Alumni Awards

Tammy Anderson

Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Tammy Anderson is a proud Biripi woman, educator and nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal education whose work has transformed educational outcomes for First Nations students and communities. Tammy has dedicated more than 24 years to public education and has served as Principal of Briar Road Public School since 2013, where she was once the school's first Aboriginal student captain. 

Under her leadership, Briar Road Public School has become a nationally recognised model of equity, excellence and culturally responsive education. Tammy has championed innovative approaches that strengthen academic achievement, cultural identity and student wellbeing, including the integration of Dharawal language and community-led learning experiences. She has also played a significant role in developing and mentoring Aboriginal educators and leaders. 

As Co-Chair and Board Director of the Stronger Smarter Institute, Tammy continues to influence educational practice nationally, inspiring future generations through her commitment to excellence, cultural leadership and educational justice.

Admiral Ronnie Gavan

Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Admiral Ronnie Gil Latorilla Gavan is a distinguished maritime leader, strategist and public servant whose career has significantly advanced maritime security, regional cooperation and humanitarian response across the Asia-Pacific. He has served as Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), leading major reforms that have strengthened the organisation's operational capability, international engagement and public service mission. 

Admiral Gavan has played a pivotal role in promoting a rules-based maritime order through the development of influential regional frameworks and diplomatic initiatives, including the advancement of ASEAN maritime cooperation. Under his leadership, the PCG has expanded its operational fleet, modernised communications infrastructure, enhanced disaster response capabilities and strengthened support services for personnel and communities. 

Recognised nationally and internationally for his leadership, innovation and service, Admiral Gavan continues to shape maritime governance, regional security and humanitarian cooperation throughout the Indo-Pacific. 

Dr Suzy Green

Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Dr Suzy Green is an internationally recognised Clinical and Coaching Psychologist, entrepreneur and thought leader who has played a pioneering role in the development of evidence-based coaching psychology and positive psychology. A double graduate of the University of Wollongong, where she completed her qualifications in psychology, including a Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Dr Green has spent more than two decades advancing the science and practice of psychological wellbeing, leadership and human flourishing. 

As Founder and CEO of The Positivity Institute, established in 2012, she has built a highly respected organisation delivering evidence-based wellbeing, coaching and leadership programs across workplaces, schools and communities in Australia and internationally. Her doctoral research was among the first to demonstrate the positive impact of coaching on wellbeing, performance and mental health outcomes. 

Through her academic leadership (she currently holds honorary appointments at the Centre for Wellbeing Science, University of Melbourne and the UTS Business School), entrepreneurial success, public engagement and community service, Dr Green has made a profound contribution to psychology, education and wellbeing, helping individuals and organisations thrive through the application of rigorous scientific research. 

Chelsea Pottenger

Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Chelsea Pottenger is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, bestselling author, and international keynote speaker whose work has empowered more than one million Australians to build mindfulness and mental resilience.  

After overcoming severe post-natal depression, she founded EQ Minds in 2016, partnering with leading companies including Google, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Mercedes-Benz, and eBay to improve workplace mental wellbeing. Chelsea is the author of the internationally bestselling book The Mindful High Performer and hosts the Recharge Your Mental Health podcast, featuring leading local and international voices in mental health.  

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to mental health advocacy, Chelsea was named a finalist for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards. Across her mental health advocacy and community impact, Chelsea’s work has supported individuals and organisations in developing mindfulness practices and building mental resilience.

Dakota Feirer

Young Alumni of the Year Award and Alumni Award for Arts and Culture

Dakota Feirer is a Bundjalung–Gumbaynggirr poet, educator and cultural advocate whose work is shaping contemporary literature, truth-telling and Indigenous knowledge practice in Australia and internationally. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Dakota has established himself as a leading voice in contemporary storytelling, combining poetry, scholarship, performance and community engagement to foster cultural understanding and social change. 

In 2025, he published his acclaimed debut poetry collection, Arsenic Flower, earning widespread recognition for its powerful exploration of identity, history and Country. His interdisciplinary practice has been showcased at prestigious institutions including the Sydney Opera House, New York University and the Museum of Contemporary Art. As a scholar, educator and mentor, Dakota has championed Indigenous knowledge systems, cultural resilience and truth-telling through teaching, research and community-led initiatives. 

