Ever since our first class of 1989, Bond University graduates have been making their mark on their industries and communities in Australia and around the world.
The prestigious Alumni Awards recognise our graduates’ exceptional innovation, creativity and leadership, through the Alumni Award for Community Achievement, the Young Alumni Award and the Robert Stable Medal, the highest honour the Alumni Awards can bestow.
Meet some of the outstanding alumni who have paved the way for the next generation of high achieving Bondies.
Robert Stable Medal
Rohan Titus | Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093922K)
Diplomat Rohan Titus has worked for the Australian Government for more than 24 years. He played a critical role in the release of a kidnapped Australian aid worker in Afghanistan and drafted a key response to the Bali Bombings. Mr Titus was recognised for his exceptional professional and voluntary achievements both locally and internationally. Mr Titus is currently the First Secretary for the Australian Embassy in Afghanistan and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Assistant Director.
Community Achievement Award
Kate Gibson | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093912A)
Kate Gibson was recognised for her many international achievements as a criminal defence lawyer. Ms Gibson recently assisted in the development and implementation of a training program for Rwandan defence lawyers, on behalf of the Rome-based International Development Law Association.
In 2018 Ms Gibson was appointed as Legal Consultant for the Independent International Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.
Young Alumni Award
Dr Helena Franco | Bachelor of Medical Studies (CRICOS 0101292)/Doctor of Medicine (CRICOS 111520H)
Recent graduate Dr Helena Franco was honoured for her commitment to and research in medicine. She was part of the Organising Committee for the International Global Surgery Symposium, the first-ever global surgery student conference, which was held in Belgium in 2018.
Dr Franco is a Resident Medical Officer at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane.
Robert Stable Medal
David Baxby | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093908G)
At the inaugural Bond University Alumni Awards, then-co-Chief Executive officer of the Virgin Group David Baxby flew in from Geneva, Switzerland to accept the prestigious Robert Stable Alumni Medal, named after the University's longest serving vice chancellor.
After starting his career in corporate finance in Australia, Mr Baxby joined the Virgin Group in London and rose through the ranks to become Sir Richard Branson’s right hand man. He’s now the Managing Director of Wesfarmers Industrials.
Community Achievement Award
Polly Banks | Bachelor of Arts (CRICOS 063052M)/International Relations (CRICOS 063074E)
Polly Banks received the first Alumni Award for Exceptional Community Achievement for her work as a Senior Project Officer for Save the Children in remote West Kimberley. She coordinated the Save the Children’s HYPE program supporting at-risk Indigenous Australian youth and worked with communities in the Solomon Islands as Save the Children’s Head of Programs.
Ms Banks is now the General Manager of Community and Regulatory Services at City of Darwin.
Young Alumni Award
Adam Roberts | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093908G)
Former BUSA President Adam Roberts received the Young Alumni Award as a recent Commerce/Law graduate.
Mr Roberts moved to London and was appointed Vice President – Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets of Macquarie Group, and completed a Master of Public Administration at the London School of Economics. In 2018 Mr Roberts returned to Sydney as the Global Strategy Manager, Macquarie Group Limited.
Robert Stable Medal
Vijay D. Patil | Master of Business Administration (CRICOS 108627A)
Travelling from Mumbai, India for the 2013 Alumni Awards Dinner, Vijay D. Patil was awarded the Robert Stable Medal in 2013. The entrepreneur and philanthropist was one of Bond’s first international students. His long list of achievements includes establishing the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, the Padmashree Dr DY Patil University, the Dr DY Patil Hospital and Research Centre and the multi-disciplinary DY Patil International Sports Stadium.
Community Achievement Award
Kirsten Hagon | Bachelor of International Relations/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093916G)
Kirsten Hagon was recognised for her international human rights and advocacy work. At the time, she was based in Palestine. Since graduating in 2000, Kirsten has lived and worked in Sudan, Uganda, Egypt, the Ivory Coast and Palestine. She has addressed the United Nations General Assembly, studied a Masters at Cambridge and interned with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. Kirsten is now based in Switzerland.
