Alumni Advisory Committee

The Alumni Advisory Committee (AAC) of the Vice-Chancellor was established to better enable global alumni engagement, connectivity, agility and flexibility at scale. The Committee meets quarterly and provides strategic advice on alumni engagement and helps develop and support engaging and rewarding alumni activities that enhance the reputation of the University and empower our alumni community to feel part of and proud of their University.

Adriana Sung

Adriana Sung

Master of Business Administration 2017; Graduate Certificate in Marketing 2017; Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition 2010

Sydney, Australia

Adriana wears her Novocastrian badge with pride, and has an enduring passion for cultural diversity, social inclusion, community services and the creative industry. Adriana is looking forward to serving and representing the alumni community again, having been a member of the AAC from 2011 to 2016.

A results-driven leader, Adriana is currently a Customer Success Manager within the Advancement Portfolio at University of Sydney. Since joining the university’s fundraising portfolio, she has managed several successful programs and teams within Alumni Relations, Prospect Research and Advancement Services. Results from these programs have contributed towards the portfolio’s success in reaching their $1 billion fundraising target in 2020.

Brendan Swift

Brendan Swift

Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) 1989

Melbourne, Australia

Brendan Swift is a lawyer, specialising in the resolution of complex corporate disputes. He began his career working in politics in the Greiner and Fahey State Governments in NSW as a policy advisor. Brendan now runs his own specialist dispute resolution firm, Altus Lawyers.

Brendan is married with 4 children and lives in Melbourne. He has a passionate interest in the interaction of politics and history and its influence on the world.  He is an early adopter of new technologies. He has a passion for lifelong learning and challenging assumptions in all areas of professional and personal life. He has been involved in organising alumni engagement activities in Melbourne since 2013.

Dr Donna Odegaard AM

Dr Donna Odegaard AM

Doctor of Philosophy (Aboriginal Studies) 2011; Master of Philosophy 2002;  Honorary Degree - Doctor of Letters 2021

Darwin, Australia

Dr Donna Odegaard AM is a Larrakia Elder and Torres Strait Islander leader with over 30 years expertise in business, media, Indigenous heritage, native title and land rights, treaty, international Indigenous business, trade and economic development. Her roles include Co-Chair of the Australia and NZ Indigenous Leadership Forum, Board Director of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, and Chairperson for the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence.In 2016, she was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to the protection and preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage, broadcasting and media, and reconciliation. Donna was also recognised for her work by the University of Newcastle in 2012 when she was awarded the Indigenous Alumni Award.

Emily Bowen

Emily Bowen

Bachelor of Business 2011

Newcastle, Australia

As Chief Operations Officer of Rarekind, Emily leads her team as they build upon and amplify the organisation’s defining characteristics to accommodate continued growth. She is also co-host of the popular podcast My Millennial Career, where she explores the world of work in what she calls her ‘adventure on the side’. What she loves most is the never-ending collision between her commercial and human curiosity.

Jennifer Leslie

Jennifer Leslie

Bachelor of Commerce 1988

Newcastle, Australia

Jennifer is an experienced Chair, non-executive and executive director in the financial services and not for profit sectors. As a Chartered Accountant with a long career in top and mid-tier accounting firms, Jennifer is experienced in all aspects of financial management, audit, corporate governance and business management. She is the Chair of the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation as well as a board member, Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Remuneration and People Committee at Newcastle Permanent Building Society.  As the daughter of a BHP steel worker, Jennifer is a proud Novocastrian and an enthusiastic alumna of the University of Newcastle.

Kiraley Martin

Kiraley Martin

Master of Business Administration 2020; Bachelor of Commerce 2010

Newcastle, Australia

Kiraley Martin has over 15 years professional experience across logistics, manufacturing, mining, construction, government, and the not-for-profit sector. After holding executive roles in finance and governance, she has now entered the technology space, as Chief Information Officer at Lake Macquarie City Council. Kiraley is passionate about helping her community and, in this position, she can help people stay connected, innovative, and resilient. She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion and is committed to helping people gain better access to equal opportunities. Not only is she a member of the University of Newcastle’s Alumni Advisory Committee, Kiraley is also a Director of Equal Futures Project, a Director of Board of Hunter TAFE Foundation, and a member of the Women in Mining Committee for the Hunter Valley

Matthew Gain

Matthew Gain

Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) 2001

Berlin, Germany

Matthew Gain is the Senior Vice President and Head of Europe Audible, Managing Director Audible GmbH, an Amazon Company. He is responsible for developing Audible’s business across the region, leading a cross functional team, influencing and driving change across key stakeholders, improving processes to scale with high business growth and developing and leading country and functional leaders. He is a big believer in building happy and confident teams and is dedicated to workplace equity by challenging privilege and prejudice.

Sanket Bothra

Sanket Bothra

Bachelor of Business 2010

Singapore

Sanket is a marketing and business development professional with over a decade of experience across the Energy, Petrochemicals, Oil and Gas sectors. Currently, he is leading the Business Development initiatives at ChemOne, a leading South East Asian Specialty Chemicals Group, headquartered in Singapore.

Sanket joined the University’s Singapore Alumni Chapter in 2011 and now serves as Chapter President. He also gives back as an ambassador for the Alumni House project, which will create opportunities for the global alumni community as a virtual engagement hub to connect with friends, industry and the Newcastle community. Sanket is also an ardent sports fan and loves hiking and trekking - his most recent conquest being Kota Kinabalu Trek in 2018.

Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin

Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin

Master of Aviation Management 2011

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Captain Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin has followed his passion for science and for flight in his 30-year career as a pilot and science educator, completing his Master of Aviation Management with the University of Newcastle in 2011.

Faiz has always remained connected to the University, from his commitment to the Malaysia Alumni Network, as President, to promoting the Global Alumni Ambassador Program, encouraging others to share their alumni story and have a positive impact on the next generation of students. In 2011, the University was proud to recognise Faiz’s efforts with the Regional Leadership Alumni Award, and again in 2022, when he received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.

James Hunt

James Hunt

Newcastle, Australia

James Hunt is an honorary senior lecture in leadership and organisational behaviour at The University of Newcastle, Australia. He served as Director of the MBA Program between 2011-2019, and Assistant Director of Postgraduate Programs from 2012-13. James has regularly designed and delivered courses on leadership, organisational behaviour and organisational change over his 32 year University career, and has also delivered seminars to private and public sector organisations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, London, Honolulu and Manama (Bahrain).

James was educated at Sydney University, and at The University of Kent in the UK. In mid 1990s, he spent time at the Sydney Graduate School of Police Management in Manly where he taught leadership, applied command management and strategic command management to senior members of the Australian Federal Police and various State Police organisations.

James's primary area of research is the personality determinants of leadership style.  He is the author of more than 60 published journal articles, book chapters and books, and is the recipient of 9 awards for excellence in teaching at the University of Newcastle.