UOW staff, students and alumni recognised for innovation, leadership, community support in Wollongong Council's annual awards
Inspiring members of the University of Wollongong's (UOW) community have been announced as winners in the annual City of Wollongong Awards, during a fun, celebratory ceremony held last week (Thursday 6 February).
UOW alumni Malika Elizabeth Reese, who graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts in 1992 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1993, was named Citizen of the Year for her groundbreaking campaign to end violence against women and children. A tireless contributor to Wollongong's creative and community service fields, Ms Reese combines her passion for storytelling, music, art, and education to shine a light on and advocate for victim-survivors of abuse.
Jack Brown, a psychology student at UOW, was named Young Citizen of the Year for his work as Director of Talk2MeBro, a charity dedicated to reducing deaths from suicide.
Established in 2018, after Jack lost a family member to suicide, Talk2MeBro has built a strong, inclusive community that supports those struggling with mental health issues and promotes mentally healthy lifestyles. Jack is nearing the completion of his degree at UOW, while devoting himself to Talk2MeBro and working with veterans with PTSD as part of a government organisation.
Talk2MeBro, which has now helped tens of thousands of people, was nominated for Community Group of the Year.
Groundbreaking companies, that were brought to life at UOW's business ideas incubator iAccelerate, were recognised for their immense contribution to the Illawarra community.
Hysata, which is helping companies transition from fossil fuels to green hydrogen, won the Wollongong to the World award. Now based in Port Kembla, and employing close to 100 staff, Hysata is developing the world's most efficient, simple, and reliable electrolyser and has become a globally recognised company at the forefront of the green energy revolution.
RoboFit, led by husband and wife team Daniel Hillyer and Maryanne Harris, is an alumni of iAccelerate and was the winner of the Innovation Achievement Award, which recognises a person or company that has made the most innovative contribution to fields such as science, technology, research, medicine, mathematics or the environment.
RoboFit combines exercise physiology and physiotherapy with Australia's first neuro-controlled exoskeletons. The pioneering company, which the couple founded after Mr Hillyer suffered a spinal cord injury in 2010, helps people with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, including Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Ms Harris graduated from UOW in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science).
UOW's amazing staff and alumni were also recognised in the nominations across the 11 awards categories.
Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, Kelly Andrews, Georgia Watson, Dr Mercedez Hinchcliff, and UOW's Recovery Camp were all nominated for their respective contributions to the Illawarra region.
Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, Director of UOW's business ideas incubator iAccelerate, was shortlisted for the Innovation Achievement Award.
The first in her family to attend university and gain her PhD from UOW, Dr Stutchbury began her career as a scientist before springboarding into a career in entrepreneurship, research impact, and advocacy. A passionate ambassador for Wollongong and an inclusive, extraordinary leader, Dr Stutchbury is on a mission to ensure Wollongong leads Australia in entrepreneurship and economic development. She particularly fosters opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, First Nations people, and regional and rural participants, to grow and thrive in their careers and businesses.
Georgia Watson, an ecologist who is passionate about climate action, biodiversity conservation, and science communication, was nominated for Young Citizen of the Year. Now based at iAccelerate, Ms Watson holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from UOW, and has worked across research initiatives, including Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future and Homeward Bound, that focus on presenting complex scientific issues in an accessible and compelling way, such as the Antarctica Futures exhibition. Ms Watson's multifaceted contributions to the STEM field and to the Wollongong community reflects her dedication to fostering gender equality and advancing ecological science and conservation.
Kelly Andrews, who was nominated for Citizen of the Year, has been a driving force for community health and wellbeing in the Wollongong area. As CEO of Healthy Cities Illawarra, Ms Andrews has focused on the community to foster healthy habits, build resilience, improve health outcomes, and enhance community inclusivity. An Honorary Associate Fellow in UOW's School of Science, Ms Andrews inspires the Wollongong community through her visionary leadership, innovation, and commitment to building partnerships that engage people from all ages and all backgrounds.
Dr Mercedez Hinchcliff, Associate Dean (Education) in UOW's Faculty of Business and Law, was nominated for the Sports Achievement Award. Dr Hinchcliff, an award-winning lecturer,, developed a walking football program with her students as part of a marketing subject, which has grown into the Walk the Field initiative. Last year, Dr Hinchcliff was honoured in the Australian Awards for University Teaching, in the category of Business, Management and Commerce, for her focus on a student-centred approach to teaching and creating a dynamic and engaging teaching environment.
Recovery Camp, a recovery-focused initiative which invites individuals with a lived experience of mental illness to participate in a five-day therapeutic recreation camp in the Australian bush, was nominated for Community Group of the Year in the council awards. Launched in 2012 with 30 participants, Recovery Camp, led by UOW's Professor Lorna Moxham, has grown into a transformative approach to supporting mental health, encompassing hundreds of participants at camps throughout Australia every year.
