Monash awards its outstanding alumni

Issue 18 | November 2006

Report: Robyn Anns
Photography: Paul Philipson

Distinguished Alumni: (from left to right) Trevor O'Hoy, Dr Susan Lim and Simon Molesworth

A ground-breaking surgeon, the head of an iconic Australian corporation and a barrister who is also a conservationist are honoured at the Monash University Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Monash University and its graduate community gathered at a black-tie gala function at the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, in August to celebrate the outstanding contributions of the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

Meet our 2005 award winners.

Renowned for performing Singapore's first successful liver transplant, Dr Susan Lim (MB BS (w/hons) 1979) is internationally recognised as a leader in adult stem cell research and robotic surgery and for her support of children's education.

While at Monash, she shared the David Rosenthal Memorial Prize for the highest aggregate marks in the first three pre-clinical years at Monash, before graduating with first class honours in 1979.

"Monash gave me a sense of freedom to develop myself in an educational environment which challenged the status quo," Dr Lim said.

Mr Trevor O'Hoy (BEc 1976) joined the Foster's Group in 1976 as a cadet executive with Carlton & United Breweries.

In the 30 years since, he has demonstrated outstanding business acumen, and since early 2004 he has been the innovative President and CEO of Foster's Group Limited.

He was the recipient of the 2001 Australian INSTO magazine CFO of the year award and was voted by his peers as BRW magazine's most admired new CEO of 2005.

"The values I learnt at Monash -- the importance of research, creativity and just plain hard work -- have been central to my career at Foster's," Mr O'Hoy said.

Barrister and conservationist Mr Simon Molesworth AM QC (BA 1975, LLB 1977) is recognised for his commitment to protecting the nation's natural heritage as chairman of the Australian Council of National Trusts and through his focus on the better formulation of environmental laws and policies.

He is also a long-term advocate for sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome.

His interest in environmental law developed while undertaking a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at Monash. Soon after completing his studies, Mr Molesworth founded and led Australia's first environmental law association -- the Environmental Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria.

"I am humbled that the university from which I gained an excellent tertiary education has seen fit to award me with this honour," Mr Molesworth said.