The Outstanding Alumni Awards (OAA) recognise graduates of QUT and its predecessor institutions for exceptional professional and personal achievements and contributions to the local, national, and international community.
Established in 1991 as an initiative of the QUT Alumni Board, the awards showcase and celebrate diverse achievements, leadership, and the impact of our alumni in the real world.
Award recipients are recognised at QUT's annual Outstanding Alumni Awards ceremony, and their inspirational stories are shared widely with the broader community.
The 2020 award winners were honoured at the Outstanding Alumni Awards ceremony on Monday 12 October.
Award categories
Awards include:
- QUT Alumnus of the Year
- Faculty Outstanding Alumni Awards
- Indigenous Alumnus of the Year
- Young Alumnus of the Year (for graduates under the age of 35)
Nominations
Any member of the community, including QUT staff, students, and alumni can submit a nomination. Self-nominations are also permitted.
Nominators must obtain permission from the nominee before proceeding with a nomination.
Nominators and nominees are strongly encouraged to read the award guidelines and conditions.
Nominations for the 2021 awards will open next year.
2020 award winners

2020 Alumnus of the Year and Indigenous Alumnus of the Year
His Honour Judge Nathan Jarro
His Honour Judge Nathan Jarro is Queensland's first Indigenous judge and is one of only three Indigenous judges currently presiding over an Australian courtroom – an important step for First Nations people. His Honour’s contributions to the legal profession and his community demonstrate commitment, ambition and integrity.

Young Alumnus of the Year
Matt Fairhurst
Matt Fairhurst is a tech entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Skedulo, an award-winning, world-leading company in disruptive intelligent mobile workforce management. Although physically based in San Francisco, Matt maintains his connection to the university by sharing his knowledge with QUT students and alumni.

Young Alumnus of the Year
Reba Brammer
Hailing from regional Queensland, Reba Brammer has built an incredible career in the space of a decade as an innovative footwear designer working for renowned global apparel and sportswear brands. Her career trajectory showcases a fast-growing and organic strategy grounded in resilience and self-belief.

Dr Kirstin Ferguson (Business)
Formerly an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, Dr Kirstin Ferguson is a company director, author and award-winning leadership expert with a strong passion for gender diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Kirstin’s military training, tertiary education and diverse career roles have set her up as a well-respected business leader.

Dr Benjamin Law (Creative Industries)
Dr Benjamin Law is an Australian writer, broadcaster and social commentator who has built an outstanding writing career on topics of diversity and issues of representation in the media. His best-known work, The Family Law, has received countless nominations and won many awards.

Jane Bourne (Education)
Jane Bourne is the CEO of The Creche and Kindergarten Association, a not-for-profit organisation regarded as one of Australia’s leading providers of childcare and kindergarten with more than 330 centres across Queensland. Jane is a highly regarded expert with over 40 years’ experience in early childhood education and care.

Dr Robyn Littlewood (Health)
Dr Robyn Littlewood is the Chief Executive of Health and Wellbeing Queensland and a leading advocate for health promotion. Robyn has worked extensively across all levels of paediatric obesity prevention, nutrition and dietetics, from consultation with children and families in her clinic, to leading multi-disciplinary teams on statewide initiatives.

Debbie Kilroy OAM (Law and Special Excellence)
Debbie Kilroy OAM is one of Australia’s leading advocates for protecting the human rights of women and children through decarceration. Debbie's passion for the abolition of the prison industrial complex is the result of her personal experience of the criminal legal system. She has committed her life to seeking justice for others.

Julian Anderson (Science and Engineering)
Julian Anderson is highly regarded as a pioneer and international leader within quantity surveying and cost engineering, with a career spanning over four decades at a global quantity surveying and project management firm. As a veteran adviser, Julian is renowned for his dedication to his profession and quest for continuous improvement in his industry.
Past winners
Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners 2019
Outstanding Alumni Awards Winners 2018
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