2023 UTS Alumni Award Winners

Meet your 2023 winners

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• Ben Newsome - UTS Chancellor’s Award for Excellence and Science Award

  Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Biology), 1999

  Ben Newsome has always been fascinated with how the world works.

  His time at UTS taught him that science is a way of thinking and gave him a methodical and rational way to understanding complexity. Most importantly, it taught him that our impact on the environment is real and measurable – and we can do something about it.

  After graduating with a degree in environmental biology, Ben’s love of nature and the outdoors propelled him into bush regeneration. But while working in the field, he was surprised by the lack of public understanding about the environment and the work his team were doing.

  Realising more education was urgently needed, especially around environmental science, Ben retrained as a high school science teacher. His drive to make an impact at scale led him to create his own STEM education provider – Fizzics Education – in 2004. Now, almost 20 years later, Fizzics Education has reached 3 million children through STEM outreach programs and professional development for teachers.

  In collaboration with non-profits, government, and corporations, Ben has also created and delivered social impact programs in Australia and beyond, working with organisations such as the NRMA, GWS Giants, Optus, and many others.  

  In 2013, Ben was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship – a career-defining experience that enabled him to travel to the US and learn about best practice in science education via video conferencing. From there he gained the confidence to successfully apply to be an AMP Tomorrow Maker in 2020.

  Along with Fizzics Education, in 2012 Ben also co-founded Virtual Excursions Australia – a non-profit that creates virtual events and shares best practice guidelines for cultural institutions and distance education managers. And in 2015, he co-founded the Pinnacle Education Collaborative, a network of more than 30 cultural organisations in the US delivering virtual excursions to schools, retirement homes, and more.

  Ben is passionate about the importance of science education and its ability to give people the capacity to separate fact from fiction, something he believes is crucial in today’s world.

• Antoinette Lattouf - Arts and Social Sciences Award

  Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Social Inquiry), 2006

  From the time she was in primary school, Antoinette Lattouf knew she wanted to do two things: tell stories and challenge power structures.

  Since those decisive early years, the multi-award-winning Lebanese-Australian journalist, author, social commentator, TEDx Speaker, and advocate has become one of Australia's premier thought leaders in the anti-racism, diversity and inclusion space – shaking up the local media industry along the way.

  Ms Lattouf witnessed the lack of diversity and inclusion in Australian media first-hand – not only in print and on screen but also behind the scenes. After a decade as a journalist, and the first Arab-Australian female reporter on commercial television, she realised the media was getting less diverse as Australia’s population continued to evolve. Ms Lattouf decided that rather than leave the industry, like many others from marginalised backgrounds have, she wanted to change it. So in 2017, she joined forces with Isabel Lo and established Media Diversity Australia (MDA) – a not-for-profit organisation working to transform the Australian media landscape so it authentically represents the country’s diversity.

  Ms Lattouf’s work through MDA has led to a groundbreaking report card for the Australian media industry, the Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories report. The second edition of this agenda-setting research, conducted in partnership with UTS, is cited in journalism schools around the country, has sparked uncomfortable yet important conversations and reflections about the industry, and made headlines overseas.

  Ms. Lattouf’s time at UTS exploring the power of research and advocacy established the foundations for her industry-defining work. The insights she gained into the resistance of power structures while studying at UTS inspired her to write her first book for Penguin in 2022. How to Lose Friends and Influence White People is a cheeky and approachable exploration of systemic racism in Australia and the steps people can take to make a difference. 
   

  In addition to her incredible journalism and anti-racism works, Ms Lattouf also advocates for more support and awareness of perinatal mental health, especially among refugee and migrant communities. She continues to share her own journey with postnatal depression and is an ambassador for The Gidget Foundation.

  
  Ms Lattouf was listed in the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in 2019. In 2021, she was awarded a Women’s Agenda Leadership Award and named B&T’s Women in Media Champion of Change. She has recently moved on from MDA and is working on a range of satirical broadcasting and writing projects. She became a UTS Alumni Ambassador in 2023.

• Julie McCrossin AM - Community Award

  Graduate Diploma in Adult Education, 1992

  Julie McCrossin has built an admirable career out of talking to people and stimulating thought-provoking conversations about things that matter. The highly regarded Australian broadcaster, journalist, and trainer has promoted social justice across areas including health, the law, and child welfare for over four decades.

