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Alumni Award for International Achievement
Global leaders
This award recognises the outstanding contributions that alumni have made to international society through community service or professional achievements that have made a significant global impact.
To be eligible, nominees must meet the following selection criteria:
- Nominees must have graduated from the University of Sydney.
- Nominees must demonstrate either a one-off significant impact or an ongoing contribution to international communities. This can could include both professional and community achievements.
2023 winner
About Georgia Dawson
Bachelor of Arts '98 and Bachelor of Laws '00
Senior Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Georgia Dawson's election to the role of Senior Partner at global law firm Freshfields has helped to transform the professional landscape for future leaders in the legal profession. An early international role as a legal aide in Vietnam inspired her to pursue further global work ultimately securing roles in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. Her election as the Senior Partner made history, marking the first time a woman has led the global firm in its 280-year existence.
Her remarkable career journey goes beyond personal success; she's also an advocate for diversity, setting the standard for broad based representation in leadership roles. Her strategic leadership of the firm and contributions to the legal field earned her the Financial Times Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyer Award in 2020. Georgia continues to inspire, opening doors for others and pushing the boundaries of inclusivity beyond the legal world.
Working across borders provides many opportunities to learn new things and has taught me to never make assumptions about what someone means of how something 'should' be done.
Georgia Dawson