See where a Deakin education can take you! Meet our 2026 Deakin Alumni Award winners
Deakin graduates are out making a difference in the world every day. From developing technologies that protect our planet’s future, to improving health and wellbeing in local and international communities, and even building globally recognised businesses.
As you work towards your own graduation—when you’ll join our global community of more than 370,000 alumni—find inspiration in the stories of our 2026 Deakin Alumni Award recipients.
The Alumni Awards
The Alumni Awards started in 2011 to acknowledge the outstanding work Deakin graduates have done in their chosen fields, as well as their valuable contributions to the University and wider communities, locally and globally.
Our 2026 recipients
This year’s Awards honoured nine past students who are shaping their industries, driving innovation and creating meaningful change.
Amongst our recipients were a teacher inspiring students to pursue their dreams in STEM, a trailblazing journalist using her platform to encourage others from diverse backgrounds, a doctor easing the path for the next generation of medical practitioners, and entrepreneurs disrupting their industries through sustainable innovation.
Chancellor Claire Higgins, Kelvin Ngow, Nadia Teong, Naomi McBride, Jestin Palakal, Jessica Redwood, Lucas Taranto, Neary Ty, Natassia Nicolao, Mike Monnik, David Halliwell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Partnerships
They celebrated their achievements at a ceremony in Melbourne on Wednesday 4 March and each received a trophy beautifully designed by Deakin Master of Business Analytics Student Jose Gabriel Espinoza. The evening was led by Master of Ceremonies, alum and past Alumni Award recipient, Dr James Mullins, and attended by many from Deakin’s community.
2026 Alumni Award trophies designed by Deakin Master of Business Analytics Student Jose Gabriel Espinoza.
Learn more about our 2026 winners!
For more information about the awards, including videos of each recipient, visit the Alumni Awards webpage.
Know an outstanding past student?
Nominations are open now for the 2027 Deakin Alumni Awards! Submissions close on Sunday 7 June 2026 and can be made via the Deakin Alumni Awards nomination form.
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