  Growing up in a home full of lively conversations encouraged Ms. McCrossin to take an active interest in news and current affairs and taught her the value of lifelong learning.

  While studying for an arts degree and Diploma of Education at Sydney University in the early 1970s, Ms McCrossin became active in women’s and gay liberation. Her activism helped the LGBTQIA+ community make significant progress toward equality – including the decriminalisation of homosexuality in NSW in 1984. Since then, Ms McCrossin has continued to be vocal about her faith as a lesbian woman, pushing for equality and helping those grappling with sexual identity issues.

  Her experience with the media through the liberation movements led to the start of her broadcasting career. Known for her empathy, humour, and intelligence, she gave others a voice through a range of popular shows including:
  •    Breakfast and Thank God Its Friday at 702 ABC Radio Sydney
  •    Life Matters, Arts National and the Coming Out Show at ABC Radio National
  •    Compass, Good News Week, and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at ABC TV

  Ms McCrossin credits learning the value of clear, concise communications to her time at UTS, where she completed a Graduate Diploma in Adult Education in the early 1990s. Ms McCrossin sees literacy as a social justice issue. Since completing her diploma at UTS, she has taught adults with limited literacy, including migrant women and people with acquired brain injury. Over the years Ms. McCrossin has lectured at various universities including UTS, Macquarie University, and UNSW. Today, she is an ambassador for Adult Learning Australia.

  Currently, Ms. McCrossin uses her teaching and media experience to make an impact for cancer patients. Since being diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in 2013, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for better outcomes for people living with the disease. She is an active ambassador for Targeting Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer Australia, TROG Cancer Research, and the Cancer Council. 

  In 2019, Ms McCrossin was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to broadcast media and her LGBTQIA+ advocacy roles.

• Shaun Carter - Design, Architecture and Building Award

  Bachelor of Engineering in Structural Engineering, 1997; UTS for a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, 2003; Design in Architecture (1st class honours), 2005.

  Shaun Carter’s love of design and architecture started at a young age when he would join his mother on walks around their Sydney suburb and listen to her describe the houses she liked. When they got home, he got to work drawing their dream family home. But he really became enthralled by design at age 10 when he first saw the fiercely contemporary Sirius Building while driving over the Sydney Harbour Bridge with his grandfather. It was then he knew he wanted to be an architect. Years later he became Chair of the SaveOurSirius campaign to preserve this iconic piece of brutalist architecture that inspired him all those years ago.

  But architecture wasn’t Shaun’s initial career path. After being persuaded by his high school guidance counsellor to forget about his passion, he pursued a Bachelor of Engineering in Structural Engineering at UTS. He went on to work in the construction industry for many years. Yet his passion for design remained.

  He later returned to UTS for a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 2003 and furthered his study with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture, graduating with 1st class honours in 2005. He was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) NSW Chapter's Emerging Architecture Award.

  The founding and principal architect of the award-winning CarterWilliamson design practice, Shaun’s subsequent career success has been acknowledged with a Life Fellowship of the AIA. He was the NSW President of the organisation and an AIA National Councillor from 2015-17 and an NSW Architects Registration Board member from 2017-19.

  Shaun’s background in structural engineering and passion for urban design, heritage and sustainability combine to create the unique insight he brings to his own practice, as well as teaching and industry body roles. He has generously shared his experience with his industry peers and emerging designers over the years through many public lectures, including two notable TEDx talks. He has also tutored Design, Structures and Construction at UTS, University of Sydney and the University of NSW.

  By striving for design excellence, Shaun believes architecture should make our lives better and provide both the client and the community with maximum benefit for years to come.

• Thomas Da Jose - Engineering and Information Technology Award

  UTS Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice, 2017

  Thomas Da Jose has always been a problem solver. This, combined with his lifelong passion for science and technology, made engineering an obvious career choice.

  Today, Thomas devotes his formidable talent and skills to transforming the lives of vulnerable communities in the Philippines and helping build capacity and disaster resilience closer to home in NSW. He balances his time as co-founder and director of social enterprise Masy Consultants with his work at E3 Advisory – a high-performing infrastructure advisory firm.

