Three outstanding University of Queensland graduates have been honoured at the 2002 Courting the Greats Luncheon.
The event, which took place at Customs House on Monday, September 16th, was hosted by UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay and Dr Mary Mahoney, President of The Alumni Association of The University of Queensland Inc.
In addition to the Alumni Association’s Alumnus of the Year Award, the University’s Development Office created two new awards to recognise the achievements of a young graduate under 35 and an overseas graduate.
Professor Colin Power received the eleventh Alumnus of the Year Award, which honours University graduates who have achieved excellence in their chosen fields and have acquired outstanding reputations among their peers. Previous winners include Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty and Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush.
Professor Power, who received a PhD from UQ in 1971, was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the development of education internationally and the role he played in assisting education authorities in nations undergoing major political, economic and social transformations.
He has held the positions of Deputy Director-General of UNESCO and Assistant Director-General for Education – the most senior posts ever held in UNESCO by an Australian. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University.
The inaugural Young Alumnus of the Year award was presented to Dr Ashley Robinson while Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Khalid Ibrahim became the first International Alumnus of the Year.
Dr Robinson, now 31, graduated with an electrical engineering degree and completed his PhD while working full-time. He is now Engineering Director at Micreo Ltd, a new high technology company.
International Alumnus of the Year Mr Abdul Khalid completed a Master of Business Administration in 1976 and carries the “Tan Sri” title, which is equivalent to a knighthood.
He is immediate past president of the Malaysian Alumni Association and is Group Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad – which specialises in rubber, tea, cocoa, palm oil, transport and agricultural equipment and industrial engineering. His award was accepted by his daughter Siti Izatul Hawa Abdul Khalid.
Media: for further information, contact the Development Office on (telephone 07 3346 3900) or UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 3367 or email: communications@uq.edu.au).
