JCU honours Outstanding Alumni

Among the recipients are locally, nationally, and internationally-based alumni, across the University’s six Colleges, including senior diplomats, scientists, and healthcare workers.

In addition to the College winners, the Chancellor’s Outstanding Alumnus Award was presented to Her Excellency Ms Julie-Ann Guivarra, Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, in recognition of her achievements as a senior member of Australia’s diplomatic service. These achievements include being the first Indigenous officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service and the first Indigenous woman to be appointed Ambassador.

Chancellor Bill Tweddell said that making this choice was difficult, as there were many outstanding alumni from whom to choose.

“The Chancellor’s Award isn’t a ‘best-of-the best’ award, it’s about someone whose achievements resonate strongly with me,” he said. “Julie-Ann is enjoying an outstanding career in the fiercely competitive environment of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

“Before her current role as Ambassador for Gender Equality, she was Australia’s Ambassador to Spain, Andorra and Equatorial Guinea. Her current work and her career achievements resonate well with JCU’s commitment to valuing diversity, innovation and intellectual life, and ensuring that our work is focused on creating a brighter future for all in the Tropics.”

The Outstanding Alumni Awards recognise alumni of James Cook University, and its predecessor institutions, who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of endeavour at a local, state, national or international level, and celebrate their successes and achievements.

Full list of winners: 

Outstanding Alumni Awards: 

College of Business, Law and Governance: 

Her Excellency Ms Julie-Ann Guivarra, Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality

Her Excellency Ms Natasha Smith, Australian High Commissioner to Canada

Lincoln Crowley QC, Barrister

College of Science and Engineering: 

Dr Tony Lindsay, Director, Research and Development Laboratory – the STELaRLab

Dr Beth Fulton, Research Group Leader, CSIRO

Dr Elizabeth Murphy, Robotics Software Engineer, X, The Moonshot Factory

College of Arts, Society and Education: 

Professor Kirsten Bell, Professor of Social Anthropology

Heather Ellis, Australian author

College of Medicine and Dentistry:

Lieutenant Colonel Tamara Lee, Chief Pharmacist for the Australian Defence Force

College of Healthcare Sciences: 

Luke Wilson, Regional Manager, Surf Life Saving Queensland

Lauwana Blackley, Clinical Nurse, Joyce Palmer Health Service

College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences: 

Professor Jacinta Elston, Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous), Monash University

Dr Isabelle Skinner, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Decision Support Analytics

Dr Lynne Zeldenryk, Worldwide Innovation Lead - Financial Services, Amazon Web Services

Outstanding Early Career Alumni Awards:

College of Business, Law and Governance:

Michael Webley, Business Development Manager, Pinnacle Tourism Marketing

College of Arts, Society and Education:

Constable Carla Duncan, Australian Federal Police

College of Science and Engineering: 

Professor Kateryna Bazaka, Australian National University

College of Medicine and Dentistry: 

Melanie Burgess, Senior Pharmacist, Chronic Conditions Service

College of Healthcare Sciences: 

Evan Casella, Registered Nurse, Cairns Hospital Emergency Department

College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences: 

Dr Hilda Audubo, Dental Officer, Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority