INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON MINJERRIBAH
TECH TRAILBLAZER: Neeti Mehta Shukla claims top alumni honour THE NEWS CYCLE: Journo pedals 4700km across Australia
PARISIAN PURSUIT: Our 2024 Olympics hopefuls
Vynka Hohnen shone brightly during her time as a student at Bond University, bringing warmth and light to classmates and lecturers alike.
For the past 20 years parents Mark and Cate, brother Ben and a handful of their friends have kept her memory alive through the Vynka Hohnen Scholarship.
The scholarship, established after the tragic passing of the Bond Law graduate (Class of 1995), is awarded each year to a young West Australian who dreams of spreading their wings and heading east in search of education and adventure.
“Vynka decided she wanted to go to Bond, and it really was an amazing experience for her," Mark Hohnen said. “It opened her eyes to a greater universe and greater career opportunities, and she took to it like a duck to water.’’
The scholarship recipients have gone on to shine their own light on all corners of the globe and the Hohnen family rejoice in each success.
As they dreamed the foundation established in their daughter’s memory might change the course of a life, they now hope some former recipients are ready to take up the torch.
“It has meant so much to us, we get regular updates on the scholars, and it is really fulfilling to see the opportunities the scholarship has created for them and their achievements,” he said. “And as it gets to the 20th anniversary, I think it would be wonderful to see them become actively involved and keep it going in perpetuity, whether it is through time or money, to help give others the opportunities they had.’’
On March 3, 2023, a state of emergency was declared in Vanuatu after Category 4 Cyclone Kevin unleashed gale-force winds and torrential rain on the Pacific nation. Port Vila had already been battered by Cyclone Judy earlier that week when winds exceeding 230km/h tore through the capital city, cutting power and forcing evacuations. Several weeks later, Polly Banks (Class of 2004) arrived to steer the massive clean-up operation as Country Director for the region’s largest non-government organisation, Save the Children. It was familiar territory for the inaugural Vynka Hohnen Scholar,
who is serving her second stint as the organisation’s most senior expat in the Pacific, having previously been stationed in the Solomon Islands in 2014 in the wake of devastating flash-flooding that killed 22 people and left more than 9000 homeless. “There will be a lot of disaster recovery for the first nine months of my posting, but I am very familiar with that,” Ms Banks says. “A week after I arrived in the Solomon Islands they were hit by one of the worst-ever floods to have affected the capital, and Save the Children was one of the main NGOs in a position to respond to that.”
Inaugural Vynka Hohnen Scholar Polly Banks. Polly Banks found her calling in the eye of the stormAs a 17-year-old from Carine Senior High School in Perth’s Northern Suburbs, Ms Banks saw the Vynka Hohnen Scholarship as an interstate adventure and a first-class education. It evolved into an around-the-world ticket, with each stamp in her passport representing a life-changing experience for Ms Banks and the hundreds of thousands of people her projects have assisted.
“I think Bond and the scholarship opened my eyes very early on. It was really the most pivotal moment in my life.”
The Vanuatu posting is a return to Save the Children for Ms Banks who has also managed the charity’s operations in Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region, supported families interned at the Manus Island Processing Centre, and overseen the global operations of the organisation’s social enterprise arm Library for All. Her humanitarian career was jumpstarted when she was one of two Australians selected for a
United Nations internship program in New York where she joined the team preparing a report for the General Secretary on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. “That was a really key moment in my career and such an amazing point in history to be based in New York working at the UN,” she says.
Scattered throughout her career is time in Kathmandu working for international microfinance organisation Kiva, which provides interest-free loans to people from impoverished countries to start microenterprises, and three stints in local government.
As the General Manager of Community at the City of Darwin, she managed a team of 100 people that oversaw the city’s libraries, community and cultural development services, recreational and regulatory services. But her skills in large-scale relief projects would once again be in demand, this time courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Darwin at any point in time has about 1000 people experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough, particularly people visiting from country that wouldn't themselves identify as being homeless because they have a home back on country,” she says. “But suddenly with Covid-19 that presented a big risk to those people, and it was
We've been on the move every two years for 20 years, and that desire to explore new horizons and seize every opportunity all began at Bond.
part of my job to reduce that risk and support my team of staff to help community members get back to country.”
In Vanuatu, where she manages a staff of 60 people, the primary programs centre around education, child protection and climate change adaptation. “We are the first big NGO to tap into the Green Climate Fund in the Pacific and that will lead to a lot of work helping communities to adapt to climate change,” she says. “For some that might mean developing a plan to relocate their village higher up; in others it will be building things to protect them from sea surge when there are cyclones or storms or tsunamis. About 50 per cent of the population are directly affected by climate change. Vanuatu is on that ring of fire, so it is earthquake-prone, very volcanic, very cyclone and flood-prone, and the sea levels are rising.”
Ms Banks enrolled in International Relations and Journalism at Bond with an eye on a career as a foreign correspondent. However, it was a stint as an intern at a newspaper in Vietnam she secured after a trip with her international relations class at Bond that set her on the path she now acknowledges was her true calling. “I was able to work in a developing country which was about to explode in its economic development,” she says. “I started to really see the opportunities for working in that space abroad. I've worked in lots of different places. We've been on the move pretty much every two years for 20 years, and that desire to explore new horizons and seize every opportunity all began at Bond.’’
2003 Polly Banks
Bachelor of Arts /
Bachelor of International Relations
2004 Ryan Lenegan
Bachelor of Journalism, Master of Sports Management
2005 Ellen Hooper (nee Williams)
Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of International Relations
2006 Carley Angel (nee Sear)
Bachelor of Journalism
2007 Annelise Nielsen
Bachelor of Laws
2008 Jacqui Ward
Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts
2009 Stephen Bignell
Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Commerce
2010 Rosie Viner
Bachelor of Forensic Science
2011 Alma Corker
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
2012 Imogen Thomson
Bachelor of Biomedical Science
2013 Karri Coles
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws
2014 Solomon Wright
Bachelor of Laws
2015 Grace Ferraz
Bachelor of Sustainable Environments and Planning
2016 Robyn Fairbairn
Bachelor of Film and Television
2017 Joshua Poi
Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Commerce
2018 Cassie Ryan
Bachelor of Film and Television
2020 Georgia Gillibrand
Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
2021 Lily Boisvert
Bachelor of Film and Television
2022 Lloyd Carver-Kriege
Bachelor of Film and Television
Polly Banks is helping guide cyclone recovery work in Vanuatu.
Since 2012 Dr Daryl McPhee has hosted Bond University's Island Class, a unique adventure for international students.
It is part research project, part cultural immersion, part flat-out good time.
We hope you enjoy tagging along with this year's students, and learning more about how Dr McPhee's early life influenced his decision to offer bursaries so more young people can experience North Stradbroke Island.
Homecoming is always a highlight of the year at Bond. This edition of the Arch has all the standout moments including Giving Day, the Alumni Awards Dinner and the Bondies' Lakeside Picnic.
Put Homecoming 2024 in your diary to celebrate the University's 35th anniversary with a gala dinner at The Star Gold Coast on Saturday, May 18.
Read about our new Alumni Advisory Board, a stellar and diverse group committed to bringing alumni and the University closer together.
We also profile some of our student athletes who are on track for Olympic selection.
I look forward to connecting with you soon.
On May 15, 1989, Bond University welcomed its first students to campus. These 322 inaugural Bondies - and all those who have followed - have played a pivotal role in the growth of the institution we hold dear.
Nearly 35 years have passed and the number of Bond University alumni now surpasses 32,000 across more than 100 countries. Join us 15-19 May, 2024 for Homecoming 2024.
Come home to where it all started as we celebrate our magnificent institution with a special dinner at the Star Gold Coast on May 18, 2024.
alumni.bond.edu.au
The University's new partnership with the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra (GCCO) is bringing science and music together in perfect harmony. The GCCO was established in 2011, and in 2022 became the official `ensemble-in-residence' at Bond, with the campus hosting six performances each year.
The first of these for 2023 was an exclusive masquerade event at the University Club, featuring a rendition of Schubert's Trout Quintet.
But first Bond music expert Professor Bill Thompson highlighted the many benefits of what the poet Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow called the universal language of humankind.
“One of the interesting benefits of music is that you can hear it again and again, the same piece, and it will trigger emotions, it will trigger personal memories, it will trigger your imagination, it will be inspiring,” Professor Thompson told the audience.
“It will give you a sense of time and place. Music has no expiry date.
“Here at Bond, our team of researchers and students are mapping the many benefits of music and tracing each benefit to physiological and neurological mechanisms.”
Orchestra Founder and Manager Anna Stoddart said the event featured a special birthday tribute to Dr John Kearney who is patron of the orchestra, along with wife Elena. The partnership between the University and the orchestra is part of Bond's Creative Connections program. The closing act of Homecoming featured a memorable performance by the orchestra at the Basil Sellers Theatre.
Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra members Elias Kokkoris (double bass) and Ayesha Gough (piano).
Picture: Cavan Flynn
Usman Khawaja's academic focus is currently a Bond MBA, but his skills in diplomacy might also make him a candidate for a career in international relations.
The Australian Test cricketer joined Professor Steven Stern and international cricket umpire Bruce Oxenford at the University earlier this year to debate the use of technology in sport.
Professor Stern is the custodian of the DuckworthLewis-Stern method, the formula for deciding revised target scores in rain-affected cricket matches. The Professor of Data Science at the Bond Business School gave a fulsome explanation of the calculations underpinning the DLS.
“It's actually not that complicated,” Professor Stern insisted during the debate. “It's complicated to build but it's not that complicated to understand and use.”
But Mr Khawaja, who has been on the receiving end of what he said were some questionable calculations by the DLS method, was unconvinced.
“I mean, it's the best thing we have at the moment,” he said tactfully before going on to list his grievances with the system.
Mr Khawaja did concede that the use of technology in cricket was ultimately a good thing – and Mr Oxenford agreed.
The umpire in more than 60 Test matches is constantly under the scrutiny of
Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja with Professor Steven Stern (left) and international cricket umpire Bruce Oxenford (right).technology including HotSpot, Snicko, HawkEye and the Decision Review System.
“We’re human and we all make errors - it's unavoidable,” he said.
“I’ve come to the realisation I can't be perfect and (the technology) corrects my decision-making from somewhere around 90 per cent correct to 95-97 per cent.”
Oxenford said there would always be a role for human umpires in cricket.
“Everyone always needs someone to blame,” he joked.
“There’s too much tradition in cricket to not have a person in charge out in the middle.”
A photograph of businessman, philanthropist and art patron Dr Patrick Corrigan AM has snared Bond University Photographer and Visual Content Producer Cavan Flynn top honours at the CASE Circle of Excellence 2022 Best of Asia-Pacific Awards.
Mr Flynn captured the winning image (pictured) at SBS television studios in Sydney in 2021.
Many of Dr Corrigan's collected artworks hung there at the time.
“The timing of the photograph emerged fairly organically,” Mr Flynn said.
“Patrick was in a business meeting when I came across a spot that showed off some appealing shades and angles that would let me highlight a selection of paintings.”
Dr Corrigan is considered one of Australia’s most significant collectors of
Indigenous art. The Corrigan Walk at Bond University is the largest private collection of Indigenous Australian art on public display.
Mr Flynn's image originally appeared in Edition 28 of the Arch.
The Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra performs at HomecomingBond University produces more business leaders as a proportion of its alumni than any other Australian university according to a survey published in the Australian Financial Review
The survey of LinkedIn profiles by resume.io found Bond produced 60.6 business leaders per 1000 alumni.
Bond alumnus David Baxby - Co-Founder of Coogee Capital and former Co-CEO of the Virgin Group – was interviewed by AFR about the survey results.
“There was a lot of flexibility (at Bond) – I was able to shape my degree to the things I was interested in. I had a passion for investment banking and the university made it happen for me,” Mr Baxby said.
“It wasn’t so much that we felt special but we had all made an active choice to try something new. So, it attracted people of the same mindset. And those relationships have been maintained ever since.”
The Class of 1992 graduate told the AFR he grew up in Logan with parents who left school at 16.
His school careers counsellor thought he might become a tradie –but Mr Baxby secured a half scholarship to Bond.
He completed degrees in law and commerce in three years, launching a meteoric rise up the corporate ranks.
Some things need to be properly experienced to be fully understood.
And for this year’s Bond University Transformer Launchpad winner, Angus Croser, witnessing first-hand the destruction to livestock caused by pests and invasive species could prove to be career-defining.
“Predation and disease caused by foxes and feral cats costs the Australian sheep industry $47 million each year,” he says. “The devastation imposed on families and the violence experienced by the animals is horrendous.”
Croser, founder of Ag Guard, is now planning for his prototyped Bait SafeGuard to be used for fox and cat control but says it’s easily adapted for other species like feral dogs, rabbits or even cane toads.
“The Bait SafeGuard is product designed to revolutionise poison baiting for pest control by being safer, more efficient, and more economically viable. Basically, everything that current options are not.”
The Bait SafeGuard is solar powered and can be controlled remotely. It dispenses baits automatically and it’s specially designed to target species at specific feeding times.
Overseas markets are a possibility.
“It could absolutely be applied to the control of problematic species in other
countries like possums in New Zealand or wolves in North America,” he says.
Bait SafeGuard is also designed to distribute just one bait per pest, a significant improvement both economically and ecologically on the labour-intensive, scattergun poisoning systems currently implemented.
Croser says the $2000 he collected as this year’s Transformer winner will be pumped straight back into Ag Guard, the business he founded to develop his concept.
“At this stage I’m seeking product developers to help me with a product design for testing. Everything looks really promising at the minute. I’m super grateful for the prizemoney. I’ll be putting it all towards product development.”
Although he’d been carrying the idea for the Bait SafeGuard for a long time, it was learning about the Transformer Launchpad program that sharpened his focus.
“I was really unsure about what I wanted to do after high school when I was back in Adelaide. I had this idea, and I thought it was a good one, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to go forward with it. One of Bond University’s representatives came down and presented on Transformer. I was totally inspired by it. Everything has pointed in the right direction since.”
Former Paralympics Australia Vice President Annabelle Williams OAM (Class of 2007) and former Vice President of Operations at Bond University John Le Lievre have been appointed to the Bond University Council, the University’s peak governing body.
They take over from David Baxby (Class of 1992) and Derek Cronin (Class of 1989) who have served the maximum terms allowed. Vice Chancellor and President Tim Brailsford thanked Mr Baxby and Mr Cronin for their dedicated service to the Council.
Transformer Launchpad winner Angus Croser.So you think you’ve had trouble recruiting staff amid a low jobless rate and the hangover from a pandemic-induced migration pause?
Alumnus David Baxby (Class of 1992), speaking at the Bond Business Leaders' Forum, said he was trying to fill 1000 positions that pay on average $200,000 a year.
Mr Baxby, the Chair of Australia’s largest privately owned workforce services business WorkPac Group, said the vacancies ranged from skilled tradespeople to mining engineers and white-collar professionals.
“Part of it is caused by Australia being in a sweet spot in terms of the commodity cycle, but we’re also missing 650,000 skilled migrants over the
last three years,” he told the crowd.
The other panellists at the event were Kate Vidgen (Class of 1991), Senior Managing Director at Macquarie's Green Investment Group, and serial founder Antony Ceravolo (Class of 1992), Director of the Ceravolo Group.
Ms Vidgen questioned Australia’s push to become a major player in hydrogen exports, saying the fuel might be better used to power local industry.
“It may be a lot smarter, particularly if you automate and do modular design for steelmaking plants, to undertake increased processing in Australia,” she said.
“My guess is there'll be a lot more onshoring of industry to where electricity is cheap, rather than
exporting electricity to where current manufacturing is happening. And that's a great opportunity for us.”
Antony Ceravolo said the Australian tax system needed to incentivise risk to support entrepreneurship.
“The one big difference between Australia and the UK is our taxation and the way we deal with risk and entrepreneurialism,” he said.
“If you set up a company in the UK, the capital gains concessions and the reward you get for taking founder risk is pretty good. Sometimes it can be 10 per cent.
“When you’re a founder putting your own money into business and taking hard cash risk, these things really matter.”
The University’s David Weedon Pathology Museum has been officially reopened after a refurbishment.
Named in honour of internationally acclaimed pathologist and former Bond University academic, Professor David Weedon AO, the museum contains more than 300 biological specimens and over 700 digital images. It is a vital resource for the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine staff, students and researchers.
Professor Weedon was instrumental in the establishment of Bond University’s medicine program in 2004 and taught at Bond in the program’s formative years.
He attained a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with first class honours at the University of Queensland in 1966.
After completing part of his residency training at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States, he returned to UQ and became a leading authority
on pathology, and specifically the histomorphology of skin diseases. His internationally acclaimed textbook Weedon’s Skin Pathology, first published in 1997, is still in use today. Professor Weedon is a past president of the Queensland branch of the Australian Medical Association and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1977 for his services to medicine, particularly education, pathology and dermatology. Alongside Bond University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford, and surrounded by family, friends and fellow academics, Professor Weedon was invited back to Bond to mark the reopening by cutting a ceremonial ribbon.
“I'd like to thank you most sincerely for the honour you have bestowed on me,” he said.
“I have always enjoyed the concept of teaching the next generation and I hope the museum will continue to fulfil a major role.
“I am deeply honoured, and I look forward to receiving the annual Bond update of its progress.”
Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford catches up with Professor David Weedon ahead of the reopening of the museum."I have always enjoyed the concept of teaching the next generation and I hope the museum will continue to fulfil a major role."
Environmental, Social and Governance are the new buzzwords in business with ESG strategies and reporting predicted to be embedded in every business within five years, yet no qualifications in ESG are offered in Australia.
That will change later this year when Bond University launches a series of qualifications in the emerging field.
The online, self-paced courses will be overseen by Bond MBA alumni Natalie Hick (nee Williams) and Michelle Peden. Ms Hick (Class of
2014) is founder and CEO of Natural Capital Co Pty Ltd. Ms Peden (Class of 2014) is the company’s Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer.
ESG refers to the measurement and reporting of business elements such as environmental sustainability practices and ethical trading.
“In five years’ time, ESG and non-financial reports will be embedded into every business,” Ms Hick says.
According to Ms Hick, the Bond ESG courses are borne out of necessity. “If current managers,
employees, board members and C-suite executives don’t upskill, they won’t be competitive in workplaces that include a younger, more sustainability-conscious generation,” she says.
Bond University was ranked in the world's top 100 universities for its performance in the Good Health and Wellbeing category of the Times Higher Education Impact Ratings which assesses universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Proud Noongar man Shane Hearn has joined Bond University as Professor of First Nations Health.
