Alex Lancaster (BSc '91, BE(Elec) '94)
President

Dr Alex K Lancaster is an evolutionary biologist, engineer, writer and consultant. He is a Research Scholar at the Ronin Institute, a Research Affiliate at the University of Sydney, an Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education affiliate, and a Partner at Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Amber Biology. Dr Lancaster has over 15 years of experience in many aspects of computational and systems biology, including pioneering work in complex systems research.

Richard F. Southby (PhD(Med), Monash) FFPHM
President Emeritus

Dr Richard Southby has studied at the University of Melbourne, Cornell University and Monash University, where he completed his doctoral studies.  Throughout his distinguished career he has served as the commissioner on the Australian Hospitals and Health Services Commission, and has held teaching and research positions at Monash University, the University of Sydney and George Washington University. He is currently Dean and Distinguished Professor of Global Health Emeritus at George Washington University.

Fred Kam (BSc ’80 BE (Civil) ’82 ME ‘83)
Treasurer 

Even though Fred’s degrees are in engineering, his entire career was spent in IT. In 1994 he joined the Wall Street firm PaineWebber in New York, supporting the Mutual Funds business. In 2000, the Swiss bank UBS, acquired PaineWebber. Fred became involved with the client communication portfolio that included client statements, trade confirms, and client letters. In 2024, he retired as an IT Director after 30 years of service with UBS. Fred also served as the President of SUGUNA in 2015.

Julia Elmer (MIntPH '06)

Dr Julia Elmer earned her Master of International Public Health degree from the University of Sydney in 2005. She originally moved from Brazil to Australia to complete part of her MBA degree at QUT in Brisbane and then remained in the country for over five years. She is now based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, where she serves as Huntington National Bank's first Multicultural Banking Strategy Leader.  

Angela Wales Kirgo (BA '69)

Angela Wales Kirgo attended the University of Sydney, graduating in English and Classics. She served as the Executive Director of the Australian Writers Guild for 10 years, before moving to the US and serving as the Executive Director of the Writers Guild Foundation (the educational and charitable arm of the Writers Guild of America West) in Los Angeles. She returned to Australia in late 2013.

Ronald Ettinger (BDS ’66, MDS ’70, DDSc ’92)
Director and past president

Dr Ron Ettinger is an alumnus of the University of Sydney, and also holds a Certificate of Gerontology from the University of Iowa. He is a fellow of the American and International College of Dentists, a Diplomate of the American Board of Special Care Dentistry. He is a past-president of the American Society for Geriatric Denistry, has published extensively and lectured throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia.  He currently serves as Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics and the Dows Institute for Dental Research at the University of Iowa. 

Jenny Green (BSc(Hons I) '82, PhD '87)

Jenny Green is a clinical professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University. She is a native of Australia where she attended the University of Sydney and graduated with a BSc(Hons I) in physical chemistry and a PhD also in physical chemistry. Her research focuses on the spectroscopy of liquids, notably water and its aqueous solutions, both ionic and molecular.

Patrick (Paddy) Ward (BCom(Liberal Studies) '16)

Patrick Ward is the Founder of NanoGlobals, an expert-led platform that helps mid-size tech companies tap into global markets through remote hiring, offshoring, and international market expansion. Patrick is an accomplished public speaker, teaching marketing workshops at General Assembly, Nonprofit Learning Lab, Serendipity Labs & California Lutheran University and Guest Lecturing at the University of Southern California. He is the author of “Marketing Transformation: Why Your Marketing Mindset is Holding Your Organisation Back”

Chris Lawrance (MEd(Res) '16)

Chris is the Regional Manager Americas and Europe at the University of Sydney. Chris holds a Master of Education (Research) from the University of Sydney. Coming from an education background, he has worked in teaching, teacher training, curriculum development and student recruitment in most parts of the world at one time or another. 

Xaever Mand (BArch '12, MArch '16)

Xaever Mand is based in New York City where he runs his own studio, EndoExo, a design practice exploring the intersection of Architecture, Object Design and Art. He also teaches at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, having previously taught at the University of Sydney and Kean University. Xaever graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture and a Masters of Architecture, following which he worked for architecture firms in Sydney, London and New York City , with notable completed projects including the Sir John Monash Centre at the Australian War Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France and the Port Lands Bridges in Toronto, Canada.

Louisa Teo (BA '95, MCom '01)

Based in Cambridge, MA, Louisa Teo oversees the American Australian Association's programs in New England. She joined the American Australian Association in 2008 and since 2015 has also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Australian Universities & Schools USA Foundation. She is a graduate of the Boston University Questrom School of Business and Sydney University.