Gender expression and my non-binary identity
A personal reflection by UOW staff member Kit West
Home truths on housing affordability
Exploring solutions to the housing affordability crisis in UOW's latest Luminaries webinar
UOW medical student combines passion for healthcare and literacy
Teaching the next generation.
Dismantling barriers and chasing dreams with the Dylan Alcott Foundation
Meet UOW’s Dylan Alcott Foundation scholars
Diving into marine life mysteries with UOW’s MAVE Lab
Uncovering the work of the Marine Vertebrate Ecology Lab
We bring to life subjects that illustrate the impact our students, teaching, research and graduates make in the world.
The Stand exists to unlock the knowledge and expertise inside the University of Wollongong (UOW), telling stories about our people and their accomplishments that inform, educate and inspire. This magazine was born out of a renewed sense of place, purpose and values that will guide the University in fulfilling its role in exploring how to resolve society’s large and complex social, environmental and economic challenges.
We believe education is one of the most powerful transformative forces on communities and individuals. It opens minds and helps people find purpose, meaning – and solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.
This is our unified story – a story that draws on our past, understands the present, and looks to the future.
Articles
Alumni
A career switch for the good of the planet
When Jay Borchard enrolled at UOW in 2009, he had no idea he would end up in one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries.
Alumni
The power of cultural learning and teaching
For primary school teacher Kye Foster and university lecturer Dr Anthony McKnight, education is much more than what is taught in the classroom.
Alumni
Wheelchair racing legend Louise Sauvage receives Honorary Doctorate
Louise Sauvage has always been driven by a philosophy of “see an opportunity and take it”.
Arts and Culture, Alumni
The importance of the arts
Geoff Morrell’s career is rare. He is among a small cohort of actors to make a career almost exclusively on the Australian screen, with more than 80 screen credits to his name.
Alumni
Fighting for a better life
Travis Fernandez has lived a life of ups and downs, but his passion and savvy for business has helped him thrive.
Alumni
From commerce to choreography
Teagan Huntsdale is passionate about dancing, but her path to business ownership wasn’t as straightforward as you’d expect
Alumni, Business and Economy
Diving into entrepreneurship
When he graduated in 2019, Curtis Tredway thought his love for the ocean would have to wait for the weekends.
Arts and Culture, Alumni
To infinity and beyond
When the Peregrine Lunar Lander blasts off from Cape Canaveral in Florida in early January, the work of a University of Wollongong (UOW) graduate will be on board.
Alumni, Community, Education
The stories that make us better
Artists heal our world in various ways: by celebrating Indigenous heritage, building social cohesion, asking difficult questions or telling enchanting stories to our children.
Alumni, Science and Technology
Building the foundations for an illustrious career
It's been almost a decade since Dr Thong Pham left the University of Wollongong (UOW), but he remembers his time as a Wollongong student as if it were yesterday, down to the free green bus route.
Alumni, Health and Medicine
How coincidence and connections helped a shark attack survivor heal and tell his story
In 2014, exercise science student James Forsyth was completing his Honours project at the University of Wollongong (UOW) when then 21-year-old Brett volunteered for his study.
Alumni
The leap of faith across oceans that paid off
Hermoine Macura-Noble, 42, a UOW communications graduate, author and the first Australian female English-speaking anchor in the Middle East, spoke with Michele Tydd about her ground-breaking international career.
Alumni
Seeking safety, finding belonging
When civil war broke out in her home country, Zeljka Jovanovic’s whole world changed. Her family fled their beloved home to live as refugees and eventually settled in Wollongong. A place they now call home.
Arts and Culture, Alumni
Summer reads from UOW
Dive into the literary worlds of fellow alumni for a summer of imagination and insight.
Alumni, Students
Lessons from motherhood
Laureine Gabriel taught herself English when she moved from Lebanon to Australia, though it was learning how to write academically in English that she found more challenging upon commencing her studies in nursing at UOW Sutherland.
Arts and Culture, Alumni
Following the threads
Creativity is a potent connector to identity, culture, community, and place. For Dr Virginia Keft, it is a conduit to unearthing the vast spectrum of ways we each experience how and where we belong.
Alumni
The business of community
When he started his higher education journey in 1987 at the University of Wollongong (UOW), Matt thought he would be standing in front of a classroom teaching the next generation of students.
Arts and Culture, Alumni
Effecting change for the greater good
From her school days to the present day, Ruby Bisson’s focus has been on creating impact to hopefully change behaviours and attitudes for the greater good.
Alumni
For the love of sport
Paul Smith was working at a furniture store in Wollongong when he saw an advertisement in the local newspaper that would completely change the course of his life.
Alumni
Living the career dream
From backpack to briefcase, many of us have felt the fear of stepping into the ‘real world’ once we graduate.
Alumni
Redefining a career in nursing
Naomi and Anthony took their UOW degrees in very different directions. From educating and preventing HIV in community to a role in disaster education and response with the WHO, these are two careers that redefine nursing.
Alumni
UOW graduates living large in New York’s finance bullseye
For more than two centuries New York’s finance district has stood as a symbol of financial power and success.
Alumni
Chasing calm
Chelsea Pottenger was fighting for her life in a psychiatric hospital when she made the decision to focus on how she wanted to feel. Calm. She moved out of the city, left her corporate career and learned the tools to achieve this feeling. Then she set out to help others feel it too.
