UWA Alumni

🌊🎉 Happy World Oceans Day! 🌍💙 Let’s come together to honour the beauty and majesty of our oceans!

The reasons we value the ocean are many. Oceans regulate climate, generate much of the oxygen we breathe, and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people, all underpinned by an astonishing diversity of life.

They also inspire wonder, discovery and scientific exploration.

For more than two decades, Professor Jessica Meeuwig AM, Wen Family Chair in Conservation at The University of Western Australia, has worked to understand and document marine biodiversity across Australia's oceans and beyond. Read all about her research and share your love for our oceans today!

https://ow.ly/KqWN50Z8Fw2

World Ocean Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the ocean's extraordinary contribution to our planet and reflect on our responsibility to understand and protect it. 🌊✨

Congratulations to UWA alumni Dr Jim Giumelli (BE '69, DEng '17), Dr Daniel Hunt (MBBS '11, DMD '16) and Jack Anderson (BPhil Hons '23), for their remarkable achievements in the 2026 Western Australian of the Year awards ✨

Engineering grad, and 2017 Honorary Doctorate recipient, Dr Giumelli, was named Western Australian of the Year for his for his visionary civil construction career and youth mentorship. As founder of civil construction company Ertech, he introduced an employee ownership model, giving staff a stake in the company’s fortunes, with 34 employees today also being co-owners. He also founded Motivation Foundation (originally Ertech Construction Academy) to mentor and train young people - many from disadvantaged backgrounds - to reach their career aspirations. Beyond business and mentoring, Dr Giumelli is known for his generosity as a philanthropist, giving through Ertech and the Giumelli Family Foundation, supporting medical research, UWA's Ezone project and scholarships for rural students.

Dr Daniel Hunt, a Jaru and Indjibarndi man, General Practitioner, and nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal health, was named 2026 Woodside Energy Professions Award Winner, while innovative education leader, and Co-Founder of Elucidate Education, Jack Anderson, was awarded BHP Youth Award Winner, for his growing influence in global education and policy reform.

We also extend our congratulations to the other UWA alumni Dr Carolyn Chard AM, Dr Dayna Pool, Gareth Shanthikumar, Dr Haseeb Riaz and Professor Nick Gottardo, for their nominations in this year's awards. We are incredibly proud of your achievements.

(image source: Celebrate WA website)

Make an impact with your research degree at UWA - where leading research happens. Start in 2026 with a scholarship at a Group of Eight university.

Apply by 31 May 👉 https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/explore-courses/higher-degree-by-research?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=meta

Earlier this month, UWA hosted the Singapore Alumni Reception, welcoming more than 100 alumni for an evening of connection and conversation.

Following an address by Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma, Professor Mayowa Babalola, Stan Perron Chair of Business Ethics, presented and moderated a distinguished alumni panel. The discussion explored the complexities of modern working life including ethics, AI, and maintaining work–life balance in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Thank you to our panellists Michelle Chern BCom ’14, Linda Chow MBA ’08 and Adjunct Professor Richard Hassell BArch ’90 for sharing your valuable insights, reflecting the depth of experience, leadership and integrity within our alumni community.

We also extend our thanks to Singapore Alumni Network Committee representative Dr Honey Ng BA ’96, BA (Hons) ’97, PhD ’08, and to all alumni who joined us for the evening.

Thank you to our wonderful UWA Business School alumni community who joined us and generously volunteered their time to mentor approximately 80 students at our annual Get Career Connected event.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our host, Professor Peter Robertson, Dean of the UWA Business School, along with panel moderator Mandeep Raman and panellists Aman Chokhani, Ella Kanchipuram and Ross Sciarrone. We appreciate your time and the valuable insights you shared on your career journeys and experiences with our students ahead of the mentoring session.

We look forward to welcoming you all to future alumni events.

We’d love to invite you to join the conversation on how research partnerships are driving real business impact.

If you’re curious about innovation, industry collaboration, or the Cooperative Research Centres Program, this is a great chance to connect and learn more.

LAUNCH: CRC Catalyst

Wednesday 20 May, The University Club Of Western Australia
Register here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gS4tdAtG.
NOTE: Limited spots available. Please ensure you register to secure your spot.

Join this FREE in-person Business Session at which the “CRC Catalyst: How businesses get value from Cooperative Research Centres” guide will be officially launched, and further discussed. This session is open to all – including businesses large and small - who are curious about the CRC Program.

Join UWA Team Maali on home soil in 2026!

We are especially encouraging alumni with leadership, coaching, or team management experience to consider volunteering as a Sports Coach Manager. As a UWA Maali Sport Coach Manager, you'll be responsible for managing and coaching a team in the lead-up to the 2026 UniSport Nationals. This exciting volunteer opportunity to be amongst a team during the Perth nationals as the primary point of contact for our student athletes competing, gaining valuable sport management experience, and making an impact on student-athletes.

Link to expression of interest: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8EqJBSjL2EaHFnTNtG4iJipMgMt-qqxFtgC2KkhKa1VUODlPN0MzWDdSOThCTTRLQk1RWDVDNktLWS4u&route=shorturl

For a list of sports visit https://www.uwa.edu.au/sport/competitive-sport/represent-uwa or reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

WA Women's Hall of Fame Exhibition in Reid Library🏛️

The WA Women's Hall of Fame touring photographic exhibition is currently on display on the Ground Floor of the Reid Library from Thursday 30 April to Wednesday 27 May. The exhibition features a collection of sixteen portraits of the 2026 inductees and accompanying biographical information.

Four of the featured 2026 inductees are UWA staff:

🌟Emeritus Professor Lynette Abbott, the first female Professor in agriculture at UWA who is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Western Australian community in soil biota education, research and restoration.

🌟Dr Danuta Sampson who is recognised for her research on ophthalmic imaging and data analysis methods used to improve the way serious eye diseases are addressed in Western Australia.

🌟Associate Professor Roz Walker who was worked with Aboriginal people in education for 40 years.

🌟Professor Archa Fox who specialises in the field of molecular cell biology, focusing on the role of RNA in cell behaviour.

The WA Women's Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Western Australian women past, present and future. Inductees represent a diverse range of educational, organisational and cultural backgrounds.

UWA staff and students and the general public are encouraged to visit Reid Library this month to view the exhibition and celebrate the 2026 inductees and their achievements.

Read more: https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/march/celebrating-our-inspirational-women

Thank you to all our recent graduates and alumni who joined us for Communicating with Confidence last Thursday evening. It was wonderful to see so many meaningful conversations happening around the room and to watch our recent graduates connect with alumni who were genuinely invested in their growth.

A huge thank you to our panellists and on‑night mentors who generously shared their time, stories and practical advice. Your support makes such a difference to our early career alumni as they start finding their professional voice.

Thank you again to everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing you at the next event.