2013 Murdoch University Distinguished Alumni Awards finalists

Introducing the finalists for the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Awards!

Every year we are thrilled by the high calibre of our nominees. We are very proud to showcase and celebrate the achievements of Murdoch University alumni. Please click on the drop down menus below to meet our 2013 finalists.

+ Art and Social Sciences

Jessica Evans - BA (Politics and International Studies) LLB (2002)

Jessica Evans is currently the Senior Researcher and Advocate for International Financial Institutions at Human Rights Watch (HRW), based in Washington, DC. In this role she has initiated a new program of work for HRW, advocating for international financial institutions, especially the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, to respect human rights in all their activities through large-scale policy reform. Jessica also publishes reports and articles for HRW on such topics, ensuring that these institutions are held to account in the public press.

Prior to this role she worked as researcher out of the organisation’s Asia division, where she researched and drafted human rights reports in the Philippines. She met regularly with the Philippine Government to advocate for victim’s rights, monitored ongoing abuses and urged the Government to hold perpetrators accountable.

In a similar capacity, Jessica worked in Fiji investigating human rights abuses following the 2006 coup d’état.

Previously, in 2005-2006, Evans worked as Principal Policy Officer for the WA Attorney General, where she ran an ongoing law reform agenda. From 2003-2005 she worked as a barrister and solicitor in the State Solicitor’s Office in Perth, Western Australia.

Jessica received Law and Arts degrees in 2002 from Murdoch University in Politics and International Studies. She has also completed a Master’s degree in international human rights from the Colombia University School of Law.

Barathan Pasupathi - BCom (1993)

Barathan Pasupathi completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Murdoch University in 1993 and an MBA at Deakin University in 2004. He has over 16 years of expertise in the areas of oil market risk management, aircraft financing and leasing and supply chain management. Barathan was one of the founding senior executives of Jetstar Asia in his role as Chief Financial Officer from 2004-2007. His key achievements at Jetstar include helping to establish the airline through its merger with Valuair, fleet procurement and fuel hedging. Jetstar Asia has since become the largest and most profitable low fares airline in Singapore.
In 2012 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Barathan is an active participant and supporter of community work and had served as Treasurer for the Singapore Children's Cancer Foundation and as Vice Chairman for Camp Rainbow, both organisations which support ongoing research, treatment and the well-being of children with major illnesses. Barathan is also a keen supporter of the environment and serves as Treasurer for Singapore's Nature Society. He has also overseen the implementation of environmentally responsible practices at Jetstar, particularly in the areas of fleet management and fuel efficiency. He continues to support Murdoch University through his ongoing work as a mentor in Murdoch University's e-mentor program. Bara is also a Commissioned Officer of the Singapore Armed Forces.

Robyn Sermon - GradDipJour (1996)

Robyn Sermon is the current General Manager for Communities with Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Her work involves coordinating agreements with Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal employment policies, business development and the preservation of cultural heritage. As well she is responsible for supporting Pilbara communities in the areas of childcare, health care, recreation and education. She also oversees community strategy in a number of regional Western Australian communities including Albany, Busselton, Broome, Carnarvon and Geraldton.

Robyn has over 14 years experience working in the Minerals sector, in government, and in media and community relations in both corporate and site-based roles across Australia. She previously worked for WMC and Rio Tinto including time with Argyle Diamonds and Hamersley Iron. She also managed community relations for Comalco in Gladstone, Queensland.

Robyn has led many successful partnerships between the business and community sector including a 15 year partnership with the Polly Farmer Foundation, which has seen Rio Tinto invest millions of dollars to fund the Foundation’s education programs for participants. She has also brokered a number of new partnerships including the RFDS Life Flight initiative and more recently agreements with 'Pilbara Shires' to deliver new community infrastructure and services to the growing region. In her current role she manages the largest Indigenous employment programme for a private business in Australia, the most extensive cultural heritage programme in the country and a leading Aboriginal business development initiative that provides significant economic development for growing numbers of Pilbara Aboriginal people.

Robyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations and English and completed a postgraduate award in Journalism from Murdoch University in 1996. She also has a post graduate qualification in cross sector partnerships.

+ Science

Josh Byrne - BSc(Hons) Environmental Science (2002)

Josh Byrne is an environmental scientist who is recognised nationally for his leadership in sustainable gardening and landscaping, urban water management, appropriate technology and innovative design.

