An international student has been honoured with QUT's Student Leader of the Year award, a first in the history of the awards.
Tri Mulyani Sunaharum, originally from Malang, Indonesia, but now living in Taringa, Brisbane, while she completes higher degree research in Urban and Regional Planning at QUT's faculty of Science and Engineering, is also the first PhD student to receive the award.
Ms Sunaharum, 27, was recognised for her outstanding leadership efforts since commencing at QUT as a Masters student in 2012 and received her award at a presentation evening on June 2.
"I feel so honoured, humbled and excited. I am the first Indonesian student to win the Student Leader of the Year award," said Ms Sunaharum who completes her PhD this year and is a lecturer candidate for Indonesia's University of Brawijaya where she completed her Bachelor of Engineering.
Ms Sunaharum has been an enthusiastic contributor to the QUT, local and international communities. She has been a founding member and committee member of the QUT Intercultural Sharing of Talents & Arts Group Enthusiasts (ISTAGE) and was also President of the Science and Engineering Faculty Higher Degree Research Student Society.
Vice President of the QUT Indonesia Students Association, Ms Sunaharum helped facilitate the visit to QUT by Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the G20 Leader's Summit in Brisbane last year and is a lecturer for the online teaching program of the Indonesian Students Association of Australia. She has also served as Head of External Division of Indonesian Students Association of Australia.
"Studying at QUT has been an amazing experience. I have been able to develop my academic and personal skills as well as contribute to QUT and the wider community," Ms Sunaharum said.
Known as 'Yani', she has volunteered numerous hours for QUT International, running the 'New to Brisbane' student program and co-facilitating international student information sessions. She has also been an Australia Awards Scholarship Supplementary Academic Support Tutor. In 2014, she received a scholarship to present a research paper in the UK at a Residential Doctoral School Program incorporated with the International Conference of ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network, led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
A vocalist with the Buaya Keroncong Brisbane Indonesian music group, Ms Sunaharum's other achievements include her involvement with Engineers without Borders and the QUT Centre for Emergency and Disaster Management, membership of Australasian Early Career Urban Research Network, committee member of the Indonesian Islamic Society of Brisbane in 2014 and board member of Australia Indonesia Youth Association Queensland Chapter. She is an ambassador of Rotary Club International-Semarang Branch in Indonesia and co-founder of Gelora Indonesia Community, a group utilising art, culture, education and social activities to help Indonesians.
"Doing a PhD is hard and intensive work so participating in other activities is a good way to stay balanced and motivated," said Ms Sunaharum who last month was named one of seven outstanding Indonesian students in Australia, published in OZIP Magazine (Indo-OZ magazine in Australia).
"I am especially proud of fostering and maintaining good relations between young people of Australia and Indonesia."
QUT's Student Leadership Awards are an initiative of the QUT Alumni Board and recognise QUT students for outstanding leadership and engagement with the university and wider community.
QUT 2015 Student Leadership Awards recipients
2015 Student Leader of the Year
- Tri Mulyani Sunaharum (Doctor of Philosophy, Science and Engineering)
Special Excellence Award
- Amy Gunnell (Bachelor of Engineering, Mechatronic)
- Samuel Turner (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
Student Leadership Excellence Award
- Anja Ali-Haapala (Doctor of Philosophy, Creative Industries)
- Kevin Yow Yeh (Bachelor of Social Work)
- Melissa Blacklock (Bachelor of Education, Secondary)
- Allison Boland (Bachelor of Justice/Bachelor of Laws)
- Corey Curran (Bachelor of Justice/Bachelor of Laws)
- Olivia Hutchinson (Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical)
- Sean Mells (Bachelor of Business(Finance)/Bachelor of Information Technology)
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