Alumni
Why this UOW graduate quit his dream job
Picture this: You land your dream job shortly after graduating. A job where you can wear thongs to work, get to travel the world and no one gets fired for going surfing. Fast forward nearly 10 years – you decide to move on to something new.
Alumni
Carving a legal career outside of the courtroom
Currently working with the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet as a principal policy advisor in countering violent extremism, most of Jenna's career has been in disability. About this she says, “I didn't go into disability because I had a disability. I honestly didn’t realise – until after the first cornea transplant – that things were pretty dire.”
Alumni
Getting salty for the planet
Blend ESQ Founder and Director Robyn Johnson has spent two decades guiding businesses to operate within our environmental laws and influencing environmental controls on significant projects. But when she looked through the lens of a group of ten-year-old students, she began to question whether she was genuinely using her skills to the greatest impact.
Alumni
Transforming how families raise financially fit Aussie kids
Dr Alex Badran says the best career advice he has received was from a nine-year-old he calls Pickles.
Alumni
Riding the career wave
Luke Madden went from surfing waves at Cronulla beach to becoming one of the youngest CEOs in Australia.
Alumni
Giving voice to Country
Peter Hewitt, a Yuin artist and teacher, is introducing people to Country through his art and work in education.
Alumni
Crippling doubts that can sabotage career dreams
Call it a self-confidence crisis or an anxiety trait, Imposter Syndrome is a scourge that can insidiously scuttle the best of careers.
Alumni
Circularity looks good on you
The evidence of climate change is irrefutable, and according to the United Nations Environment Programme, our societal addiction to low-priced fast fashion is playing a significant part.
Alumni
Migration as art
For Stephen Copland, the chance discovery of his Cuban grandmother’s diary prompted a fundamental shift in his artistic practice, beginning a 30-year voyage that would give rise to a compelling new museum project in Italy.
Alumni
How to fight the war on waste
Every item we buy and throw away has an environmental footprint and Australians toss out a lot.
Alumni
Putting science education under the microscope
The University of Wollongong graduates whose passion for science is helping change the world.
Alumni
The accident that nearly ended Sarah Carli’s Olympic dream
During a routine training session at the gym, Sarah Carli faced a life-threatening injury. After emergency surgery, she was told she couldn’t exercise for five months. Competing in the Tokyo Olympics five months later seemed impossible.
Alumni
Beyond the breakers
With its stunning beaches and surf breaks, the Illawarra is renowned for producing talented professional surfers. But for every young athlete that makes it on the competition circuit, countless others don’t – so it’s crucial to prepare for alternate futures.
Alumni
Community, connections and giving back
For some, graduating from the University of Wollongong (UOW) means leaving an era of study and late nights behind, but for others, maintaining a connection with their alma mater has proven invaluable.
Alumni
Educating politics
The best intentions on entering politics often get swallowed up in the game. But for Jihad Dib MP – NSW Member for Lakemba and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services and Energy and Climate Change – his motivation is the same as it has always been: to change lives for the better.
Alumni
Graham West: ‘a good bloke’ working tirelessly to help the homeless
Graham West remembers a brief but poignant conversation decades ago at Sydney’s Central Rail Station when a homeless man stopped him for the time.
Alumni
Meet the UOW graduate tackling loneliness through storytelling
Tessa Blencowe understands loneliness. The UOW business and journalism graduate-turned-counsellor has spent years learning what it means for people to be lonely, and how we can address it as a society.
Alumni
Life-changing innovation for the disabled and their carers
When Danny Hui graduated from the University of Wollongong (UOW) in 1999, his engineering degree launched him on an exciting and varied career in the electricity industry.
Alumni
Climate change: a defining moment
Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and as the United Nations has emphasised, we are at a defining moment.
Alumni
10 tips to help manage post-grad anxiety
Completing University is both exciting and stress inducing. As one chapter closes and another begins, many students worry about the uncertainty of the future. This transition period can spike anxiety levels, leaving new graduates feeling overwhelmed with the change. Fortunately, there are ways that you can manage this post-grad anxiety and step into your bright future with confidence.
Alumni
Creating change
Mark Dombkins and his wife Anna had just adopted three children in Tanzania. As Mark walked out of the baby home and passed by other children who wouldn’t be coming home with him, he asked himself, what needs to change?
Alumni
Nature and nurture
For Amanda Essery, Founder and CEO of award-winning premium Australian lifestyle brand Lovekins, creating a business around loving care for people and the planet was like coming home.
Alumni
The heart of social justice
On paper, Dr Romina Santos Reyftmann may look like your typical high achiever: years of study in medicine and law, helping establish a successful fertility clinic with one of Australia’s leading IVF teams, and extensive high-impact work in First Nations justice and human rights law. But you don’t have to dig deeply to see that every success has been hard-won.
Alumni
Harnessing data to solve problems
From predicting when an airplane needs servicing to increasing the number of mattresses sold at a furniture start-up, this former BlueScope cadet shows how diverse a career in mathematics can be.
Alumni
Building a business in Asia with roots in Wollongong
Starting university can mean a lot of change. For some students, it’s the first time they leave home – perhaps even the first time they learn how to cook for themselves or do their laundry.