Through his creative and cultural leadership, Dakota continues to inspire audiences, advance reconciliation and contribute to a more inclusive and truthful national conversation. 

Natalie Piucco

Young Alumni of the Year Award

Natalie Piucco is a technology leader, innovator and advocate whose work is shaping the future of artificial intelligence and digital transformation on a global scale. Natalie has built an exceptional career in technology, rising to become a Chief Technologist within Google Cloud Engineering. 

Working across the Asia-Pacific and European regions, Natalie advises startups, enterprises and global organisations on artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and innovation strategy. Throughout her career, she has contributed to the commercialisation and global scaling of emerging technologies reaching billions of users worldwide. Her achievements have been recognised through major industry awards, including the Cisco Women in IT Awards and ARN Women in ICT Awards. 

A passionate advocate for responsible AI and greater participation of women in STEM, Natalie combines technical leadership, public engagement and community service to inspire the next generation of innovators.

Taylah Spirovski

Young Alumni of the Year Award

Taylah Spirovski is an accomplished lawyer, advocate and community leader whose career demonstrates an exceptional commitment to public service, social justice and legal leadership. Since graduating from the University of Wollongong, Taylah has rapidly established herself as a leading voice in the legal profession. 

As a Senior Solicitor at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office, she works on complex matters affecting government, public institutions and the broader public interest. Recognised as the Women Lawyers Association of NSW's Women Lawyer of the Year (under 5 PQE) in 2023, Taylah has also made significant contributions to the profession through her leadership of NSW Young Lawyers, serving as President in 2024.  

Beyond her legal practice, Taylah is Chief Executive Officer of Voices of Influence Australia and a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, access to justice and human rights, creating meaningful impact across the legal profession and broader community. 

Ricardo Gonçalves

Alumni Award for Arts and Culture

Ricardo Gonçalves is one of Australia's most respected journalists, broadcasters and media personalities, with a career spanning more than two decades across news, business journalism and public communication. Ricardo began his career as a regional reporter before becoming a leading voice in financial journalism, serving as Presenter and Finance Editor for SBS World News and host of SBS's On the Money and Cost of Living Secrets podcasts.  

Throughout his career, Ricardo has combined authoritative reporting with a strong commitment to cultural diversity and public education. His work has ranged from award-winning coverage of the Global Financial Crisis and major international events to innovative digital finance content reaching new audiences across social media platforms. As a broadcaster, master of ceremonies and advocate, he has championed multicultural communities, small business owners and underrepresented voices. 

Through journalism, public engagement and community service, Ricardo continues to shape how Australians understand finance, culture and contemporary society.

Barbara Brennan

Alumni Award for Social Impact

Barbara Brennan is a social entrepreneur, advocate and proud Aboriginal leader whose work is transforming the lives of women impacted by the justice system. Barb has drawn on her own lived experience to create meaningful pathways of healing, empowerment and social change. 

As the Founder and Managing Director of Bars Behind Me, Barb has developed a grassroots, trauma-informed organisation that supports women transitioning from prison back into the community. Through culturally safe programs, peer support networks, mentoring and employment pathways, she helps women overcome barriers including homelessness, stigma, isolation and unemployment, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. 

A passionate advocate for justice reform and Indigenous empowerment, Barb combines lived experience, cultural leadership and community connection to drive lasting social impact and create opportunities for women, families and communities across Australia.

Hayley Ryan

Alumni Award for Social Impact

Hayley Ryan is a proud Wodi Wodi woman, internationally recognised Clinical Nurse Consultant, educator, researcher, and health innovator whose work is transforming advanced wound care and improving health equity outcomes across Australia. With more than 25 years of clinical experience, Hayley is the Founder and Director of WoundRescue, an innovative service delivering accessible, home-based and telehealth-enabled care to vulnerable populations, including older Australians, First Nations communities, and people living in rural and remote Australia.

A respected leader in clinical practice, policy and education, Hayley played a pivotal role in advocating and establishing the Australian Government's $48 million National Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme, improving access to essential wound care for older Australians and First Nations peoples. As an Adjunct Academic at the University of Wollongong, she combines clinical expertise with education, research and workforce development to strengthen the future nursing workforce.

