2014 Alumni Awards
We are proud to introduce the recipients of the 2014 Alumni Awards. Congratulations to these outstanding alumni.
Award recipients
Geoffrey Bentley
Alumni Medal for Professional Excellence (joint recipient)
Bachelor of Arts 1961
Geoff served his country for over 35 years as a front-line diplomat. He was the first University of Newcastle graduate to make a career in the Australian Diplomatic Service. Geoff's stellar international service career culminated in his appointment as Australia's Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 1994-98.
Professor Patricia Davidson
Alumni Medal for Professional Excellence (joint recipient)
PhD (Behavioural Science) 2003
Patricia, a global leader in cardiac health, is Dean of the School of Nursing at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University in the US. Patricia spent 23 years as a front-line clinician and nurse manager and nearly a decade researching ways to improve cardiac rehabilitation for women.
Dr Christian Heim
Newton-John Award
Bachelor of Medicine 2000
Christian is a composer and psychiatrist with a research interest in the art/medicine interface. His work on the therapeutic use of Baroque music in dementia has been published in the Australasian Journal on Ageing.
Dr Judith White AM
Exceptional Community Service Award
PhD (History) 2002; Hon MA 1988
Judy is a passionate promoter of the Hunter Valley region who has written about the history of the area in eight of her 11 books.
Susan Ivens
Regional Leadership Award
Master of Business Administration 2001; Graduate Diploma in Education 1979; Bachelor of Arts 1978
Susan is responsible for bringing public health facilities to the Westlakes area of Lake Macquarie. In 2006 Susan became the first woman to receive the Hunter Business Person of the Year award.
Paul Graham
National Leadership Award
Bachelor of Economics (Honours) 2006; Bachelor of Economics 2005
Paul is Chief Economist at CSIRO's Energy Flagship, responsible for providing advice on the global and national economic context relevant to the energy sector.
Glenn Kellow
International Leadership Award (joint recipient)
Master of Business Administration 1993; Bachelor of Commerce 1989
Glenn is a global business leader who joined the world's largest private-sector coal company, Peabody Energy, as President and Chief Operating Officer in 2013.
Colonel Leonard Brennan AM
International Leadership Award (joint recipient)
Bachelor of Medicine 1989
Leonard has extensive experience commanding military health facilities supporting disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, peace enforcement and combat operations around the world.
Dr Alison Thorburn
Beryl Nashar Young Researcher Award
PhD (Immunology and Microbiology) 2011
Alison is a postdoctoral research scientist at Monash University, Victoria. Her research investigates the role of diet in the development of allergic diseases such as asthma.
Jacob Cass
Young Alumni Award
Bachelor of Visual Communication Design 2009
In 2007, Jacob established the award-winning graphic design and branding firm 'Just Creative', which also doubles as one of the world's most visited design blogs, attracting more than three-billion views.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.