This month, our Editor-in-Chief, Carmelle Wilkinson, interviewed James Chen, PBM, President of the Singapore Alumni Chapter.
James is a finance and marketing alumnus with a fascinating career. He’s currently the CEO of Athena Best Financial and co-founder of Every Little Helps charity.
A Curtin University speech clinic is helping brain injury survivor Jordan Bowling regain his voice. Two years ago, Jordan fell 13 meters down a cliff, leaving him paralyzed. The clinic offers hope on his long road to recovery.
Whether it was working on old cars on his family’s farm in Albany or taking apart computers with his older brothers – making things better and finding better ways of working fuelled his passion and curiosity.
Changing the world may seem like an impossible feat, but for mechanical engineering graduate Eldin Rostom that dream is one step closer, thanks to breakthrough technology, which could change the lives of those suffering respiratory disorders.
“Despite being extremely unwell throughout her cancer journey, Sally remained cheerful and alwayas expressed gratitude to her doctors and nurses.
After completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Acc & Fin) at our Perth campus in 2006, he returned to Kuala Lumpur and founded Planters – a conservation program which now being incorporated as a public company whose main goal is to preserve biodiversity through strategic reforestation.
Four years ago, Gary Foster (64) was home recovering from a motorcycle accident when he suddenly felt pain across the right side of his chest.
On the phone to a colleague at the time, the Bachelor of Science graduate assumed it was a muscular ache from working on his caravan the day prior and continued the conversation for a bit longer.
As a young boy growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Kid Chan would beg his mother to take him to the local bookstore.
There amongst the many shelves he would find a quiet place to sit on the floor and flick through glossy magazines from around the world.
Just the idea of standing up in front of a crowd can bring on a host of unwelcome symptoms – sweaty palms, nausea, uncontrollable twitching, light-headedness and even shortness of breath. Peter Dhu is a motivational keynote speaker who has spent the past 20 years helping thousands of people overcome their fear of public speaking and find their voice.
When Khai Kamarudin was growing up, there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be a nurse – just like his mum.
However, as time went on, he found himself on a completely different path – one which included a short stint as a light fabrication engineer and a police officer on the front line in Singapore.
Dr Marnie Gibson was just three years old, when she entered full time schooling to quench her thirst for knowledge and the world around her. With more questions than her mum could answer, a decision was made to place her in a Montessori School, where her strong interest in learning could be nurtured.
For Curtin business graduate Ligwina Hananto the seemingly unusual pairing is her bread and butter. The founder and CEO at QM Financial is a popular stand-up comedian in her home country of Indonesia.
Days from graduating with a Master of Arts in professional and publishing writing, the 24-year-old reflects on her parents’ brave decision to flee Syria for London when she was just two, and her personal journey as the child of immigrant parents.
A warm and familiar face to all those who present at the pharmacy counter, Allan has been dispensing medication for Perth’s most vulnerable and ill children at Perth Children’s Hospital (formerly Princess Margaret Hospital) for 47 years.
Travelling through the education system as an Indigenous student, Isaiah Kamid was always discouraged from pursuing a career in medicine. Told by his teachers to choose a path more realistic and achievable, he ended up studying a trade, which he never enjoyed.
Walking out of his local video store with a stash of new movies is a childhood memory Curtin Film and TV graduate Zak Hilditch will always cherish. Twenty years on, the now Australian writer and director is living his passion of bringing stories to life through film.
When Joanne Beedie and her husband Scott found out they were pregnant with identical twins seven years ago, they thought they had won the lottery. With the rare occurrence happening in just three to four births in every 1000, this year’s John Curtin Medallist said she felt like the luckiest person in the world.
Curtin creative writing graduate Georgia Tree delves into her family’s dark past in her new book, Old Boy. The memoir explores the shocking truth about her father, a former heroin addict, and his unlikely friendship with notorious Perth drug dealer Brian Chambers.
Curtin WA School of Mines’ graduate and Harvard Business alumnus Josh Redmond has experienced many triumphs over his 15-year career in the resources industry.
Starting as a vacation student for Mining and Civil Contractor company MACA, he worked his way up through various roles including mine engineer, project manager, country manager and then general manager.
Losing her stepfather to suicide when she was 20, was a shock Ashlee Harrison did not see coming.
Curtin Commerce graduate and Founder of zero2hero said the tragedy ripped her family apart and left them picking up the pieces.
Clinical educator Kathy Viljoen manages the clinic, supervising speech pathology students to offer both individual and group treatment to people of all ages for the management of stuttering and fluency disorders.
