Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, early morning safaris with his dad were a highlight of his week.

With the morning air still and golden light melting across the savanna, herds of elephants and towers of giraffes moved through the grasslands.

Watching these animals in their natural habitats, moving at their own pace, left Harman in a state of wonder. He came to understand that this place and its flora and fauna, were something to be respected.

“It’s just you and these wild animals.”

It was in these quiet moments that something began to take hold. Not just a love for wildlife, but a deeper sense of connection.

A young Harman capturing a leopard while on safari with his family in Kenya.

But when his dad passed away in 2013, that world shifted. The places were familiar, yet the feeling of being there was different.

In the midst of that grief, Harman still returned to what he knew – the wilderness.

However, this time he saw it through a different lens.

Picking up a camera, Harman found a way to preserve precious memories, and in doing so, discovered a powerful outlet for healing and connection.

“My dad loved leopards,” Harman says.

Harman said each image became a quiet act of remembrance. A way of keeping both memory and meaning alive in a world where so much is fleeting.

For Harman, capturing leopards has been a way for him to connect with his Dad.

On one of their final safari trips together, a photographer – who would later become Harman’s mentor – captured some of the last images of Harman and his family with his father.

At the time, they were simply photos.

Years later, when those images found their way back, they became something far more significant – a tangible fragment of a moment they could never return to.

What began as a chance meeting, unfolded into a mentorship grounded in patience, curiosity and time in the field.

Every Sunday, the two would return to Nairobi National Park. Long days of waiting and quiet observation.

It wasn’t about chasing the perfect shot. It was about learning to see and notice the small shifts, the subtle movements, the moments most people would miss.

Capturing once-in-a-lifetime photos often requires patience and quite observation.

Over time, photography became more than a skill. It became a constant.

Years later, that patience would be tested elsewhere.

Deep in the dense, rain-soaked forests of South India, Harman and his mum set out in search of one of the rarest animals in the world, the elusive black leopard.

Drive after drive, there was nothing.

The rain fell steadily. The forest closed in. And slowly, doubt began to creep in.

But something told him to keep going.

And then, just as the light began to fade, there he was, perched quietly in a tree.

Harman captured one of the rarest animals in the world, the black leopard, in South India.

A moment so rare, so fleeting, it could have been missed entirely.

Life eventually led Harman far from the landscapes that shaped him.

Moving to Perth, he spent six years at Curtin completing a BA in International Relations and Affairs and a Masters in Professional Writing and Publishing.

At his February graduation, Harman shared an important message with his peers: “Don’t wait for clarity or certainty before you move forward; step beyond what feels comfortable. Trust that growth often begins where certainty ends,” he said.

In the future, Harman hopes to combine his love for writing with his passion for photography.

Harman also hopes to continue his safari business, Mzuri Safaris.

Co-founded in 2023 with his friend, Nili Gudhka, Mzuri was designed to bring Africa’s wilderness closer to people around the world.

“I’ve seen guests cry at the sight of their first elephant or leopard,’’ he said.

Harman’s most favourite photo, a lioness in the sunset.

For Harman, photography has always been more than making ends meet. It’s been a way of life.

His biggest piece of advice for those wanting to follow their passion?

“Just do it. Many people will sit on a passion they want to pursue and will be too scared to jump on it,’’ he said.

“Honestly, there will never be a right time – you have to decide if this is something you really want to pursue and then do it.”

___

Read more stories

For many people in their early 40s, writing a gift into their Will is something reserved for much later in life.

However, for Curtin MBA alumnus Roger Chao, that is something worth acting on now.

A distinguished governance expert, entrepreneur, board strategist and advocate for social justice, Roger has spent much of his life thinking deeply about responsibility – not just to his profession, but to society.

That thinking inspired him to make an extraordinary commitment: to leave a significant gift to Curtin University in his Will, investing in the students, researchers and ideas that will shape a better future long after he is gone.

It is a decision grounded not in recognition, but in gratitude, duty and a conviction that one generation should leave society stronger for the next.

Born in Australia to immigrant parents, Roger has always been deeply aware of the opportunities education made possible in his own life.

That belief has shaped the way Roger sees the world.

Across a career spanning more than two decades, he has worked across corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors in areas including health, education, sustainability and emerging technologies – fields he is drawn to because they help determine whether a society is merely productive or genuinely decent, and whether prosperity is built without quietly stealing from the future.

Yet beneath the titles and achievements sits a simple guiding question: who is better off because I did this work?

It is the same question that sits at the heart of his decision to support Curtin through a legacy gift – if education widened opportunity in his own life, what would an honourable response look like for those who come next?

For Roger, education is one of the most powerful forces for fairness in society. It can widen opportunity, soften disadvantage and unlock talent that might otherwise go unrealised.