Alumni
From crash to Colombian classroom
Misfortune can change lives for the better, but that was the last thing on Ed Broadbent’s mind when he found himself on an operating table in India waiting for doctors to mend his broken body.
Alumni
How this UOW graduate is improving health outcomes for Australians
In June 2022, UOW graduate and CEO of Australian Pathology, Liesel Wett, was awarded the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to medical administration, particularly during COVID-19. A few weeks earlier, we visited Liesel at her office in Canberra and asked her about her role at the outbreak of the pandemic.
Alumni
UOW graduate visits campus after two decades
After more than 20 years, Sri Lankan graduate, Shironica Karunanayaka, returned to the University of Wollongong (UOW) campus.
Alumni
Risk taking, patience and dream jobs
Nicholas Underhill’s career is one that many would dream of having – he’s worked with some of the world’s top musicians at Spotify and is now in a senior marketing role at Google in New York City. But Nicholas didn’t get there overnight – it took commitment, time, and risk.
Alumni
BlueScope cadet alumni stories
From its earliest beginnings, the University of Wollongong was formed in partnership with industry. A cadetship program with BHP and now BlueScope was established more than 40 years ago and continues to develop an outstanding group of leaders.
Alumni
The journey of a parenting expert
He’s carved out a reputation as one of Australia’s best known parenting experts, but this 24/7 job was not something that always came easily.
Alumni
From Berkeley to Boral
Zlatko Todorcevski is living proof that the path to a successful international career at the highest executive levels is not always paved with privilege.
Alumni
Trading steel for silicon
A cadetship at the local steelworks might seem an unusual path to an international career with some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names. But for Omar Devlin, it provided a perfect grounding in solving complex problems.
Alumni
Dynamic Duo
Meet Michael and Natalie Chapman. Despite having two very different careers, the couple share a deep passion and accomplishment in their work.
Alumni
Set up for success
A BlueScope cadetship sent Deborah De Santis on a pathway to become a business leader in the Illawarra.
Alumni
For the love of health and education
Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
Alumni
Determination breeds innovation
When University of Wollongong alumna, Maryanne Harris was completing her exercise science degree, she could never have predicted where her career would take her. Stumbling into the wrong things, paired with her passion for helping people, became the driving force in her life.
Alumni
Champion of change
UOW alumna Carol Kiernan has been instrumental in achieving equality for women in the Australian Honours by co-founding 'Honour a Woman'.
Alumni
Disrupting the logistics space
Budi Handoko is an ideas man. Despite growing up in the small Indonesian town of Singkawang, West Kalimantan, his vision for himself was cross-continental.
Alumni
Superwomen of STEM
In recent years, the cry to get more women into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers – and support them to flourish – has amplified. The Australian Government’s Advancing Women in STEM strategy stands beside significant action in schools, universities and businesses, all aiming to increase gender equity.
Alumni
The future of work
In 2019, trying to get a seat on a train or navigating peak hour traffic was a daily struggle as 26,000 Illawarra workers made their way to work. But in 2020, commuting became something only essential workers braved, while the rest of us set up makeshift offices in the kitchen, bedroom or garage.
Alumni
Life’s circles
When Zachary Bennett-Brook and his partner Tara Burrows decided to marry in spring last year they weren’t going to let a pandemic dampen proceedings.
Alumni
Double Vision
Amy and Beth Glancey are a formidable force. The identical twins share far more than a birthdate and mirror-image DNA – both are articulate, insightful communicators, positively crackling with energy, ambition and the confidence to achieve anything they set their minds to.
Alumni
Traversing career stereotypes
Throughout history, women and men have chosen careers that were either expected, inherited or simply all that were available to them. Choices were limited, particularly for women who were often guided into caring and nurturing roles such as nursing or teaching, while men were steered towards more physically taxing or technical endeavours.
Alumni
Mothers of our inventions
Until recently, the research of women’s diseases has often been pushed to the sideline. As a result, many female-specific conditions have been misdiagnosed or ignored.
Alumni
Celebrating diversity
When Aurora Green arrived at UOW last year from country NSW to begin her Bachelor of Social Work, no one knew she was transgender.
Alumni
The gentleman fighter
You can’t help but smile when you meet him. Lovemore by name, love more by nature.
Alumni
Ones to follow
UOW alumni are ambitious, creative and connected and they’re gaining quite a following. Here are just a few we like to follow.
Alumni
Addressing the ongoing gender divide
The push for gender equality that was felt around the world in the 1960s was never going to be a simple process. More than half a century later, despite much progress, the pace of change appears to be failing expectations.
Alumni
Balancing the gender scale of justice
Since early British settlement in Australia, those in powerful positions – creating & adjudicating on the law, running national political agenda & making key corporate decisions –have traditionally been predominantly male. While striking the gender balance in many top jobs across industries continues to be a work in progress, the NSW Local Court is close to achieving gender parity in magistrates.
Alumni
The crisis in afforable housing
Going around to grandma’s for a cuddle and cuppa is becoming an increasingly rare occurrence, not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, but because of the rising incidence of homelessness for women aged over 55.
Alumni
In her words
A digital revolution unfolds, as survivors of sexual assault make their voices heard.
Alumni
Females on the political frontline
Parliaments ideally are supposed to mirror society but Australia is still struggling to boost female political representation. Outlook spoke to three UOW alumni to find out why they chose political careers and discuss their views on how to attract more women into politics.
