Young Alumni Award

The Young Alumni Award recognises outstanding achievements and contributions by young alumni who have demonstrated an outstanding level of professional achievement and community involvement since graduating from the University of Newcastle.

Inspiring young alumni have previously included entrepreneurs, design and online-marketing innovators, engineers, and award-winning architects.

Nominees must meet the following selection criteria:

  • Hold a minimum undergraduate Bachelor degree from the University of Newcastle
  • Be aged 35 years or younger at the time of nomination
  • Demonstrate outstanding achievement and/or contribution to any field; OR
  • Demonstrate initiative and excellence in any other endeavour
  • This award is for non-academic/research alumni. Academics and researchers should nominate for the Beryl Nashar Young Researcher award

2024 Alumni Excellence Awards

Nominations now open

Nominate today

2023 Recipient

Steve Adamthwaite

Bachelor of Chemical Engineering 2017

NSW/ACT Water Business Leader, ARUP

Unleashing Innovation: Steve Adamthwaite represents the next generation of leaders and innovators driving change.

Born and raised on a remote property in rural NSW, Steve Adamthwaite grew up living off tank water and experienced the challenges of water security first-hand. Since graduating with Honours in Chemical Engineering, Steve has been dedicated to reshaping the water industry for a more sustainable tomorrow.

“What I really wanted to do was work on projects within my own community, so I joined Hunter Water. I really got to understand what the local community valued, I got involved in so many different areas and was able to find the things that I was really passionate about and that’s when I came to Arup.”

Currently leading Arup’s NSW/ACT Water business, Steve has a singular focus: crafting sustainable, community-centered water strategies and delivering world-class service and infrastructure for community and industry.

His impact while at Arup has already been significant. Steve obtained approvals for a groundbreaking $5 billion wastewater treatment, recycled water, and resource recovery facility in Western Sydney – a project that promises to revolutionise the region's water resilience and security through innovative technology and sustainable practices. As a result of Steve’s traditional and innovative ideas, more than a quarter of Sydney's population will benefit within the next decade.

Today, Steve's influence extends across Australia and internationally through his various leadership roles with professional associations, involvement in research and policy development; and his commitment to developing others in the infrastructure sector.

“I’ve been really fortunate to work on large projects as well as contributing to state water strategies and the development of our Aboriginal water strategy in NSW. I volunteer for WaterAid and I am the Vice President for the Australian Water Association. I’ve been fortunate enough to lead parliamentary forums on water where I’ve talked about the impacts of climate change.”

2023 Alumni Excellence Award Recipient | Steve Adamthwaite 2:44

One of his proudest achievements was his role as project manager and technical lead for a project working with the NSW Government to look at the Future and Spatial Projections of Wastewater Emissions in NSW. Work that informed and shaped emissions reduction targets for all 128 Local Government Areas (LGA’s) in NSW, contributing to the NSW Net Zero Target.

Steve also holds high-impact roles across multiple countries as the Australian Water Discipline Manager. In this role, he oversees over 300 water professionals across five nations, showcasing his influence in the water sector. Steven's commitment to effecting change extends beyond project delivery. He actively shapes future strategy through leadership positions with prominent organisations such as WaterAid NSW, where he is one of the youngest Chairs in the organisation’s long history. Steve also sits on the Advisory Board of a locally based, international charity – Corethics, which is focused on Water and Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) issues in Bali, advising on Risk, Governance and Strategy to the Board.

“In developing nations one of the things that we see really shift is that knowledge that comes with the infrastructure, so understanding and imparting that knowledge to those people so they can continue to develop their own services so it's fit for purpose for the communities and the countries. I want to be able to pass on the skills and the knowledge that I learnt to areas that may not have access to that.”

Steve's commitment to his community and his passion for effecting change in the sector is clear. His tireless efforts to advance the industry, mentor future leaders, and champion sustainable water solutions make him an exemplar of the transformative power of dedication and innovation.

“My time at the University of Newcastle really shaped my career because I was able to really find the things that I loved. Chemical engineering is so broad, I got to focus on the things that I was passionate about.”