Outstanding Young Alumni Awards 2018
The awards are presented to young members of the OHA who have achieved significantly in their field. They are divided into 5 categories : Business, Arts, Community, Sport and a new category in 2018, recognising those young alumni members who have made a significant impact in the field of STEM.
The award winners are as follows;
Business
Spencer Bignell (OH 2009)
Spencer is the co-founder of emerging business, Underground Broadway which is one of Brisbane’s fastest growing Musical Theatre companies. Underground Broadway brings professionals and aspiring performers together to learn, develop connections and gain valuable performance experience.
Nicholas Donato (OH 2009)
Nicholas is the Director and Owner of the Mornington Peninsula Hydroponics Café. Nicholas has been operating the café for 3 years. All of the produce grown on site is used in each of the dishes served at this rapidly expanding café business.
Arts
Niran Dasika (OH 2011)
Niran has worked as a professional musician in Tokyo, Japan and has recorded for labels including Sony Music, Universal Japan and Blue Note Records. He has played on 21 albums including 3 of his own. Niran is currently undertaking a Masters of Performing Arts at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Edwin Kwong (OH 2013)
Edwin is Melbourne’s most active young pipe organists, having performed in over 75 concerts in the past four years. Edwin is the Director of Music and Organist of St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Burnley. He has performed at such notable locations as Eton College and St John’s College, Cambridge in the UK as well as at at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland. Edwin is currently studying in Sweden.
Community
Hannah Vuong (OH 2013)
Hannah is involved with a Melbourne University student run initiative known as The Material Aid Program. The initiative delivers medical equipment to under-resourced healthcare institutions in the developing world. Their partner health organisations provide Hannah and her team with a wish list of much-needed medical materials, which volunteers then work to obtain and deliver through students visiting these communities overseas.
Sport
Jordan Williamsz (OH 2009)
Jordan Williamsz is an Australian middle-distance runner who competes primarily in the 1500 metres. Jordy represented Australia at the 2017 World Championships narrowly missing the final. Jordan competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast making the final and finishing in 6th position overall. Jordan has just finished competing in the UK where he won the Great North City Games mile on the weekend.
Jackson Coleman (OH 2010)
Jackson is a Victorian cricketer who has been on the State squad for the past two seasons. He was also a member of the successful Australian Under-19 World Cup squad in 2010. Jackson has also been part of the Melbourne Stars Big Bash squad over the past two seasons playing in seven matches. He is a left arm bowler who is keen to make an impact on the upcoming season of domestic cricket after making his debut in the Victorian one day team last season.
STEM
Melissa Adikari (OH 2008)
Melissa is an Engineer primarily responsible for construction traffic management, road safety and contract management. She has project experience across Australia, particularly in Victoria and Queensland, and in the Middle East.
Rhiannah Carver (OH 2007)
Rhiannah is a Senior Environmental Manager currently working in Montreal, Canada. She is responsible for developing her employer, The CSL Group’s environmental strategy and guiding key investment and policy direction. Rhiannah has a Masters degree in Engineering and has previously worked in Sydney for CSL Australia.
Amy Dowel (OH 2007)
Amy is a Senior Project Engineer with the John Holland Group. She is currently working on the Westgate Tunnel project. Prior to this Amy worked for 2 years with Aus Group Alliance and 4 years with Lend Lease on some of Australia’s largest road infrastructure projects.
Qerime Alimovski (OH 2007)
Following the completion of an Honours degree and Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biochemistry & Pharmacology in 2011, Qerime has established a successful career as a Flavourist and is currently employed by one of the largest flavour houses in the world, Sensient Technologies. Qerime chemically engineers, designs and formulates flavours for the food and beverage industry by creating flavour concepts for alcoholic beverages, dairy products, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. There are only 7 certified flavourists in Australia and we are proud that Qerime is one of them!
Congratulations to all of our award winners.
