Carrillo Gantner receives a prestigious award on behalf of The Myer Foundation

Carrillo Gantner
The Myer Foundation Chairman Carrillo Gantner (BA 1966) received the Award for Outstanding Philanthropic Support of Higher Education at the 2011 Business/Higher Education Round Table Awards (B-HERT Awards) on 10 November. Read more about the acknowledgement of the Myer Family's philanthropy here.

Kusal Goonewardena
The University's elite athletes can thank physiotherapist Kusal Goonewardena (BPhysio 1999) for keeping them on the track. Mr Goonewardena has been the head sports physiotherapist at the University since 2002 and is responsible for helping with the preparation and recovery of numerous Olympic athletes. Read more about his career here.

Kitty Green
Independent filmmaker Kitty Green (B Film & TV 2007) was arrested by the Belarusian KGB in December after she filmed a protest by Ukrainian anti-sex trade group, Femen. The Age published an interview with Ms Green after her release from custody. For more on her remarkable tale, click here.

Lauren Gurrieri
Doctorate student Lauren Gurrieri (BA 2001, BCom 2002) made the news in August. Her Business and Economics doctorate on notions of 'cool' in advertising traced the concept of 'cool' over several centuries. Read more about her research here.

Myf Warhurst is eager for new career adventures Myf Warhurst TV host Myf Warhurst (BA(Hons) 1994) is on the lookout for new ventures following the conclusion of ABC quiz show, 'Spicks and Specks'. Speaking to her local paper, Ms Warhurst said the end of the show's seven-year run meant she could pursue new professional and travel adventures. Read more about her music journey here.

M.J. Hyland
Author M.J. Hyland (LLB(Hons) 1995, MA 2004) spoke to The Australian about the darkness of her novels and the confused state of the Miles Franklin Award. The interview was conducted in the lead-up to the Byron Bay Writers Festival. Read the full article here.

Robert Johanson
Former Bendigo and Adelaide Bank chairman Robert Johanson (BA 1974, LLB 1974, LLM 2000) was appointed a Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne in August. Mr Johanson also served as director of the University-affiliated Australia India Institute. Read more about his appointment here.

Michael Kirby
Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby (LLD 2009) commented on the Commonwealth Government's endorsement of the Knight Review, a report into the role of international education in Australia. Mr Kirby's views on the Review can be read here.

Mervyn Willis
(George) Mervyn Willis (BSc 1936, MSc 1939) was posthumously inducted into the Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame on 12 November. Mr Willis was a Reader in Chemical Metallurgy at the University, establishing a 40-year career as a researcher and teacher. You can read more about his prolific career here.

Stuart Wyithe
The 2011 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year went to Professor Stuart Wyithe (BSc(Hons) 1997, PhD 2002). Professor Wyithe won the award in October for his transformative work on the formation of the universe. Read more about his work and recent award of an Australian Laureate Fellowship here.

Mark Quigley
Geologist Dr Mark Quigley (PhD 2007) has been an acclaimed commentator and expert on the Christchurch earthquakes. Based at the University of Canterbury, he recently received the New Zealand Prime Minister's Science Media Communication Prize. For more on the award, read about it here and view an interview with Dr Quigley here.

Jane Allen
Lawyers Weekly profiled screenwriter Jane Allen (BA 1986, LLB 1987) in August for its series on legal professionals who have entered the television industry ('Changing Channels'). Read more about Ms Allen's diverse career here.

David Bardas
David Bardas (LLB 1962) needed a new career direction following the sale of his Sportsgirl Sportscraft Group in 1994. He has since forged a career in philanthropy and theatre, with his latest incarnation being as a playwright. Mr Bardas was featured in BRW's 'Reflection' column in October. Read about 'Home for Lunch', the play he co-wrote in this article from The Age.

