Spotlight

Our success starts with our alumni whose achievements are a direct reflection on our standing as one of the best education and research institutions in the world. Many have gone on to prominence. They have made – and continue to make – their marks and achieve excellence in a variety of fields such as business, medicine, arts, and the government.

Know of someone we should profile? Send us an email with details and we’ll follow up.

Search filters

2021 International Alumna of the Year: Inspiring the next generation of little girls

“Because when I wake up every day to research, publish, teach on refugees, migration, migrants, displaced people - that survive sexual violence in war - all I can think of is that little girl in me,…

Pictured: a baby carried on stage by a proud mother clad in the PhD regalia of the Australian National 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (ANU). This photo, taken at Llewellyn Hall in 2019, features Dr. Veronica Fynn Bruey (PhD '19), a Liberian Canadian, an Indigenous migrant war survivor, an esteemed academic, and a proud mother and feminist.

2023 Student Volunteer of the Year (Undergraduate): Tom Gibbs

2023 Student Volunteer of the Year (Undergraduate)An Honours student at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Tom Gibbs’ commitment to volunteering with St John Ambulance ACT, North Canberra…

2023 Student Volunteer of the Year (Postgraduate): Sharrada Segeran

2023 Student Volunteer of the Year (Postgraduate)Recognising exemplary commitment to community service, Sharrada Segeran is honoured as this year’s 2023 ANU Student Volunteer of the Year (…

2023 Young Alumna of the Year: Sophie Trevitt

2023 Young Alumna of the YearThe late Sophie Trevitt (JD ’16, MLLP ’19), joint-recipient of the ANU Young Alumna of the Year, is remembered for her tireless advocacy for social justice, particularly…

2023 Young Alumna of the Year: Sophia Hamblin Wang

2023 Young Alumna of the YearSophia Hamblin Wang (BIntBus (Hons) ’09), joint-recipient of ANU Young Alumna of the Year, is recognised for her ground-breaking work, developing technology that safely…

2023 International Alumna of the Year: Dr Suharti

2023 International Alumna of the YearDr Suharti (PhD ’13), the ANU International Alumna of the Year, and is honoured for her transformative work in Indonesian education and governance, and for…

2023 Indigenous Alumna of the Year: Professor Marcia Langton AO FASSA FTSE

2023 Indigenous Alumna of the YearProfessor Marcia Langton (BA ’84, HonLittD ’19) is recipient of the ANU Indigenous Alumna of the Year, for her pivotal role in advancing Indigenous rights in…

2023 Alumnus of the Year: HE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC

2023 Alumnus of the YearHE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC (BA (Asian Studies) (Hons) ’81, HonLLD ’16), is our 2023 ANU Alumnus of the Year for his unparalleled dedication to diplomacy, exceptional…

Catherine Coles and the elective that changed her life

A self-described opportunity junkie, Catherine Coles moved from Sydney to Canberra in 2003 to study Arts Law at The Australian National 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (ANU). She immersed herself in the vibrant ANU…

Brian Stacey and the Indigenous land rights movement

In 1980, Brian Stacey was a third-year Bachelor of Anthropology student at ANU.   It was in one of his Anthropology classes where he first met Marcia Langton, a descendant of…

Friendship got me through Medical School

I did my postgraduate studies at ANU Medical School and, like me, a lot of my classmates had moved interstate or internationally to study at ANU. I think everyone has a degree of vulnerability in…

From Canberra to Qatar

20 years ago, Jonathan Muir was considering a career change - transitioning from his work in the resource and energy sectors to studying international affairs. He took the leap, and today, his…

Making the leap from ballet to venture capital

Raised in Sydney and Beijing, Annie Zhou moved to Canberra to study a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the Australian National 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (ANU).…

An opportunity for representation

Originally from Sydney, Caoimhe chose to study Commerce and International Relations at ANU, recognising that the learning opportunities from being at the heart of government and diplomacy in…

Empowering women to be the best versions of themselves

Dr Shamaruh Mirza is a senior scientist working for the Therapeutic Goods Administration. In addition to her professional role, Shamaruh is founder of the not-for-profit organisation SiTara's Story…

Taking a different pathway to the law

Brigitte Morten was in a graduate interview for a risk management job with a big bank when she first realised that she didn't know what a "risk manager" actually did, and whatever it was, she wasn'…

It was the O-Week of '69

Jennifer and I first got together while studying at The Australian National 51³Ô¹ÏÍø (ANU). We were in the same year at Telopea Park High School in Canberra in the 1960s, but Jennifer was only…

Meet Parul Sharma (MEnvMgtDev '11)

Parul Sharma is an International Accessibility Consultant, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, PhD candidate and a proud alumnus of ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. As an Accessibility Consultant…

Clare McBride-Kelly (LLB (Hons), BAsSt - Current Student)

Student Volunteer of the Year (Undergraduate) Congratulations to Clare McBride-Kelly (LLB (Hons), BAsSt - Current Student), our Student Volunteer of the Year (Undergraduate) for 2022.…

Prime Ragandang (PhD - Current Student)

Student Volunteer of the Year (Postgraduate) Congratulations to Prime Ragandang (PhD in International, Political and Strategic Studies - Current student), our Student Volunteer of the Year (…