With a distinguished record in the field of higher education and demonstrated leadership in research, scholarship and management, Professor Hearn also holds roles on the boards of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation, First Nations Media Australia and the Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health.
Professor Hearn was driven to pursue a career in public health for the most personal of reasons.
“The passion to teach health was there from an early age.
“I lost a number of relatives early in life, for different things, but it was always an early death, so I wanted to understand more and contribute and give back,” he says.
Bond University will help train the next generation of healthcare workers in Northern New South Wales in an innovative collaboration with the Northern NSW Local Health District. The Northern NSW Academic Health Alliance, comprised of Bond, Griffith University, Southern Cross University and TAFE NSW will deliver an integrated clinical training and collaborative research hub at the new Tweed Valley Hospital.
Bond University Executive Dean of Health Sciences & Medicine Nick Zwar said the Alliance partners provided collective expertise in research, education and training across a wide range of health disciplines.
“The most important asset of any healthcare organisation is its people. Healthcare workers need to be skilled and knowledgeable, but also adaptable and engaged in lifelong learning," Professor Zwar said.
"This alliance provides another drawcard to attract and retain health staff in the region, with the added benefit of on-site education and 21st century training facilities.”
Professor Shane Hearn joins the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine. Course creators Michelle Peden and Natalie Hick.
Chris Del Mar medallists, from left: Dr Hiba Gundru, Dr Brendan Nolan, Dr Madeline Duke , Dr Zoe Wright and Dr Chloe Tyson.
Catching up at the Past Players and Supporters' Reunion.
The Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra performing in the Basil Sellers Theatre.
Jessica Zanchetta, Brooke Davis-Goodall, Keiran Chuan Li Tian, Jordi Ahyick, Lauren Neilson and Hendrik Muller.
Annabel Walker, Bondy the Bull Shark and Elizabeth Walker.
Alumni Advisory Board Chair Jennifer Cronin, Nancy Si, Yasuhiro Kawane, Najeebah Kerawalla and Barry Cronin.
The Robert Stable Medal is awarded to a graduate for achievement of an exceptional nature in any field, vocational or voluntary, and who has reached the top of their profession, has demonstrated sustained leadership, and brought distinction to themselves, credit to the University and benefit to their communities through their vocation.
Class of 1992
What inspired you to launch Automation Anywhere and what was the initial business problem you wanted to solve?
Having worked in many technologydependent industries, my husband and I would often talk about the inefficiencies that limited a company’s ability to innovate and grow. Organisations were bogged down by data and employees were shackled by the manual busywork required to deal with bottlenecks and incompatible systems.
Mihir (CEO, Automation Anywhere) had the idea to build easy and accessible automation that would free business people from their repetitive and mundane tasks to concentrate more on knowledge and value-added work.
We created Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software, a new category that frees up working people’s resources, like time, money, effort and brain power so they can invest those resources in higher-level activities like learning, being creative, solving complex problems, spending more time interacting with customers or developing their businesses. RPA, which uses Artificial Intelligence, allows organisations to automate their processes across all applications, anywhere at a fraction of the cost and time of other traditional automation technologies.
How has RPA technology transformed business and people's lives, and what is a real-world example of its impact?
As well as increasing productivity and driving growth, RPA bots empower people to do more high value work that is more fulfilling and that only humans can do.
For example, we helped the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), whose 1.7 million staff serve 67-plus million patients, come up with unparalleled and extraordinary responses to Covid-19. We started in 2020 by building an accurate, 24x7 reliable ‘Oxygen Bot’ in just 12 hours, that monitors oxygen flow, has saved hundreds of patient lives, and gives more than 1500 hours a year back to nurses and front office staff at Northampton General Hospital. The NHS believes by this year, its hundreds of subsequent automations across dozens of clinical and non-clinical departments will repurpose one million hours of time annually.
In addition to being the Co-Founder of Automation Anywhere, you recently became Social Impact Officer. Why did you take on that role? And can you tell me about the company’s objectives in this area?
Over the last 19 years I have seen the difference our technology has made to people and companies in so many industries, from banking and finance to healthcare and retail. I believed that an area where this technology would be most impactful is in the non-profit space because when they do better, all of society does better. Here is an example which made this dream a reality:
Millions of displaced people inside Ukraine are relying on small local NGOs for humanitarian assistance. NGO Step with Hope’s 100 volunteers were overwhelmed taking manual notes during urgent phone calls and too busy to spend the time required for equally crucial in-person interactions. In its first 10 weeks of operating, the ‘Telegram for Humanity’
bot we built answered 17,500 aid requests from 14,000-plus Ukrainians. Managing up to 400 per cent more aid requests, the bot improved, expedited and scaled the NGO’s processes, giving a projected 500 hours of time back to volunteers for person-to-person assistance.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, particularly women?
Business leadership and entrepreneurship are two different skill sets. We need entrepreneurs who fall in love with trying to solve the problem and always keep looking for a better solution set. We need business leaders to build the solution set and make it more economical and business-viable. It’s important to nurture both kinds of leadership in a business culture. When advising women executives, I can only share my own experience to say that for many years I fought to make peace with the chaos of work and family life. I loved them both and realised over time that I had to make peace with this feeling of juggling too many things at onceand that the chaos was here to stay. Once I did, the chaos became something I dealt with instead of fighting it.
As someone with extensive experience in RPA, what would you say to people who may be worried about their jobs amidst growing public awareness of AI language models like ChatGPT?
We believe that 95 per cent of the people on the planet will work with AI in the future. It is simply about doing more. Increasing productivity of humans will help us make progress as a society.
History has shown us that when we progress, some jobs will go away but progress also creates more jobs and more wealth. History has also taught us that if we bring people together worldwide who believe something is the right thing to do, decide to concentrate their effort towards a clearly-stated shared goal and leave no one behind, we will succeed.
I believe that AI has a huge upside if we do it right. Just in the last five years, more new jobs than we ever imagined have come to light and AI is bringing forth a whole new wave of entrepreneurship.
How has your education at Bond University influenced your career and success with Automation Anywhere?
I loved my time at Bond! I loved meeting so many new people from different countries, learned so much from them and made so many friends for life. The small class sizes allowed me to make
personal connections and learn so much more. The sheer exposure to all these new ways of thinking, understanding and learning opened my mind.
I remember each and every one of my professors and I hope they know what a difference they have made to me. As a member of the Entrepreneurship Club, I was part of a team that represented the University and Australia at the NASDAQ Entrepreneurship competition in the US.
I also started my first business here: Bond Uni-branded floppy disk (yes, they were a thing!) holders that were pretty popular. The Bond University experience evolved many skills that were inside of me that I didn’t even know were there to begin with.
What are your fondest memories from your time at Bond?
I came to Bond University when I was 17 years old, from India. Bond Uni was my beautiful home away from home,
where every day was an adventure, whether it was taking a campus stroll, running to submit a report due at 5pm, eating with friends, taking the bus to Broadbeach or Surfers, or hanging out at Don’s on Thursday nights! So many memories that I remember with such fondness and so many friends that to this day I hold close to my heart!
The Alumni Award for Community Achievement recognises the contributions that a graduate has made to the enrichment and benefit of society through their professional or community service. Bond University is actively engaged in community engagement and service and seeks to produce graduates with a social conscience.
Class of 2015
What is the Save Our People (SOP) charity and why was it necessary?
It is actually Australia’s first charity providing complimentary logistics and delivery service. Our purpose is to serve and connect the community by supporting individuals and families from all walks of life experiencing hunger and hardship. SOP operates Queensland's first free supermarket and provides access to basic human needs for struggling individuals as well as supporting hundreds of charities across Queensland and northern New South Wales. Established in the wake of Covid-19, SOP addresses emerging community needs during times of crises such as the pandemic, natural disasters and the rising cost of living.
How has SOP changed lives for the better? What have you observed?
SOP has had a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families who have accessed its services. The charity has helped those most in need during challenging times such as the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters. SOP provides access to basic human needs such as food, furniture and medication to those who would
otherwise go without. The charity's free supermarket has been a lifeline for many people experiencing hardship especially with the current times.
How has SOP's formation changed you?
My experience with SOP has been transformative and it has changed me in many ways but at the same time it’s allowed me to become my authentic self and do what I truly want to be doing. I feel a lot more humble and grateful for the things I have, such as my physical and mental health, my access to education and resources, and the basic human needs like food and shelter.
Working in the not-for-profit sector has also taught me the value of collaboration and teamwork. I have had to work closely with volunteers, staff members and other organisations to achieve our goals, and I have learned that no one can do everything alone.
What are your hopes for SOP moving forward?
My hopes for the future of SOP is that it will be in a position to connect the whole nation and to change the paradigm of volunteering and what
help in action looks like – it’s immediate and responsive to the pressing need, whether it be baby food, clothing or a nutritious pre-made meal for someone struggling, everyone can get involved in supporting the community and become a part of SOP – it’ll be national, connected and serve everyone.
Looking back, what did you enjoy most about your stint at Bond?
I enjoyed the opportunity to immerse myself in a rigorous academic and business environment, to collaborate and connect with other students, and to learn from high-quality professional mentors, professors and speakers in a small cohort. Going back to studying was a refreshing experience and I approached it with real life experiences. Overall, my time at Bond provided me with the skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue my career goals and make a positive impact in the community.
The Young Alumni Award recognises a recently graduated Bond University student who has consistently demonstrated outstanding voluntary service to Bond University and inspired fellow students to reach their highest potential.
