Beacon Bulletin, June 2024 Edition

Griffith alumni honoured in King’s Birthday List?

Congratulations to our alumni recognised in the 2024 King’s Birthday List. You are an ongoing inspiration to current students and fellow Griffith University Alumni , showcasing the enduring impact of our educational values.???

• Mrs Lesley Woolf. OAM FCRANA (GCert Public Sector Leadership '04) – OAM for service to Indigenous health, and to rural and remote nursing.

• Ms Brianna Casey AM (B Science '99)?– AM for significant service to social welfare, to environmental conservation and to the community.

• Mr Phil Harrison AM (M Outdoor Education '01) – AM for significant service to youth, and to outdoor and environmental education.

• Ms Shauna Hicks OAM (MA Australian Studies '97; Current PhD student)?– OAM for service to community history.

• Chief Superintendent John Hallam (B Commerce '94)? – Australian Police Medal (APM).

• Mr Shaun Ferris (B Engineering/Environment '96)?– Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service in leading the Queensland resources industry response to COVID-19.

• Ms Selina Shea (B Psychological Science / B Criminology & Criminal Justice '07)?– Australian Service Medal (ASM).

MasterChef Scientist wows the judges?

Congratulations to David Tan (B Pharmacology and Toxicology '18) who was a contestant on the 2024 season of MasterChef Australia. By day, David is a clinical trial manager working on cancer research, who has been showing off his cooking skills on the reality TV show.?

Read more: David Tan MasterChef?

The independent review of Queensland's Human Rights Act is underway?

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer has been appointed by the Attorney-General to undertake this review. She will be looking at the Act's operation from when it came into effect up to 30 June 2023, and will report to the Attorney-General by 20 September 2024.?

Assisting in the review are Professor Janet Ransley (M Administration '92; Doctor of Philosophy '01), School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, looking at youth justice and Professor Elena Marchetti, Griffith University Law School, looking at victims of crime.???

The review is receiving feedback until 21 June.

Capturing wildlife on campus

Joel Irwin (B Science '19; B Science Hon '20; Current PhD Student) has been cataloguing the 澳大利亚格里菲斯大学 GC campus animal, plant, and fungi sightings via the social platform iNaturalist since 2023. Since then, Joel has increased Griffith's GC individual species count to well over 750 sightings!?

"The fact that Griffith’s campus is home to such a wide, healthy array of species is worthy of celebration alone; this is a campus that sits nestled within a busy part of the central Gold Coast,” Joel says.?

“It’s like an oasis in a CBD and encouraging greater awareness and appreciation for this via iNaturalist will ensure that the biodiversity is acknowledged and hopefully appreciated.”?

Read more and see wildlife pictures here.

Must read: Heartbreak, hope and resilience?

Thank you to the always courageous and gracious Jasmina Joldi? PSM (GCert Policy Analysis '12; M Public Administration '14) for sharing her insights into her life journey and hopes for the future.?Read Jasmina's story here.

Raising awareness: Breast cancer early diagnosis ensures prompt treatment and the best prognosis possible?

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Australia. Dr Elisabeth Coyne (Doctor of Philosophy '12; GCert Higher Education '17) is an internationally recognised cancer nurse researcher. Her interdisciplinary research program aims to improve the outcomes for persons affected by cancer by designing and implementing innovative educational resources. See videos developed by Elisabeth and her research team to support persons with cancer and their family?

Griffith Health video: How is breast cancer diagnosed and treated??

Additional resources:

Digital mental health platform launched?

Congratulations to Co-creator at 澳大利亚格里菲斯大学 School of Applied Psychology Dr Laura Uhlmann (B Psychology (Hons) '12; PhD Clinical Psychology '19) on the launch of ‘Momentum’. The evidenced-based interactive modules build upon the original online Brave Programs which have helped children and adolescents deal with anxiety for the past 25 years.?

Find out more here:

Two major board appointments for Griffith graduates?

Congratulations to Brian Wyborn (M Financial Planning '19) on his appointment to the Philanthropy Australia board. Philanthropy Australia is a not-for-profit organisation working to achieve a generous and inclusive Australia through more and better philanthropy. Brian is also the Managing Partner at First Australians Capital .?

Read more: Philanthropy Australia?

Dr Nick Yim (B Medicine/B Surgery '11) has been elected as President of AMA Queensland . Dr Yim has been Vice President and Chair of Council for the past two years, working on issues ranging from hospital safety and ambulance ramping to patient taxes and Medicare reform.?

Read more about Dr Nick Yim's new appointment.

Special alumni discount: Australian Premiere of “For a Look or a Touch”?

The Australian Premiere of the powerful LGBTQIA+ opera, “For a Look or a Touch,” composed by the talented American artist, Jake Heggie is coming to Brisbane, QLD. As proud Griffith University Alumni (QCGU), the entire cast and crew share a special connection to this production, spanning different generations.?

