Swinburne Alumni Impact Awards finalists driving positive change

Swinburne University of Technology has announced the finalists for the 2023 Alumni Impact Awards, which celebrate exceptional and entrepreneurial alumni who are helping to build a better world.

The nine finalists have been recognised for their profound impact in the areas of technology innovation, environmental sustainability and social impact.

The winners will be announced at the Alumni Impact Awards in October.

Meet the finalists

The 2023 finalists are making a positive impact across diverse areas such as medical technology, online education, social enterprise and environmental sustainability.

The Technology Innovation Impact Award

This award is for a Swinburne alum who has made significant impact through technology and entrepreneurial innovation. 

Swinburne alumni Matthew Hoskin, Jaclyn Benstead and Vaughan Ryan exemplify Swinburne's vision of people and technology working together to build a better world. 

Matthew Hoskin
Matthew Hoskin is the CEO of Nirtek, a spin-off company originating at Swinburne. Nirtek has developed a world-first medical device able to identify those at highest risk of a heart attack by using near infrared laser technology to detect unstable coronary plaques. Matthew has more than 30 years’ experience in clinical cardiology and managing businesses in the healthcare, medtech and biotech sectors.

Jaclyn Benstead
Jaclyn Benstead is the co-founder of Australian-based education technology startup, HEX, which delivers immersive, real-world and university-accredited innovation and entrepreneurship programs to the next generation of talent. HEX’s flagship digital innovation course, HEX Ed, is an online innovation program co-designed with industry partner Atlassian.

Vaughan Ryan
Vaughan Ryan is an expert in eCommerce and omni-shopping and has worked with one of the world’s leading consumer intelligence companies, Nielsen IQ, for more than 20 years. During that time, he has guided manufacturers and retailers across the Asia Pacific region, Europe, the US and Canada to succeed in the digital commerce world by understanding what their customers want. 

The George and Ethel Swinburne Social Impact Award

This award is 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.

Swinburne alumni Huong Dang, Michal Morris and Thuy Nguyen embody Swinburne's founding principles of social equity.

Huong Dang
Huong Dang is a social entrepreneur and founder of HopeBox, a social enterprise based in Vietnam that empowers victims of domestic violence and helps lift them out of volatile situations through training, employment, healing and life skills programs and safe accommodation.

Michal Morris
Michal Morris is the former CEO of inTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence in Victoria. For more than 20 years, Michal has worked across diverse communities, sectors and government to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes, with a focus on migrant and refugee communities. She was recently inducted into the 2022 Victorian Women’s Honour Roll.

Thuy Nguyen
Thuy Nguyen is the founder and CEO of Bobi Craft, a Vietnam-based toy company whose mission is to empower women and create jobs for disadvantaged communities while creating unique handmade children’s products from organic materials. Beginning with 10 employees, Bobi Craft now provides stable employment for around 450 people including many women, farmers and the vision impaired.  

The Innovative Planet Impact Award 

This award is for a Swinburne alum whose exceptional endeavour has resulted in significant impact in environmental sustainability.