Class of 2016
How does it feel to be the Young Alumni Award Winner?
It’s really heart warming. I look back on my time at Bond with such fondness and nostalgia and this is a humbling recognition of the impact I was able to have during the time I spent here, which has been a significant contributor to my arrival where I am today.
Tell us about your experience working through the Western Australian flood emergency.
I was working for the Kraft Heinz Company and when the floods hit early last year, the only rail freight route from the east coast into WA was quite literally washed away. My boss called me on a Friday afternoon and said, ‘I need you to sort this out’. Rail is the most cost-efficient way to get product from the east coast to the west. A rail freight container costs about $5000 to transport. Getting the same amount of goods into WA by truck can cost up to $50,000, so that wasn’t really an option. It’s also not common for sea freight
to travel from the east coast capitals to Fremantle, and certainly not at the volumes we needed to move. So with only 10 per cent of what customers needed hitting the shelves, the government declared a humanitarian crisis and allowed international shipping companies to move goods on Australian routes.
Long story short, I had to get on the phone and secure spaces for our stock on the ships so we could get the essentials, like canned and bottled goods, that many families depend on, into the state. Then we had to make sure our entire east coast warehouse operation could pivot – packing and loading for shipping containers is a totally different process, so it was all hands on deck. How did you end up in logistics?
I just love solving problems and that’s essentially what my job involves. I didn’t expect to end up in logistics, but as part of the graduate program at Kraft Heinz it was one of the areas I worked in and I just fell in love with it. I had a really supportive boss who gave me
the opportunity to work on these key projects, letting me take the lead but always there for guidance if I needed it. Doing a Law/Commerce degree at Bond gave me all the skills I needed for a role like this - learning how to critically think and approach problems in an effective manner. I’m really passionate about it and promoting it as a career because it’s not always something that’s often thought of as an option, but it’s such an interesting, varied and necessary role. I’m now in a new role heading up logistics for Australia and New Zealand with Mars which is an exciting move.
Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching, in the Faculty of Society and Design, and Deputy Chair of Academic Senate, Bond University
We are beguiled by ChatGPT because it uses a Large Language Model (LLM), trained on billions of data points from the most basic and powerful of human cultural products: communication.
LLMs are a general-purpose technology; they have many different uses that will transform the nature of work. According to some, LLMs could transform the work of eight in 10 knowledge workers, and many economists predict AI could lead the biggest productivity boom since the 1990s, lifting global GDP by 5-10 per cent.
Exponential growth in computing capacity, a ready supply of computers (including smartphones), commoditised internet connections, a large ready workforce of knowledge workers, and the most natural of interfaces – writing questions and instructions in plain language – means the transition will be rapid, disruptive and full of pitfalls.
For example, today’s LLMs can 'hallucinate'. They make up false facts and sources. In the absence of well-educated knowledge workers and 'prompt engineers', LLMs are limited at least and dangerous at most.
Many are calling for an international agency for artificial intelligence akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency – potential risks are palpable and the opportunities are great.
AI is already changing the nature of knowledge work. While recent models show that a majority of knowledge tasks may be automated, expectations are that high employment levels will continue and that employees will need to build new abilities and update them over their careers. We have already begun to learn how to use AI for greater efficiency, productivity and innovation.
Billions of efficient, productive and innovative humans working with inexhaustible artificial intelligence will require transformational universities that are focused on their students and an increased commitment to a sustainable future. The future of work will be a partnership of human and artificial intelligence. We have a responsibility today to shape that future.
How is AI transforming the job market and what can be done to ensure workers are not left behind?
In the age of AI, the job market is already undergoing rapid transformation. When electricity emerged, we had to imagine a world where a person didn’t light the street lamps. With AI (‘the new electricity’) we’re also challenged to reimagine the future of work (and life), just faster.
Standing at the precipice of change across all industries, it is crucial to embrace this technology responsibly and with urgency. Numerous indicators show AI will drive unprecedented productivity and creativity, reshape how we work, and trigger innovation with new products, categories and business models. PwC predicts AI could contribute a staggering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
In the coming years, using AI will be table stakes for businesses and nations. To stand apart, they need to identify how AI can fuel their points of differentiation. Focusing on future-proof skills like problem solving, strategic thinking and relationship building is essential. To achieve this, we must collaborate with AI, fostering a symbiotic relationship, with many individuals shifting from creator to editor. In practice, this means individuals embracing and experimenting with AI apps, and organisations needing robust training, change and technology programs to enable the workforce shift. Promoting diversity and inclusion is also vital. The World Economic Forum gender parity report reveals women represent just 26 per cent of the global data and AI workforce – and that only describes one dimension of diversity. Ensuring diverse backgrounds among those who build, train and utilise AI is pivotal to prevent biases from being amplified at scale. With skills gap shortages across many industries and glaring diversity gaps, we're at an inflection point to shift those historically left behind to the forefront.
Responsibly and proactively embracing AI is key to navigating this transformative era. By preparing the workforce with necessary skills, fostering a symbiotic relationship with AI, and tapping into underrepresented groups, we can unlock new opportunities and ensure a more inclusive and dynamic job market where workers are prepared to thrive.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is more than hype - it is real, here to stay and we are seeing a wave of new ideas and AI-fueled reinvention across virtually every industry. Its arrival is creating a heightened potential for business model disruption - particularly across knowledge work and, more recently, creative work. But there is also a lot of hype, anxiety and misconceptions that we need to navigate. Back in 1996, Bill Gates wisely wrote that `we always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next 10’. Those who are able to see through the hype and noise are more likely to emerge as the ‘disruptors’ rather than the ‘disrupted’.
But how?
Think big but start small.
Every worker should strive to understand the opportunities, risks and limitations of modern AI within their profession - and the best way to do this can often be through using it. For example, if you study or work in climate and sustainability, how well can generative AI identify sources of carbon emissions for a particular industry or supply chain? How could you use self-service AI platforms to create models that predict trends in carbon emissions based on historical data? How could you use large language models to identify sustainability commitments in contracts? The best way to find out is by trying - but of course doing it safely and securely, with the right tools and data. The impact of AI on the job market started many years ago, but it will be gradual. To ensure that workers aren’t left behind, we need to be thinking about the impact that today’s new technology could have in the long term and responding to that today.
Every worker should strive to understand the opportunities, risks and limitations of modern AI within their profession.Bianca Gorgoglione Class of 2010 Director, AI Emerging Experiences & Partners, Optus Tom Pagram Class of 2013
In Australia there are plenty of things that qualify as killer: the sharks, the snakes, that cute little octopus with the blue rings. But today on North Stradbroke Island, it’s the view. International students from Bond University’s Study Abroad Program have trekked up Adder Rock - an anomaly on the world’s second-largest sand island
- and are gazing out to sea on the sort of day that can make you Insta-famous. This is Island Class, a field trip hosted by Associate Professor of Environmental Science Dr Daryl McPhee, an expert on the ecology of Moreton Bay and its islands. Over four days, students will map seagrass, assess the impact of four-wheeldrive traffic on ghost crabs, study marine
debris, and enjoy a night out - island style - at a local community club. “Now I know it’s called a club,” Dr McPhee tells them, “but it’s not the sort of club most of you are used to. This is not Cavill Avenue.” But first there’s song and dance of a more ancient kind in a place the Quandamooka people call Minjerribah.
Patrick Coolwell stands amid swirling smoke in a bora ring he has recently breathed new life into by hacking away bush near Dunwich, the gateway to the island. It was built within living memory but Mr Coolwell says the ring it replaced, since destroyed by sand mining, stretched back into the 20,000-year-old Aboriginal history of Minjerribah. The Bond students, many barely a month off the plane from the USA, take part in a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, and witness ceremonial dances about animals central to the lives of the Quandamooka people, such as sea eagles and dolphins. It’s an honour to bathe in the cleansing smoke and Mr Coolwell is
also pleased to share a unique culture that is resilient but demands nurturing. “I’ve been brought up with culture since I was a young fella and it’s helped me through my life,” says the songman of the Nunukul clan. “But it’s scary because there’s not many songmen on the island - there's probably only half a dozen of us and I’m the youngest. The language will slowly die unless we learn and teach it.” Mr Coolwell has been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be an Aboriginal man still living on country barely 15km from Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city. “We lost one young girl just recently; she left five kids behind,” he says. “All the aunties and uncles
are pitching in and the kids are made to feel loved and welcome at school. Everyone looks after each other and I'm thankful for that - and this community.”
Later, at Brown Lake (Bummiera), students inch as close as they dare for selfies with a goanna that has darted up one of the trees that surround the calm waters. At Point Lookout (Mooloomba), they munch on wild warrigal greens and try to spot the old Aboriginal woman Dimpuna, who legend has it was transformed into rock. For Ben Yuter, who is studying finance and computer science in Massachusetts, it’s a warm respite
Top right: Nunukul clan songman Patrick Coolwell. Above: Taking in the view from Adder Rock.
Left: Dr Daryl McPhee and the recipients of the McPhee Travel Bursaries, US students Jasmine Zhen, Teresa Vielma and Broderick Hopkinson on Flinders Beach. All pictures: Cavan Flynn
from a snowy winter and a crash course in Australian ecology. “It's a beautiful island, untouched in terms of its environment, and the views are spectacular,” he says. “I mean, I was just walking five minutes ago and saw a kangaroo and her joey.”