  Thomas’ passion for helping others stems from his upbringing in Western Sydney, where his parents taught him about paying it forward (“The Bayanihan Spirit” as it is locally known in Tagalog). He always knew he wanted to help others, both in the Philippines and South-East Asia and within Australia.

  It was during his first solo trip in the Philippines on a UTS BUILD program that he witnessed firsthand the many communities, especially young students, that lacked access to clean water or dignified sanitation facilities.

  Thomas credits the resilience he developed at UTS for giving him the courage and persistence to pursue his passion. Leading a team of 31 volunteers across Australia and the Asia-Pacific, he has been instrumental in developing and delivering lifesaving innovations including capacity-building programs, community-led sanitation marketing, and construction of locally fabricated handwashing stations across the Philippines.

  More recently, Thomas and his team created and implemented WASH Education (WASH-Ed), an innovative learning curriculum for elementary schools in the Philippines. WASH-Ed is recognised by the Philippine Government’s Department of Education and has reached over 70,000 young people across the country through workshops and partnerships with 22 schools so far.

  Currently, Thomas works with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, expanding its Reinvented Toilet and Omni-Processor technologies in coastal communities across the Asia-Pacific region. He was appointed as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s inaugural New Colombo Plan Alumni Ambassador and Mentor for his contribution to humanitarian engineering and strengthening Australia-Asia ties.

  Thomas was also recognised as a Westpac Future Leader scholar in 2022 – which has been instrumental in helping him further his education and giving him a platform to achieve his future goals.

• Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge - Indigenous Australian Alumni Award

  Master of Science in Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management, 2005

  Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge is an environmental hydrogeologist, proud Kamilaroi man and currently an Associate Professor in Indigenous Water Science at the University of Canberra’s Centre for Applied Water Science. He combines the ancient knowledge of Indigenous environmental management with the advances of modern science, to progress a sustainable approach to water and land management.

  With 25 years’ experience in water and environmental science, cultural science, regulation, Indigenous engagement, water policy and hydrogeology, Associate Professor Moggridge’s impact has been recognised locally and internationally. Today, his advice and approaches are used to build more sustainable water management systems on his own traditional Country and around the world. He was instrumental in establishing the global first Indigenous Groundwater Declaration with the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH Australia). This declaration, signed by IAH members at the Australasian Groundwater Conference this year, is to acknowledge, champion and support the inclusion and respect of Indigenous knowledge in groundwater activities, decisions and policies.

  He has also been invited to speak at the United Nations Water Conference in New York in March 2023 and the Stockholm International Water Institute’s World Water Week in 2022 and 2023 as part of official Australian delegations.

  In 2019, he was awarded the CSIRO Indigenous STEM Professional Career Achievement Award, the ACT Tall Poppy Award for Science, the ACT NAIDOC Scholar of the year and received the inaugural Academy of Science Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Travel Award. His work has also led to the establishment of the first National Indigenous STEM Professionals Network (NISTEMPN) in Australia. He is a Fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust and International Water Centre leadership courses, Board member of the NSW EPA, the Biodiversity Council and President of the Australian Freshwater Science Society (AFSS), a Governor of WWF Australia and member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. He holds a Master’s of Science (Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management) from UTS and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) from ACU.

  Associate Professor Moggridge’s vision, advocacy, research and practical application are increasing the visibility and respect of Indigenous knowledge systems, and helping the world better collaboratively manage the Earth’s most important resources, especially water.

• Professor Nurul Barizah - International Alumni Award

  PhD Law, 2009; Master of Laws, 2001.

  Growing up in a small village 40 kilometres from Surabaya in Indonesia, Nurul Barizah dreamed of studying at the best high school in the city. She never imagined she would hold her current role of Professor of International Law at the Universitas Airlangga.

  Professor Barizah initially wanted to be a doctor, but a discussion with her high school friends set her on the path to studying law instead. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Professor Barizah started lecturing. But she needed more qualifications to work at the level she aspired to.

  It was on a training course where she met a professor from UTS. That chance meeting led to her completing her Masters, followed by a PhD, at UTS. Professor Barizah enjoyed the university’s facilities and supportive academic environment. Making friends from different backgrounds opened up her world, and the critical and analytical thinking skills she learned during her studies set her up to be the leader she is today.