“If you truly value something, you don’t leave your support for it to chance.”

Roger completed a Diploma of Business and MBA at Curtin University, drawn to the University’s broad subject offerings and flexible delivery, which allowed him to study while working full-time. But what stayed with him most was not only the academic content – it was the mindset Curtin fostered – that intellectual attainment carried civic obligations, and that competence without integrity is not merely hollow but dangerous.

He speaks warmly of the diversity of people he encountered through the program, from different industries and backgrounds, and of the realisation that education is never just about personal advancement.

“Learning isn’t separate from responsibility,” he said.

That long-view thinking has become central to how Roger leads.

In high-stakes environments, he believes leadership is not about ego or numbers, but about staying calm in complexity, seeking truth with discipline, and never losing sight of the people behind the data.

“Every number is a person,” he said.

“It’s a patient, a student, a staff member, a family, a community. Good leadership means asking who is affected, how they are affected, and what we owe them.”

That same people-first philosophy underpins his gift to Curtin.

Roger hopes his future bequest will do more than inspire. He wants it to make a practical difference – helping ease the burdens that can quietly derail a student’s potential and creating room for research that may one day transform lives.

“When those pressures ease, even slightly, students can show up more fully and meet their potential.”

He believes the same principle applies to research, where the public good often depends on whether people are given room to ask difficult, unfashionable and ethically necessary questions.

Good research, he says, requires time, courage and the freedom to ask difficult questions – including the ones that do not fit neatly into current funding priorities.

“Some of the most valuable work starts with a question that doesn’t fit into any category and isn’t of immediate interest at the time,” he said.

At a life stage when many are focused on building careers and raising families, Roger is also thinking generations ahead.

Not because he believes legacy belongs only to the wealthy or the elderly, but because he believes values should be acted on while there is time and clarity to do so.

For years, he admits, legacy was something he assumed he would think about later. But witnessing how quickly life can change shifted his perspective.

Roger does not describe his gift as generosity. Instead, he sees it as duty – a way of strengthening the same institutions that helped him succeed, so others can have the same chance to thrive.

“I don’t think about it as generosity for generosity’s sake,” he said.

“I think about the difference it can make. Individuals benefit through education, but society benefits too, because those individuals go on to shape healthcare, technology, communities and the future.”

For Roger, legacy isn’t what you leave behind – but who is better off because you were here.

For more information or to discuss the possibility of leaving a gift to Curtin University, please contact Alana Hammond on alana.hammond@curtin.edu.au or +61 8 9266 3839.

___

Read more stories

Long before thousands of West Australians relaxed on bean bags and picnic rugs under the stars at Movies by Burswood (now known as Community Cinemas) Founder Ken Gibbons was a young boy playing imaginary drive-ins in his backyard.

To the Curtin Applied Science graduate, movies were never just about entertainment – it was an experience that brought people together.

“When I was a kid I would go to the outdoor drive-ins with my family,” Ken said.

“We’d always be nicely dressed, and it would be a real sense of occasion.”

Ken said a cherished memory from his childhood was him sitting in a dark movie theatre with a group of strangers – all laughing and gasping at the same time and all sharing the same excitement.

Those early memories left a lasting impression and quietly planted the seeds for something much bigger.

Today, Ken is the proud founder of four Community Cinema locations around Perth – Bassendean, Burswood, Joondalup and Murdoch.

What began as a simple idea has grown into a much-loved family experience every summer.

Movies at Burswood ((now known as Community Cinemas) is a much-loved family experience in Perth.

Over the past 25 years the volunteer-powered initiative has raised a staggering $14 million dollars for children’s charities across WA.

This year, in recognition of this extraordinary contribution to the community, Ken was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

“I was truly humbled by the award. But I don’t do this for recognition,’’ he said.

“People rarely walk out unchanged. They’re usually laughing or smiling.”

Ken said his passion for cinema from his childhood, followed him into his student years at Curtin’s predecessor, the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT).

Deeply involved in student life, Ken served two years as Student Guild President and alongside student leadership, he found another way to bring people together – through movies.

Ken’s idea for an outdoor cinema in Perth was planted during his time at Curtin.

Using the Curtin Hollis Theatre lecture hall, he began screening classic films for students to watch during their lunch break.

“You could say the idea for an outdoor cinema in Perth, was planted during my time at Curtin,’’ he said.

Ken said titles like Casablanca drew uni crowds looking for a break from lectures and assignments.

One particularly memorable night saw Ken squeeze 595 people into a 250-seat lecture theatre for a screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Looking back, Ken realised those early film nights were more than just student entertainment.

“The formula really evolved at Curtin,” he said.

Years later, that idea would return in a very different setting.

In the late 1990s, Ken began to notice something missing in Perth’s entertainment scene. Outdoor cinemas existed, but few were designed with families in mind.

Community Cinemas was designed with families in mind.

“There wasn’t really a place where families could come along with blankets, pillows and a picnic,” he said.

“Somewhere the kids could fall asleep while the adults enjoyed the movie.”

At the time, Ken was heavily involved in fundraising for the Kids’ Cancer Support Group at Princess Margaret Hospital and was always looking for new ways to support children and families facing difficult circumstances.

During a dinner with friends, the conversation turned to the idea of creating a family-friendly outdoor cinema.

Encouraged by his friends to make it happen, Ken decided to take the leap.

The next step was convincing the Burswood Park Board.

Ken approached them with a bold proposal: allow him to run an outdoor cinema on the Burswood foreshore during Perth’s busy summer months – and do it without paying rent.

Without hesitation, the board said yes.

And with that, Movies by Burswood was born.

Movies at Burswood began as a small fundraising initiative, and has since grown into a cherished Perth summer tradition with hundreds of volunteers.

Despite losing money in the first year, and breaking even the following year – Ken persisted.

Slowly but surely, word spread and families returned each summer.

More and more volunteers stepped forward to help.

What began as a small fundraising initiative gradually evolved into one of Perth’s most cherished summer traditions with over 700 volunteers.

Ken is quick to point out that his Order of Australia Medal belongs to everyone who helped make Community Cinemas possible.

“I accepted the award this year on behalf of the many volunteers and supporters who have been part of our journey,” he said.

“For me, movies have been so much more than what appears on screen. They are an escapism.

“If people can come together and have a positive experience, that’s a good thing, but if we can raise money to help children in need at the same time – well that’s the icing on the cake.”

___

Read more stories

For William Peucker, discovering graphic design wasn’t just about finding a career – it was about coming home.

A proud Bardi man from the Pender Bay region in Western Australia, Will is in his final semester of a Bachelor of Design at Curtin University.

Thanks to the generosity of a stranger and the support of a Curtin Moorditj Maaman Scholarship, he’s been able to fully dedicate himself to his studies – and to a future grounded in art, healing, and community.

“Growing up, I never imagined I’d be in the position I am today,” Will said.

Raised in Esperance after spending his early childhood travelling around Australia, Will grew up disconnected from culture.

“My connection comes from my dad’s side, but my parents weren’t really connected to it either. I didn’t grow up knowing that part of myself,’’ he said.

That began to change when he arrived at Curtin and joined St Catherine’s College Dandjoo Darbalung program – a unique initiative supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through culturally safe accommodation and community.

Will with Program Coordinator at Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Brendon DeGois at the 2025 Curtin Scholarships Event.

There, Will found more than a place to live.

He found mob who embraced him with open arms – regardless of how strong or recent his cultural connection was.

“That’s where my journey of reconnection really began,” he said.

Last year, that reconnection deepened with a powerful return to Country.

Travelling to back to country in the Dampier Peninsula, Will experienced a profound sense of belonging.

“It was healing being able to reconnect to country and meet my Aunty who was so warm and welcoming.”

Will with Aunty saving a pelican on Country.

It was actually at sunrise on the shores of Pender Bay in Dampier, that Will proposed to his partner.

Will proposing to his partner on Country.

Will’s journey into design wasn’t straight forward.

Like many young people, he initially followed the path others had mapped out – enrolling in engineering under the growing push for STEM careers.
But something didn’t feel right.

A gentle nudge from his partner to consider graphic design ended up the shift he needed, and from the first semester on, he knew he’d found his purpose.

Today, Will’s design work is shaped by culture, lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to uplift others.

His style is bold, honest and deeply personal – and eventually he hopes to build a platform that gives voice to other Indigenous creatives.

Will said the Moorditj Maaman Scholarship had been more than financial support – it’s been the freedom to breathe, focus, and thrive.

“It’s taken so much pressure off,” he says.

That support helped him excel last semester, finishing with a course-weighted average of 79.79 and 90 in a core unit.

Now, with just one unit left, Will is focused on building his portfolio and entering the design industry ready to make a difference.

After graduation, he and his fiancée plan to move to Denmark in WA’s Great Southern – a quiet, creative town where he hopes to establish a collective to support and collaborate with other First Nations artists.

Will on the jetty.

He also plans to return to Country every year to continue learning from Elders, family, and the land –carrying forward the stories and responsibilities entrusted to him by his aunties.

“To anyone who feels like they’re too disconnected or it’s too late – it’s not. It’s never too late,” Will said.

“Opportunities like this scholarship can change your life. Just go for it. You never know where it might take you.”

To learn more about Curtin’s scholarship opportunities, please contact give@curtin.edu.au .

___

Read more stories

Dressed in her graduation regalia, Afia Anjum stood beside the stage at Curtin’s 2025 Djiiba Graduations, her heart racing as she waited for her name to be called.

Just weeks earlier, the Master of Architecture student had received news no one is ever prepared for – doctors had found a rare and aggressive tumour.

In an instant, her whole world came crashing down.

Known for her bright smile and gentle spirit, Afia had been counting down the days to graduation, the moment she would walk across the stage with her classmates.

But after beginning chemotherapy, she wasn’t sure she’d be well enough to make it.

“They told me I might only have weeks to live. It honestly felt like an out-of-body experience.”

Despite several gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and its harsh side effects, Afia was determined to be there.

Supported by her husband, friends and fellow graduates, Afia was well enough on her graduation to make that walk.

Afia accepting her Masters of Architecture at the 2025 Curtin Djilba (September) Graduations Ceremony.

“It was such a wonderful feeling,” she said.

A few weeks earlier, Curtin’s graduations team had organised a private ceremony for Afia, in case her health wouldn’t allow her to attend the official event.

While deeply touched by their kindness, nothing compared to the feeling of hearing her name called, walking across the stage, and holding the degree she had worked so hard for.

For Afia, that short walk symbolised so much more than the completion of a degree.

Afia with her husband at her private ceremony organised by the Curtin Graduations team.

It carried the weight of her father’s unwavering encouragement, the fulfilment of her late mother’s dream, and her own extraordinary courage.

That same courage had guided her in 2023 when she left Bangladesh to begin a new life in Australia.

Life in Perth was everything she had wished for.

She was thriving at university, surrounded by new friends, and excited about what lay ahead.

Afia with her friends at her private graduation ceremony.

But in June this year, while completing her final thesis, everything changed.

“I remember feeling tired all the time and losing my appetite,” she said.

“I just thought it was stress. Then one day I became so sick I vomited at least 20 times.

“My husband rushed me to hospital, where they treated me for dehydration and sent me home.”

Days later, after submitting her thesis, Afia collapsed and was rushed back to hospital.

“This time, they did a scan and found a tumour blocking my intestine,” she said.

Since then, Afia has faced hospital visits, countless tests, and more chemotherapy.

Yet through it all, she radiates calm, gratitude and grace.

“I try not to dwell on the negative,” she said.

“I take it one day at a time. If today is sunny, I go outside and enjoy it. If I’m well enough to smile, I smile. That’s how I keep going.

Afia said her husband had been her constant source of strength.

Afia with her husband, who has been her constant source of strength.

“He’s been my rock,” she said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without him.”

With her father and younger brother back home in Bangladesh, Afia is determined to continue to make them proud.

Afia with her family.

“When I got the diagnosis, I didn’t even know how to tell my father.”

It was her father, a civil engineer, who first inspired her to study architecture.

“Growing up, I watched him work with architects, how they combined creativity and practicality to bring ideas to life. It fascinated me,” she said.

“He once told me, ‘You should study architecture,’ and it just made sense. I already loved sketching and had a science background.”

After completing her five-year bachelor’s degree in Bangladesh, Afia decided to pursue her Masters.

“Mum always wanted me to further my education,” Afia said.

Now, even in the face of one of life’s toughest battles, Afia’s strength and optimism continue to inspire everyone around her.

Afia decided to come to Australia to honour her mother’s dream.

She hopes her story reminds others to listen to their bodies and trust their instincts.

“Our body is like an alarm clock – it gives us signals when something’s wrong,” she said.

“We’re often so busy with work or study that we ignore them, especially if they’re subtle.

“While there’s nothing, I could’ve done to prevent my cancer, maybe we could’ve found it sooner.”

Through her remarkable journey, Afia reminds us all that even in moments of deep uncertainty, there’s always space for courage, gratitude – and a smile.

___

Read more stories

In 1993, amidst the chaos of civil war in Sri Lanka, a young man driven by pure will and an entrepreneurial flair, with no financial backing, and no industry connections, walked away from a stable corporate job and decided to start a business.

From the cramped living room of his family home, where his wife, two young children, and mother-in-law all shared two bedrooms, he began distributing wood paint from the back of a van.

Thirty-one years later, that start-up has evolved into JAT Holdings PLC, a publicly listed, multinational operation with over 600 employees across Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Vietnam and Australia, completely changing the wood coating landscape in Southeast Asia.

A key team member of this now flourishing business is his daughter, Curtin Commerce graduate Anika Williamson.

“Our living room was my dad’s office,” she said.

“I remember the first container being dropped in our backyard and Dad going around town with paint cans in his van. That’s how it all started.”

Anika (striped shorts) helping unload the very first container that they received with her brother and local boys from their village.

Though she now sits on the board as a director, her path into the family business was anything but straightforward.

After migrating to Perth in 2008 and becoming an Australian citizen, Anika was the first in her family to attend university.

“It was such a big decision, the whole family was involved, and I felt a huge responsibility to make them all proud” she says.

“Curtin was such an impactful experience, and I can honestly say that my Entrepreneurship lecturers and a few other key Curtin employees shaped the businesswoman I am today.

Anika’s younger brother and sister followed in her footsteps, choosing to pursue their tertiary education at Curtin too.

Following her graduation, Anika dived into working at JAT Holdings. She started in the paint stores, slowly working her way up to a Finance Manager position.

“Understanding the Company from its foundations was essential to me, I wanted to know how it all worked before taking any leadership positions” she reflected.

In 2014 she returned to Australia and pursued a career in private banking at one the big four banks, learning the structure and processes that would prove invaluable during the transition of JAT from a family business to a public listed entity.

In 2020, just before the world changed, she said she was visiting Sri Lanka for what was supposed to be one-month.

“Honestly, I didn’t take COVID seriously at first. I thought,  it would blow over in two or three months. But that one month ended up being extended for almost two years, where it was just too difficult to get back to Perth,’’ she said.

As lockdowns grounded flights and plans, Anika said she found her attention slowly turn to the family enterprise.

Anika Williamson, Richard Gunawardene (brother- also Curtin graduate), Aelian Gunawardene (father) and Joyce Gunawardene (father’s partner).

“At first I was in Sri Lanka to train on a product we planned to launch in Australia. We had everything in place to launch, however as flights continued to be cancelled and lockdowns were enforced, my father asked if I could look into our property development business. Then it slowly became more permanent with me taking on responsibilities across different businesses’’ she said.

Anika’s first major assignment?

A stalled 48-unit apartment project halted mid-construction due to pandemic-related delays and import restrictions on critical construction materials.

With no background in property or construction, Anika found herself on-site, managing costs and timelines through sheer grit.

“I had no clue what I was doing, but I knew every day we delayed was money lost. I figured it out as I went. I spent months on a construction site, dealing with COVID outbreaks, monsoons, and I even caught dengue fever and spent one week in the hospital. We ended up completing the project despite all the challenges faced. That’s still one of my proudest career moments,’’ she said.

“Eventually, I was asked to join the JAT board and drive international expansion alongside key management personnel.”

Today, she leads JAT’s global growth into Vietnam and Australia, working alongside her father and the senior management at JAT Holdings. But she does it her way – with an eye toward balance, innovation, and impact. She also spreads her time working on multiple businesses in differing industries such as property development, mineral mining, furnishing and finishing.

“My dad is a machine. His work ethic is unmatched. I’ve had to learn that working hard is great, but working smart is essential,’’ she said.

“I used to chase perfection with everything – every email, every proposal. But now I focus on efficiency, effectiveness, and trusting the process.”

Anika is also a passionate advocate for female leadership.

“Making space for women in leadership and speaking up for equality is something I feel very strongly about,’’ she said.

“When I first moved back to Sri Lanka and would attend events or meetings related to the construction industry, I had instances of people assuming I was someone’s personal assistant. As if to say it was completely unexpected for a woman to be in that space.”

At the end of the day, Anika said travel, connection, teaching, mentoring and reflection remain her grounding rituals and nothing beats networking and building relationships.

“That’s my favourite part of this job. I love being on the ground with customers, hearing their stories, and solving their pain points. That energises me more than anything,’’ she said.

Looking ahead, Anika has a bold dual vision to cement JAT Holdings as a leading force in South Asia, Australia, and Africa – and to grow something deeply personal – a new medical cannabis venture.

“We just received our licence to grow and export medicinal cannabis from Sri Lanka. And this is the business I really, truly want to see through,’’ she said.

For her, it’s more than business.

Diagnosed with fibromyalgia at sixteen, Anika said she began using an extract of medicinal cannabis, CBD, for pain relief when she was thirty two, and has been an advocate ever since.

“It’s a product I believe in with my whole heart. As cannabis slowly becomes legalised and destigmatised throughout the world, it is hard to deny the medical benefits and other positive health impacts. I’m already thinking about launching a Ceylon Cannabis tea,’’ she said.

With one foot grounded in tradition and the other boldly stepping into the future, Anika isn’t just growing a business — she’s shaping a legacy with heart, purpose and vision.

___

Read more stories

From surviving the world’s worst offshore oil rig disaster to uncovering long-lost shipwrecks on the ocean floor, Ed Punchard has charted quite an extraordinary career course.

As a submersible pilot, maritime archaeologist, and award-winning documentary filmmaker, the managing director of Immersive Experiences is pushing the boundaries of how people explore and understand the past beneath the waves.

Growing up in two coastal and fishing towns in the UK – Conwy and Dartmouth – the Curtin maritime archaeology graduate said his affinity for the sea was no accident – it was inherited. My mother is from Brixham, and my father is from Dartmouth.