‘Straddie’ has long been a special place for Dr McPhee. “I've been coming to Stradbroke since I was a little tacker,” he says. “There are very few places in southeast Queensland where you can see magnificent surf beaches, koalas, kangaroos and amazing cultural heritage that's still significantly intact.” Dr McPhee launched Island Class in 2012 to share his passion for fieldwork. “The Island Class develops deep learning amongst students because they're experiencing the environment, they're experiencing culture,” he says.
“They take home an appreciation of First Nations culture, how it was impacted by European arrival, how it's been maintained, the links to the environment. They learn how to undertake surveys in the field, and some of those skills are transferable. It doesn't
matter if you're doing a business survey, a marketing survey or a psychology survey - it's just the environment that’s different.”
A keen fisherman, one night Dr McPhee helps Ben Yuter land an 84cm mulloway at Amity Point. These days, fishing is part of the scientist’s mindfulness routine – a way to catch his breath and reel in inner peace. But as a boy, it was a way to survive.
Both of Dr McPhee’s parents struggled with alcoholism and he lost his father when he was just 18 months old. Homeless and hungry as a teenager, fishing became a necessity. “One of the things about growing up without a functional family was the need to catch fish for food,” he says. “I developed a deeper appreciation for the environment, particularly for the marine and coastal environment - it's in my blood.”
Now a world expert on sharks, he recently decided to provide three $2000 bursaries so international students at Bond can attend Island Class and share his passion. “I thought, what can I give back to the students? How can we bring to Australia some students
Right: Island Class students at Myora Springs on North Stradbroke Island.
Far right: A goanna darts up a tree at Brown Lake.
who might have struggled financially, so they can be comfortable and take that extra financial burden off their shoulders in a small way?” he says.
“I hope they feel supported during their academic journey and that they take away a deep appreciation of the environment, and skills that are transferable to their chosen disciplines. I know there's a couple more donors who are interested in getting behind my initiative and hopefully going forward, others can support these wonderful students to come to our shores.”
One of the students to receive a bursary this year is Teresa Vielma. Originally from Texas, she studies at Bentley University in Boston. “It was a really amazing experience to come to this island and learn about the Aboriginal culture,” she says. “We just did a hike along beautiful beaches, caves and coves, and the water is amazing. I saw sea turtles and manta rays - just incredible views. (Getting the bursary) has made my experience so much
The next day on Flinders Beach, a sea eagle glides overhead as a group of students stumbles across an elusive ghost crab that has dodged the passing parade of 4WDs. It’s not quite the crocodile supposedly spotted further west at Myora Springs, dominating local headlines for days, but it could mean a few extra marks. They may be on a stunning Queensland beach on another picture-perfect day, but even Island Class finishes with an exam.
better. It's given me greater financial security to be able to travel here.”
I've been coming to Stradbroke since I was a little tacker. There are very few places in southeast Queensland where you can see magnificent surf beaches, koalas, kangaroos and amazing cultural heritage that's still significantly intact.
MEET THE NEW TEAM: RICHARD EVANS, MICHELLE SMITH, ROHAN TITUS, JENNIFER CRONIN, EMILY PUGIN, YASUHIRO KAWANE AND MARRYUM KAHLOON
Dr Jennifer Cronin (Class of 1989) is the former President of Wharf Hotels and is embarking on her second term as Chair of the Bond University Alumni Advisory Board. An expert in crisis management, Dr Cronin moved home to Australia from Hong Kong last year after leading Wharf Hotels thorough through Hong Kong’s social protests and Covid-19 pandemic. She holds an MBA and a PhD from Bond University and a Bachelor of Arts from Griffith University. She was the 2016 recipient of the University’s top alumni award, the Robert Stable Medal. In 2022 Griffith University made Dr Cronin an honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of exceptional service to the tourism industry in Australia and Asia.
Dr Cronin says she hopes to encourage alumni to support the University and students via mentorships, internships and philanthropic giving. “Our plans for the coming term will focus on alumni engagement at all levels through thought-leadership events that constantly provoke the Bond spirit of being ahead of the curve,” Dr Cronin says. “As our alumni have forged successful careers, we are also encouraged by the Bond spirit of giving. Many of our alumni are keen to give back through mentorships and intern opportunities, as well as an encouraging level of philanthropic activities to build on our legacy for the future.”
Dr Cronin says the University mantra of `once a Bondy, always a Bondy’
has never been truer than it is today.
“Our entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, courage and quest for excellence was built brick by brick out of the mud, and by every Bondy since. As Bond Alumni, we are so fortunate to have received the gift of a first-class education. We ask you to reflect on what Bond has done for you, and how you can help to create a strong and sustainable future for this great university that each of you has helped to build.”
Rohan Titus (Class of 1991) works in the Counter Terrorism Coordination Centre at the Department of Home Affairs in Canberra. Mr Titus has a wealth of experience in global affairs, including over 20 years in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in Afghanistan as Chief of Political Affairs for the United Nations Assistance Mission. He is also a founding member of the Canberra Alumni Committee and the 2018 recipient of the Robert Stable Medal. Mr Titus hold a Bachelor of Laws from Bond University, a Master of Arts from Monash University, and is completing a Master of Studies in International Relations at Cambridge.
Yasuhiro Kawane (Class of 2015) is Operations Manager at a global consulting firm, with expertise in complex program delivery and digital transformation. He has extensive experience in cross-cultural people management, quality assurance and project execution. His role is to serve traditional Japanese companies by leading digital transformation projects in the procurement field. Mr Kawane is a graduate of the Bond-BBT Global Leadership MBA program.
Marryum Kahloon (Class of 2011) is a Senior Associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in New York, specialising in international arbitration and international law disputes. She has worked on cases before the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as investor-state and commercial arbitrations. Committed to pro bono work, Ms Kahloon maintains an active international human rights law practice. Her work includes drafting petitions to United Nations organs and providing advice to NGOs. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hon I) and Bachelor of International Relations (Business) from Bond University, and a Master of Laws from Columbia University. She is a former Vice Chancellor’s Scholar, New Colombo Plan Scholar and Fulbright Scholar.
Michelle Smith (Class of 2004) is Director, Corporate Sales, Financial Markets at Westpac. She has primarily worked on the sales side, covering a range of client bases, from retail to SME and listed corporates. Ms Smith is the President of the Sydney Alumni Committee and has been involved with the alumni mentoring program. She strongly believes in continuous feedback and encourages alumni to share their thoughts on how to enhance the alumni experience. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from Bond University.
Richard Evans (Class of 1993) is an entrepreneur and leader in the entertainment industry. In addition to his role as General Manager of the Perth International Jazz Festival, he has advised and invested in technology companies, created an activewear brand, and founded a film festival. He is an avid supporter and ambassador for Bond University, having served as President of the New York Alumni Committee. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Bond University, where he was also President of the Bond University Sports Association and received an award for Outstanding Service to Sport.
Emily Pugin (Class of 2009) is Assistant Director, First Nations Taskforce at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She is an experienced diplomat, lawyer and multilateral negotiator. Ms Pugin has represented Australia at UN negotiations on international security, development, human rights and climate change. Ms Pugin is passionate about strengthening connections between Bond University and its alumni. As a proud Kombumerri woman she looks forward to fostering a culture of genuine partnership and inclusivity for Bond’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates. She holds a Bachelor of International Relations and a Bachelor of Laws from Bond University and a Master of Public Policy from the Australian National University.
“I just wanted to do something grand.”
After riding his bike 4700km over 48 days from his home on the Gold Coast to Perth – raising more than $80,000 for charity in the process - it’s fair to say Tom Forbes (Class of 1997) can probably tick that goal off his list.
The 19-year ABC veteran completed his journey in May when he dipped his tyre in the Indian Ocean at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach in front of delighted family and friends.
There was much he loved about his great adventure, Forbes says. There’s also lots he won’t miss. The headwinds, for instance. And those road trains can get in the bin. But mostly he won’t miss headwinds with road trains.
“I didn’t go on about it too much because I didn’t want to upset people back home, but there were lots of near misses. Too many in fact,” he says.
“You can’t hear what’s coming up behind you when you’re cycling into a headwind.
“You feel pretty bloody vulnerable pretty bloody quickly when you’re
tangled up in the turbulence of a 100km/h road train, especially when you had no idea it was there.”
Although the weather was reasonably kind across the month-and-a-half Forbes was away, the wind was definitely his biggest day-in-day-out challenge.
“The Nullabor was a predictable breeze-affected slog, but it definitely wasn’t the worst of it,” he says.
“There was a stretch across the Hay Plain in southwest NSW where I had to turn off my cycling computer because I didn’t want to know how little progress I was making. It would have been way too depressing.”
Even for a bloke who’s spent plenty of time living and working in the bush, the sheer magnitude of Australia still surprised him.
“There were constant reminders along the way that would blow your mind. I remember talking to a fella at a roadhouse along the way. He lived on a property that covered a million acres. There was 95km between cattle grids.”
Often the intimidating scale around him would give way to breathtaking wonder.
“The Bunda Cliffs along the Nullabor were an absolute highlight,” he says.
“All that flat earth to the north that just falls away into the Great Australian Bight. Dolphins playing in the ocean below contrasting with all that emptiness inland. It’s just beautiful.”
It wasn’t achievement just for achievement’s sake.
Forbes attached his adventure to charity Redkite because of the wonderful support it had offered his in-laws when their son was battling leukaemia.
“I set out to raise five grand. It ended up being $83,000. It’s been an extraordinary response from all sorts of people. For a small charitable organisation, it’ll make a pretty significant difference.”