Alumni
Fashion forward
There’s no denying our alumni have style. Meet two UOW graduates making their mark in high fashion on a national and global scale.
Alumni
Meet our 2021 Alumni Award winners
The annual UOW Alumni awards recognise exceptional alumni who are making a mark in the world as leaders, innovators and game changers.
Alumni
Celebrating our alumni connections
With more than 170,000 alumni across the globe and counting, the Alumni Relations Team endeavours to engage with our vibrant network of alumni doing amazing things all over the world. Throughout 2021, we were fortunate to connect, collaborate and celebrate with alumni in a variety of different ways.
Alumni
Creating a healthy country
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and with a shortage of doctors across regional, rural and remote Australia, it’s a tough time to practise medicine in country towns.
Alumni
Analysing infectious diseases
Richard White is an infectious diseases statistician, working in the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The UOW alumnus talks about his career path, and the choices that led him to put his skills and expertise to work on health statistics in the battleground against some of the world’s most frightening disease outbreaks.
General tags, Alumni, Arts and Culture
Meet the music journalist making noise
Through hard work and hustle, David James Young has become one of the best young music journalists on the scene. But it has not always been easy.
General tags, Alumni, Arts and Culture, Education
How Zac is living the dream
For the past five years, Zachary Bennett-Brook's life has been sprinkled with a series of what he calls "pinch me" moments.
General tags, Alumni, Environment and Energy, Health and Medicine
A doctor's search for adventure
From Arnhem Land to Antarctica, Dr Rhys Harding has always searched for adventure. Now, the UOW graduate has certainly found it, as the only doctor on the ground at a research station in Antartica.
Alumni
Taking charge of sustainable business
An interest sparked during an undergraduate product marketing subject, combined with a personal passion for automobiles created the perfect formula for a diverse marketing and PR career journey for UOW Business alumnus, Ross Purdy.
Alumni
Creating a brighter future for Papua New Guineans
Life in the third world has never been easy. Access to health care, sanitation, education and general safety has been a constant battle for many. The Coronavirus pandemic has added a whole new layer of health management to an already underprivileged nation.
Alumni
Blasting into a promising mining career
UOW Engineering alumna Ellie Hawkins' mining engineering career has started with a bang.
Alumni
A sustainable lens on COVID-19
Dr Belinda Gibbons is a Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong. On September 25th 2015, 193 member states came together to sign Agenda 2030.
Alumni
Marching to a different beat
The music industry has been one of the hardest hit by the global Coronavirus pandemic, forcing artists and festival organisers to rethink the way they present their concerts and events.
Alumni
Permission to imagine
It’s not always that we take our Dad’s advice, but when Kendra Rogers was considering her options after high school in Canada, a pearl of wisdom from her Dad made a huge impact.
Alumni
Protecting paradise
From a young age, Ahmed Adham Abdulla (Adham) loved the sea and swimming in clear lagoons with friends and family. Which is understandable growing up with the pristine waters of the Maldives on your doorstep.
Alumni
Re-birthing regional medical care
General Practitioner, GP Obstetrician and GP educator. Dr Teena Downton has her hands well and truly full wearing three very important hats.
Alumni
Off to a flying start
Rajvir Singh has had a soaring start to his career. Less than two years ago, while studying towards a computer science degree, he landed a graduate position in financial services with Macquarie Group, Hong Kong, combining his skills and passion for technology with real-world problem solving.
Alumni
Putting people first
As organisations find themselves adopting a culture of remote working, keeping employees connected and engaged is more important than ever.
Alumni
The Australian bushfire crisis
When we think of summer time, we think of barbeques, late afternoon swims at the beach, and enjoying time with friends and family. It’s been a summer like no other. The ABC reported that more than 12.6 million acres across Australia were burned, 434 million tonnes of CO2 was emitted, half the population was affected by smoke and an estimated one billion animals were killed.
Alumni
Life in lockdown
UOW Bachelor of Engineering alumnus Paul Batten lives and works in Barcelona, Spain and started living the quarantine life from March 1, 2020.
Alumni
We're all in this together
There’s no denying the enormous impact that COVID-19 has had on our university students. From adjusting to online learning and becoming experts in Zoom calls, to dealing with the financial struggle following job losses.
Alumni
The city that never sleeps, comes to a standstill
A concrete jungle where dreams are made of. Where vagabond shoes are longing to stray. New York, New York. It was a city that never slept, until it woke up in a nightmare where it became the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic and the city came to an abrupt standstill.
Alumni
Making better financial decisions
There’s nothing like a global pandemic to force us to reassess our lives and lifestyle. Things we previously took for granted have suddenly leapt into focus, and we are paying much closer attention to the things that keep us safe and secure.
Alumni
Life in lockdown
Jiayuan Liu tells us that while the lockdown period was not easy - there were some silver linings. The UOW Master of Engineering alumna lives and works in Wuhan, China, and like many thousands in her community, was only able to leave her home after the nearly two-and-a-half month lockdown was officially lifted on April 8, 2020.
Alumni
Meet our 2020 Alumni Awards winners
Each year, UOW Alumni Awards uncover exceptional alumni who are making a mark in the world. In 2020 we proudly celebrate the achievements of four outstanding winners who are taking great strides in their careers, creating innovation in business, demonstrating professional excellence and having a remarkable impact on society.
