1999 QUT Outstanding Alumni Award Winners

[Print-friendly version]

Allan Brackin
Outstanding Alumnus and Faculty of Built Environment Winner

At 26, Allan Brackin took a $30,000 gamble and started his own business. Two businesses and 13 years later, his company AAG Technology Services Pty Ltd - which specialises in computer product sales, IT recruitment, systems integration and IT strategy consulting - employs more than 260 people and boasts an annual turnover of $270 million. AAG is one of only two companies to have been ranked in the top 100 fastest-growing Australian companies by BRW for the past seven years. It is also one of those rare companies in which employees share the profits. Allan graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) from QIT in 1981; after graduating, Allan went into business. He worked as a salesman and then manager for a survey instrument firm, before founding Queensland Laser and Survey Supplies (which was later sold to the Japanese corporation, Sokkisha). Allan, with fellow-surveyors lan Petherbridge and Andrew McNicol, then founded Applied Micro Systems (Australia) Pty Ltd in July 1986, which has since grown to become the national company, AAG Technology Services, which incorporates five separate businesses. The father of four said he attributed his success to hard work, constant learning, and surrounding myself with good people. One of the most important things in business is that you've got to get good people to work with and I believe you've got to let them share the success with you, Allan said. Allan has achieved this with educational opportunities for staff and a company share program. We have 150 staff with shares in the company. We've financed staff to buy shares and others have chosen to buy shares themselves and invest in AAG Technology Services.

In the next 12 to 24 months, Allan plans to publicly float the company. Since he graduated, Allan has also sponsored four foster children through Plan International and is involved in sports coaching and fundraising at his children's school. He was previously engaged in volunteer work with Brisbane's homeless youth. The idea was to house these homeless kids and put an older one in a leadership position. It was tough but worthwhile work, Allan said. Allan maintains close contact with QUT and recently established an undergraduate and graduate employment program with QUT.

Deborah Mailman
Faculty of Arts and Professional Excellence Award Winner

Deborah Mailman's highly- acclaimed film and theatre work has seen her emerge as a leading Australian actor. Since graduating from the Academy of the Arts in 1992, she has achieved extraordinary success, as an actor, writer and producer. In 1998 she won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Nona in Radiance. The film, which was written by Louis Nowra, confirmed 27-year-old Deborah as a star and as a role-model for young indigenous Australians. Over the past 12 months, Deborah has performed in two works by Shakespeare, appeared in ABC's Playschool program and completed a second film. Deborah continues her involvement with the Kooemba Jdarra Theatre which she co-founded with fellow-graduate Wesley Enoch, and she is currently developing indigenous content for a QUT Academy of the Arts project.

Rosemary Vilgan
Faculty of Business Winner

In 1998, Rosernary Vilgan was named by a leading US superannuation magazine as one of the world's top 25 movers and shakers in the global superannuation industry. As the executive director of the Queensland's Government Superannuation Office, Rosemary oversees $15billion worth of Government employee's superannuation-funded assets. Nationally, as president of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, she represents 85 per cent of the assets in the country's superannuation funds, which are worth $300billion. The 35-year-old, who studied part-time for her Bachelor of Business (marketing) degree while working full-time for the Government, has achieved at a tremendously fast rate. Rosemary started in the superannuation industry at the State Government Superannuation office in 1988 and played a key role in developing the Q Super Scheme.

Ian Healy
Faculty of Education Winner

lan Healy has become a household name throughout Australia and other cricket- playing nations of the world. lan completed a three-year course of study at a QUT- predecessor institution, Brisbane College of Advanced Education, and graduated in 1985 with a Diploma of Education in Physical Education. The year he graduated he was asked to fill in for an injured colleague and made his first-class debut as a wicket- keeper playing for Queensland against the west Indies. Captain of the Queensland Bulls and a senior member of the Australian Test Team, lan has made more than 100 test appearances for Australia and has captained a number of Australian teams. He has more than 4,000 runs to his credit. During cricket's off-season, lan is kept busy with business and family commitments as well as appearances at public functions. lan is also a very successful businessman and is involved in a number of sport- and entertainment-related ventures.

Judith Gay
Faculty of Health Winner

Wesley Hospital's Director of Patient Care Services Judy Gay has had a role in developing nursing education at three universities. She is a member of two national nursing associations and oversees a staff of 1,000 nurses. Judy introduced Queensland's first hospital graduate nursing transition program at The Wesley Hospital and oversees a number of alliances with universities, including a long- standing program with QUT. Judy said the biggest challenge for the profession was the looming shortage of nurses - particularly in the area of midwifery and the specialties of oncology, critical care, renal and operating room nursing. A fellow of both the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian institute of Management, Judy is currently completing her PhD. She is also an associate fellow of The Australian College of Health Service Executives. She is an evaluator with the Australian Quality Council.

Adrian McCullagh
Faculty of Information Technology Winner

Adrian McCullagh has successfully combined his academic studies at QUT with solid legal and information technology experience. Graduating from QIT in 1980 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in computing, Adrian returned in 1982 to study for a law degree for which he received honours in 1986. He is one of the first students in the world to undertake a doctoral program in electronic commerce. He is national director of e-commerce with Gadens Lawyers in Brisbane. A member of several technical and legal associations, Adrian is acknowledged, nationally and internationally, as a leader in the field of technology and law and its interface with e-commerce. As a member of the Australian Federal Attorney- General's electronic Commerce Expert Group, Adrian advises the Federal Government in framing legislation.

Timothy Carmody
Faculty of Law Winner

Timothy Carmody has had a distinguished legal career which included a key role in Queensland's Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry. Timothy, 41 was appointed inaugural Commission of the Queensland Crime Commission in January 1998. From 1996 to 1997 Timothy acted as counsel assisting the Connolly-Ryan Inquiry into the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC). Timothy graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Laws in 1982 and was admitted to practice as a Barrister-at-Law at the end of that year. "My graduation from QUT was a stepping stone to a full and rewarding career that has including and prosecuting some of the most notorious and dangerous criminals in Queensland," Timothy said. Timothy was awarded a Master of Laws with Honours from QUT in 1997 and has also been involved in teaching at the university since 1983.

Walter Robb
Faculty of Science Winner

Walter Robb has made a major contribution to the development of several national and State statistic systems, including implementation of the Queensland Criminal Justice Information Integration Strategy. Rather than just talk numbers, Walter -Director of Qstats at the Queensland Treasury and assistant Government Statistician - is able to talk about the meaning behind the numbers, about people and about the impact of new Government policies on households or businesses. Statistics, he said, were the key to quantifying changes in society, making historical comparisons and planning for the future. Walter is responsible for securing commercial clients for Queensland Treasury's Office of Economic and Statistical Research. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science (mathematics) from QIT in 1975, Walter has specialised in statistics. Visit: Walter-Robb.com

Joseph Kwan
Excellence in Contribution to the Community Award

Hong Kong architect Joseph Kwan was conferred an Excellence in Contribution to the Community award at this year's QUT Outstanding awards. The award is in recognition of Joseph's work in designing and promoting "barrier-free" buildings for the disabled, for his work as founder and president of the Federation of Australian Alumni Associations, Hong Kong - and for his involvement with Rotary International. Joseph graduated from QIT with a Diploma of Architecture in 1976. He worked for many years as a general architect in Europe and Hong Kong. For the past 11 years he has concentrated and designing and teaching about creating "barrier-free" buildings for the disabled. Joseph, who revisited QUT last year, said alumni organisations were crucial for the maintenance of professional links.