So now that he’s back, any plans to jump back in the saddle?
“My bike is packed up in a box,” he says.
“I don’t think it’ll be coming out any time soon.”
Tom Forbes pauses for a selfie on the Nullarbor Plain.You feel pretty bloody vulnerable pretty bloody quickly when you’re tangled up in the turbulence of a 100km/h road train, especially when you had no idea it was there.
Upwards of 400 films vie for major Golden and Silver Bear Awards at the annual Berlin International Film Festival, or ‘Berlinale’.
This year, Bond University Film and Television alumnus Matthew Thorne’s short film Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) won the Silver Bear Jury Prize Short Film from an entry pool of over 4000 initial submissions and 20 screened films. This is the first time Australians have ever won a Silver or Gold Bear in competition.
The film follows Yankunytjatjara writer/ performer Derik Lynch (who co-wrote and co-directed the film) as he makes a road trip from an oppressive white city life in Adelaide to his remote Anangu community in the centre of Australia.
“We never made the film with the intention of winning awards,” said Thorne (Class of 2012).
“We made it because we believed it was an important story to tell, and an important one that Derik and I told together."
“There’s a great quote from a Bundjalung friend of Derik’s who said to me one night after he saw the film, ‘we’re too early for reconciliation because we haven’t had the conciliation yet’. So, I think in the spirit of an act of conciliation it was important that Derik and I made the film, and to tell his story as an initiated Aboriginal man living across many worlds.”
Thorne says the idea for the film arose after a chance encounter at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2018.
“I was dancing, and Derik approached me. He asked me what I did. I told him I was a filmmaker. He told me he was an actor. He said, ‘You should put me in a film!’. Over the next few years our film idea went from making a film featuring Derik to making a film about him.”
So, what comes next for a filmmaker who’s just been recognised at one of the most significant film festivals in the world?
“The thing that I’ve learned in the last year or so is that getting a feature film made is so deeply interwoven with the script. I’m excited to take time now to work with writers to put together scripts with great stories at their heart."
Thorne earned a full scholarship to study at Bond when he won the 2011 Best Overall Filmmaker Award at BUFTA with his films Tubby and Broken Thoughts He also won Best Screenplay at the 2013 Bond University CentreScreen Awards with his graduation film Where Do Lilacs Come From?
Aburning desire to make surgery safer set Bond University Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery graduate Dr Nishanth Krishnananthan (Class of 2005) on an incredible entrepreneurial journey.
At the end of the day, ‘Nish’ didn’t really have a choice.
“I come from a huge family of doctors,” he explains. “My mum’s a GP. My sister’s in paediatrics. And I’ve got 29 first cousins who are in every
specialty you can think of. You get the picture! My occupational destination was pretty much pre-determined.”
That said, he did arrive at medicine the long way.
A year of a psychology degree and way-too-confusing Freudian theory at Macquarie University saw him switch to pharmacy at Griffith. But when an offer to study at the new health faculty at Bond University emerged in 2005, he quickly made like the rest of his family and signed up for a career in medicine.
Vantari VR Co-CEOs Dr Vijay Paul and Dr Nishanth Krishnananthan.My mum’s a GP. My sister’s in paediatrics. And I’ve got 29 first cousins who are in every specialty you can think of. You get the picture! My occupational destination was pretty much pre-determined.
“I was part of one of the first cohorts studying to be a doctor at Bond. It was exciting to be part of a small cohort of 70 people learning in this terrific new PBL (problem-based learning) environment,” he says.
And it may well have been those early educational fundamentals, combined with nagging doubts about where medicine would ultimately lead him, that set Dr Krishnananthan up for what would come later.
“Perhaps because medicine for me was basically pre-set as an occupation, it’s not necessarily something that fascinated me in the way many others find it entirely immersive. I went through my first couple of years extremely unsure about where it all might lead.”
After graduating and a stint as a surgical registrar in the NSW Health system and time at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Austin Hospital in Melbourne as a research fellow, Dr Krishnananthan’s interests in teaching and surgery began to merge.
“One of the things that always stood out to me was how people went about learning surgical procedures and how that knowledge was handed down,” he says. “The archaic and subjective ‘see one, do one, teach one’ system of learning something troubled me.”
Learning more about the way pilots learn to fly planes was another turning point.
“Trainee pilots have to successfully log a significant length of time on flight simulators before they’re let loose on the real thing,” he says. “Why shouldn’t clinicians be afforded the same opportunity?”
Collating these thoughts and putting them into something resembling a business plan was a collective effort.
Dr Krishnananthan’s good friend, Dr Vijay Paul, who finished medicine at UQ at around the same as Dr Krishnananthan finished at Bond, shared a similar vision to build a virtual reality-based training tool for clinicians.
Enter Vantari VR.
“Vantari VR is the flight simulator of healthcare. We help doctors, nurses and students learn life-saving procedures in a safe scalable VR environment,” he says. “Our whole mission is to eliminate medical error.”
Dr Krishnananthan and Dr Paul had dabbled in medical entrepreneurship by establishing a Facebook-like mentorship forum for clinicians called ‘DocLife’. Their inability to support their idea with commercialisation while still sustaining medical careers left them determined not to make the same mistake twice when their new idea was starting to form.
“We wanted to make sure we were fully supported and funded. It took us six months of learning and listening. We had to be open to know what we didn’t know technologically too. We found a wonderful partner in our now Chief Technology Officer, Daniel Paull, during this period.”
So, armed with a great idea and a trio of co-founders now in place, acceptance into the NSW Health incubator and subsequently Australia’s leading health tech entrepreneurial accelerator program, HCF Slingshot, helped kick things along.
“We were accepted into the program and pitched to an audience of 400 including potential investors in a dark V-Max cinema which was in hindsight quite daunting,” he says.
Whatever they said worked. Some early funding arrived, and Vantari VR was up and away.
“Think of us like an app on the App Store. You download it onto your laptop, you log in through a user account, and then you select the medical procedure
that you want to perform. It could be a basic procedure like inserting an intravenous cannula or it could be something far more complex like a chest drain or central venous line insertion. You throw on a headset. Thereafter you are completely immersed in a life-like environment. A virtual operating theatre or emergency bay, for instance. You perform your chosen procedure start to finish according to best practice in line with college guidelines and your proficiency score is automatically logged at the end.”
The idea has caught on. These days the Vantari VR roll-out is on in earnest.
“Our strong team of 20 is mostly based across Australia with a few in the US,” he says. “We are in 12 hospitals globally, including Royal Prince Alfred and Nepean Hospital in Sydney, and Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley in Western Australia, as well as La Trobe Regional in Victoria. We’ll soon be setting up in Queensland and South Australia, and reaching regional hospitals is paramount for us as access to training is even more challenging in those environments. We are so excited in 2023 to continue rolling out in North America as well as commencing distribution opportunities in the MENA region, India and Asia.”
The Covid-19 pandemic sparked a seismic shift in healthcare delivery with governments, the medical profession and patients forced to embrace new ways of accessing diagnosis and treatment.
But one of the most significant changes – the expansion of telehealthwould not have happened as swiftly and safely without a revolutionary approach pioneered by Bond University’s Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare (IEBH).
In the midst of a global pandemic requiring fast decisions in the face of rapidly changing information, policymakers needed a better way.
The IEBH, led by Professor Paul Glasziou, delivered. With the support of Bond’s Research Enhancement Manager
Justin Clark, his team, and Assistant Professor Anna Mae Scott they crunched the process down to a mere two weeks.
Systematic Reviews are a core element of research regularly used to inform policy and decision-making, but sifting through years, sometimes decades, of scholarship to provide a full and objective view of the evidence on any given issue can take many months.
“It used to be that if you managed to get a systematic review done within a year, you were doing it fast,” says Mr Clark.
“Any faster than that and you had to take shortcuts, which leads to inaccurate information and poor outcomes.”
In a global pandemic where millions of lives were at risk, information
was needed quickly and ensuring its accuracy was crucial.
In the five years prior to the pandemic, the IEBH had been developing and testing a suite of tools to speed up each stage of the standard systematic review process, using automation, agile project management strategies and the skills of experienced researchers.
It was this suite of tools that gave the Australian Government confidence that telehealth would keep patients safe.
“When Covid hit and no one could go to hospitals or to their GP, the government needed to know whether and how they should expand telehealth for new services,” says Mr Clark.
“They didn’t know whether it would work, or what it would work for so they
wanted to know where telehealth was effective and where it could be safely implemented with no harms to patients.
“So we did nine reviews on a series of different conditions over a period of about three months.”
Most of these conditions had been the subject of decades worth of research so the team was dealing with huge amounts of data that would inform the expenditure of significant public funding.
“It essentially allowed the government to make a decision pretty quickly about where and how it was safe and effective to expand telehealth services,” he says.
“I don’t want to even think about how long that many reviews would have taken without these tools. I can’t think of anyone else in the world who could have done nine reviews in three months, put it that way.”
Mr Clark says the suite of tools
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could revolutionise research across all disciplines by significantly reducing the time academics spend reviewing previous evidence on a subject, which is a starting point for many projects.
“If doing that review is taking up more than a year, before you can even get to undertaking the primary research, that’s a substantial drawback and slowdown to discovery,” he says.
“And it can also be expensive, so this would free up more money for better, high-quality primary studies. The flow-on benefits are phenomenal throughout the entire research sector.”
All the tools developed by the IEBH are available free online for any researcher to use. He says the numbers have been growing consistently with the user base coming from around the globe.