Hayley is currently finalising her PhD, with her other research focused on limb salvage and preventing diabetes-related amputations through earlier intervention, evidence-based wound care and improved access to specialist services. Through her leadership in digital health innovation, AI initiatives and international guideline development, research and professional education, Hayley continues to drive meaningful change in wound care and improve patient outcomes both nationally and internationally.

Joe Williams

Alumni Award for Social Impact

Joe Williams is a proud Wiradjuri/Wolgalu man, mental health advocate and community leader whose work has transformed conversations around trauma, wellbeing and suicide prevention across Australia. Joe has used his lived experience as a former NRL player, professional boxer and person with lived experience of mental illness to create lasting social impact.  

In 2014, he founded The Enemy Within, a nationally recognised initiative delivering mental health education, suicide prevention and resilience programs to more than 200 communities. In 2024, he established Our Way Academy, supporting First Nations young people through culturally responsive programs that strengthen identity, belonging and educational engagement. 

An Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, Joe continues to advance trauma-informed, culturally safe practice through research, education, advocacy and leadership, improving outcomes for communities across Australia.

Dr Brendan Banfield

Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Dr Brendan Banfield is an engineer, entrepreneur and clean energy innovator whose work is helping transform electricity networks for a low-carbon future. Brendan co-founded Gridsight in 2020 to address one of the energy sector’s most significant challenges: enabling electricity networks to effectively manage the rapid growth of distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar and electric vehicles. 

Under his leadership, Gridsight has developed an AI-powered software platform that models electricity grids in real time, providing utilities with actionable insights to improve network flexibility and performance without costly infrastructure upgrades. The platform is now used by approximately half of Australia’s electricity distributors and analyses more than 4.2 gigawatts of distributed energy resources. 

Through innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration, Brendan is accelerating the global energy transition while delivering tangible environmental, economic and community benefits.

Dr David Almeida Cardoso

Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Dr David Almeida Cardoso is a neuroscientist by training, and an entrepreneur and executive leader at the forefront of health technology innovation by practice.  

Following graduation, he shifted focus toward the commercial world, eventually relocating to Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and building a career dedicated to translating cutting-edge biomedical research into transformative healthcare solutions. 

Across different capacities (including as Founder, First Business-Dedicated Recruit, and/or Advisor), Dr Cardoso has been instrumental in the commercialisation of a diverse range of medical innovations including but not limited to: a non-invasive medical device for continuous monitoring of brain blood flow in stroke patients, small molecule drugs for rare cancers using scalable artificial intelligence and quantum mechanics technologies, a total artificial kidney for end-stage renal failure and bioengineered capsids for safe and precise delivery of genetic therapies. 

An accomplished entrepreneur and mentor, Dr Cardoso has secured significant industry investment, driven global collaborations, and supported the next generation of innovators through his commitment to high-impact scientific entrepreneurship. 

Maryanne Harris

Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Maryanne Harris is an award-winning health-tech entrepreneur whose innovative ventures are transforming rehabilitation, disability support and consumer-directed care in Australia. After completing a Bachelor of Exercise Science at UOW in 2012, Maryanne's personal experience navigating the healthcare and disability systems following her husband and co-founder Daniel Hillyer’s spinal cord injury inspired a mission to create more accessible, empowering models of care. 

In 2017, the pair co-founded TappON, a digital platform connecting people with disability, aged care recipients and self-funded users with support workers and allied health professionals nationwide. Building on this success, they launched Robofit in 2021, introducing advanced neuro-controlled exoskeleton technology to Australia to expand rehabilitation opportunities and improve patient outcomes. 

Through both ventures, Maryanne has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, successfully combining innovation, commercial sustainability and social impact to improve the lives of Australians and advance the future of healthcare. 

Ngoc Anh Nguyen

Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Ngoc Anh Nguyen is a distinguished financial leader and the Chief Executive Officer of SSI Asset Management (SSIAM), one of Vietnam’s largest and most respected asset management firms. Under her leadership, SSIAM has grown to manage more than USD 1 billion in assets and has become Vietnam’s leading fund manager by investor numbers, expanding its investor base from fewer than 10,000 to approximately 200,000 in just four years. 

