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Alumni Council
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
BA '05 LLB '07 Sydney
Natasha is CEO of a training and education organisation, FRANK Group which works extensively to develop workforce skills of the emerging generations and has trained over 88,000 people. She is also the co-founder of a technology start-up and is excited about entrepreneurship. Natasha is currently completing a Certificate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Stanford University.
Natasha came to the University of Sydney as an international student, having lived in Sri Lanka and the Fiji Islands. She speaks a number of different languages. Her passion is in supporting those who make the brave move to a new country for their education.
Alumni Council Deputy 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. Currently she is an Information Technology Senior Project Manager for Fujitsu Australia where she is responsible for sustaining the Royal Australian Navy’s networks across the Fleet.
Jodie has served in the full-time and part-time military, totalling 25 years. She was deployed to Timor Leste twice where she was responsible for Civil Security Assessment and later led the logistics team. She is now Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army Reserves as the Commanding Officer of the 8th Combat Service Support Battalion. 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 Univeristy 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 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
BA ‘12 LLB ’14 Sydney
Ella is as a Senior Associate at Makinson d'Apice Lawyers and is responsible for managing their pro bono practice. She works with clients from disadvantaged backgrounds and has a particular interest in working with Indigenous communities, asylum seekers and people with disabilities. Ella has also volunteered for a number of community organisations. In 2019 she won the pro bono category of the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 awards.
Ella has maintained a strong connection to the University, guest lecturing and working as a research assistant for various faculties.
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
BSc ’72 Sydney
Yen On is an experienced investment and management advisor with experiences in China, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and S.E. Asia, and representing Australian and other foreign investors in Asia.
Yen On currently serves as Non-Executive Director of Play2Win, a board games developer in Hong Kong, as well as active with trading financial instruments in USA and Europe.
Based in Hong Kong, Yen On is looking forward to aligning the interests of University of Sydney graduates in the region with the objectives of the University.
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
BAppSci(Physio)(Hons) '10 Sydney
Karn is the Founder and CEO of Hit 100, a social enterprise committed to improving the health of vulnerable and under-served communities through affordable, accessible, clinical support and home-delivered meals.
Karn was awarded the Dean's Scholar Medal from the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) 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. He’s actively involved in the not for profit world, and is a promoter of business as a force for good and was awarded a 2018 Westpac Social Change Fellowship.
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
BCom(LibStud) ’07 Sydney
Hugh is passionate about the use of innovative business models to solve the world’s big problems. He is a founder of three businesses in Africa providing financing for useful and productive products such as solar home systems and solar powered irrigation to underserved customers. He is currently CEO of PEG Africa, which uses pay-as-you-go technology to provide solar to millions of people in West Africa. PEG has raised has over 1,000 staff, and operates in 4 countries.
Hugh has been recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, as one of Australia’s top 30 entrepreneurs under 30, and as an Aspen Institute Global Leadership Fellow. He has been featured in a wide range of mainstream media, including BBC, CNN, Forbes and The New York Times. He is an occasional contributor to Fast Company.
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 Associate
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.
Alumni Council sub-committees
Key dates
- Wednesday 24 February 2021, 6-8pm
- Wednesday 26 May 2021, 6-8pm
- Saturday 17 July, 10am-5pm (Planning)
- Wednesday 25 August 2021, 6-8pm
- Wednesday 8 December 2021, 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 19 March 2021
- Saturday 20 March 2021 (retreat)
- Wednesday 19 May 2021
- Wednesday 30 June 2021
- Friday 27 August 2021
- Wednesday 29 September 2021 (Reserve)
- Monday 1 November 2021
- Monday 13 December 2021
For more information, visit the University of Sydney Senate page.