Alumni
Connecting our global community
Throughout 2020 we were fortunate to be able to connect, collaborate and engage with our global community of more than 160,000 UOW alumni.
Alumni
The ones to follow
The talent, creativity and impact of UOW alumni and academics reach far and wide. These are just a few we like to follow. This is the world from their perspective.
General tags, Alumni, Education, Environment and Energy, Science and Technology
Laura Wells
Scientist, model, environmentalist, television presenter, and all-round passionate human being, Laura Wells defies expectations.
General tags, Alumni, Community, Environment and Energy, Study areas, Science and Technology
Turning the tide on plastic pollution
Global plastic pollution is reaching crisis level. This has severe implications for our oceans, our environment, our wildlife and our health, now and into the future. But is it too late to end the plastic pandemic?
Alumni
Adventures of the brain and mind
From ski slopes to start-up hubs, Blake has covered a lot of ground in her career to date. Within a week, she moves between mind-bending research projects and creative enterprises.
Alumni
Bring it back to Earth
Think of space and what comes to mind? Missions to Mars or the Moon, and searching for life on distant planets.
Alumni
Delivering sustainability
Australia Post isn’t just about delivering your mail these days. It is also delivering on its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as are many other Australian businesses, big and small.
Alumni
Eye for design
At 31 years old, the Hong Kong based entrepreneur swapped the aviators for creating his own brand of designer glasses – now worn by celebrities, fashion elite and even royalty around the world.
Alumni
Forging skills in demand
As the world enters Industry 4.0 or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, many are wondering how the impacts of new automated technologies will affect our jobs as we know it.
Alumni
Going places
Across the world, UOW alumni continue to connect, collaborate and innovate. With more than 156,000 alumni across the globe and counting, the Alumni Relations Team endeavours to keep in touch with as many of you as possible. We love celebrating your achievements and sharing with you the significant impact UOW researchers are having on our communities.
Alumni
In pursuit of excellence
The UOW Alumni Awards shine a light on inspiring alumni working to make a sustained difference in the world. Meet the 2019 recipients, bringing their passion and expertise to advance research, innovation and education, reshape industries and save lives – now and into the future.
Alumni
Microfinancing for macro results
After her husband lost his job, Lalani, a woman in rural Sri Lanka, needed something that would provide an income for her family, but allow her to stay at home and look after her newborn child.
Alumni
Out of the box
There’s no substitute to hands-on training – or is there? Two University of Wollongong alumni are proving there is.
Alumni
Painting the town silver
How a desire to help Australia’s ageing population has inspired one UOW graduate to create a unique walking and falls prevention program that’s changing lives.
Alumni
Riding the cyber highway
A courageous move to Singapore to take on the role as Head of Security Risk for an international banking group opened up an unexpected cyber journey for Kate Healy.
Alumni
Space without borders
Meet Usman Iftikhar, a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur on a mission to democratise space to drive sustainable development.
Alumni
The Year at UOW
Closer partnerships with communities, research to solve real-world challenges, and transformative student experiences. 2019 has been a year of impact, with the University of Wollongong striving to meet its strategic goal of transforming people and the world we live in.
Alumni
True crime wave
Exploring the ethics and boundaries at play in true crime podcasting. “A beautiful young girl has lost her life, and she’s just been treated like a piece of garbage.”
Alumni
Working for change
In the early 90s Paul Power landed what was then considered a sought-after job in journalism on a regional daily that was one of the first in Australia to embrace colour in its page design.
Alumni
A life-changing gift
It is a gesture that is, as yet, unquantifiable. But the impact on the health of our communities is full of possibility.
Alumni
A numbers game
Mathematics is not only a lot more fun and creative than most of us realise; according to Professor Aidan Sims, it is fundamental to nearly every aspect of our modern lives.
Alumni
Addressing the mega challenges in a changing world
UOW has formed strong international and domestic institutional research collaborations to tackle serious issues impacting our global population, according to Professor Paul Wellings CBE, Vice-Chancellor.
Alumni
Breaking new ground
At 28, Sally Riley left her family home in country New South Wales and headed to the University of Wollongong with the idea of becoming an actor.
Alumni
Food for thought
When it comes to mental health and behaviour, the brain has long been thought of as the primary therapeutic target – with mixed results and often undesirable side effects. But a growing body of evidence suggests that our diet and gut microbiota could play a much bigger role than first thought.
Alumni
Making an impact
The UOW alumni community is made up of some pretty incredible people. Here we celebrate members of our global community who are establishing themselves as tomorrow’s leaders.
Alumni
One sense of purpose, multiple careers
In a bold and rewarding move, UOW Commerce alumnae Anna Broadhead and Kristy Duffy traded corporate careers for a passion project.
Alumni
A passion for public service
Who would have thought that when Gareth Ward became the disabilities officer at the University of Wollongong, that – fast forward almost 20 years – he would be the first NSW Minister for Disability Services who actually had a disability?
Alumni
A spirited start-up
Two words aptly define young businessman, Dean Martelozzo – diligent and determined – whether it’s the focus and discipline to power through daily work challenges, the resilience to overcome traumatic injury, or the drive to chase the big dreams.