Young Alumni Award
James Graham | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093908G)
James Graham received the Young Alumni Award in 2013. He graduated as Valedictorian of his cohort and launched an investment banking career at Goldman Sachs. He graduated from Harvard Business School’s MBA program in 2017 and is now Principal at The Production Board, a San Francisco-based food and agriculture technology-focused investment firm.
Robert Stable Medal
Fiona de Jong | Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093922K)/Information Technology
Fiona de Jong was recognised for her exceptional achievements in sport administration at the 2014 awards. Ms de Jong was appointed as the Secretary General (CEO) of the Australian Olympic Committee, after a decade as the Committee’s Director of Sport. Fiona is now the Head of Australia’s Nation Brand at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, charged with developing a unifying and contemporary approach for the promotion of Australia to the world.
Young Alumni Award
Matthew McLean | Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093922K), Master of Laws (CRICOS 084235G)
Matthew McLean was awarded the Young Alumni Award the year after he graduated. He was working as a policy officer for the Australian Government Department of Social Services. In 2017 Mr Mclean was appointed Principal Policy Officer for the Department of Premier and Cabinet (NSW).
Robert Stable Medal
Dr Jennifer Cronin | Master of Business Administration (CRICOS 108627A), PhD (CRICOS 063150J)
Internationally-renowned hotelier Jennifer Cronin accepted the Robert Stable Medal in 2016. Dr Cronin started her career on the Gold Coast, going on to head up one of Hong Kong’s leading hotel operators, Wharf Hotels (previously Marco Polo Hotels). Dr Cronin was part of Bond’s first MBA cohort in 1989 and completed a PhD on crisis management leadership.
Community Achievement Award
Allyson Seaborn | Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093922K)
Writer and television presenter Allyson Seaborn was awarded the Community Achievement Award for her work. Ms Seaborn started her career as a criminal lawyer in Queensland, before moving to Mongolia to teach English and work as a columnist and eventually Editor of UB Post, the largest English newspaper in Mongolia. She was the first foreign journalist to interview Chairman of Parliament, Z. Enkhbold and created, produced and presented ‘Talk with Me’, a popular television interview program on Mongolia’s Star TV network. Ms Seaborn is now the host of Mongolian News Channel (MNC).
Young Alumni Award
Melanie Hayden | Bachelor of International Relations/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093916G)
Law and IR graduate Melanie Hayden was awarded the Young Alumni Award for her achievements as a solicitor. After graduation, Ms Hayden was awarded a Graduate Solicitor position at Allens, before being promoted to Associate. She now works in strategy at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Robert Stable Medal
Tom Ray | Bachelor of Communications (CRICOS 063062J)
In 2017 the Robert Stable Medal was awarded to Tom Ray, a Gold Coast businessman who has established an impressive corporate career since graduating from Bond. Starting his career in advertising in Sydney, Mr Ray returned to the Gold Coast and became the Executive Director of property investment company, Ray Group, helping to establish and chair the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation and raise around $6 million for spinal research.
Community Achievement Award
Katrina Elliot Myerson | Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093912A), Master of International Relations (CRICOS 078661G), Practical Legal Training
Katrina Elliot Myerson was recognised for her work to protect the rights of detainees, refugees, women and children, and survivors of serious violence and conflict around the world. Her work for UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross saw her undertake missions from Papua New Guinea to Jordan, Rwanda, Afghanistan and Haiti.
Ms Myerson is currently a Protection Delegate at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Maungdaw, Myanmar.
Young Alumni Award
Harrison Jones | Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (CRICOS 093908G)
Financier Harrison Jones graduated from Bond in 2015 and joined the Commonwealth’s Bank Corporate Financial Services team. During his time at Bond, he volunteered for numerous charities including the Sony Children’s Holiday Camp, the Australian Red Cross, the Robina Community Legal Centre, the Youth Off The Streets initiative and Cabramatta High School.
Mr Jones was admitted to the legal profession in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2019 and was promoted to an analyst position at the Commonwealth Bank.