Our inspirational finalists came to Swinburne to study in person and online from right across the globe and represent all our disciplines. Since graduating, each has blended their Swinburne education with hard work and tenacity to create lives of distinction. Finalists were selected for their extraordinary leadership, entrepreneurial innovation and desire to make the world a better place.

Winners were announced at the virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday 13 October 2021.

Award categories

Technology Impact Award

For a Swinburne alum whose exceptional endeavour has resulted in significant impact demonstrating Swinburne’s vision of people and technology together for a better world

Innovation Impact Award

For a Swinburne alum whose exceptional endeavour has resulted in significant impact through entrepreneurial innovation

The George and Ethel Swinburne Social Impact Award

For a Swinburne alum who has demonstrated Swinburne’s passion for providing opportunities for all, irrespective of wealth, privilege, age, gender or race, making a real difference to the world we live in

Meet our winners

Meet Jacqueline Savage

2021 Technology Impact Award winner

Jacqueline Savage

Founder and CEO of MedCorp Technologies, an Australian medical device company dedicated to improving the healthcare industry through technology and innovation, developing products for global distribution.

Meet Nicole Lamond

2021 Innovation Impact Award winner

Nicole Lamond

CEO and Founder of Universal Village and Eloments, two innovative fair-trade companies with ethical and moral approaches to support farmers and communities around the world.

Meet Lidia Thorpe

2021 Social Impact Award winner

Lidia Thorpe

A Senator for Victoria, a proud Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman and the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Victorian Parliament and as a Senator for Victoria.

  • "I send my congratulations to all the shortlisted finalists for 2021. Their success indeed reinforces how far a Swinburne qualification can take you in a tech-led world.

    Our Swinburne alumni are a wonderful network of people. They are leaders, mentors, role models and have inspiring stories to tell. I encourage you to join us in celebrating our alumni and what it means to be a part of our Swinburne family."

    Dr Andrew J Smith , Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global and Community Engagement)

Meet our finalists

Technology Impact

Jefferson Harcourt

Executive Chairman of Grey Innovation Group, Director of Eco Detection, GreyScan and TALI Health Ltd. Jefferson’s 20-year career has been built on using technology to make the world a better place across the medical, security and environmental fields.

Meet Jefferson Harcourt
View transcript [PDF 108KB]

Peter Nguyen-Brown

Co-founder and CXO of LiveTiles, an award-winning global software company that provides technological solutions and tools to transform organisations and build employee engagement through AI, analytics and user interface design.

Meet Peter Nguyen-Brown
View transcript [PDF 103KB]

Innovation Impact

Andrew Collins

Andrew is Group CEO at Mailman, a global sports digital consultancy and agency. Headquartered in Shanghai, Mailman also has offices in London, Singapore and Los Angeles. 

Meet Andrew Collins
View transcript [PDF 99KB]

Wesa Chau

Founder and CEO of Cultural Intelligence, a consulting firm offering training and research to promote cultural diversity and innovative thinking within organisations across Australia.

Meet Wesa Chau
View transcript [PDF 100KB]

Social Impact

Stephen Graham

Founder of BildGroup, Boat O’Craigo Winery and The Graham Family Foundation. Stephen is a successful businessman, vigneron and philanthropist who enabled Swinburne academics to create the Swinburne Australian Leadership Index, a research initiative to improve and increase the practice of ethical leadership.

Meet Stephen Graham
View transcript [PDF 106KB]

Brendan J Doidge

Brendan drives the five-year strategy at Common Equity Housing Limited, Victoria’s largest community housing association. Brendan is guided by the Triple Bottom Line philosophy, advocating for an economically inclusive, environmentally sustainable and socially cohesive society.

Meet Brendan J Doidge
View transcript [PDF 103KB]

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Contact the alumni team by emailing alumni@swinburne.edu.au.

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