He is best known for his work as WA presenter on Gardening Australia with ABC television over the last ten years. Since 2005, Josh has also directed the Fremantle-based landscape design, environmental consultancy and communications company, Josh Byrne & Associates, which has received many awards for its engagement in projects across community, corporate, education and government sectors.

From 2003-2005, he was Professional Officer at Murdoch University’s Environmental Technology Centre and Remote Area Developments Group, which is also one of the Asia Pacific Cooperation Research Centres for the United Nations Environment Program International Environmental Technology Centre. Through this role he undertook research, coordinated and implemented projects with remote Western Australian Aboriginal communities in the areas of permaculture and landscaping for environmental health.

Josh is author of two books on sustainable gardening, is a frequent contributor to Gardening Australia Magazine and has published several academic articles in his field.

Josh’s many awards include three consecutive National Horticulture Media Association television awards, the Australian Water Association’s Young Water Professional of the Year award for WA in 2010, as well as its National Young Water Professional of the Year award in 2011.

He is an Ambassador for the Living Smart Household Sustainability Program and for Nature Play WA and the national Smart Approved WaterMark program, and Patron for the Conservation Council of WA and for the WA chapter of Sustainable Gardening Australia.

Josh completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in 2002 and is a current PhD candidate at Murdoch University. He also holds an adjunct lecturer position at Murdoch with the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences.

Darren Hamley - BSc (1983), DipEd (1984)

Since graduating from Murdoch University, Darren has worked for twenty eight years as a science teacher in a variety of Western Australian schools. In 1993 he implemented an after school gifted education class and, as this program grew, was appointed the coordinator of the Gifted and Talented Education Program at Willetton Senior High School in Perth, Western Australia.

His contributions to the field of gifted education have included the implementation of a program teaching scientific research skills (significantly assisted by the Murdoch University STAR peer tutoring program) and a solar car program to encourage students to study engineering.

As part of his teaching program he and his students participate in the Biennial World Solar Challenge and have built what they believe is the only true zero emission car in Australia. Darren is listed by the New York based organisation "100 people" as one of the top 100 world leaders in sustainable energy from across the globe.

Darren has received an impressive list of awards for his teaching and environmental work including winner of the Secondary Teacher of the Year for the solar car project in 2009 from the Australian Institute of Engineers, winner of the BHP Science Australian Science teacher of the year in 2005, winner of the Premier’s Prize for Science Teaching in 2004 and winner of the Australian Florey Science Teacher Award in 1999.

Philip Livingston - MSc Renewable Energy (2008)

Philip Livingston is CTO of Urban Group Energy (UGE), a multinational clean-tech conglomerate. Philip manages development and manufacture of LED, PV, and EE products and oversees all foreign business functions in Asia.

Philip is founder and non-executive director of Zincfinance. Zinc provides solar leases for residential customers who require low cost energy alternatives to traditional utilities.

Recently acquired by UGE, Philip was co-founder of Sungrid, one of Australia's most successful PV companies. Sungrid's focus on development of market leading products, together with its passion-led corporate culture that incorporated innovation, sustainability and an entrepreneurial spirit in all of its operations, has lead to Sungrid's strong brand presence within the Australian photovoltaic sector.
Sungrid, also provided community benefits including:

Hulbert Street Festival 2011 and 2012 sponsorship,
$250,000 for “Days of Change”,
Donating 50+kW of PV systems to Fremantle Pensioners,
56kW of PV to Hospitalito Atitlán in Sololá, Guatemala.

Philip is Non-Executive Director of Dismantle, which provides corporate training and community development workshops to encourage bicycle use. Dismantle also provides training and employment opportunities for at risk youth through bike mechanic internships and skills training.

Philip is advisory board member for SEI, the largest and oldest US renewable energy technical certification training body.

Philip served in the US Peace Corps in the Philippines where he raised $450,000 from USAID, UNDP, GTZ, WWF, Tortuga Foundation, and domestic government programs for solar related projects to reduce childhood death from dysentery, and mangrove reforestations to increase fish catch for coastal dwellers. Philip received commendations from the Provincial Governor's office and Mayor’s Office of Bais City, Negros Oriental for his work. Philip also received a Commendation from Rotary Club of Bais City for his training of woman’s cooperatives in various alternative livelihoods.

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