After spearheading Australia’s Olympic mission in London, AOC’s Director of Sport and alumnus Fiona de Jong will return to Bond University to address more than 350 graduating Bondies this Saturday, October 6.
Delivering the occasional address at the afternoon ceremony Ms de Jong will share insights into her highly successful international career. Joining the Australian Olympic Committee in 2004, as Director of Sport Ms de Jong is responsible for managing the key aspects of the preparation and implementation of sending Australian Olympic teams to summer, winter and youth Olympic Games.
The former international triathlete and lawyer, graduated from Bond in 1996 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of IT. Prior to joining the AOC, she was a lawyer for international law firm Blake Dawson Waldron and later moved to project managing legal aspects of large eCommerce projects and mergers in the finance industry.
The morning ceremony occasional address will be delivered by Ms Belinda Hutchinson AM, who has more than 30 years’ experience as a highly regarded businesswoman and board member. Currently she is Chairman of QBE Insurance Group, Deputy Chairman of the Centre for Independent Studies, President of Chief Executive Women, and a Director of AGL Energy, St Vincent’s Health Australia, and the Salvation Army Eastern Territory Advisory Board.
Previously Ms Hutchinson has been an Executive Director of Macquarie Group, Vice President of Citibank, and a senior manager at Andersen Consulting. She has previously served on the boards of Telstra Corporation, Coles Myer, Crane Group, Energy Australia, TAB, Snowy Hydro Trading, State Library of NSW and Sydney Water.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Brailsford said graduation was an important moment in the life of a student.
“Graduation is a much-anticipated and happy occasion in a student’s university experience. It is about recognising personal achievement, celebrating with family and friends who have provided support and encouragement, and it signals a transition into either a new or the next stage of a person’s career,” said Professor Brailsford.
“It is an exciting time that the whole Bond community looks forward to. This graduation is extra special as we have a Bondy as one of the occasional address guests. Both Fiona and Belinda are inspirational, high-achieving Australians who have excelled in their careers, it promises to be a great send-off to this graduating cohort,” he said.
Among those graduating are valedictorians Katrina Bell, graduating with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, and Thomas Harrison, graduating with Bachelor of Laws (first class) and Bachelor of International Relations (Business). Both have excelled academically and participated in a wide variety of co-curricular activities during their time at Bond. Joining them is former Olympian and gold medallist Grant Hackett, who graduates with an Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA).