Our 2024 Deakin Alumni Award recipients are positively changing their industries and their communities.
Meet an innovative play therapist supporting remote Australian towns by air, a third-generation firefighter harnessing VR and robotics to save lives, an international athlete using their platform to promote sustainability and inclusion and many more.
Alumni Excellence Award
Antoinette Braybrook AM
Antoinette is the CEO of Djirra, an organisation providing holistic and specialist legal and extended support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who experience family violence. In 2020, Antoinette was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, in 2022 she was named Melburnian of the Year, and in 2023 she was named a Member of the Order of Australia. Antoinette graduated in 2000 from Deakin’s Institute of Koorie Education, now known as The National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute.
Bachelor of Laws ’00
Fiona Campbell
Fiona is a highly regarded technical audit specialist as Oceania Audit Partner at EY. She has contributed greatly to student engagement at Deakin, and has been recognised for the development and retention of women in the industry. The 2023 Australian Accounting Hall of Fame honoured Fiona as an auditing standard setter and outstanding practitioner.
Bachelor of Commerce ’91
Lesley Harvey
Lesley delivers play therapy through the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section, providing mental health services to children and families. When she is unable to travel via plane, she may drive long distances to cater for the needs of children in her division. Lesley is also an SES volunteer, and studied Deakin’s Master of Child Play Therapy, graduating in 2020.
Master of Child Play Therapy ’20
Sheree Marris
Sheree is the award-winning author, documentary maker and an exceptional environmental communicator. In 2002, Sheree established her own communications consulting business called Visions of Blue. She has been commissioned by leading organisations to provide sustainability advice, consultancy services, and deliver environmental projects.
Deakin’s Bachelor of Science (Aquatic Science) ’97
Dr James Mullins
James is a third-generation volunteer fire-fighter, and the Chief Technology Officer and Founding Researcher at FLAIM Systems. FLAIM’s virtual firefighting training system is deployed with customers across emergency services, defence, and training organisations in 45 countries. In James’ words, he is proud that he ‘was able to combine my two passions of robotics and firefighting to provide a unique training outcomes.’
PhD ’09, Bachelor of Engineering ’03
Young Alumni Excellence Award
Rhydian Cowley
Rhydian is an Olympic race walker and an environmental ambassador. His personal best is the seventh fastest time in Australian history, and he attended two Olympic Games when he was a student at Deakin. Rhydian has a strong connection to land and is an environmental activist working at Bush Heritage Australia. As a Sports Environmental Alliance ambassador, he seeks to empower sporting organisations to reduce their carbon footprint. He is a member of Ecoathletes, an international team of athletes, academics, climate scientists, ecopreneurs and green business leaders.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce ’15
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann
Gabi is a senior Rabbi at the Ark Centre, a dynamic community centre and synagogue located in Hawthorn East. He is an active member of community organisations, and is currently sitting on not-for-profit advisory boards and government boards, as well as being a member of the Victorian Government’s Anti-Racism Taskforce. He collaborates with other leaders to create programs for multifaith communities.
Master of Social Work ’19
James Murphy
James runs Sea All Dolphin Swims in Queenscliff, and founded Southern Ocean Environmental Link (SOEL) which has been awarded Green Travel Leader status by Eco-Tourism Australia. James’ team allocates 40% of their time to conducting charitable work, and the company directs half of their of profits to enabling SOEL’s conservation efforts. As well as their own initiatives, the organisation supports projects, research, and work integration with Deakin student involvement.
Bachelor of Commerce ’17
Sandeep Namburu
Sandeep is the founder of the renowned brand consulting firm Magsmen in India, and a certified image consultant. He is an enrolled advocate at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and holds a seat on the jury for the MMA Global Awards. Sandeep demonstrates community-mindedness through his Launchpad initiative, a program providing startups with free support and guidance, and he volunteers his time within his community.
Master of Business Administration (International) ’18
Al Viney
Al is an athlete, strength and conditioning coach, and ambassador. She has represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, finishing forth in the mixed coxed four competition. She is a Victorian Institute of Sport Scholarship holder, and an ambassador for both the Australian Institute of Sport and Lifeline Australia, raising awareness about mental health and the challenges that athletes face. She is an advocate for women in sport and greater opportunities for people of all abilities.
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science ’19
Now that you’ve met our 2024 recipients, there’s plenty more to discover.
Below, you can hear advice from our recipients from their personal journeys and meet the Deakin student who designed this year’s stunning trophy.
Meet more previous Alumni Award recipients
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