Alumni
Champion of change
When asked about it, Wett dismisses the superhero image as just a joke. But take a look at her career and you might see the Wonder Woman image is more apt than she lets on.
Alumni
Realising the power of journalism
On Alice Matthews’ very first reporting shift for radio current affairs on ABC, she learnt a valuable lesson as a journalist: the story you think you’re going to cover, may not be the story you file at the end of the day.
Alumni
The cutting edge of anatomy
As an outdoors country girl growing up in Wagga, Katie Gaskin’s limited television time would play a pivotal role in moulding her unusual career ambition.
Alumni
China Alumni Events
Thank you for attending our alumni events in China in October. It was great to see so many alumni enjoying each others company and making connections.
Alumni
AI at work
Joel Robbie started Nod as a way to solve a family problem. Now the fintech start-up has been listed on KPMG’s coveted FinTech 100 as a company to watch.
Alumni
An energising international career
An interest in ethical investments has sparked a global career for UOW alumna Maree Myerscough (nee Costello) which has seen her work recognised on the world stage.
Alumni
Art for all
Aaron Seeto is the Director of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Museum MACAN), the first museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art in Indonesia. He spoke to Leanne Newsham about his passion for making art and art education more accessible to the public.
Alumni
Larger than life
In just three short years, Claire Foxton has expanded her already impressive creative repertoire from artist, designer and print maker, to internationally accomplished muralist.
Alumni
Lisa Havilah: a creative powerhouse
In 2003, a controversial art exhibition in Western Sydney examined the life and death of Blacktown woman Anita Cobby. The exhibition ‘Anita and Beyond‘- the brainchild of the then Casula Powerhouse director, Kon Gouriotis - involved 12 artists and reams of social history material including personal memorabilia linked to the aftermath of a crime committed in 1986.
Alumni
Nursing on the front line
If you were stranded on a deserted island – or in a jungle, or a conflict zone, or in the middle of an earthquake – what would you take? You’d take Russell Banks, if you wanted to survive. The no-fear nurse has saved countless lives in all kinds of remote locations and precarious situations – and has ample tales to tell from his many adventures.
Alumni
The Wright stuff
Matthew Wright remembers his University of Wollongong graduation ceremony in 1994 with great pride as well as a touch of amusement over dodging a wardrobe malfunction.
Alumni
Advocating for our oceans
It’s not perhaps an obvious place from which to change the world. ANCORS is easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The building on the Innovation Campus that houses it doesn’t even carry its name.
Alumni
Living a life of purpose
In 2010, Maryanne Harris was an exercise science student at UOW when her partner of three years was involved in a balcony collapse.
Alumni
No boulder too big
Mikayla Dennelly has trained her sights on setting the advertising world on fire, and she has the ambition, energy and drive to do just that.
Alumni
The ones to follow
UOW alumni are ambitious, creative and connected and they’re gaining quite a following. Here are just a few we like to follow.
General tags, Alumni, Community
parkrun: the 5-kilometre community
How this worldwide event is promoting active lifestyles, encouraging volunteers and building a community.
Alumni
Recruiting success
In their first semester studying for a commerce degree at University of Wollongong, Tom Moore and Luke Rix failed accountancy 101.
Alumni
Window of opportunity in Illawarra Flame House
If you’ve ever wondered how to get a whole house through customs, Lloyd Niccol is your man.
Alumni
Global correspondent
Lu has worked for major news outlets in Paris, Belfast, London and Sydney.
Alumni
Striving for inclusivity
Children from Mogo Primary School gather on the University of Wollongong’s Batemans Bay regional campus.
Alumni
Putting heart into homes
UOW alumni Clayton McDowell and Emily Ryan want to shake-up standard practice in the construction industry. They focus on building homes that are sustainable and fit for all stages of life.
Alumni
Fighting crime by the numbers
“The work I do is definitely demanding and challenging and can be daunting at times. But at the end of the day it’s intellectually rewarding for me.”
Alumni
The Google within
Transitioning from the top echelons of a centuries-old global banking institution to the fluid and freewheeling world of Google might be a daunting prospect for some. Not so for Brendan Castle.
Alumni
Making waves
As an athlete, Jessica Smith overcame her disability to represent Australia at the highest international level.
Alumni
Mem Fox on mice, migrants and the magic of reading aloud
At the time, a young, unpublished Mem Fox was sending her first manuscript out to publishing houses, hoping to add Hush the Invisible Mouse to the landscape.
Alumni
Mike's TV reality
There’s not a suit or a tie in sight on the 20th floor of Mike Sneesby’s Kent Street headquarters in Sydney. There is clean, barely furnished spaces and sweeping views over Darling Harbour, Western Sydney and to the Blue Mountains beyond.
Alumni
Recognising exceptional alumni
Meet this year’s recipients, delivering real and sustained impact across research, innovation and business and create a better society for us all.
Alumni
Making an impact
The UOW alumni community is made up of some pretty incredible people. Here we celebrate younger members of our global community who are establishing themselves as tomorrow’s leaders.
Alumni
New insights into Australia's ancient story
Storytelling has been a constant feature of human life on earth. But how do we piece together evidence and narratives to paint a picture of the human and natural history of a continent over 130,000 years?
Alumni
Home is where the art is
What started life as an art-based project for teenagers to collaborate on at Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre, has grown into a community festival and campaign aiming to change the way the world sees the suburb.