A recognised expert in investment banking and capital markets, Ngoc Anh previously led hundreds of major IPO, M&A and debt capital market transactions, attracting billions of dollars in investment to Vietnamese enterprises. She has played a significant role in strengthening Vietnam's financial markets, helping the country achieve international recognition as an emerging investment market in 2026.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ngoc Anh is deeply committed to education, social impact and community development, supporting disadvantaged communities while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of finance professionals.

Mark Swinnerton

Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Mark Swinnerton is an engineer, entrepreneur and clean energy leader whose innovative work is helping shape the future of renewable energy storage. Following his studies, Mark built a distinguished global career with BHP before founding Green Gravity in 2022. 

As Founder and CEO, Mark is leading the commercialisation of groundbreaking gravitational energy storage technology that repurposes disused mine shafts into renewable energy infrastructure, addressing both energy storage challenges and the transition of legacy mining assets. Under his leadership, Green Gravity has established the world's most advanced gravitational energy storage demonstration facility, secured international partnerships and attracted significant investment to accelerate global deployment. 

Throughout his career, Mark has combined industrial expertise, entrepreneurial vision and a commitment to social impact, advancing sustainable energy solutions while creating new economic opportunities for post-mining communities worldwide.

Professor Jun Chen

Alumni Award for Research and Scholarship

Professor Jun Chen is an internationally renowned chemist and materials scientist whose pioneering research has advanced the global transition to clean energy. A graduate of the University of Wollongong’s PhD Engineering program (1999), Professor Chen has built an exceptional career spanning more than three decades, establishing himself as a world leader in electrochemical energy storage, battery technologies and advanced inorganic materials. 

With more than 700 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in Nature and Nature Chemistry, more than 80 Chinese invention patents and two U.S. patents, and recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for eight consecutive years, his research has transformed the development of safer, more affordable and sustainable next-generation battery technologies. His breakthroughs in lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials, solid-state lithium batteries and sodium-ion batteries have led to significant industrial partnerships and commercial applications worldwide. 

An Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and The World Academy of Sciences, Professor Chen continues to shape global scientific research through his leadership, mentorship and enduring connection to the University of Wollongong.

Distinguished Professor Xu-Feng Huang

Alumni Award for Research and Scholarship

Distinguished Professor Xu-Feng Huang is an internationally recognised metabolic neuroscientist whose groundbreaking research has transformed understanding of the complex relationship between metabolism, obesity and brain health. Over a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, he has pioneered influential concepts including central leptin resistance and a three-stage model of diet-induced obesity, establishing new frameworks for understanding metabolic dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease.  

With more than 340 peer-reviewed publications and over 22,000 citations, Distinguished Professor Huang’s research has shaped international health policy, informed clinical practice, and advanced global strategies for metabolic and cognitive health. His work on the gut–brain axis and antipsychotic-induced metabolic disorders has led to significant translational outcomes, including industry partnerships and improved therapeutic approaches.  

A respected global leader, educator and mentor, Distinguished Professor Huang has trained more than 100 researchers and continues to influence scientific priorities through his leadership, international collaborations, public engagement, and commitment to improving health outcomes worldwide.  

Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow and Dr Elahe Minaei

Alumni Award for Research and Scholarship

Associate Professor Kara Vine-Perrow and Dr Elahe Minaei have led innovative research at the University of Wollongong's Targeted Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, developing new strategies to treat pancreatic cancer, one of the world's deadliest malignancies. During her PhD under the supervision of Associate Professor Vine-Perrow, Dr Minaei developed a novel immunotherapy-based application of a patented biodegradable implant platform designed to deliver therapies directly into inoperable tumours. This groundbreaking research has demonstrated significant tumour suppression, enhanced anti-tumour immune responses and reduced treatment toxicity in preclinical studies, highlighting the potential of localised immunotherapy to overcome limitations associated with conventional treatments. 

Working with clinical and research colleagues across multiple disciplines, including Professor Morteza Aghmesheh from Prince of Wales Hospital and Dr Samantha Wade and Professor Gordon Wallace from the University of Wollongong, they combined expertise in delivery science, immunology and translational medicine to advance new treatment approaches for pancreatic cancer. Their work received national recognition in 2025 when they won the Problem Solver category at the Shaping Australia Awards. Building on knowledge gained through the broader ResectAssistTM FOLFIRINOX implant technology platform, their research helps lay the foundations for future therapies that may improve outcomes for patients with this devastating disease.