Monash honours its new distinguished alumni

June 2009

Monash University celebrated the achievements of six outstanding alumni when the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented on 10 June.

The recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards are Dr Fritz Balkau (BSc(Hons) 1968, PhD 1972, DipEd 1974), Professor Susan Davis (MBBS 1980, PhD 1989), Mr Alan Ramadan (BSc 1984) and Professor Julian Savulescu (BMedSc(Hons) 1988, MBBS(Hons) 1988, PhD 1995).

Mr George Pappas (BEc(Hons) 1968) received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, and Mr Hugh Evans (BSc 2008, LLB(Hons) 2008) was recognised with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Professor Julian Savulescu holds the Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford. A researcher, educator and communicator, Professor Savulescu promotes public discussion around the ethical issues of everyday life; from embryonic stem cell research to the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport.

“It’s a great honour and a privilege to receive the distinguished alumnus award. I feel very grateful to Monash University for giving me the opportunity to go forward into my career,” said Professor Savulescu.

IT innovator Mr Alan Ramadan is a consultant and executive mentor for the investment community in the Silicon Valley, USA. He has previously held senior leadership positions with Adobe and Macromedia, and has launched technology-related enterprises.

Professor Susan Davis is a leading women’s health researcher. In 2005 she became the inaugural Chair of Women’s Health in the Monash University Department of Medicine at the Alfred Hospital.

“Being a recipient of this award makes me feel incredibly honoured, very humble and, because of what it represents to me, very emotional,” said Professor Davis.

Dr Fritz Balkau is a leading expert on environmental management policy. From 1999 to 2005, he was Head of Sustainable Production and Consumption with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Paris.

2004 Young Australian of the Year, Mr Hugh Evans is a social movements campaigner and director of The Global Poverty Project. He founded youth-run aid and development organisation The Oaktree Foundation and was one of the leaders of Australia’s Make Poverty History campaign.

Mr George Pappas is a prominent Monash University volunteer. He generously gives his time, and draws on his expertise gained over his career in business and consulting to give advice to senior Monash staff through his membership of faculty advisory boards and foundation boards.

“To receive this award is an enormous honour, and also a surprise. I say that because there are so many alumni that Monash has produced, and so many of them have done amazing things, so many have done great things for the University,” said Mr Pappas.

A special award was presented by Dr Christine Nixon APM (HonLLD 2005) the Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority. The award recognised the contribution of the entire Monash alumni community during the Victorian bushfires. The award was accepted by alumnus and staff member Mr Steven Barling (ADipBus(GenAdmin) 1990), the captain of the Churchill CFA, on behalf of the alumni community.

To read more about the award recipients visit www.monash.edu/alumni/awards