Alumni
The secret to truly smart cities
Smart lights, smart water meters, smart waste disposal, even smart parking are great ideas, but if only a section of the community can use it, is it really as smart as we think?
Alumni
Residents bloom in Desert Rose House
Cameron Porter explains that a well-designed home can be inexpensive and maintain the quality of life for our ageing population.
Alumni
The year at UOW
For UOW, 2018 has been a year defined by where we’re from, and a year that defined where we’re going.
Alumni
Beyond the laboratory
Dr Dixit uses his scientific background and profile to address health and environmental issues affecting developing countries, including his home country of Nepal.
Alumni
A platform for change
When you meet Dominique, it’s easy to see the role that passion and purpose have played in her rapid career trajectory since she graduated little more than 10 years ago.
Alumni
Living the luxe life
Luxury brands have a way of making a sophisticated lifestyle look effortless. Jessica Sparks spoke to three UOW alumni working for luxury brands and discovered it’s not all jet planes, islands and tigers on a gold leash.
Alumni
A house like no other
It is almost impossible to think of Sydney without conjuring to mind one or both of the city’s major landmarks: the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.
Alumni
Banking on change
It’s a turbulent time in the world of banking. According to James Wyatt, that just makes it all the more exciting.
General tags, Alumni, Arts and Culture
Indigenous storytelling finds new voices
From ancient dreaming stories to Indigenous youth of today, Kirli Saunders is giving back to community through Indigenous storytelling.
Alumni
The tech of success
We spoke with Nick Lazaridis, president of HP Inc’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa about succeeding in a global career, exciting tech developments and what inspires him.
Alumni
Using the brain on the bench
Electromaterials pioneer and NSW Scientist of the Year, Professor Gordon Wallace has discovered an innovative way to read your mind.
Alumni
All care, great responsibility
"Something I learned very early in my career is that one letter to a politician is worth much more than a New England Journal of Medicine publication."
Alumni
Queen Ita: Still ruling with style
First of all it would be helpful if we could get over the sensitivity in admitting, ‘I’m a feminist’.
Alumni
2017 Alumni Awards
Each year, UOW Alumni Awards uncover exceptional alumni making an impact in diverse fields of endeavour right across the globe.
Alumni
Gilly goes to Google
UOW Brand Ambassador and Aussie cricketing legend Adam Gilchrist AM had an inspiring message for Google’s staff when he visited recently.
Alumni
Home and away
The Alumni Relations Team’s mission is to connect with as many UOW alumni as possible, no matter where they are in the world. Considering there are over 140,000 UOW alumni worldwide, this is no small feat. Luckily we love what we do and are always looking for new ways to reach out and offer you a reason to stay in touch with us.
Alumni
Tangling with Tertangala
The Tertangala has been UOW’s student magazine – by students for students – since 1962. In the intervening decades it has been a forum for political, controversial, subversive and just plain funny commentary. We bring you five former editors, and the two current editors, of the Tert to talk about what the magazine meant to them and what the big issues have been over the years.
Alumni
The gift of innovation
Dr Roland Bigg’s uncle taught him what the big things in life were about. Now his gift will have a big impact on the lives of many others.
Alumni
Answering the call
On the 10th anniversary of the Learning and Development Scholarship Fund, Randi Morris looks back on what it has achieved.
Alumni
Paying it forward
Five young graduates spoke to Julie-Ann Jeffery about how you can make a difference at any age.
Alumni
The year at UOW
UOW has continued to strengthening our ties with the community, invest in global impact research, and support society domestically, all while enriching and inspiring students with an unforgettable experience.
Alumni
Start-ups igniting the world
Bernie Goldie spoke to the UOW graduates taking on the world as global entrepreneurs.
Alumni
Making an impact in 2017
Celebrating alumni who are establishing themselves as the leaders of tomorrow.
Alumni
The ones to follow
UOW alumni are ambitious, creative and connected and they’re gaining quite a following. Here are just a few we like to follow.
Alumni
Susan Zhang holds up a torch
Susan Zhang describes her role as holding up a torch to all the scary and exciting possibilities the future holds.
General tags, Alumni
Meet the makers – Katherine Sabbath
Katherine Sabbath is a baking queen - a cake creative with an international cult following of more than 435,000 on Instagram. Her creations have inspired thousands of home bakers around the world, she has published her own pop-up cake cookbook and appeared as a guest chef on the 2018 season of MasterChef. But she wasn't always a professional baker.
General tags, Alumni, Health and Medicine
Male nurses determined to break reverse glass ceiling
Simon Lovatt, who graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from UOW when he was 51-years-old, has joined a growing cohort of male nurses determined to break into the traditionally female dominated industry.
Alumni
2016 Alumni Awards
Across the globe UOW alumni continue to dissolve the boundaries of what’s possible.
Alumni
2016 at UOW
Strengthening our ties with the community. Investing in research that will have a global impact while helping society on a local level. Providing current and past students with an experience that is enriching, inspiring, and unforgettable.
Alumni
Making an impact in 2016
A celebration of alumni aged under 35.
Alumni
Food security
In 2014-2015, a staggering 63.4 per cent of Australian adults were overweight or obese – well over half of our nation. But believe it or not, Australia – one of the world’s richest countries – has a food security problem.