From crunching numbers as a government auditor in Perth, to crushing it on Melbourne’s greatest culinary stage on Masterchef Australia – Ralph Kahango is no stranger to pressure.
Originally from Zimbabwe, the Curtin accounting graduate said taking his younger sister’s advice and applying for the highly competitive cooking show this year was the best decision he ever made.
Watching bombs rain down on her home country of Ukraine during Russia’s invasion was like watching a horror film Daryna Zadvirna couldn’t turn off.
At the time, the Curtin journalism graduate was working as a crime reporter for The West Australian, when she made the bold decision to head to the front line.
Seven years ago, Curtin Commerce graduate Katie Liew was crunching numbers in her accounting job when she suddenly realised this career path wasn’t for her. Despite a love for English while at school, Katie said she chose to study accountancy with the belief it would lead to greater employment opportunities.
Arriving in Lismore, two days after the NSW rural town was decimated by record-breaking floods, was a life-changing experience Sky News reporter Danica De Giorgio will never forget.
Born in Perth, the 28-year-old Commerce graduate is now a Climate Tech Investor and Impact Strategy Consultant in the Netherlands, collaborating with organisations to help grow their global impact with thoughtful strategies.
Growing up in Esperance along our State’s picturesque south coast, a young Josh Byrne was inquisitive about the world around him.
The coastal location with its brilliant blue waters, powdery white beaches, and spectacular national parks, proved the ideal landscape to awaken the environmental scientist’s love and appreciation for nature.
Philanthropist, businesswoman and educator Dr Sandy Chong is a global changemaker on a mission.
Armed with a passion for education and dreams of equality, the Curtin Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Marketing and PhD Information Systems graduate, is making meaningful impact as a climate crusader and lead strategist.
Watching someone you love struggle with a serious illness can lead to overwhelming sadness and fear.
Thankfully, people like second year Curtin nursing student Shai’a Bulich are there to protect our loved ones in their time of need.
Curtin mechanical engineering graduate Ted Lee was cruising along Tonkin Highway on his motorbike headed for uni.
Eight weeks out from completing his studies, he could almost see the finish line, when tragedy struck.
Every Australia Day, the rumble of light aircraft and the explosion of fireworks above her home in South Perth, would strike fear in the heart of Mawas. Bombed by the Japanese during World War II, she remained shaken by the terrifying ordeal years later.
Sitting in the pew of her beloved childhood church while attentively listening to scriptures, it dawned on Angela Han that perhaps the love she had for her faith wasn’t entirely reciprocated.
As a gay Catholic, she felt she had reached a fork in the road where she would have to choose one or the other. Walking both paths simultaneously seemed like an impossible dream.
From a young age, WA business leader John Barrington AM learnt the importance of giving back.
A Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club member since he was six, John not only developed a competitive spirit in his early years, but a strong desire to help others.
Forget the smell of roses or freshly cleaned laundry — for WA children’s author and playwright Trevor Todd, nothing beats the smell of a new book.
The strangely intoxicating scent haunts libraries and bookstores, sending bookworms into a state of euphoria
Affectionately known as Chief fairy godmother, Make-A-Wish CEO and Curtin Master of Film and Television graduate Hazlina Abdul Halim is certainly no stranger to taking the plunge.
The lush green scenery depicted in Claude Monet’s iconic Water Lilies series may be in stark contrast to the desolate, rugged red earth found in WA’s Kimberley region but the two landscapes share an important connection in Chris Hill’s journey as an artist.
An architecture graduate by trade, Perth entrepreneur Iris Smit is building her cosmetics empire one must-have beauty product at a time.
The Curtin graduate and inventor of The Quick Flick said banking on herself was the best decision she could have ever made, ahead of her business launch in 2017.
Born and raised in rural WA, social media and PR guru Lavinia Wehr has always been a country girl at heart.
From driving tractors on her family’s farm near Esperance from age five, to helping her family with harvest on her summer holidays, the Curtin Commerce grad doesn’t only understand agriculture life, it’s in her DNA.
If you’re ever enjoyed brunch along Ardross Street in the leafy green suburb of Applecross, you may have noticed the beautiful bronze figures on a nearby resident’s lawn.
Armed with just a mobile phone, Curtin University journalism student Dylan Storer still managed to provide ground-breaking coverage of the devastating floods that ravaged his hometown of Fitzroy Crossing at the start of the year.
He unwittingly found himself at the centre of the extreme weather event caused by Cyclone Ellie, which saw torrential rain engulf the town and destroy homes and local businesses.
Curtin medical graduate and recent Rhodes Scholar recipient James Leigh might have been destined to be a doctor.
An old photo dug up by his mum recently, shows a smiling five-year old sitting at a desk in pre-primary with the word ‘doctor’ in front of him, dressed in a white coat and hair net.
If it weren’t for the generosity of a stranger, Curtin’s Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne would never have discovered the transformational power of a higher education.
Nor would she have embarked on such a remarkable academic journey which has led her across the Pacific Ocean and over the Nullarbor to Curtin University.
Growing up Hockeyroo Captain and Curtin Occupational Therapist (OT) graduate Jane Claxton never dreamt about playing hockey for Australia.
While she knew she wanted to play an elite sport, it’s safe to say hockey chose her.
Or the rush of emotions we felt when Elliot’s bicycle with E.T piloting in the front basket lifts off the forest floor and soars across the moon.
Like many, Curtin humanities graduate and Luma Pictures Visual Effects Supervisor Brendan Seals was spellbound by these beloved blockbusters and iconic cinematic scenes.
Did you know that less than 10,000 out of 400 million businesses globally are measuring their carbon emissions?
As companies become increasingly conscious of their global footprint, Co-founder of Singapore based Unravel Carbon Marc Allen (BEng, Chemical Engineering 1998) is arming businesses with the tools to decarbonise themselves and their networks of businesses within their supply chains.
Performing on stage as William Shakespeare’s villainous character Richard III was an experience Australian actress, screenwriter and playwright Kate Mulvany will never forget.
The seasoned actress who appears in TV series Hunters and featured in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie, said playing the bloodthirsty, opportunist “hunchback” in Bell Shakespeare Company’s Richard 3 in 2017, was both an enlightening and empowering experience.
Beyond the vivid colours and beautiful symbols, Aboriginal art can be a powerful vehicle for reconciliation, cultural preservation and change.
With the ability to connect communities and shape the future, founder and designer of luxury fashion label Kirrikin, Dr Amanda Healy said it was heart-warming to see Aboriginal fashion and culture slowly emerge on the international runway.
As India’s extreme gender disparities prevailed around her, a young Jaya Dantas buried herself in her studies and broke through what seemed like impossible barriers the only way she knew how, with education.
arlier that evening the Curtin honorary doctorate recipient and former mining magnate had been sleeping on his yacht at the Fremantle Sailing Club when he woke at about 2am to use the bathroom.
From a young age Curtin graduate (Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) 1997) and head of Rio Tinto’s Battery Materials, Marnie Finlayson wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Whether she was working on her family’s sheep station in Jeedamya, about 200km north of Kalgoorlie, or shovelling rocks under the crusher at her uncle’s gold mine near Leonora, Marnie was happiest working in a team.
A fieldtrip to Svalbard (between Norway and the North Pole) known for its rugged and remote terrain is not for the faint hearted – just ask John Curtin Distinguished Professor and WA Scientist of the Year Professor Kliti Grice.
Curtin Law student Annabel Biscotto. Author | Carmelle Wilkinson Since she was four years old, […]
Five years ago, Curtin graduate Brittany Garbutt (BA Creative Advertising & Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration, 2014) took the plunge and splashed $100,000 of her hard-earned savings on launching a humble pretzel business.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that photographs/videos on this page contain images of deceased persons, which may cause sadness or distress.
Growing up in Afghanistan, the ominous sound of missiles and rockets flying overhead became the norm for Curtin nursing graduate Ezz Rahmati (BS Nursing, 2022).
Nowadays the 28-year-old, who calls Perth home, is comforted by the hum of traffic and the sound of the occasional passenger jet as he lays in bed at night.
It’s surreal. It’s incredible that the people of Swan trusted me to be their local member, it’s a real honour. To be honest, I didn’t necessarily think that someone like me would be supported, but the people spoke. As a female, a person of colour and an engineer, I’m quite different compared to previous candidates or members. When I heard I was the first female in this position in 101 years I almost didn’t believe it.
Emerging from the pandemic haze, stronger than ever, fashion companies are adapting to new consumer priorities and shifting their focus towards more sustainable and ethical wear.
From an aspiring young accountant to successful property valuer, Ross Drennan (B.Com Property and Accounting, 2007) can confidently add events and hospitality trailblazer to his growing list of rising achievements.
From WA country girl to owner of a billion-dollar company, Perth entrepreneur Megan Wynne’s contribution to the employment services, health, disability, and vocational rehabilitation space is nothing short of extraordinary.