The next step is to develop a program that not only links all the tools together
but provides clear guidance for new users and new researchers on how to undertake a systematic review, walking them through the process end-to-end.
“This is the aspect that we’re hoping to commercialise as a game-changing opportunity for research institutions,” he says.
“The standalone tools will remain freely available for anyone who wants to use them but they still require someone fairly experienced at undertaking systematic reviews to work at the speeds we’ve been delivering.
“The aim of this new project is to remove that barrier so less experienced researchers can undertake these types of reviews much faster by giving them the guidance and support they need.”
Maximising your running potential might be as simple as drinking more water during training.
Tourism operators should be using virtual reality to entice Covid-19-weary Chinese tourists back to Australia.
Graphic health warnings are the most effective way of preventing people from choosing unhealthy foods.
Rapid systematic reviews are crucial when lives are at risk."It used to be that if you managed to get a systematic review done within a year, you were doing it fast.”
Arata Isozaki, left, on the site of the University in 1987 with fellow architects Daryl Jackson and Robin Gibson.
The Arch under construction in 1989.
The Arch, a backdrop to countless student selfies.
This is the story of how a 1700-yearold Roman arch inspired an architect from Japan to build a landmark at Australia’s first private university on the Gold Coast. The arch is the Arch of Constantine, constructed in 315AD near the Colesseum to commemorate the victory of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. The architect is Arata Isozaki, who passed away late last year at the age of 91 after standing astride the architecture world and winning the highest honour in his field, the Pritzker Prize.
It was late 1986 when the Bond University Advisory Council selected the winner of a competition to build a mini city on the shores of a manmade lake at Robina with a university at its heart. Leading Australian architect Daryl Jackson was appointed master planner and with input from Queensland architect Robin Gibson, went on to design most of the University’s original buildings including the Law and Business faculties. But in keeping with the global aspirations of the University, an international architect was called in to add a special flourish to the Chancellery and administration building. Due to the influence of University co-founder Harunori Takahashi, the choice was Arata Isozaki, who in the 1980s was emerging as a major figure in world architecture having completed the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and embarking upon the main stadium for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Mr Isozaki was born in Oita, Kyushu, where his family had lived for 17 generations. The son of a haiku poet - Arata means ‘new’ - he was 14 when atomic bombs flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “My first
experience of architecture was the void of architecture, and I began to consider how people might rebuild their homes and cities,” he said. As a young man Mr Isozaki travelled the world - visiting Rome for the first time in the 1960s - and absorbed influences that would reappear throughout his long career.
In 1987, Mr Isozaki presented his vision for the Arch to a meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Advisory Council. “Using an attractive model which showed … sketches of the building from various perspectives and detailed plans, Mr Isozaki presented the proposal,” the minutes of the meeting read. “Mr Isozaki explained that the three arches under the linking block were inspired by the Triumphal Arch of Constantine in Rome - a large arch in the centre flanked by two smaller arches. He proposed that the arches have ceilings of polished metal (perhaps aluminium) which would reflect light from the water basin and give a feeling of lightness. In the sloping courtyard between the two adjacent buildings there would be a cascade and fountain symbolising the stream flowing to the ocean. The relationship with water was an essential part of the design.” Among the appreciative members of the committee that recommended approval for the Arch was a pragmatic John Bond, son of co-founder Alan, who noted two lifts would need to be incorporated into the design.
In his projects around the world, Mr Isozaki skilfully incorporated and adapted architectural influences from different cultures. The Arch at Bond University is one such example, symbolising the University’s foundation as a fusion of Eastern and Western principles and cooperation.
Richard McDougall has been appointed Managing Director of systematic fund manager, Hamilton12. Mr McDougall has a 23-year history in the investment sector including a stint as Queensland State Manager for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management where he established its wealth management presence in Queensland. He has also been a Director at Westpac Group and UBS Wealth Management. Mr McDougall holds Bond University Bachelor of Laws and Commerce degrees.
After many successful years as partner and four years consulting, Julius Brookman has taken full-time partnership with boutique London law firm Branch Austin McCormick. Mr Brookman originally studied Communication and International Relations at Bond University before completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Law in London. A highly regarded family law specialist, Mr Brookman is also completing a Master of Arts in Military History at the University of Buckingham.
Ashleigh Gleeson recently completed the Walkley Foundation Leadership Program. The program aims to equip the next generation of newsroom leaders with skills to hold senior roles. Ms Gleeson, a Bachelor of Journalism and Law graduate, has been Chief of Staff at the Herald Sun since June last year, having served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Daily Telegraph beforehand. In her decade-long career she has reported on courts, crime, federal politics, council and health.
Tessa Dann has been appointed Head of Sustainable Finance for Australia and New Zealand at Societe Generale. She joined the French-based financial services giant after four years as ANZ’s Director of Sustainable Finance. Previously, Ms Dann worked at Queensland Treasury Corporation and established the Queensland Government as one of the first issuers of Green Bonds in Australia. Ms Dann completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Hotel and Resort Management at Bond.
Ed Wittig has been promoted to Partner at Goldman Sachs where he is responsible for Global Industrials Mergers & Acquisitions. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2001 after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce. Mr Wittig spent time with the firm in Australia before relocating to London in 2007 to head the firm’s European Transportation & Logistics sector. Mr Wittig returned to Sydney to lead the Australia and New Zealand Industrials group in 2011 and moved to New York in 2016, where he is currently based.
Bond Law graduate George Raptis is CEO and Founder of the world’s first online agency marketplace, Breef. The US-based enterprise counts significant global brands like Heineken, Spotify, Byte and Pantone among a growing list of users, and hosts more than 10,000 agencies, across 25 countries. Breef has just announced the injection of $16 million in new funding which will go towards expanding its global team and opening new bases in the UK and Australia.
Carley Angel (nee Sear) has launched Snack PR, a public relations and media consulting business. Previously Ms Angel worked as Chief of Staff and Executive Producer at Seven News in her hometown of Perth. Snack PR's main focus will be connecting businesses to key stakeholders in the print, radio and television industries. Ms Angel completed a Bachelor of Journalism at Bond University in 2008. She was the 2006 Vynka Hohnen Scholar.
Nicholas Boyce has achieved Principal status at Results Legal in just six-anda-half years, around half the usual time. Mr Boyce has been with the firm since completing his practical legal training there. He specialises in commercial litigation - particularly trade credit and insolvency litigation. He also practises in restructuring and security enforcements. Mr Boyce works in all jurisdictions in Australia.
Leona Adams has been appointed Principal at Results Legal. She works in the firm's Commercial Litigation and Insolvency team. Ms Adams commenced work with Results Legal after graduating from Bond, and she has risen through the ranks to achieve Principal status in just six-and-a-half years, around half the usual time. Ms Adams acts on behalf of banks and non-bank lenders in all aspects of banking enforcement, strategy, and recovery proceedings.
Lauren Soars has joined AFL club Brisbane Lions as Events Manager. Ms Soars, who graduated with a Bachelor of Business in 2016, has previously worked in events management at USC Stadium and NRL club Newcastle Knights. Ms Soars has spent the last decade working in major sports events domestically and internationally, and is looking forward to using these experiences to continue to grow events and game days at the Brisbane Lions.
Niamh Sullivan was named a semifinalist for the Forbes 30 under 30 list (Asia Pacific). Ms Sullivan completed a Bachelor of Communication in 2018. She worked with Channel Seven before starting her own business – INFIX Creative Studio – which helps tech startups establish their brand story and develop the creative framework needed to launch, scale and raise funds. Ms Sullivan, who overcame Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child, is also a National Make-A-Wish Foundation Ambassador.
Yasmin Schoenbaechler has been appointed Programme Delivery Associate at The Carbon Trust. She will be responsible for delivery of the Trust’s carbon footprint verification label. The Trust works with companies to help them measure, manage and reduce their footprint. Now based in London, Ms Schoenbaechler graduated from Bond with a Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws before completing a Master of Philosophy in Environmental Policy (Law and Economics) at University of Cambridge.
Dr Mariam Razkala has been awarded the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service People’s Choice Award at the 2022 Intern Awards. The People’s Choice Award honours an intern who is recognised by their peers for their hard work, dedication and commitment to medicine. Dr Razkala was nominated for her outstanding professionalism and teamwork. Now a second-year doctor, Dr Razkala proudly completed her medical degree at Bond University with distinction.
Eliza Reilly, a Bachelor of Journalism graduate, has joined CODE Sports as a journalist. Born and raised in Perth, Ms Reilly started her career as a sports cadet at the Gold Coast Bulletin where she later progressed to Deputy Sports Editor. In 2020 she returned home to write for The West Australian. Ms Reilly has won multiple prizes for her journalism, including a Clarion Award and several WA Football Media Guild awards including the Tracey Lewis Emerging Talent Award.
Jondayah Martin, an Account Manager and Digital Content Creator at Bastion Promedia has recently been announced Best New PR Talent of the Year at the Mumbrella CommsCon Awards. Ms Martin, a Bond University Indigenous Scholarship recipient, completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communication and International Relations in 2020. She managed media for the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects runway at Australian Fashion Week this year.
Max Liversage has joined KPMG as a Deals Advisor in mid-market valuations and mergers and acquisitions. Mr Liversage graduated from Bond University with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance. During his time at Bond he was Treasurer of the Business Students' Association (BSA) and Corporate Relations Director of the Bond University Student Association (BUSA). He is currently studying for his CFA and CA accreditations.