Alumni
Telling the forgotten stories
Stephen Dupont’s chosen direction in life has seen him narrowly dodge bullets in war-torn countries in a bid to cover the forgotten stories.
Alumni
Finding the 'why'
When Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, Professor Alison Jones, was also appointed as UOW’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health Strategy) in April, the appointment turned heads in Australian university circles.
Alumni
Giants in their regions
Universities are significant institutions central to the nation’s social and economic development. They achieve this in two major ways. First, by training highly skilled individuals. Second, by creating new knowledge and novel technologies. Both these outputs shape national competitiveness and contribute to our distinctive identity.
Alumni
The art of influence
Though it is easy to see branding as being about logos, typefaces and taglines, in reality these elements are part of a much bigger picture.
Alumni
Breaking through boundaries
New drugs to combat cancer, a ‘game-changing’ renewable battery made from salt, and a remarkable discovery that changed our understanding of early human dispersal and evolution.
Alumni
Not so black and white
Checking the (physical) mailbox is not something I think too much about. If there’s anything in there, it’s usually a reminder to pay an outrageously expensive fine from the time I didn’t ‘tap on’ the train, or another Time magazine renewal offer (with a free tote bag), or sometimes a note from that one travelling friend that thinks postcards quaint.
Alumni
Aboriginal women speak
We spoke with three influential Aboriginal women with strong ties to UOW: an Elder, an alumna and a student.
Alumni
A curious traveller
Acclaimed painter and printmaker Guy Warren AM believes that creativity is in everyone – it’s just a matter of thinking outside the box and trying something different.
Alumni
A dream come true
"Getting up and running in a high pressure, high expectations environments on the other side of the world was like climbing a mountain."
Alumni
Culture in transit
When it comes to international influences for his work, Dr Laurens Tan has it covered; few other artists consider themselves concurrently a local in Las Vegas, Beijing and Wollongong.
Alumni
Shifting perspectives
As the world continues to open up and boundaries become more fluid, the notion of identity becomes ever more complex.
Alumni
A gift to water the seeds of innovation
Former University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon AO and his wife Suzanne Walker have gifted more than $1 million to UOW for a fund that fosters innovation and supports excellence.
Alumni
The ties that bind
You probably started with educating people, particularly the young, who will be tomorrow’s makers, thinkers and leaders.
Alumni
One degree, two paths
Though they have each ventured down different paths in their careers, each could not be prouder of the other's achievements.
Alumni
Wollongong to Wall Street
"It is important to give back to the University; to help our graduates get good jobs, apply what they’ve learned and give them the opportunity to take it to the next level."
Alumni
Quantum computing
There is much excitement about the global race to develop a quantum computer. But only recently has the warning been sounded that a more important race must be run first – one to prevent this new technology from crippling current cybersecurity methods, which could expose vaults of data to snoops and hackers.
Alumni
Luxury, style, and sheer hard work
"I think it’s really important for you to be constantly looking for and thinking of new ideas, and embracing what’s next."
Alumni
From the waiting room to the boardroom
"You need to have strong drive and the passion and motivation to take a company to new heights to be able to meet the challenges you will face in business."
Alumni
Women, STEM and mentoring
We spoke with Catherine Feldhausen, Director Strategy and Marketing Enablement at Asia Microsoft Services about her global career, the importance of gender diversity in STEM and the power of connections.
Alumni
The ones to follow
The talent, creativity and impact of UOW alumni and academics reach far and wide. These are just a few we like to follow. This is the world from their perspective.
Alumni
Connecting alumni worldwide in 2016
The global alumni community is a valuable network to tap into, and the Alumni Relations Team offers a range of events, opportunities and Chapters to help you make the most of it.
Alumni
The barefoot teacher
Young and boisterous children sit in silent awe when James MacDiarmid’s classes start rolling.
Alumni
Blazing a trail
Women are still the exception in the upper echelons of management and power despite decades spent trying to smash the glass ceiling. Keeli Cambourne reflects on her experiences and spoke to those leading the way on workplace gender equality.
Alumni
If the shoe fits
Matt Bernson studied for a year at UOW in 2000 while on exchange. He spoke with Keeli Cambourne about his muse, Toyota LandCruisers and Courteney Cox.
Alumni
Garnering Googlers
UOW alumnus Sunil Chandra leads the team that not only hires and assesses the best candidates to work at the ultimate tech-heads’ dream job, but supports them once they’re on board.
Alumni
The voice of the audience
Sumi Barry, Senior Vice-President of Consumer and Market Intelligence at NBC Entertainment talks to Keeli Cambourne about her not-so-fairy tale climb to the top.
Alumni
Getting the London Vibe
With a Bachelor of Education from the University of Wollongong in his hand, Paul Harris headed to London in 2000 seeking experience and excitement, but things weren’t as easy as he expected.
Alumni
Natural advantages
UOW alumnus and nationally recognised economics correspondent Adam Creighton shares his insight on economic activity in Australia.
Alumni
Storyteller at heart
As a high school student, Kumi Taguchi developed a love for documentaries and stories from around the world: a passion that’s evident in her work as a senior anchor on ABC News 24.
Alumni
Communicating passions
Communicating the vision of multinational corporations is a speciality of Luke Fredberg. He discusses with UOW Outlook Magazine his current focus – CBS Corporation and the Golden Age of Television.