October 17, 2026
Alumni Awards recognise graduates making a difference
Seven alumni recognised for contributions to mental health, clean energy, journalism, technology and community wellbeing
Seven University of Wollongong (UOW) graduates have been recognised in the 2026 UOW Alumni Awards for their contributions to journalism, mental health, clean energy, technology, research and community wellbeing.
The winners include SBS journalist Ricardo Gonçalves, mental health advocate and author Chelsea Pottenger, psychologist and entrepreneur Dr Suzy Green, Green Gravity founder Mark Swinnerton, community leader Joe Williams, technology leader, innovator and advocate Natalie Piucco and clean energy researcher Professor Jun Chen.
“These awards recognise graduates who have made a meaningful contribution to their own field, and impact to society,” Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Max Lu AO said.
“A university’s reputation is shaped by its people. It travels through the way our graduates care for others, create opportunity and contribute to the communities around them.”
The 2026 UOW Alumni Award winners
Alumni Award for Professional Excellence
Chelsea Pottenger and Dr Suzy Green are joint winners in this category.
Ms Pottenger is author of the internationally bestselling book The Mindful High Performer, hosts the Recharge Your Mental Health podcast and was a finalist for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards. After overcoming severe post-natal depression, she founded EQ Minds, partnering with leading companies to improve workplace mental wellbeing
Dr Green is a clinical and coaching psychologist and UOW double graduate who pioneered evidence-based coaching psychology. As founder and CEO of The Positivity Institute, she delivers wellbeing and leadership programs to workplaces, schools and communities across Australia and internationally.
Alumni Award for Arts and Culture
Ricardo Gonçalves is a highly respected journalist with a career spanning more than two decades, including 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, he has combined authoritative reporting with a commitment to cultural diversity and public education.
Alumni Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
As Founder and CEO of Green Gravity, Mark Swinnerton is leading the commercialisation of 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.
Alumni Award for Social Impact
Wiradjuri/Wolgalu man Joe Williams has delivered mental health education, suicide prevention and resilience programs to more than 200 communities, through his initiative The Enemy Within. In 2024, he established Our Way Academy, supporting First Nations young people through programs that strengthen identity, belonging and educational engagement.
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 globally. A Chief Technologist with Google Cloud Engineering, she combines technical leadership, public engagement and community service to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Alumni Award for Research and Scholarship
Professor Jun Chen is a world-leading chemist and UOW engineering PhD graduate whose battery research is driving the clean energy transition. A Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher with more than 700 publications, he is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences whose breakthroughs have led to commercial partnerships worldwide.