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Alumni Council
Representing University of Sydney graduates for more than 80 years
Our purpose is to deliver an alumni relations program that will strengthen and engage our community and support the University’s vision.
The Standing Committee of Convocation was first elected in 1939, and in 2006 was renamed the University of Sydney Alumni Council. The council has represented all University of Sydney graduates for more than 80 years.
The council includes a support network of more than 30 alumni-led associations representing faculties, regions, special interest and international groups.
Our mission
Our purpose is to create a mutually beneficial alumni relations program that will strengthen and engage our community and support the University’s vision.
Our role is to:
- support the University and its faculties in their endeavours to grow alumni engagement across the University community
- effectively facilitate connectivity between alumni, the University community and its stakeholders
- provide opportunities for alumni to develop a lifelong connection with the University.
Following the publication of our Manifesto (pdf, 35KB), the council developed a key set of principles that provide guidance and support to council members promoting alumni engagement, which include:
- conversation
- connections
- contemplation
- collaboration
- change.
Nominations and eligibility
To be appointed to the Alumni Council, all members must meet the Eligibility Criteria.
In accordance with clause 12 of the University of Sydney (Alumni Council) Rule 2014, a person is eligible for appointment as a member of the Alumni Council if his or her name appears on the register of members of Convocation kept by the Registrar.
Members of Convocation comprise the following:
- the Fellows and former Fellows of the Senate of the University of Sydney
- the graduates of the University of Sydney, which includes graduates of the former institutions, or the predecessors of the former institutions that have become part of the University [ie graduates of the University of Sydney are all persons who are recipients of a degree from the University of Sydney or who are recipients of a degree or a diploma from the Cumberland College of Health Sciences, AGSM, Sydney Institute of Education or the Institute of Nursing Studies (both formerly part of Sydney CAE), Sydney College of the Arts (formerly part of the New South Wales Institute of the Arts), the former New South Wales Conservatorium of Music (Sydney Branch) and the Orange Agricultural College, or their predecessors]
- past members of the governing bodies of the former institutions, or the predecessors of the former institutions that have become part of the University
- professors and other full-time members of the academic staff of the University
- principals of the incorporated colleges.
To be qualified to stand for appointment to the Alumni Council, a person must be a member of Convocation.
To be qualified to nominate a candidate for appointment to the Alumni Council, a person must be a member of Convocation.
Members and associates
Alumni Council President
BMusEd ’96 Sydney MAdEd ’01
Jodie has worked across the arts, education, information technology, defence and not-for-profit sectors in small to large organisations, including leading the Fujitsu Australia team responsible for sustaining the Royal Australian Navy’s networks across the Fleet. She has recently developed an exciting new range of Australian tonic waters and beverages under the brand name, Waterhole Mixers.
Jodie has served in the full-time and part-time military, totalling 29 years. She was deployed to Timor Leste twice where she was responsible for Civil Security Assessment and later led the logistics team. More recently, she served in the US-led headquarters based in Kuwait and Iraq as the coalition chief logistics planner. She continues to serve in the Australian Army Reserves at the rank of Colonel working in the 2nd Division. Jodie was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2010.
Jodie received the Bachelor of Music (Education) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She was awarded a doctorate in army reserve retention from the University of Technology of Sydney in 2014. In the same year she completed Command and Staff College (Reserve) where she was awarded the Blamey and the CRESD awards for academic excellence.
Alumni Council Deputy President
BAppSci(Physio)(Hons) '10 Sydney
Karn is the Founder and CEO of Kinela, a market-leading social business committed to improving the health of people with disability through the delivery of innovative online healthcare and home-delivered meals.
Karn was awarded the Dean's Scholar Medal from the Faculty of Health Sciences in 2009, and has maintained close ties with the University since graduating. For example, he was given the honour of delivering the formal address to the Faculty of Health Sciences' graduating class of 2016 and occasionally speaks at the Business School. He’s a passionate advocate for business as a force for good, having studied Social Entrepreneurship at INSEAD and being recognised as a Westpac Social Change Fellow.
Alumni Council Member
BEHons(Mechanical) ‘94
Jane MacMaster is Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia. She has worked as an aerospace, mechanical and systems design engineer in Australia and internationally, focusing primarily on supersonic flight vehicle design, operations research, and rapid prototyping and strategy in the Defence and cyber security sectors.
She has previously worked as a senior advisor within the strategy unit of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Prior to becoming Chief Engineer at Engineers Australia, she developed a generalised approach for complex problem solving which she taught across at universities across all faculties, and to staff from Commonwealth, and State and Territory government departments.
She is a director on the Board of the Australian Council of Professions.
Alumni Council Member
BSc(MolecBiotech) ‘08
Ehssan Veiszadeh is Deputy CEO and Director of Strategy at the Committee for Sydney. He is an experienced strategic communications executive with a background in government, journalism and small business.
As a member of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s senior leadership team between 2015 and 2021, Ehssan provided strategic advice to the Premier, Cabinet and the public sector on a range of high profile issues facing the state. Ehssan led the Government’s strategic communications and stakeholder management throughout a difficult period for NSW in 2020, with a focus on the Covid-19 pandemic response and recovery.
Prior to entering government, Ehssan worked in media, including five years as a journalist for Australian Associated Press (AAP). Ehssan is passionate about 24-hour global cities and the policy settings that allow those cities to thrive.