“Brixham was once the greatest fishing town of England, Dartmouth the home of Britannia College, where Britain’s Royal Navy trains its officers,’’ Ed recalls.

“Brixham used to have hundreds of boats — beautiful working sailboats that would go out for four or five days at a time.

“There were always books about ocean voyages and sailing ships on our shelves growing up. It was all around me.

“I guess it’s no surprise I made my permanent home in Fremantle.”

In 1988, while working as a commercial sea diver in the North Sea, a catastrophic oil rig disaster changed Ed’s life forever.

That night, 167 lives were lost in what has become the worst offshore oil disaster in history.

The tragedy galvanized a new chapter in Ed’s life, eventually leading him from the treacherous waters of the ocean to the academic shores of maritime archaeology.

“Filing cabinets flew through the air and fell over.

“Explosions are strange. Unless you’ve been near one, you can’t understand. The shockwave goes right through you. It’s not just a sound – it’s physical.”

Ed said despite his office being bomb-proof it still took a major hit.

“Everything was a blaze. Smoke blocked the main exit.

“Eventually, I climbed down a rope and was picked up by the standby rescue vessel, an aging mex fishing vessel.

“I was towed through the sea for what felt like forever but must have been a few minutes.”

Thankful to survive that night, Ed turned trauma into purpose – spending the next chapter of his life writing a best-selling book on the disaster and making documentaries to share stories that mattered.

In 1991, Punchard founded Prospero Productions, a Fremantle-based documentary production house.

Over the following decades, he would go on to produce and/or direct more than 350 films for television and giant screen formats.

His body of work spans collaborations with nearly every major global broadcaster, including the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, ITV, France 5, ABC, and SBS.

Ed’s films are more than narratives; they are often full-scale expeditions into some of the planet’s most remote and historically rich maritime environments.

“National identity matters and whether it’s fiction or fact, our films should carry the voice of this place. That’s what gives them meaning and that’s what excites me.

“If you’ve got the imagination, there’s always something powerful to find in the cracks.”

Beyond filmmaking, Punchard’s expertise and passion have also driven real-world maritime exploration.

His work has contributed to the discovery or documentation of a host of significant underwater sites: from the Broome air raid wrecks to the Batavia’s graveyard off the Abrolhos Islands.

He has also collaborated with some of the most respected figures in the field, including Dr. George Bass, the father of maritime archaeology, and oceanographer Robert Ballard, renowned for locating the Titanic wreck.

Honoured twice as an associate of the Western Australian Museum Ed has also worked with the Bodrum Institute of Nautical Archaeology.

His leadership extends well beyond the field and film set – serving as Chairman of Screenwest, Western Australia’s state film funding agency, and the HMAS Sydney Foundation. He was recently nominated as a member of the celebrated Explorers Club of New York.

Now at the helm of Immersive Experiences, Ed continues to merge his passions for technology, exploration, and storytelling.

With a life marked by survival, reinvention, and relentless curiosity, Ed’s work not only brings the hidden past to life but also lights the way for future generations of explorers, storytellers, and dreamers who dare to venture beneath the surface.

___

Curtin graduates Dan Curran (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) and Nate Curran (Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy) are proud Yamatji brothers, fiercely committed to creating change, both through their professional careers and as members of Indigenous hip hop group 3NA.

Together with their eldest brother Matt Curran — a seasoned artist with more than two decades of industry experience, 3NA are on a mission to spark meaningful change.

What began as living room concerts for family and friends has transformed into powerhouse performances, chart-topping singles, and a message that reaches far beyond the stage.

From a young age, the brothers discovered the power of music and brotherhood.

Whether they are delivering medical care to remote Indigenous communities, challenging curriculum gaps, or mentoring youth through music, Matt, Nate and Dan are carving a path toward a better future.

Graduating two years ago, Dan is now a qualified doctor working in Rubibi (Broome).

“Personally, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to work in remote WA,’’ he said.

Growing up, Dan said he was inspired by rappers like KRS-One and Nas – artists whose words lit a fire in him and showed him that education wasn’t just a choice, but a path to something greater.

Dan (centre) brings the same fire to the mic as he does to his profession.

“As Nas said, You can be anything in the world, in God we trust… an architect, doctor, maybe an actress, but nothin’ comes easy, it takes much practice,’’ he said.

“Lyrics like these made me believe that no matter what, whether you were black or white, rich or poor, anything was possible if you put your mind to it.

Whether he’s playing the didgeridoo on stage or stepping into a lecture theatre, Nate uses every opportunity to amplify Indigenous perspective.

Nate at his graduation with Matt and Dan.

“Lecturing is being able to walk between two worlds,” he said.

“Now I get to help change that.

“I speak my truth, and I’m respected for it – both by my students and colleagues.