Famously known as the founder of modern nursing, her innovations resulted in lower death rates, improved safety and better hygiene practices – without having trained as a nurse herself.
Snatched from her family’s shared tent while camping at the Quobba Blowholes in WA’s north, the little girl was missing for 18 days before she was found alive and well by WA Police.
“My experience was wretched, and I could easily have become a product of my history, and turn to suicide, alcohol or drugs, but I chose not to,’’ she said.
WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson Author | Carmelle Wilkinson Over the past two years […]
“I previously thought you needed to travel overseas or down south to experience something so breathtaking, but this was in my own backyard, and I couldn’t stop pinching myself.”
Currently in WA, there are children whose mental health problems are too severe for early interventions provided by not-for-profit organisations but not severe enough for acute specialist services. They wait extended periods of time to see a psychologist or psychiatrist due to the limited supply of these mental health professionals.
“Walking with friends, going to the gym and even sitting for long periods of time is a no go,’’ she said.
Cook, author, business owner and dumpling king – Brendan Pang is on one impressive culinary […]
It’s the second most common neurodegenerative condition in Australia after dementia and causes shaking in the hands, arms, legs and jaw, stiffening limbs, slowed movement and impaired balance and coordination.
Peter’s greatest holiday memory is from a trip to South Africa in 2019, with close friend and roommate Joseph Deng, who also happens to be the second fastest runner in Australia.
New heritage laws passed through the WA House of Parliament last year aim to protect sacred sites, taking into consideration Indigenous voices and their vast environmental knowledge and cultural awareness. Revised following the destruction of Aboriginal heritage sites at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia’s Pilbara in 2020, the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 helps guide the future of mining in WA from an Indigenous perspective.
“Unfortunately, however, there are people that view a person with a disability differently and as I got older, I wanted to use my social media knowledge and degree at Curtin to help breakdown that misconception.”
“We want people to think of Curtin’s Community Pantry as their pantry at home. It’s always stocked, and you’re welcome to pop in and grab anything you need. There is no judgement and no need to ask for permission.”
As one of the first points of contact for people seeking health advice, Rebecca said pharmacists working in the current Covid-19 environment had overcome several challenges, including increased levels of fear and anxiety and growing abuse from customers.
“Joshua came into class one day and excitedly began to tell me about a meteorite that almost crashed into Earth over the weekend, and when I asked him how he knew that he told me he read it in the newspaper – for me that was a wonderful moment.”
Being legally blind means Dr Tim Galvin from the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy may never be able to gaze through a telescope and admire the stars, but that hasn’t stopped the 32-year-old from studying the wonders of the night sky.
Curtin’s position that equitable access to healthcare should be universal, irrespective of geographical location, has been embraced by the students, who rated Curtin’s medical school the best in Australia for the past three years in the Good Universities Guide, with five-star scores in the latest guide for learner engagement, learning resources, skills development, teaching quality and overall experience.
Alex Jayasuria took to the international stage recently to share his insights and passion for the environment after being awarded a prestigious Global Voices Scholarship.
A Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) student, Alex represented Australia as part of the global discussions on climate change at the United Nations COP26 summit.
Looking at me, you would have no way of knowing that I have ADHD. In adults, it doesn’t look like what you may think. For starters, a majority of us internalise our hyperactivity. Being faced with negative feedback from a young age, we learn how to mask symptoms so we can fit in with societal expectations. But this feels uncomfortable to do and takes a huge personal toll.
With a degree in occupational therapy (1993) from Curtin, Kellie Parker began working in occupational health and safety at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations before transitioning into management roles.
As managing director, I worked hard to continue the business’ progressive tradition, which started in 1959. Collier Homes is a special brand and a household name. My vision was to shape it into one that was more design-oriented, thoughtful and inclusive – “good design, made accessible” became our motto. I believe the refreshed branding and projects we took on spoke to that vision.
News pages have no trouble covering the consequences of violent extremism – whether it’s the latest terrorist attack and the lives lost as a result, updates on the War on Terrorism or news of far-right radicals sparking death threats at anti-vaccination rallies.
Senior Advisor for Diversity and Equity (Disability) at Curtin University, Erica Schurmann is a passionate advocate for improving the access to and quality of services for staff with disabilities.
The visual arts and social justice movements at the Gallery are inextricably intertwined. Art throws the world’s injustices into sharp relief – educating, provoking and effecting change. The Gallery has a proud history of examining complex social justice issues through art and encouraging robust discussion and the exchange of ideas.
