health)
Professor Wen-I Liu, who completed her Doctor of Philosophy at QUT in nursing and mental health nursing in 2007, has more than 30 years’ experience as a clinical nurse, educator and researcher.
Currently, she is Dean of the College of Nursing at the National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Lex Greensill (Law)
Venture capitalist Lex Greensill, who completed his Bachelor of Laws in 2001 at QUT, is the founder and CEO of Greensill Capital.
He is also a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and the Supreme Court of Queensland. In 2017, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the British economy.
Karen Andrews MP (Science and Engineering)
Graduating from then QIT in 1983 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Karen Andrews is a trailblazer and champion of STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – and has been recognised by Engineers Australia as one of the country’s most influential women in engineering.
She is currently the Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.
Past winners
Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners 2018
2018 Alumnus of the Year
With nearly 30 years’ experience as a legal advocate for Indigenous Australians, Tony McAvoy SC is the 2018 QUT Alumnus of the Year and Faculty of Law Outstanding Alumni Award Winner.
Young Alumnus of the Year
Dr Chris Jeffery is an award-winning engineer, army officer, doctor and highly successful medical entrepreneur. He is CEO of Field Orthopaedics and executive director of Robotic Engineering Research Labs and Audeara.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award
Sandra Mau has more than 10 years’ experience in product research and engineering and technology development. She is founder of TrademarkVision and IEEE QLD Women in Engineering.
Young Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award
Lisy Kane, Sarah Moran, and Tammy Butow from Girl Geek Academy and are on a mission to teach one million women how to get into the tech industry and launch their own start-ups by 2025.
Special Excellence Award
Amanda McClelland has been instrumental in developing higher level training for global health emergencies and has received a Special Excellence Award for Achievements and Contributions to International Health Security and Humanitarian Aid.
Business School winner
Jeff Dunn is the Asia Pacific head of AQR Capital and an influential thought leader in the investment community.
Creative Industries winner
Archie Moore is renowned as one of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists, with his work exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.
Education winner
Patrea Walton PSM is distinguished for her contribution to public education in Queensland, having influenced many of the state’s major reforms and education policies.
Health winner
Veronica Casey is recognised for her achievements over a 40-year nursing career. She is Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Metro South Health and Executive Director of Nursing at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Science and Engineering winner and Special Excellence Award
Ben de Bont is considered one of America’s leaders in cyber security, with more than 20 years’ experience in the field. His Special Excellence Award is for achievements and contributions to international cyber security.
Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners 2017
- QUT Alumnus of the Year and Faculty of Law Outstanding Alumni Award
- Darryl McDonough
- QUT Young Alumnus of the Year
- Kate Gifford
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Joel Pobar
- Young Innovation and Entrepreneurship Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Michael Brett
- Special Excellence Award for Achievements and Contributions to Indigenous Communities
- Wayne Denning
- QUT Business School Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Christine Corbett
- Creative Industries Faculty Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Peter Greste
- Faculty of Education Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Hon. Leeanne Enoch, MP
- Faculty of Health Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Tina Coco AO
- Science and Engineering Faculty Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Michael Dempsey
Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners 2016
- QUT Alumnus of the Year and Creative Industries Outstanding Alumni Award
- Kate Miller-Heidke
- QUT Young Alumnus of the Year
- Jessa Rogers
- QUT Business School Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Caitlin Wilson
- Faculty of Education Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Maryanne Walsh
- Special Excellence Award for Achievement in Podiatry and Faculty of Health Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Greg Dower
- Faculty of Law Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Roman Quaedvlieg
- Science and Engineering Faculty Outstanding Alumni Award winner
- Richard Eastes
- QUT Business School Special Excellence Award for Service to the Community
- Paul Quilliam
- Special Excellence Award for Contributions to the Nutrition Profession
- Lim Su Lin
Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners 2015
- QUT Alumnus of the Year and Science and Engineering Faculty Outstanding Alumni Award
- Dr Abigail Allwood
- QUT Young Alumnus of the Year
- Andrew Blackman
- Andrew Northcott
- Special Excellence Award for achievement in education and Faculty of Education Outstanding Alumni Award
- Carmee Lim
- Special Excellence Award for innovation in youth support and education
- Andrew Gourley
- QUT Business School Outstanding Alumni Award
- Carolyn Dawkins
- Creative Industries Faculty Outstanding Alumni Award
- Leigh Sales
- Faculty of Health Outstanding Alumni Award
- Karni Liddell
- Faculty of Law Outstanding Alumni
- Dominic McGann