A kidney specialist working in Fiji, a Canada-based chemist, an award-winning novelist and the chair of Australian Unity are among the University of Tasmania graduates honoured in this year’s Alumni Awards.
The awards recognise graduates who have made a significant difference in local or international communities.
Lisa Chung, who graduated in law in 1982, received the Distinguished Alumni Award. The university described her as “one of Australia’s most respected company directors and governance leaders”.
Chung was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2020 for service to the community and is Chair of Australian Unity.
“As the first in my family to attend university, I am especially grateful for the strong educational foundation I received at the University of Tasmania,” she said.
The International Alumni Award went to Jim Luong, a scientist who completed his PhD in 2013. The university said his innovations “transformed separation science and industrial analytical practice”.
Luong is a Fellow of Dow Chemical and of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
“I accept this award with profound gratitude and hope that my work has made a positive and lasting contribution to others and to the broader scientific community,” he said.
Hobart author Robbie Arnott received the Young Alumni Award. His novels include Flames, The Rain Heron, Limberlost and Dusk and his work has been translated into 10 languages.
His books have won The Age Book of the Year and the Voss Literary Prize and have been shortlisted several times for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
“Studying at the University of Tasmania was, in many ways, the making of me and I hope I can continue to give back to the Tasmanian community through my work,” Arnott said.
Nephrologist Anis Ta’eed, a 2010 medical graduate, was also recognised. He heads nephrology at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji and directs the Fiji National Kidney Centre.
“Working in Fiji has allowed me to make a meaningful contribution to global healthcare equity by supporting emerging kidney services in the region,” he said.
Last year’s recipients were anaesthetist Marcus Skinner, biodiversity specialist Helen Crowley and STEM educator Daniel Edwards.