Alumni Council Member
LLB ’80 Sydney
Lucinda studied at Sydney University Law School and resided at the Women's College in 1977-1978.
After being admitted as a lawyer in 1981 Lucinda has worked mainly in the area of family law. Lucinda became an Accredited Family Law Specialist in 2013 and is a Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. In 2014 Lucinda was appointed to the Law Society's Mediation Panel and also serves on the Law Society's Family Law Advisory Committee. Until recently Lucinda was a member of the Sydney Theatre Company's Foundation Board and is currently chairman of the Landsdowne Foundation.
Lucinda is a volunteer at the Women's Legal Service.
Alumni Council Member
Dip. Physiotherapy ’70, BA ’99 MA ’11 Sydney
For 25 years Annabel worked locally and overseas, as a physiotherapist in public hospitals and private practice. In 1999 she completed an arts degree at the University of Sydney, and 2011, a Master of Arts (with Merit) in Curatorship and Modern Art.
She then worked as an art educator at the Art Gallery of NSW, where she’d been a volunteer guide since 1999. As coordinator of the guides, Annabel oversaw fundamental change in guide administration, chaired the committee of the Australian Art Gallery Guides Association conference, and in 2012 wrote the “History of the Volunteer Guides at AGNSW – the Fourth Decade”.
Alumni Council Member
BA ’06 Sydney
Mathew is the regional director for a publicly listed technology company. Having worked in both corporate and start-up environments, Mathew's key areas of expertise include business development, corporate development and commercial strategy.
Mathew was a recipient of the Sydney University Sports and Fitness (SUSF) Business School Scholarship, a member of the Elite Athlete Program and University Blue. Mathew is one of the soccer club's most capped elite players and is a former club captain.
In 2013 Mathew co-founded the Quills & Boots Association, a sporting alumni group which supports career development through networking and mentoring. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the Sydney University Soccer Football Club and SUSF Blues Association.
Alumni Council Member
BEc ’89 Sydney
Julia is well-known throughout the Australian financial services industry thanks to her 20-year plus career as a senior editor and journalist writing for the leading consumer and trade publications in this sector.
In 2010, Julia joined BT Financial Group as Marketing Communications Specialist. She is the co-founder and head of the Stella Network, an inclusive female network founded by BT to increase the number of females working as financial advisers.
Outside work Julia is a passionate supporter of the arts – literature, theatre, fashion and film. She is also treasurer of Women in Theatre and Screen (WITS).
Alumni Council Member
MCom ’10 Sydney
Marina is an experienced leader with broad international experience, having held a range of roles in fintech, investment banking, investor relations, wealth management and financial services.
She has extensive experience in managing teams, assessing growth and tech investment opportunities, funding new product development, new market entry and expansion, data analytics and customer acquisition, strategy and finance.
Marina is passionate about entrepreneurship, start-ups as well as educating next generation of creative and courageous leaders. She is part of Heads over Heels, a not-for-profit organisation supporting female entrepreneurs, is contributing to a number of mentoring programs and co-designed Managing Digital Innovation unit for the Business School.
Alumni Council Member
MLMgt ’06 MCom ’06 Sydney
Samuel was born in Guangzhou China and came to Australia in 2004, completing Master of Commerce and Master of Logistics Management at the University of Sydney in 2006. He is the Managing Director of Australian Eternity Investments, an organisation that delivers property development services.
Samuel is passionate about the continual development of a network for Chinese alumni to maintain a meaningful link with the University of Sydney.
Alumni Council Associate
BCom ’08 Sydney
Ashton graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2008 and has proudly pursued a successful career in finance and investments. After starting his career at Deloitte and then Macquarie Group, Ashton now leads TAL’s investments and retirement business managing a team of over 30 product, investment and actuarial specialists.
Ashton is also a member of the Dai-ichi (TAL’s parent company) Global Leadership Council, responsible for input into strategy and capital allocation decisions for the Dai-ichi group of companies across Asia, North America and Europe.
Ashton regularly writes and commentates about global FinTech and disruptive technology trends providing a unique Australian perspective.
Alumni Council Member
BPsych ’04 BPsych(Hons) ’04 Sydney MPsychol (Org) ’08 PhD UNSW
As a Partner at Strategy&, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Michelle’s expertise is in strategy development, operating model design and complex, transformative change. Her skillset has been applied in Go8 universities, where she is familiar with the strategic landscape and nuanced opportunities within the context of greater student expectations, globalisation and digitisation.
Michelle also has a breadth of experience across sectors, however specialises in service industries including Financial Services, the Public Sector and Higher Education.
Key dates
- Wednesday 9 March, 6-8pm
- Wednesday 11 May, 6-8pm
- Thursday 9 June, 6-9pm (Alumni Awards event)
- July 2022: Date TBC (Strategic planning day)
- Wednesday 7 September, 6-8pm
- Wednesday 7 December, 6-8pm
Alumni Council meetings take place at the Executive Board Room, Level 5, F23 Administration Building, corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, unless otherwise stated.
- Friday 18 March
- Saturday 19 March (Retreat)
- Wednesday 18 May
- Wednesday 29 June
- Friday 26 August
- Wednesday 28 September (Reserve)
- Wednesday 26 October
- Monday 7 December
For more information, visit the University of Sydney Senate page.
