“Curtin Commons is an online storytelling space for Curtin alumni, staff, students and friends. Featuring a series of thought-provoking articles intended to inspire and enlighten, Commons celebrates the many amazing contributions of our Curtin community and how they are striving to create a brighter future for us all.”
– Carmelle Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief
Dressed in her graduation regalia, Afia Anjum stood beside the stage at Curtin’s 2025 Djiiba Graduations. Just weeks before, she received news no one is ever prepared for.
Amidst the chaos of civil war in Sri Lanka, a young man driven by pure will and an entrepreneurial flair, launched a start-up that later, his daughter would help turn into a flourishing business.
Ed Punchard. From surviving the world’s worst offshore oil rig disaster to uncovering long-lost shipwrecks […]
Matt, Nate and Dan Curran are passionate about celebrating their indigenous roots and sparking meaningful change along the way.
Creative director Ken Leung is the visionary behind Curtin Alumni’s new video. The Curtin alum has an extraordinary career story, which involves working in New York and with major fashion brands like Calvin Klein.
If you suggested to a young Gavin Aung Than that he would one day, be crowned a “New York Times Bestselling cartoonist,” he likely would have brushed it off with a polite laugh.
Rebecca Nadilo (Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing and Advertising) is a formidable leader in the world of marketing and brand creation.
As CEO of Iris in Singapore, Rebecca’s key focus is empowering and leading a high-performance team to success.
Founder of Mediavation, Paul Christian has always had a camera in his hand. Growing up, Paul spent most of his time writing scripts on his dad’s work computer. Fast forward to now, the Mass Communications and Journalism graduate is living out his childhood dream.
Abbey Cullen was 19 when she had her first seizure.
Now, the morning Triple M radio announcer and journalism graduate is using her media platform to raise awareness and bring epilepsy out of the shadows.
In 2015, Tom Johnston swapped his business suit for a wetsuit – opening his own surf school – Perth Go Surf.
Since then, Tom now has the rewarding task of helping people with autism find enjoyment in catching their own waves, through a new partnership – Ocean Heroes.
After winning Curtin’s Talent for Tomorrow Competition in 2023 – there is a name that has become quite popular at our graduation celebrations – 3NA.
For the past two years, brothers Matt, Dan and Nate have been treating our graduation audiences to a finale most universities would be envious of. Dan (Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery) and Nate (Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy) are both proud Curtin Alumnus, and together with their brother Matt, are fusing the unlikely worlds of rap and academia together.
After years of working as a freelance designer around the world, Curtin Commerce graduate Emilie Otto became burnt out and exhausted.
Fast forward to 2024, she is now the owner of House of Hobby, which is a space that helps people find a creative hobby while supporting and empowering local artists and makers to share their skills.
Former Head of English and current Head of Academics and Innovation at Wesley College Adam Kealley understands the power of words.
With a recent PhD in creative writing and cultural studies from Curtin, the avid reader and writer shares his top tips on improving your writing skills.
Art has always been more than a passion for Curtin Fine Arts graduate Tessa MacKay, it’s been a way for her to understand the world.
Growing up with dyslexia and non-attentive ADHD, Tessa fell in love with the beauty of painting, which gave her a space to center, rediscover herself, and communicate beyond words.
“Whatever is happening in the world, art remains a centripetal force that allows me to try to make sense of it all,” she said.
Driven by a love of learning, Tessa became drawn to large-scale photorealism and hyperrealism, which are art forms derived from photography.
“I never intended to paint this genre from the outset, but I had a natural propensity to see details such as light, textures, anatomy, and expression, which all served to shape the emotional and formal quality of my paintings,” she said.
In a modern world drawn to capture the ‘perfect’ photo, Tessa became critical of her tendency to seek high-quality, flawless imagery as the basis of her paintings.
Turning her practice in on itself, Tessa’s work seeks to interrogate what makes an image truly worth painting – exploring imperfection, emotion, and humanity through her heartfelt, intricate work.
Explore more of Tessa’s work during her Artist-in-Residence at PICA Gallery from 29 September until 26 October. Currently, Tessa is represented by LAILA Gallery in Marrickville, Sydney.
Last month, we visited Tessa in her Walyalup (Fremantle) studio to learn more about her journey as a neurodivergent artist and her advice for aspiring creatives.
Read the full interview here.
Photos L-R: Tessa in her studio in Fremantle, ‘Science Ball 24_9_10 By Andy’, oil on canvas (2025), ‘Final sunset on the beach… bye holiday!.jpg’, oil on paper (2025), ‘Yas’s Planning BBQ and Lei’s Party’, ‘Through the Looking Glass’, oil on linen (2019), , ‘Everywhere Man’ oil on canvas (2017) and ‘Ya Kra Nhi’ oil on linen (2022).
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A ‘commons’ is a space that is shared by and benefits a community.
Our commons is a cultural and virtual one, reflecting the ideas and experiences shared by a proud and distinct Curtin community living in Western Australia and around the world. We hope that this space will inspire us to stay connected in ways that are beneficial to our lives, families and communities.
