Alumnae Award Winners Announced

On 23 May 2016 the biennial Women’s College Alumnae Awards were presented during a special Formal Dinner in the College Dining Hall. The Awards recognise the significant personal and professional achievements of some of our many talented alumnae.  Our warmest congratulations go to Elizabeth Elliot (winner, Alumna Award), Mary Assunta (winner, Alumna Community Achievement Award) and Julia Fetherston (winner, Young Alumna Award). The nominees presented an impressive array of achievements, making the task of the Selection Committee an unenviable one.

2016 Nominees:

Alumnae Awards Dinner: Marie Coleman, 2014 winner Sally Crossing, Mary Assunta, Rowena O’Neill and Elizabeth Elliott

Mary ASSUNTA KOLANDAI (2001-08): Mary Assunta is a world-renowned tobacco control advocate with over thirty years’ experience. Mary’s career has focussed primarily on addressing the impact of tobacco in developing nations. As Director of the International Tobacco Control Project at Cancer Council Australia, Mary works to support the development of policy throughout the ASEAN region. (Winner, Alumna Community Achievement Award)

Rebecca BARRY (2003-06): After five years working in commercial law, Rebecca joined Westpac’s BT Financial Group. She is currently National Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Migrant and Expatriate Banking. In addition to pro bono legal work Rebecca devotes time to improving conditions for women in the legal profession as an office bearer of a number of NSW law societies.

Karen CANFELL (1987-89): Karen Canfell is Director of the Cancer Research Division at the Cancer Council NSW; a Conjoint Professor at the University of NSW Faculty of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. Karen’s extensive research profile includes evaluating new strategies for cancers affecting women, including cervical cancer prevention and breast screening.

Marie Coleman (BURNS: 1950-53): Feminist, community activist, educator, researcher, public servant and journalist, Marie Coleman is a tireless campaigner for the rights of women and families. The first woman to head a Commonwealth Government statutory agency, her contribution to community activism has been longstanding, sustained, and of national significance.

Elizabeth ELLIOTT (1975-78): Elizabeth Elliott is Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Sydney and Consultant Paediatrician at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. She has dedicated her career to improving the health and quality of life of children, including Indigenous and refugee children, through her work in a number of fields, notably fetal alcohol syndrome. (Winner, Alumna Award),

Julia FETHERSTON (2005-08): In her current role as a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group, Julia Fetherston is emerging as a leading innovator and an expert in defining how to radically improve public services internationally. Most recently she has been advising the Saudi Arabian government on strategies to increase the presence of women in the work force. (Winner, Young Alumna Award)

Heidi HARRINGTON-JOHNSON (2004-05): An international model for the past fifteen years, Heidi Harrington-Johnson now resides in New York, where she undertook a masters in journalism and now pursues writing alongside her modelling career, mentoring homeless children and prison inmates in an effort to improve their lives through cultural reportage and fostering creativity.

Kate McCROSSIN (2001-04): A solicitor at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Kate McCrossin works to improve systemic disadvantage, assisting Indigenous and youth who are the subject of racism and poor public policy. She has dedicated her working life to date to such advocacy, having previously been a solicitor at the Refugee Advice and Casework Service.

Rowena O’NEILL (2002-05): A Manager at Macquarie Funds Group specialising in asset management and equity capital markets, Rowena O’Neill has developed her leadership in the not-for-profit sector through her role as National Development Manager, Fitted for Work. Rowena has dedicated her energies, expertise and networks to assisting disadvantaged women to access employment.