  Now, Professor Barizah is the Chair of the Quality Assurance Board at the Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya. Specialising in international law, international intellectual property law, international trade law and international dispute resolution, Professor Barizah is a sought-after speaker and expert, consulting with Government ministries, NGOs, civil societies and social organisations in Indonesia.

  Professor Barizah is dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of higher education in Indonesia. She is responsible for ensuring and enhancing the quality of all 185 study programs at the Universitas Airlangga, and for facilitating national and international accreditation processes. One of her biggest accomplishments while serving as dean of the Faculty of Law was bringing the Faculty of Law  Universitas Airlangga into international recognition with a ranking of 200 by the QS World University Ranking by subject of Law - an extraordinary achievement considering that previously the Faculty did not have a ranking at all.

  Professor Barizah is also committed to supporting and improving higher level education at an international level as a member of the Board of Governors at the International Association of Law Schools – a position never held by the Dean of any law school in Indonesia. She’s also a member of the Academic Board at the National Academy of Professional Studies in Sydney.

• Dr Shannon Lin - Health Award

  Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, 2024; Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, 2010

  As a young high school graduate in China, Dr Shanshan (Shannon) Lin saw the devastating health impacts of diabetes in her own family. It was then that she decided to dedicate her career to helping people understand and manage life with the condition. She came to UTS as a student in 2009, completing the Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management, only to return 10 years later as Course Director.

  It’s a role she still holds today. Dr Lin is dedicated to ensuring students leave the program empowered and work ready in a field that urgently needs more professionals in practice. The program is now considered one of the most outstanding diabetes courses in Australia – largely in part due to the work of Dr Lin.

  With approximately 1.8 million Australians living with diabetes and under 2000 full-time equivalent Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) in the workforce, Dr Lin saw the issues with such a large gap in specialised diabetes care – especially in remote and rural communities. She has made it her mission to change that.  

  After completing her Graduate Certificate at UTS, Dr Lin ran the first diabetes prevention program with the Central Sydney Primary Health Network (formerly Central Sydney Division of GPs). Later she led the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) programs with Diabetes NSW & ACT. Dr Lin further expanded her passion in helping vulnerable groups to Indigenous communities by joining Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) Redfern as a Lead Diabetes Educator & Dietitian.

  Not long after she was appointed Course Director at UTS in 2019, she resigned from her much-loved role at AMS Redfern to run outreach clinics in rural and remote NSW. Dr Lin visits the Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service once a month and Indigenous Chronic Disease Clinic Bathurst, and Illawarra AMS fortnightly. She was named the Jan Baldwin National CDE of the Year and the CDE of the Year NSW for 2023. She also expanded her reach to the international space with Life for a Child, supporting kids and young adults with diabetes in developing countries.  
  Over the last 20 years, Dr Lin has worked tirelessly to improve health inequalities in Australia. Through upskilling healthcare professionals and giving more people with diabetes access to the equitable and specialised care, she continues to live her purpose while changing lives along the way.

• Catherine Hinwood OBE - Law Award

  Bachelor of Arts, 2001; Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice, 2002; Bachelor of Laws, 2001.

  Growing up in Blacktown and witnessing discrimination towards the Indigenous population gave Catherine Hinwood a strong sense of social justice from a young age. Now living overseas, Ms Hinwood is one of the UK’s leading advocates for domestic abuse and sexual violence reform, having received an OBE in recognition of her work in this year’s King’s Honours List.

  Ms Hinwood’s journey started with studying a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law at UTS, where she was encouraged to think about advocacy and how she could inspire change. At UTS she learned to dig deep into issues and question whether things could be done differently – a mindset that has stayed with her throughout her career.

  Her career path has taken her from the Human Rights Commission in Australia, to representing asylum seekers and refugees in court in London, to working in government policy for supporting victims of crime. She started specialising in gender equality as a gender champion for the Ministry of Justice, where she led the thinking around gender equality for 80,000 employees. That work included creating the first sexual harassment policies for the public sector in the UK.

  Ms Hinwood is dedicated to leaving a legacy through her work within the public sector, listening to those who have experienced sexual harassment and taking action to prevent it happening to others.

  Currently, Ms Hinwood works for the National Health Service (NHS), creating policies that aim to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence for employees and patients across multiple health networks and organisations. In addition to her work with the NHS, Ms Hinwood also led the UK government response in relation to COVID for victims of crime – particularly victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

  One of Ms Hinwood’s proudest achievements was getting extra funding for domestic violence support services during COVID lockdowns and ensuring victim support helpline information was displayed during televised COVID briefings.

