To be eligible for the Graduate Medal for Undergraduate Leadership in 2026, nominees must:
Successes are fleeting and failures are temporary - no matter the outcome there is always something to come and a reason to aim higher.
Ben Hines is an outstanding student leader who has left a lasting mark on the University through his academic excellence and unwavering commitment to student life. He served as President of the Sydney University Law Society (SULS) in 2022. He served as Board Director of the University of Sydney Union (USU), as well as serving on the Executive as Vice President, Treasurer, and as the inaugural President and Board Chair of the incorporated USU. With the USU, he navigated the challenges of COVID-19 and the subsequent return to campus, and was responsible for incorporating the organisation, all while championing a student-centric, sustainable, and inclusive organisation. Ben also worked during his studies as a Sessional Academic and Academic Tutor in the Business School. As a student, Ben earned First Class Honours in Law and Commerce and received the University Medal in Finance. Locally, he was a Graduate at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, one of Australia’s top law firms, and worked at the New South Wales Court of Appeal as a Judge’s Associate. Internationally, he was accepted to both Harvard and Yale Law Schools to pursue a Master of Laws and is currently studying at Harvard supported by the Ivan Roberts Scholarship. Throughout these successes, Ben has remained actively engaged in mentoring, advocacy, and leadership, always placing
students at the heart of his work.
So many parts of my time at the University of Sydney have been invaluable in shaping my perspective in so many ways. Studying here allowed me to mee the most amazing array of people, each pushing me to grow and change in their own unique way. From diverse ideas to diverse backgrounds, the communities I have met and the ones I have made will stay with me forever. At the same time, the opportunities I have been afforded at the University, and have tried my best to take full advantage of, have been unlike anything I could’ve imagined. Being trusted to lead on the board of a commercial organisation with over 50,000 members and $30 million in revenue, studying under literally world-leading academics, and being sent around the world to compete with the brightest global legal minds are just a few examples of the horizon broadening and eye-opening opportunities I have been privileged to receive. Each has shaped my perspectives in ways I can’t even begin to list.
This year I'm studying at Harvard Law School to complete my LLM with a focus on public law and corporate governance - after that, I'll be back in Australia seeking to put what I learn into practice and hopefully play a role in helping to shape important discourse in these areas and beyond. I’m excited to see what is to come, and if it is unforeseen then that’s even better!
Samuel Goldberg is a solicitor from Sydney, who is about to commence a Bachelor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford, where he will study as a Rhodes Scholar.
Over his time at the University of Sydney, Sam made the Dean’s List of Excellence in Academic Performance for three consecutive years, and collected numerous scholarships and prizes, including the University Medal for History in 2020 and Law in 2022.
He served as both the Secretary and Social Director of the Sydney University Law Society (SULS) and prepared a historical archive documenting the Society’s 120-year history. He was also engaged across the University more broadly, particularly in its outreach programs in its surrounding communities. He is passionate about the study of law in its historical and social context, and believes that an understanding of each is necessary to guide the development of a more equitable legal system.
Dane Luo (BCom (Hons) ’21, LLB (Hons) ‘23), The Convocation Medal for Undergraduate Leadership, 2023
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LinkTo say that Dane Luo was involved in campus life would be an understatement. Dane was involved in the SRC (where he served as Vice President), the USU, the Business Society and the Law Society, and served as a Student Ambassador, Mentor and Academic Tutor. Over the course of his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)/ Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree, he was recognised for his both academic prowess and his contributions to campus culture.
Dane recently moved to the United Kingdom to study the Bachelor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford with the generous support of the University of Sydney Law School. He hopes to pursue a career as a lawyer and academic, focusing on advancing equality and advocating for change in Australia and abroad. With an ability to balance his work with his passion for giving back to the community, we look forward to keeping up with Dane’s future career.
Olivia is passionate about gender equality, the evolving media environment, and public interest litigation. Her varied experience includes co-founding a national online student-run publication, Et Cetera, and volunteering for Teach Us Consent, where she contributed to Chanel Contos’ work to change consent law in NSW. Olivia is currently a Lawyer in Allens’ disputes and investigations team after starting at the firm in 2018 as a paralegal.
Yinfeng Shen, honoured with the 2020 Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Life) Outstanding Services Award, stands out for his unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity and connectivity. His initiatives include leading anti-racism campaigns and offering support during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has held key roles, like Board Director of the USU, and contributed as a peer support advisor and student mentor at the Business School. Yinfeng also served as President of the University of Sydney's Australia-China Youth Association chapter and Vice-President of the University's CEMS Club.
Annabelle Traves joined the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at 14 through the Rising Stars program. She has since excelled as Concertmaster for the University's Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Youth Orchestra and has collaborated with international musicians like Diana Krall and Bruce Springsteen. She initiated the Katrina Dawson Foundation Concert to empower young women and is pursuing a master's degree in solo violin performance in Germany.
‘Convocation’ refers to the legislative or deliberative assembly of a university. The term is enshrined in the University of Sydney’s history through its founding Act of Parliament. The Convocation Medal was the first ‘Alumni Award’ presented in 1980.
For four decades, the recipients of the Medal have played an integral role in our continued mission to provide transformative and equitable access to education , transforming people, lives, outlooks and the community.
Explore the annual Alumni Awards, featuring six Graduate Medals and six Alumni Awards.