>> Our alumni are our greatest asset.
Another 10,000 students graduated this
year to join the 210,000 Curtin
graduates we now have from more than 130
different countries. Our focus is on
ensuring that our graduates leave
Curtin with an openness to different
prospectus and new ideas. A desire to
make a difference and the skills can
lead, to be innovative and to think big.
Our careers, like life, take many twists and turns.
Some of those being recognised tonight,
have achieved spectacular
success in fields that were far removed
from their original studies. We applaud and
celebrate the achievements of all our
award recipients tonight.
>> You should always believe in your abilities whether
you think you're good or not good. And just
work towards something that you focus on.
>> I'm deeply honoured to
receive this award tonight. I've had a
long association with Curtin, way back to
my graduation from WAIT. In fact I was
one of the very last graduates from WAIT
before it turned into Curtin.
>> It's 35 years, and I added them up today, and I thought, no it can't
be that long, yes it is, since I graduated
as a pharmacist from Curtin. Even back
then it was renowned for its practical
hands-on approach to learning and I feel
that this style of learning has put me
in good stead to cope with the many many
changes my profession has had to adjust to overtime.
>> I think in tough times such
as now with the mining industry,
it's even more important that people
recognise that to have the right sort of
creativity and innovation that we need
in our industries, to be able to weather
these times, we need to have diversity of
thinking, diversity of people and
diversity of gender.
>> We are lucky to be
part today of this institution that
produces critical thinkers that are
hungry for change and for a better world.
Most of my work centers on the liaison of
the built environment and the ecosystem.
The results are grim, appalling even.
We are the causative factor for climate
change and I see its consequences every
day on my own Island in Mauritius.
>> I truly loved my time at Curtin,
it was the only university I
found that would fit in perfectly with
my life and all of my commitments,
including running the charity which
started while I was at University.
>> Curtin, it not only equipped me with
incredible knowledge and skills, but it
was really the values and the attitudes
that it nurtured in me. I really truly
believe that a strong society,
the strongest society is an inclusive society.
One in which all of its people
are included and they're enabled to live
a life to their full potential.
>> The chapters main initiative in the
community has been a relationship with a
charity called Parkerville Homes.
And Parkerville Homes is a charity for
at-risk youth. This year all members
supported the Graduate School by giving
up their own time to speak of their
experiences in the MBA program,
to aspiring students at the schools information evenings.
>> After the Bali Bombing
my principal asked me to attend
a meeting for him. That's when I met the
first people that were involved in
wanting to set up AdoptASchool.
We started off very small with sister
schools, one school in WA becoming a
sister school to one in Bali.
Children sharing culture, writing to each other,
some children from here going on
holidays and visiting their schoolmates up there.
And after 14 years we're seeing
the value of being able to provide those
children with the opportunity for an education.
>> The post-war reconstruction
unit thought I'd make a good
occupational therapist. What a wonderful
outlet for my energies. But the thing that
was necessary was a school. You cannot
do anything unless you have a really
good lot of occupation therapists coming
after you. Thank you Curtin University and
thank you Curtin Alumni
and my nominees, for his life
achievement award tonight. I'm very
honoured to receive it and thank you.
>> As a group, you demonstrate the highest
caliber of Curtin's alumni network.
We are proud of each and every one of you.
I'm delighted that you all were able to join
us here tonight. Thank you.