Alumni Awards honour seven UNSW graduates tackling world’s challenges

The winners include a female planet-hunter who’s expanding our understanding of the universe and the CEO of Australia’s only 100% Indigenous-owned cybersecurity firm.

UNSW Sydney has announced its 2024 Alumni Award winners, recognising seven graduates who are making remarkable contributions in art, culture, professional excellence, research and social impact. 

UNSW Chancellor David Gonski AC said: “UNSW is very proud to be involved in educating each of these outstanding contributors to Australia and beyond. The winners have brought and earned enormous credit not just for themselves, but for our University.”

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs thanked this year’s winners for distinguishing themselves in their chosen fields and for their aspirations and passion for positive impact.

“These individuals are driving progress for all, there’s no two ways about it. They make me incredibly proud to be a UNSW alum, and I feel unbelievably privileged work at UNSW to be able to support incredible individuals like our winners tonight,” he said at the ceremony on Wednesday. 

Seb Chan

Art and Culture 

Seb Chan is director and CEO of Australia's national museum of screen culture, ACMI. He has driven the digital and experiential transformation of museums globally, fostering innovation at the intersection of media, technology, and culture, while promoting open access and collaboration in the arts and heritage sectors. 

“My world for the last 30 years has been about taking advantage of technological change, shifts in media and how we interact with each other to open up culture to more people,” Mr. Chan said.

The social work degree he undertook at UNSW made him very aware of inequality and different forms of community action.

“(It) really inspired me to go down a path of trying to make more of culture available, more democratically, and to more people,” Mr Chan said. 

Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM

Professional Achievement 

Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM is an author, columnist and keynote speaker who champions leadership, gender equality and ways to improve workplace culture. She uses her diverse experience to inspire positive change in organisations and promote inclusive leadership on a global scale.

Dr Ferguson did a degree in leadership at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy, focused on female military leaders in World War Two.

“And here I am 30 years later still studying and thinking about leadership,” she said.

Leadership is a crowded space in Australia and Dr. Ferguson is proud of the career she’s built.

"I really believe that leadership is simply a series of moments, and every moment offers us the opportunity to lead with impact,” she said. 

Dr Jessie Christiansen

Research and Teaching Achievement

Dr Jessie Christiansen is an astronomer who’s advanced our understanding of exoplanets and shaped the future of space exploration through her leadership at NASA. She’s contributed to groundbreaking discoveries, which include finding at least 66 planets around our stars.

Dr. Christiansen started her journey with UNSW doing a PhD on planet searches from the South Pole.

“When I got there (the South Pole) it was everything I imagined. I got to work with these incredible datasets, I got to look for planets and it was an incredible experience,” she said.

Dr Christiansen hopes to inspire the next generation of female scientists.

"If everybody is given the opportunity to do that one thing that they're good at, then all of society benefits,” she said.

Yao May Wong

Research and Teaching Achievement

Yao May Wong is Head of Mathematics and Science at Kincoppal-Rose Bay school in Sydney. She’s advanced excellence in mathematics and science education, fostered innovation in teaching practices, and inspired both students and colleagues through her leadership and dedication to lifelong learning.

“I see maths more than just formulas and numbers. I see it as the skills that you need to navigate life,” Ms Wong said.

She said her time at UNSW gave her the knowledge and confidence to guide her students towards a love of mathematics.

“It gave me the skills to differentiate lessons, to cater for different learning needs in a classroom and to understand how to extend our very talented mathematics students. But also, on the other side to support the ones who are struggling with maths,” Ms. Wong said.

“As a maths teacher, progress for all would mean more people becoming a teacher. To have that opportunity to share knowledge and passion to the younger generation and contribute to society,” she said.

Adjunct Professor Kieran Hynes

Social Impact & Service

Adjunct Professor Kieran Hynes is the Founder & CEO of Willyama Services, a 100% Aboriginal-owned cybersecurity and professional services business dedicated to helping vulnerable communities.

Prof. Hynes has championed cybersecurity across government and commercial sectors, advocating for the security of national supply chains, and empowering Indigenous and disability communities through his leadership in both industry and non-profits.

Prof. Hynes believes education is the most significant lever for future success.

"For people who have opportunity, they don't understand how challenging it can be for those who don't have the same opportunities,” he said.

“The main focus for [the company] Willyama is that we want to make a difference. We want to focus on employing, where we can, Aboriginal people, veterans and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds – and any other people who normally wouldn’t get an approach into the IT sector,” he said.

Chanel Contos

Young Alumni Award

Chanel Contos has led the national movement for consent education in Australia, successfully pushing for legal reforms against sexual violence, and advocating for gender equality.

As the founder of the Teach Us Consent campaign, she has earned recognition for her efforts to mandate sex education in the Australian curriculum and inspire lasting societal change.

Ms Contos completed Commerce and Arts degrees at UNSW and said she had an amazing experience at the University.

“I felt very challenged, interested and inspired by the people around me. It really broadened my horizons of what I was interested in and methods of thinking about things. [It] really shaped what I did after university, which is start a Master's in Education and Gender,” she said.

Ms Contos said she hopes to help create a society where empathy towards women was the expected norm.

“The normalisation of sexual violence is upheld by attitudes and expectations that we have towards gender and sexuality. These attitudes and expectations are changeable,” Ms Contos said.

Alexis George

Chancellor's Award for Exceptional Alumni Achievement

Alexis George is CEO of financial services company AMP Limited. She’s led major financial institutions through complex transformations, advocating for women in leadership, and driven strategic initiatives that shape the financial services landscape both in Australia and globally.

"When I first got promoted, there were hardly any women in senior executive roles. So, for me, gender equality is very important,” she said.

“It’s also about ensuring that everyone is given a fair opportunity and sees the value of education. I came from a very small country town and going to UNSW 100 per cent changed my view about the world and my trajectory in life.

“If I can leave every place I go to just a little better, that’s enough for me,” Ms George said.