Caroline Brothers
Author and journalist Caroline Brothers (BA 1985) spoke to ABC Radio's 'The World Today' following the publication of her book 'Hinterland'. The book is a collection of interviews with unaccompanied Afghan children seeking asylum in Europe. Read the interview transcript here.

Graeme Clark
Bionic ear inventor Professor Graeme Clark AC (Current staff) received the biennial CSL Florey Medal at a Canberra ceremony in November. Professor Clark used his speech to reiterate his determination to develop a new generation of cochlear implants. For more on an inspiring career, read here.

Gordon Davis and Catherine Walter
Gordon Davis (BForSc(Hons) 1977, MBA 1989) and Catherine Walter (LLB(Hons) 1973, LLM 1976, MBA 1988) were both appointed to the VicForests board at the end of October. Mr Davis will chair the board, while Mrs Walter joins the body after previously serving on various audit committees. Read more about their appointments here.

Ted Eadie
Animal welfare expert Dr Ted Eadie (Bsc 1959, Msc 1971) published his latest text 'Education for Animal Welfare' midway through 2011. The book examines the role education can play in reducing human-caused animal suffering. Read a detailed review here.

Anthony Goldbloom
Economist Anthony Goldbloom (BCom(Hons) 2006) was recently profiled in The Age, where he spoke about his successful start-up data mining company, Kaggle. Kaggle has invested heavily in the United States, providing competitions and prizes for those who can best predict future business opportunities for major companies. Read more about his career here.

Patrick Southey
His Honour Magistrate Patrick Southey (GDipArts(Crim) 1995) was a new appointment to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, having previously served as a barrister and Crown prosecutor. Read more about his appointment here.

Helen Szoke
Dr Helen Szoke (PhD 2004) was appointed Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, shortly after stepping down from her post as the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner. Read more about her resignation here and her new appointment here.

Chris Baggoley
Professor Chris Baggoley (BVsc(Hons) 1973) was named Australia's Chief Medical Officer on 30 August. Professor Baggoley's appointment follows a distinguished career holding management positions in both the public and private health care sectors. Read more about it here.

Tony Birch's first novel ('Blood') is receiving rave reviews Tony Birch University of Melbourne creative writing lecturer Tony Birch (BA(Hons) 1991, MA 2000, PhD 2003) spoke to The Age about his writing career to coincide with the release of his first novel ('Blood'). Read the interview here.

Peter Caillard
Former Tabcorp and Sky Channel chief executive Peter Caillard (LLM 1997) was appointed as Chairman of Greyhound Racing Victoria in August. Read more about Mr Caillard's appointment here.

Marita Cheng
Engineering student Marita Cheng was named the 2012 Young Australian of the Year in January. Ms Cheng is the founder of Robogals, a not-for-profit organisation that encourages girls to enter the fields of science and technology. Read more about her entrepreneurial success here and here.

Suzanne Cory
Professor Suzanne Cory AC (BSc 1964, MSc 1966) joined Victoria's Education Minister, Martin Dixon, to open the first school for academically advanced children in Melbourne's western suburbs. The Suzanne Cory High School recognises Professor Cory's groundbreaking career in molecular biology. It is Melbourne's fourth gifted education school. Read the press release here.

Gordon Lewis
Former County Court Judge Gordon Lewis AM (LLB 1957) was appointed Australia's first Independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner in December – a role he will begin in February 2012. The Victorian Government created the role to review and investigate any aspect of the camera system and make appropriate recommendations. For more on the appointment, click here.

Sam Walsh
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Executive Director Sam Walsh (MBA, BCom 1972) received the Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award at the Australian Business Arts Foundation annual awards in October. The honour was recognition of the company's support of indigenous art. For more on the awards, please click here.

David Solomon
Professor David Solomon (DSc 2005) was a joint recipient of the $300,000 Prime Minister's Prize for Science in October. Professor Solomon was rewarded for his revolutionising work on polymers, the 'building blocks' of plastics. You can read more about his success in this article from The Australian.