“I can see the shift in students by the end of the units, and that’s what keeps me going.”

The brothers’ journey through music and higher education is as layered and powerful as their story itself.

From opening for Australian alternative rock band Birds of Tokyo and International artists T-Pain and Xzibit in LA, to winning Curtin’s Talent for Tomorrow competition in 2023 and collaborating with rapper Sen Dog from Cypress Hill,  3NA light up the stage with energy, pride, and purpose.

3NA delivering a powerful performance at Curtin’s February Bunuru graduations.

Matt said making music with his brothers was one of his greatest blessings.

 “When I was diagnosed with cancer, it was music that got me out of bed each day,” he said.

“The creative outlet gave me hope, strength, and something to fight for.

As a mentor and leader within 3NA, Matt has found purpose and fulfilment running youth music workshops.

“Young people going through tough times have found healing, direction, and identity through music,” he said.

“Watching them transform right in front of me proves that music has power far beyond the studio or stage.”

3NA form a tight, creative force – amplifying each other’s talents and standing united in their mission to inspire change through music.

Using their individual strengths (medical, academia & arts) 3NA are changing the conversation for First Nations people and creating positive change.

In August, 3NA will headline Zero2Hero’s youth mental health conference, sharing their message with a new generation of young minds.

With one foot grounded in tradition and the other stepping boldly into the future, Matt, Nate and Dan aren’t just building a fanbase – they’re sparking a movement.

And the best part? They’re only just getting started.

___

Director Ken Leung is the creative visionary behind our 2025 alumni video.

Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in Perth, the Curtin Bachelor of Arts alum, is now back home in WA, rediscovering his passion for nature and community.

With a career spanning art direction, digital experience and graphic design, Ken was most recently the Global Creative Director at UNIQLO, driving designer collaborations in New York.

A seasoned pro when it comes to breathing life and emotion into still and moving images, Ken has an extensive background in the fashion industry, working with major fashion brands like DKNY.

Like many projects before, Ken tapped into his multi-disciplinary skills to produce a unique, innovative, and engaging video, that alumni around the world would be proud of.

With a degree in graphic design and a minor in multimedia, Ken admits his love for fashion and film was an evolving passion.

“I’ve got creativity in my family,’’ he said.

“My grandmother was a fashion designer and my aunt’s a fashion designer.

“My dad also had an arts and craft supply business growing up, so I guess you could say I naturally gravitated to this industry.

“On weekends I wasn’t the kid out playing sports, I was in my room drawing logos and sketching.”

Originally starting in fashion (magazines) Ken then moved to New York where he started filming campaigns with brands like Calvin Klein and Belvedere Vodka.

His impressive portfolio has seen him shooting campaigns against the mountainous backdrop of Bhutan in the Himalayas to the bustling streets of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Ken said one of his most notable projects was being brand leader for one of the world’s largest fashion conglomerates LVMH (Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton).

“Filming has been a natural progression from fashion and still images,’’ he said.

“It combines everything I love, creativity, music and editing.”

From working with icons such as tennis great Roger Federer and supermodel Bella Hadid – to working with leading Curtin alumni – Ken said this latest project was both a rewarding and nostalgic experience.

“It was fascinating seeing what my fellow alumni are up to. And just being back on campus brought back so many happy memories,’’ he said.

“Tara, Leif, and Emma are such inspiring alumni. I really hope I was able to capture the emotion and passion behind the amazing work they do.”

Ken said evoking emotion was key to any successful film.

“I tried at every opportunity to inject as much ‘heart’ into the alumni video to draw the audience in and leave that lasting impression,’’ he said.

“A great film can change the way you feel about life.”

Ken said connecting with his former university had been an absolute pleasure.

“It was great to see everything come full circle and to have the opportunity to connect with Curtin again after so many years,’’ he said.

“The day we filmed on campus was actually O-Day and I was transported back to my O-Day all those thousands of years ago…  I remember so clearly sitting under the pine trees with the colourful bean bags.”

From the get-go, Ken said he was cognisant to reflect Curtin’s sense of community and togetherness throughout the video.

“Everything from the footage to the music, needed to feel uplifting, and sometimes that’s not easy to do in just 30 secs,’’ he laughed.

“In the opening scene, we have a graduate lifted onto her friend’s shoulders symbolising that feeling of being on top of the world.

“When she looks directly into the lens it’s in that moment that viewers are invited in as the sixth friend holding her up – further reinforcing the videos message ‘Together we rise.”

From capturing Tara and the Seagals having fun the water, to walking alongside Leif and the orangutans in the forests of Borneo – Ken hopes the alumni video inspires others as much as it did him.

“The poignant moment for me in the video is when Emma wraps the Aboriginal flag around her shoulders. This was a nod to that famous footage of Cathy Freeman at the Olympics when she wrapped the Australian and Aboriginal flags over her shoulders,’’ he said.