  Prevention of domestic and sexual violence is something Ms Hinwood is working strongly towards, as she advocates to shift the conversation towards domestic abuse and sexual violence being viewed as a public health issue. She believes the law is an incredibly important tool for social justice and change that can be used to tackle some of society’s biggest issues. 

• Pat Cummins - UTS Business School Award

  Bachelor of Business, 2017

  Pat Cummins is the men’s Australian Cricket Captain, and one of the best fast bowlers in cricket today. Cummins’ outstanding on field performance and leadership abilities stem from years of hard work, dedication, and innovation, however his lesser known philanthropic and business side was first realised when he was forced to take a break from sport.

  The youngest player ever to earn a central contract with Cricket Australia at 18 years old, Cummins was a gifted sporting star on the rise. But it wasn’t long after he burst onto the international cricket scene in 2011, that a stress fracture in his back kept him off the field for several years. He used that time to its full potential, commencing a Bachelor of Business at UTS.  

  This was made possible with an Australian Cricket Association (ACA) education grant, and for Cummins, it took the pressure off his day-to-day cricket performance, because he was building his skills and interests in case cricket didn’t work out. The more Cummins studied, the more certain he became that he wanted to focus on economics and marketing. Although it’s fair to say, cricket did work out.

  Back on the field by the age of 23, Cummins quickly rose to be the world's No.1 ranked bowler in Test cricket and was part of the side that won Australia's first ever men's T20 World Cup in 2021. Later that year he became Australia’s 47th Test captain at only 27 years old.  

  A successful elite sporting career hasn’t diminished Cummins’ interest in education and business, and he’s becoming as influential off the field as he is on it. He is now a Director on the Board at ACA, and an ambassador for both the Mito Foundation and UNICEF.

  And his latest venture is bringing his passions of cricket and climate change together, as the Founder of Cricket for Climate. Cummins has started a collective movement with the sole purpose to lead and support initiatives to drive net-zero emissions in cricket by 2035 and 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. By using his influence and experience to make a positive impact, he’s championing climate change in the hope that we can make the changes needed now to save our planet, and summers of cricket to come.

• Nawid Cina - Young Alumni Award

  Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of International Studies, 2020

  Nawid – also known as Sourosh – Cina was raised in a humanitarian family. Growing up in Sydney’s north, he received mentoring and support from other young people in the community as a teenager. These experiences cemented his strong desire to give back to his community, country and the world at large.

  As well as building resilience, studying Law and International Studies at UTS taught him how to adapt and translate messages to persuade a range of audiences, including Government, the community sector and the human rights sector. He remains incredibly grateful to the teachers and professors he met, in particular Dr. Sara Dehm, who fundamentally influenced his views on justice and human rights.

  Nawid was active in mentoring youth from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and in leadership programs throughout university. After graduation, he undertook his Practical Legal Training at the Refugee Advice and Casework Service. Passionate about gender equality, he also brought his community experience into action, co-founding Future Leaders for Gender Equality to respond to sexual harassment in Australian high schools . Nawid also worked with Elizabeth Broderick at the Champions of Change Coalition on gender equality reform within the private sector.

  His skills and passion as a humanitarian and human rights lawyer really came to the fore through his work as Vice President of charity Mahboba’s Promise – created by his mother Mahboba Rawi to protect and support women and children in Afghanistan.

  In 2021, Nawid led the evacuation of more than 100 orphans, widows and other at-risk people from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. This included evacuating the single largest number of unaccompanied children in Australia’s history, leading to a seismic shift in refugee policy. During this time, Nawid increased Mahboba’s Promise’s fundraising by 340% and raised its profile in the media, giving the organisation a national platform to expand its humanitarian work and influence policy.

  His work with Mahboba’s Promise has been covered by the Guardian, the BBC, SBS News, the Sydney Morning Herald, ABCs Australian Story and more. In recognition of their incredible work, Nawid and Mahboba were awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2022.

  Currently, Nawid is working on a refugee relocation project with a UN Special Rapporteur in Spain. But his base was and always will be grassroots advocacy.