UniSA Connect

UniSA celebrates the success of our 2022 Alumni Award recipients

The annual Alumni Awards, showcasing the most distinguished members of the University’s 230,000-strong global alumni community, were celebrated at a gala dinner at UniSA’s Pridham Hall on 26 November.

The hall was transformed to host around 250 guests who generously supported the ever-popular silent auction which raised funds for the recently launched UniSA Refugee Scholarship Fund appeal.

“The journey that universities invite us all on through research and education is the one thing that makes the biggest difference to the health, economic prosperity, and happiness of individuals and communities. Given the fragile nature of our world at present, I could not be prouder of the University of South Australia's journey, and our community,” Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Enterprise told the invited guests.

“Whatever we are called to do in the future, how we are invited to change, and whatever the shape of higher education in Australia and South Australia, the values of access, opportunity and innovation remain our touchstones. That is our accord with this community,” she said before announcing the four recipients:

• Commonwealth Games gold medallist and physiotherapist, Jessica Stenson
• Thomas Foods International Group Managing Director, Darren Thomas
• ABC journalist and presenter, Sabra Lane
• Co-leader of the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity theme at SAHMRI, Dr Odette Pearson

Jessica Stenson credits her studies of physiotherapy at the University of South Australia with providing the knowledge that makes her a better athlete, and her experience of running and motherhood with making her a more rounded health professional.

“Running allows you to objectively measure self-improvement really easily,” Stenson says.

“It has provided me with great friendships and opportunities to travel and represent Australia.”

Darren Thomas, an accounting graduate, says he did not grow up thinking he wanted to be an accountant.

“But the degree really set the foundation of what I was able to learn and progress throughout my life,” he says.

Thomas travels the world meeting customers and building relationships, but he recognises the sacrifices his parents made to help build the family company into the $2.5 billion enterprise it is today.

“In Australia we take it for granted there’s food on the table, food in the supermarkets but imagine if you’re in a country that can’t produce enough food,” Thomas says.

“That’s our competitive advantage; providing safe, clean, green food.”

Journalism graduate Sabra Lane says she feels a responsibility to her radio audience to ask the questions they want answered.

“How do we make people accountable for their decisions when they clearly don’t want to be?” Lane says.

“I want Australia to be a better place and that responsibility weighs heavily on my shoulders sometimes.”

With a PhD from the University of South Australia, Dr Odette Pearson continues to research the influence of primary health care on diabetes outcomes at SAHMRI, one of the first institutions to recognise Aboriginal health as a stand-alone theme and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In March this year she was appointed Co-leader Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity theme, and data sovereignty and community consultation remain at the core of her research.

“We heard loud and clear that research needed to be done the right way, respectfully and in partnership,” Dr Pearson says.

You can find out more about the 2022 University of South Australia Alumni Awards and the graduates honoured and their achievements here.