“I really hope this film resonates with not only new graduates, but those who may have graduated from Curtin years ago.

“And like me, I hope they too get that same nostalgic feeling of connecting to Curtin and the many good times experienced at uni.”

With a budding film industry here in Perth, Ken said he was excited to see what the future held.

“I’m really looking forward to working on projects which showcase our beautiful state of WA to the rest of the world,’’ he said.

___

Author | Emma Matson

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. 

“I wouldn’t have believed you that’s for sure. That was my dream at the time, but it seemed like such a far-off possibility. It would have been a nice reminder to keep dreaming big,’’ he said.

The humble and talented Curtin Design graduate is now living his dream as an award-winning cartoonist – whose work has featured in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed.

Thanks to hard work and bold choices Gavin has taken a lifelong passion and turned it into a successful and rewarding career.

Gavin said while cartoons and comics were always a love of his growing up, it wasn’t necessarily pursuits encouraged by his parents, who had moved from Myanmar to Australia in search of a better life for their family.

“My parents moved here so that I could have more opportunities, but they didn’t encourage watching cartoons and drawing all day,’’ he said.

While Gavin ended up shelving that idea, after completing a Bachelor in Design at Curtin in 2002 and he began working in the graphic design industry – comics were never far from his mind.

Through his role at a newspaper, which included designing the children’s pages, Gavin saw an opportunity to submit his own comic: Dan and Pete – a comedic superhero comic strip about the adventures of the “world’s greatest superhero,” Dan, and his best friend Pete.

A move to Melbourne further inspired Gavin to publish more of his own work.

Buoyed by readers’ enthusiasm and positive feedback to his clever artistic reimagining’s, Gavin decided to quit his corporate job and sell his house to pursue his craft full-time.

Gavin said taking that giant leap of faith into the world of freelancing, was incredibly risky, but completely worth it.

In 2012, Gavin launched the Zen Pencils website and carved his name in comic history.

Zen Pencils’ tagline, “Cartoon quotes from inspirational folks,” says it all.

“It takes famous quotes, poems and book excerpts and adapts them into fun and inspirational comics,’’ Gavin said.

His work on Zen Pencils has been collected into four books, two of which landed on the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels.

It also helped to grow an international following of fans and to establish his name in the United States: A book tour in 2014 saw him present across the country, culminating in a dream-come-true appearance at San Diego Comic-Con.

“It certainly enriched my life in a way I didn’t think drawing cartoons could.”

Zen Pencils enabled Gavin to pursue his art full-time and led to more published books and speaking events across the world.

It is the website’s positive and uplifting impact on people, though, that has made all the stress and effort so worthwhile.

Such was the success and admiration for Zen Pencils, Gavin’s drawings have been recontextualised into short films, transformed into animated films – and even tattooed onto fan’s bodies.

His illustrations were also included in Brené Brown’s latest best-selling book Atlas of the Heart after Brené reached out in admiration of his work.

These days, Zen Pencils is on hiatus while Gavin focuses on the creation and publication of picture books and graphic novels for children.

 It is no surprise that his books are imaginative and original worlds in which to leap – and that they grew out of his long-term obsession with the superheroes from the cartoons and comics of his youth.

Baa Baa Black Belt is an hilarious picture book series about the misadventures of a sheep who thinks he is a karate master.

The middle grade graphic novel series Super Sidekicks is a fun-filled action adventure about four superhero sidekicks who are fed up with taking orders from their adult super partners and decide to form their own super team.

Gavin’s latest creation, Creature Clinic (a middle grade novel about a hospital for mythical creatures) will be released next month.

“At the time a pitch I had proposed to my agent was knocked back, so I was racking my brain for a new idea,’’ he said.

“Also, around that time, my second daughter was born prematurely and had to spend a month in the NICU, so I was going to the hospital every day, which helped me expand the initial concept. My daughter is about to turn five soon so that shows you how long these things take.” 

Gavin’s advice for others on the pathway of creative pursuits?

“It’s all pretty much up to you to put in the work, put in the practice, build those reps,’’ he said.

Gavin said he was incredibly grateful for the opportunities he has been afforded thanks to living in Australia where reaching your dream is a possibility.

“My parents worked their butts off so I could have the choice to follow my passion, even if it annoyed them at first,’’ he said.

Now, he concedes, his parents are rightly proud of his talent – and the happiness and positivity he brings to the world by drawing, watching cartoons, and thinking about comics all day long.

Join Gavin to celebrate the launch of his newest graphic novel, Creature Clinic at Beaufort Street Books on Sunday 18 May at 10.30am. This is a free event, but bookings are essential to ensure enough equipment for a drawing activity. Book now.  

Discover more of Gavin’s incredible cartoons and picture books here.

Read more stories