It’s nearly that time of year again when we embrace the sound of festive tunes, over-indulge in sweets, and make a mad dash to the nearest shopping centre for a frantic last-minute spending frenzy.
“I went to my doctor and said: ‘I feel like my head is not working properly’,” says Eileen. “My doctor did some memory tests and then sent me to a specialist (gerontologist) who organised a brain scan that showed I had Alzheimer’s disease. I don’t know why I have it because my two sisters don’t have it and neither does my 97-year-old mother.”
Adam Gangemi on a mine site in his role as Managing Director of Super Smart […]
Entrepreneurs are easy to admire. They’re explorers and creators – they create new products, services, jobs, and perhaps even new industries. But what is an entrepreneur, and how are they created?
“Take your time to pause and reflect before you leap into the unknown. Use this time to consider what truly drives you. And when you do take that leap, make sure you give it your absolute all.”
Curtin graduate Bec Bignell (BA Journalism and Performance Studies, 2007) grew up on a farm in Kojonup in regional Western Australia and has worked in film and television for over a decade. She recently finished shooting a new web series in the Great Southern which showcases and celebrates regional Australia – and challenges country stereotypes.
In the 1970s social housing was clustered into specific suburbs, so the poor and rich were separated. Our family was very low income, as were our neighbours. At school, teachers either brought out the best in us or judged our academic capability by our postcode. Their expectations of my family and I were always low.
For many Western Australians, working in the space industry has always seemed out of reach. But now, with the release of the Binar-1 satellite from the International Space Station, the industry has finally come to our doorstep.
Robyn Lambird is studying a digital and social media degree at Curtin University. They are also an elite wheelchair sprinter and recently won bronze in their debut women’s 100m sprint at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what it all means? You are not alone. Billions of people before you have done the same. Looking at the stars to make sense of the universe, and our lives on Earth, extends back many tens of thousands of years, across all cultures.
Perth researchers will use population data to help boost WA’s defences in the fight against COVID-19, developing modelling to build a clearer picture of how the virus could spread through high-risk populations.
Businessperson, philanthropist, mentor and educator, Dr Sandy Chong (BCom Management and Marketing, 1996, PhD Information Systems, 2003) has been a champion for change ever since she began her higher education journey and decided she wanted to be a “student for life.”
Mel Tregonning was a graphic design graduate (2004) and talented artist who, before she died by suicide in 2014, published her debut graphic novel Small Things.
Ben Young (BA Screen Arts, 2003) is many things: a Perth-born local, a film student who started out making music videos for his mates, and now a rising star who became a success story overnight after years struggling in the industry.
Valerie Ah Chee was the only Aboriginal woman in her cohort. Now, she has returned to Curtin to foster a sense of belonging for other Aboriginal women by designing the artwork for the University’s Moorditj Yorga (‘strong woman’) Scholarship.
We recently spoke to Curtin graduates living and working all over the globe — London, Singapore, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, New York, and Houston — about what it has been like to experience the pandemic where they are, the challenges they’ve faced, and ultimately, how they are managing to get through it.
A Bunuba woman and community leader, June is the first Aboriginal woman to be appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. She spends her time advocating for Indigenous languages, social justice, women’s issues and working to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Mental illness among university students in Australia is currently a relatively under-researched field, according to the 2017 Orygen report.
‘Moorditj yorga’ means ‘strong woman’ in the Nyungar language. It is an apt description of Jill*, a Ballardong woman, a grandmother, a domestic violence survivor, and now a student on her way to successfully completing a degree.
Passed around by Student Guild members, shared among student protestors walking down the streets of Perth’s CBD, and more recently transformed into an online blog, the small and sometimes carefully, sometimes haphazardly, constructed student newspaper known as Grok has a long history in Perth.
As an Aboriginal woman with connections to Ngarinyin and Gidja Country in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Melanie Robinson (BS Nursing, 1993) has described having to overcome racist attitudes throughout her career and journey to becoming the respected and knowledgeable health practitioner she is today. But for her, it has all been worth it to do what she loves most — improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in her role as Acting Director of Aboriginal Health at the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) in WA.
Not all women experience the same disadvantage or inequality. Vanessa Guthrie AO, a Curtin University Council member, understands this. She believes true equality for women cannot be achieved unless women of all backgrounds and circumstances are given the opportunity for a university education.
Australian photographer and filmmaker Marcus Wong strongly believes you can’t care about something you’ve never seen, and has made it his mission to share the voices of the voiceless with the world.
