2026 Arts Alumni Awards
The Faculty of Arts is delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 Arts Alumni Awards, who were presented with their awards by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Jennifer Balint.
Awarded by the Faculty of Arts each year, the Arts Alumni Awards recognise the valuable contributions alumni have made all over the world across a range of fields, including the not-for-profit sector, government, education, business, arts and media.
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The Rising Star Award for Young Alumni
BA(Hons) (2019), PhD – MDHS (2025)
Dr Sylvia Lin is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Deakin University. She was recognised for her work advancing knowledge of adolescent brain development and mental health and translating research into practice through community engagement and science communication.
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The Rising Star Award for Young Alumni
BA (2017), MIntRel (2020)
Katharine Nikolic is a councillor elected to Brimbank City Council. She was recognised for her work as a community advocate, driven by a commitment to opportunity and civic participation for young people in Melbourne's west.
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The Rising Star Award for Young Alumni
BA (2020)
Miltiadis Paikopoulos, a Classics scholar, educator and advocate, was recognised for his commitment to promoting and preserving Classical Greek education, including helping deliver Victoria's only VCE Classical Greek program.
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The Rising Star Award for Young Alumni
BDes (2024), GradDipArts (2026)
Peiqi Shi was recognised for founding Being a Melburnian, an innovative intergenerational and intercultural program that brings international students and older Melburnians together to foster social connection, deepen cultural understanding, and build a shared sense of belonging.
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The Leadership Award
BA(Hons) (2006)
Ben Buckland is a human rights expert and documentary storyteller. Through his work with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), he has helped strengthen global mechanisms to prevent torture and ill-treatment, and his photography and writing have brought public attention to complex human rights, humanitarian, and nature conservation issues.
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The Leadership Award
BA (2011), DipArts (Womens Studies) (2011)
Tarang Chawla is a national leader working to end men’s violence against women and children. Following the murder of his sister Niki by her partner in 2015, he co-founded Not One More Niki in her memory. Over the decade since, his work across advocacy, education and governance has helped shape how Australia understands, prevents and responds to gender-based violence. He now serves on the Australian Government’s Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Advisory Council.
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The Leadership Award
MDevSt (2021)
Pavitra Raja is a strategic advisor working at the intersection of business, government and international institutions. She has held senior roles at the World Economic Forum and United Nations, building partnerships and CEO-level coalitions to address complex global challenges. She is also a PhD researcher in corporate social innovation and an Atlantic Council Millennium Leadership Fellow.
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The Leadership Award
BA (2014)
Pavitra Raja is a strategic advisor working at the intersection of business, government and international institutions. She has held senior roles at the World Economic Forum and United Nations, building partnerships and CEO-level coalitions to address complex global challenges. She is also a PhD researcher in corporate social innovation and an Atlantic Council Millennium Leadership Fellow.
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The Giving Award
GradCertArts (2012), MDevSt (Gender & Development) (2014)
Dr Mercy Masta is a researcher, development practitioner and community leader advancing gender equality and sustainable development across the Pacific. A specialist in masculinity and engaging men and boys in preventing violence against women and girls, she was recognised for centring Indigenous Pacific perspectives in her research and practice.
About the Arts Alumni Awards
The global Faculty of Arts alumni community is over 97,000 people strong. Every year, the Arts Alumni Awards shine a spotlight on graduates who are making a positive impact—whether through bold leadership, quiet influence, or tireless service. These awards celebrate alumni who have not only excelled in their chosen field but have also given back—to the Faculty, the University, and the wider world.
Award categories
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Awarded to an alum aged 30 or under who has already made an exceptional impact professionally and within their community. They are recognised for their leadership, vision, and the kind of drive that signals a future force for global good.
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For an alum whose leadership in their field stands out as truly exceptional—shaping thinking, shifting practice, and inspiring others through action and example.
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Celebrating a lifetime of excellence, this award honours an alum whose long-term and internationally recognised contributions have left a significant mark on their profession.
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For an alum who has gone above and beyond in their support of the Faculty and the University—through leadership, student impact, and meaningful engagement with the broader community. Note: This award recognises contributions made beyond the scope of any paid employment at the University.
Nominate
Recognising alumni who have achieved excellence
Do you know an outstanding Arts alum making a difference locally or internationally?
Whether they’re a high-profile candidate on the world stage or a quiet achiever making a difference locally, we look forward to hearing about what our Arts alumni have been up to since graduating.
Nominations for the 2026 Arts Alumni Awards are closed. Check back for when 2027 nominations open.
Enquiries: alumni-office@unimelb.edu.au
Nominations are assessed by a panel that includes the Dean, Faculty of Arts, members of the Melbourne Humanities Foundation Board, previous Arts Alumni Award recipients, and Faculty staff members.
Past recipients
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- William Smith (2025)
- Sabrina Leung (2025)
- Marsha Lubovny (2025)
- Ann Liang (2024)
- Kareem El-Ansary (2024)
- Esmé Louise James (2023)
- Michael Lim (2023)
- Ms Thenu Herath (2022)
- Mr Izak Rosenfeld (2022)
- Mr Abe Watson (2022)
- Jazz Money (2021)
- Saiful Bakhri (2020)
- Christie (Yating) Ding (2020)
- Dirgayuza (Yuza) Setiawan (2019)
- Mohamed Khairat (2019)
- Jenna Davey-Burns (2018)
- Linh Do (2018)
- Mr Tarang Chawla (2017)
- Ms Morgan Koegel (2017)
- Jason Ball (2016)
- Lucy Thomas (2016)
- Ms Stephanie Cousins (2015)
- Mr Thomas Woodroofe (2015)
- Dr Toby Ord (2014)
- Ms Jenny Taing (2014)
- Ms Ellen Sandell (2013)
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- Donata Carrazza (2025)
- Dr Sangmin Nam (2025)
- Sonia Lim (2024)
- Professor Robert McGauran (2024)
- Jane Crawley (2023)
- Amanda McKenzie (2023)
- Mr Matt Goldberg (2022)
- Ms Sarah Rey (2022)
- Dr Mark McDonald (2021)
- Dr Genevieve Timmons (2020)
- Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM (2019)
- Dr Nadera Hayat Burhani (2018)
- Mr Jack Heath (2017)
- Lily Yulianti (2016)
- Ms Erika Feller (2015)
- Dr Helen Szoke (2014)
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- Professor Janet McCalman AC (2024)
- Associate Professor Andrew Jamieson (2023)
- The Hon Susan Crennan AC KC (2022)
- Margaret Quixley (2021)
- Associate Professor Alison Inglis AM (2020)
- Dr Ted Gott (2019)
- Emerita Professor Patricia Grimshaw AO (2018)
- Mr Jack Heath (2017)
- Emeritus Professor Chris Wallace-Crabbe AM (2016)
- Mr Michael Bartlett (2015)
- Professor Peter McPhee AM (2014)
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- Professor Anthony Elliott AM (2024)
- The Hon. Justice Susan Kenny AM (2023)
- Mr Frank Merlino (2022)
- Stefano De Pieri (2021)
- Christos Tsiolkas (2020)
- Joanna Murray-Smith (2019)
- Stephanie Alexander AO (2018)
- Sir James Gobbo AC CVO KSJ QC (2017)
- Professor Gary Foley (2016)
- Professor Peter Singer (2015)
- Mr Alex Miller (2014)
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- Eugenia Mitrakas OAM (2025)
- Magda Szubanski AO (2025)
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- Dr Connie Buckingham (2025)