Winners of the 2025 Arts Alumni Awards announced
Eight alumni from the Faculty of Arts were presented with Arts Alumni Awards by Dean Professor Jennifer Balint at the Arts Award celebration on 24 November.
The annual Arts Alumni Awards recognise alumni who have made valuable contributions across a range of fields, and have given back to the Faculty, the University and the broader community.
Magda Szubanski AO, one of Australia’s most loved and respected actors, writers and activists, received the Golden Alumni Award. Magda was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017 for her distinguished service to the performing arts and as a campaigner for marriage equality,.
The Golden Alumni Award was also presented to Eugenia Mitrakas OAM, a trailblazer in the Australian legal profession. Eugenia is a leader within her community through her work within EMR Mitrakas, a trusted practice serving Melbourne’s international community and her efforts to promote Greek culture globally.
The Leadership Award was presented to Donata Carrazza for her writing and community work within Mildura. Donata is a founding member of the Mildura Writers Festival, and has edited two books, including Vintage: A Celebration of Ten Years of the Mildura Writers’ Festival.
Dr Sangmin Nam, the Director of the Environment and Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), also received the Leadership Award. Before his current role, Sangmin was an expert member in the Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development of the Republic of Korea and played a founding role in the environmental non-governmental organisation, Green Korea United.
Dr Connie Buckingham was presented the Giving Award for her work on Social Stencil, the first evidence-based Australian social-emotional program to explicitly teach social-emotional concepts through a neuro-affirming lens. She has over 20 years of experience as a psychologist across education, clinical and community settings.
Rising Star Award for Young Alumni was presented to three exceptional recent graduates.
Sabrina Leung was recognised for her work as Founder and Director of EnAccess Map, a community-driven platform helping people with disabilities connect to venues that meet their access needs, empowering individuals to explore their communities with confidence and independence.
Marsha Lubovny, the Executive Director of the grassroots peacebuilding organisation 0202 Points of View from Jerusalem, was recognised for her work bridging Jerusalem’s cultural, social and political divides through the strategic use of media.
William Smith, a proud Wiradjuri and Wemba Wemba researcher, was recognised for his work in influencing national conversations about Indigenous mental health and culturally safe models of care. William also established the Indigenous Psychology Student Association, a peer network designed to foster community and visibility.
Read more about the 2025 recipients on the Arts Alumni Awards website.