Top left: Vancouver Alumni Chapter.
Top right: Malaysia Alumni Chapter.
Middle: Brisbane Alumni Chapter.
View upcoming alumni events
Left: Tokyo Alumni Chapter.
Centre: Canberra Alumni Chapter.
Kate Kyros was destined to follow two paths. Her father Dean Kyros (Class of 1992) was an early Bondy and it was the only university Kate applied to.
A parental decree to attend a sport camp while on a family holiday to The Hamptons when Kate was 10 revealed her sporting destiny.
“I chose horse riding and ever since then I’ve loved it,” she said.
Mum Heather was delighted. She had grown up riding but knowing the incredible commitment it takes to be a success, the decision had to be Kate’s. It is a fair commitment for the parents too, both financially, in importing the world-class European horses Intro K and Chemistry that Kate rides in competition, and in time. The pair have navigated an estimated 200,000km of Australian highways delivering Kate from event to event.
“Mum absolutely loves it, but she wasn’t going to push me into it like some parents do,” she said.
“I didn’t start riding until I was 10 and nine months after buying my first pony I won a national title.”
A further 15 national titles in show jumping and dressage followed until Kate's elevation to the Young Riders division this year. She has taken the field by storm, setting a new Australian record of 72.402 per cent in the Individual event at the internationally-ranked Dressage by the Sea. Jammed in among her five weekly training sessions is the course load for a double degree in Business and Law.
“It has always been, ‘Get good grades and then you can ride horses’, so I've always juggled.’’
Long term, Kate wants to use her education to elevate equestrian’s profile through increased sponsorship and broadcast deals. And of course, there’s the Olympics.
“The oldest competitors at the Olympics are always in the dressage because it takes so long to train the horses and learn all the different skills to work up the ranks,” she said.
“I just have to keep working and improving.’’
Kate Kyros and her horse Chemistry.
In mid-February Hayden Sargeant
(Class of 2018) was slogging through pre-season with the Bull Sharks, squeezing in surfs around his burgeoning career in construction and watching with envy as the Aussie 7s embarked on the qualification process for the Paris Olympics. Fast forward to May and he was in a gold jersey at Twickenham as the current 7s became the first Australian men’s side to gain automatic Olympic selection after an action-packed afternoon at the home of rugby. The Aussies needed to stay ahead of Samoa on the points table to join New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and France as automatic qualifiers – and it looked like they had blown it.
They were relegated to the seventhplace playoff after conceding a try after the hooter in a devastating 22-19 loss to France, which left them relying on other results to go their way.
When Samoa lost 10-7 to Argentina in the semi-finals, the Aussies were able to claim the last automatic place for Paris by thumping the British 34-5 to finish just one point ahead of Samoa who must now go through the Oceania regional qualifiers.
“That day was a wave of emotions to say the least,” Hayden said.
“We didn’t make it easy for ourselves that’s for sure, so we are extremely grateful and excited.
“To be the first Australian men’s 7s team to gain automatic qualification
is quite special and I think it says a lot about this squad.”
The 25-year-old is a noted speedster but even he has had trouble keeping pace with his career trajectory since earning a last-minute call-up as an injury replacement for a World Rugby Sevens Series tournament back in February.
The Bond University Bachelor of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying graduate has taken up a full-time contract with Rugby Australia. “I’m starting to find my groove within the team; 7s is a sport where you really have to be playing together to gain trust and an understanding of how everyone plays,” he said.
Hayden Sargeant (second from right) has farewelled family and moved to Sydney to chase Olympic dream.
Ben Armbruster (pictured) elevated himself into the upper echelon of Australian swimmers at the Australian Swimming Championships in April.
A member of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games national team, Armbruster is now the national champion in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.
The Bachelor of Sport Management student’s time of 23.05 in the 50m butterfly was an all-comers record and is the fastest time by an Australian
outside of the now banned ‘super suits’. Ben also demonstrated he has broadened his range with some strong performances in 100m events and in freestyle. He had never gone under 52 seconds in the 100m butterfly but did it twice, posting a 51.96 to be the fastest qualifier in the heats.
“He’s had a breakout meet,” Bond’s Director of Swimming Kyle Samuelson said. “We’ve known he had ability for some time, he is fast and he is skilful. “He was able to execute his race plans really well and proven he can
Claudia Bailey and Kate Regan (pictured) are besties, BESPies and two of the busiest athletes in the Bond Elite Sport Program.
Claudia, the 2023 ADCO Sports Excellence Scholarship recipient, took a major step towards her Olympic dream by reaching the final in the K1 1000 at the ICF Sprint Canoe World Cup event in Szeged, Hungary in May.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle and it’s been a lifetime goal to compete
for Australia at the Olympics,” she said. “That plays a major role in my motivation in kayaking.”
The Exercise and Sports Science student arrived at Bond as Australia’s premier junior surf lifesaver. At the 2022 World Championships in Riccione, Italy she won six gold, six silver and a junior world record. At Bond she quickly found a friend in Actuarial Science student, Kate.
“Claudia and I have been training together for about a year in the
back up over longer distances. He has really taken a step forward.’’
Ben backed up his Australian Swimming Championships performance with another strong showing at the UniSport Nationals Swimming event in May. His effort played a significant role in securing Bond University’s successful defence of the overall champion title.
QAS squad and we have been really close for a while now,” Kate said. Her focus over autumn and winter was longer distance training and gym work to prepare for a hectic competition campaign when the weather begins to warm up.
“I am doing the ocean racing series in November in Perth and will hopefully compete at the worlds as well before the kayak season starts,” she said.
“Long term the Olympics are the goal and kayaking is the way to get there.”
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SWIMMING
RUGBY
Bachelor of Commerce and Business student
Harrison Usher had a solid schoolboy rugby career. Never, though, did he earn a call-up to represent his country. Things changed for the better after his arrival at Bond University on a sports leadership scholarship. He was quickly identified as leadership material by the Bull Sharks and handed the captaincy of the Colts One side. His on-field education was fast-tracked when coach Grant Anderson used Usher as a strike weapon off the bench late in First Grade games.
"It's been great getting some time in premier grade up here," Usher said.
“Those boys are giving me so many valuable insights and tips, especially around scrum time.”
He spent time in the extended Junior Wallabies squad earlier this year and recently made the cut for a two-Test series against New Zealand – a key lead-in tournament for the Under 20s World Championship in South Africa next month.
“To be able to finally put it on (Wallabies jersey), it is a dream come true and I can’t be more excited."
It was an impressive debut season for Bond University’s Wheelchair Rugby athletes who finished runners up in the 2023 Wheelchair Rugby Australia League.
The League consists of three rounds: the Melbourne Invitational, the Brisbane Bash, and the Sydney Slam. Bond ended their campaign equal first on the competition ladder, but second on countback to overall champion, University of Queensland.
For Bond player and Gold Coast local Ella Sabljak, it is not only her first year as a Bull Shark but also her first full season in the sport of wheelchair rugby. Prior to taking up the sport, Sabljak was known for her exceptional skills on the basketball court with career highlights of qualifying
for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and captaining Australia’s U25s team to a World Championship silver medal. Following the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in 2022, where Sabljak competed in basketball, she made the transition to rugby as a new and exciting challenge in her athletic career.
“My journey in wheelchair rugby began in 2022 when I was thrown into the Canberra team at the national championships in order to make up numbers,” Sabljak said.
“So while this is my first full season in rugby, I’m really enjoying the change of scenery, the challenge it’s bringing me, and the friendships that I’ve already formed. I’m really excited to see where my rugby takes me.”
Sabljak has already set herself some big goals for 2023.
“Myself and the team’s immediate goal is to qualify for the Australian squad,” she said.
“From there, my biggest personal goal is definitely to represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.”
The Bond University team will compete at a Paralympic Games qualification tournament in Tokyo later this year.
Should the team qualify, individual players will later be selected in The Australian Steelers 2024 Olympic Wheelchair Rugby team.
Ella Sabljak has her sights set on Paris 2024. Bond Bull Sharks Wheelchair Rugby players at the Brisbane Bash.After a year away from elite Queensland netball, the Bond Bull Sharks are back.
They return refreshed, recalibrated, and raring to go according to Bond’s Head of Netball Operations, Kim Boland.
“We want Bond University to be a genuine destination for young athletes, and especially talented athletes who want to study.”
For Boland, visibility is important.
“We’ve ramped up a ‘Cubs’ junior development program to help connect with community netball,”
she says. “We’ve also set up an Indigenous talent program to play a role in bridging opportunity gaps.
“On top of that we’ve taken on a development squad to help players on the cusp of elite performance make the transition.”
Bond’s 2023 Ruby and Sapphire players were selected with an eye to the future.
Several Bull Sharks competed for Queensland at U17 and U19 level at the National Netball Championships earlier this year. Exciting young goal shooter Kaylin van Greunen has since been
selected in the Australian U19 squad.
Allanah Penny is a member of Bond’s Sapphire League team. A Bond Elite Sport Program scholar, Penny is completing a Doctorate of Physiotherapy.
“The University is really supportive,” she says. “I love that I get to train and compete as downtime. It’s perfect for me.”
The Sapphire and Ruby series are talent nurseries for Suncorp Super Netball. Several former Bond players have made that step, including Ava Black and Ashleigh Ervin who both play with Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Bond Bull Sharks netballers,from left, Maddie Ryan, Dakota Newson, Abi Houston, Alannah Penny, Hannah Le Sage and Ella Spencer.