Visit www.voxalis.com.au/heggie for more information and secure your seats.

Use code “voxalisfriends” for an exclusive 20% discount!?

Two graduates named as finalists in the 2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA)?

Congratulations to:?

• Dylan Sarra (B Contemp Aust Indigenous Art '21, B Visual Arts (Honours) '22). Dylan?is a local Indigenous artist who resides in Brisbane and originates from the Bundaberg region and belongs to the Gooreng Gooreng people. View Dylan's art here.

• Shannon Brett (Blackman/Appo) (B Contemp Aust Indigenous Art '10) is a proud Wakka Wakka/Butchulla/Gooreng Gooreng artist, designer, educator, researcher and curator, currently completing a PhD in Social Justice at the Queensland University of Technology in Meeanjin/Magandjin (Brisbane). Their research on whiteness responds to systemic racism and misogyny in Australia from decolonial and black feminist perspectives. Shannon is a current member of the Contemporary Aboriginal Art Collective proppaNOW, and also Adjunct Curator at the Institute of Modern Art in Meeanjin/Magandjin (Brisbane).??

QCAD graduates named as finalists in the Art Gallery NSW Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes?

Congratulations to:?

• Holly Anderson (B Fine Art '16; B Fine Art (Hons) '17), Archibald Prize 2024 finalist, is a QCAD alumnus and a current sessional staff member where she teaches extensively across our painting major. Her practice examines sensory experiences with light in Australian landscape. Follow Holly on Instagram: @holly.e.anderson

• Eliza Bertwistle (B Fine Art '18), Archibald Prize 2024 finalist, is a QCAD alumnus and an emerging artist who is now studying to be a teacher. She works predominantly as a muralist and oil painter. Follow Eliza on Instagram: @eliza.bertwistle.art?

• Jenna Mayilema Lee (B Design '13), Wynne Prize 2024 finalist, is a QCAD alumnus and a Gulumerrejin (Larrakia), Karrajarri and Wardaman woman with a practice focused on materiality and ancestral material culture, Lee works with notions of the archive, histories of colonial collecting, and settler-colonial books and texts. Follow Jenna on Instagram: @jenna.mlee?

• Karen Black (B Fine Art '11), Sir John Sulman Prize 2024 finalist, is a QCAD alumnus whose work occupies the scope of human relations through physical and psychological encounters. Follow Karen on Instagram: @karenblackstudio?

• Adrian Charles Smith (BEd In-service '95), Sir John Sulman Prize 2024 finalist, is a QCAD alumnus and emerging artist based in Meanjin/Brisbane. He uses painting to explore the complexities of human behaviour and our relationship with technology, frequently looking at ideas around the banal and mundane of everyday life. Follow Adrian on Instagram: @adriancharlessmith?

• Noel McKenna (B Fine Art '78), Sir John Sulman Prize and Wynne Prize 2024 finalist is a QCAD alumnus and established artist. He works in a variety of media (oil, enamel and watercolour, lithography and etching, ceramic and metal) and produces depictions of everyday scenes.?

Griffith alumni in the limelight?

• Joff Bush (B Music '06) won two awards at the 2024 Queensland Music awards. Mr Bush's work on the Bluey episodes Cricket and Dance Mode won the Music for Screen Award and the Children's Music Award. Read more here.

• Emma Reardon (GCert in Autism Studies '23) has been nominated in Australia’s Best Teachers awards for her work supporting young children and embracing flexibility in her teaching to meet children’s individual needs and interests. Connect with Emma here: Emma Reardon, LinkedIn.

• Associate Professor Lee Morgenbesser (B International Relations '07; GBS Honours Program '08; Doctor of Philosophy '14) has joined the Griffith Institute for Tourism . Read a short interview with Lee here.

• Dr Sebastian Lopez-Marcano (Doctor of Philosophy '22) has commenced as the Principal Data Scientist in Sustainable Futures at QCIF. Connect with Sebastian here.

• Brydie-Leigh Bartleet ’s (B Music Musciology (Hons) '01) article on music and social connection in postwar contexts has just been published in one of her field's leading journals. Read the article here.?

• Madeline Torrisi (B Laws (Hons)/B Crim & Crim Ju '21) shares her experience as a graduate lawyer, what her typical day looks like and advice for aspiring legal professionals seeking their first role. Read her interview with the Queensland Law Society here.

Want more news???

Keep an eye out for the Griffith Alumni eNewsletter hitting inboxes on Thursday 27 June where we will announce our 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award winners. Email [email protected] if you want to be added to the mailing list.??

Have news to share???

Please share your story with us here: Share your story (griffith.edu.au)?