Graduations

Guest speakers - by year

The following lists all guest speakers at graduation ceremonies from 2006 plus a small selection from earlier years

1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Also see:
— Guest speakers: by name, by date
— Photo galleries: 2006, 2007, 2008

1998

Professor Anthony Basten, 30 April 1998 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Professor of Immunology and Director of the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology

1999

The Hon Justice Mary Gaudron, 29 October 1999 (Faculty of Law, Graduate School of Business and Faculty of Education graduation ceremony) - occasional address
High Court of Australia

2000

Professor Judith Whitworth, 25 May 2000 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University in Canberra
Chris Sidoti, 25 May 2000 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Human Rights Commissioner

2001

The Hon John Hatzistergos, MLC, 26 October 2001 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony) - occasional address

2002

The Hon. John Watkins, 22 March 2002 (Faculty of Education graduation ceremony) - occasional address
NSW Minister for Education and Training
The Hon Dennis Mahoney AO QC, 24 May 2002 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Former President of the Court of Appeal

2003

Associate Professor Johanna Westbrook, 4 April 2003 (Faculty of Nursing graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Deputy Director, Clinical Centre for Health Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW
Rhoda Roberts, 23 May 2003 (Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Social Work graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Indigenous Australian and arts consultant

2004

The Hon J J Spigelman AC, 28 May 2004 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Chief Justice of NSW

2005

Emeritus Professor Donald Horne AO, 29 April 2005 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Writer and lecturer, Emeritus Professor, University of New South Wales
Professor Germaine Greer, 4 November 2005 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Internationally acclaimed writer, broadcaster and academic
Photo below, courtesy University Publications:

2006

Ms JulieAnne Anderson, 2.00pm, 31 March 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Occupational therapy consultant, health and policy advisor
Professor Charles Areni, 2.00pm, 2 June 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Professor of Marketing, University of Sydney
Mr Neil Armfield, 4.00pm, 21 April 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Theatre, opera, film and television director
Professor Roslyn Arnold, 4.00pm, 24 March 2006 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania
Dr Adrienne Bennett, 4.00pm, 5 May 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Psychologist
Professor Max Bennett, 2.00pm, 20 October 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Professor of Neuroscience and Scientific Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute. Professor Bennett is well known to many of the new graduates, as his work in medical science, in particular in neurological physiology is acclaimed internationally. Professor Bennett graduated in Electrical Engineering in the University of Melbourne and then proceeded to a PhD in Zoology. Shortly thereafter he was invited to join our Department of Physiology where he founded the Neurobiology Laboratory. In 1982 the Laboratory’s prowess was recognised as Professor Bennett received the largest personal grant from the Commonwealth Government’s Centre of Excellence programme. His research has been concerned with the formation and function of synaptic connections between nerve cells, on the history and philosophy of brain sciences and on science policy. Professor Bennett was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Science in 1977; in 1981 he was elected to the Australian Academy of Science and in 1983 he was appointed to a personal Chair, only the second in the history of the University. In the world of the Neurosciences, Professor Bennett is much in demand as a speaker and his research work has garnered a string of honours culminating in 1998 with the award of the Burnett Medal from the Academy ‘for research of the highest order in the biological sciences’.
Mr Andrew Boulus, 11.30am, 28 April 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony) - occasional address
National Manager, Education & Research, Sun Microsystems
Associate Professor Richard Broinowski, 4.00pm, 9 June 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Media and Communications, University of Sydney
Dr Murray Cameron, 4.00pm, 19 May 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Chief, CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, CSIRO
Emeritus Professor John Chalmers AM, 3.00pm, 13 June 2006 (part of the Faculty of Medicine’s 150th birthday celebrations)
Professor of Medicine and Senior Director, The George Institute for International Health
Professor Graeme Clark, 11.30am, 16 June 2006 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony)
Founder and Director Emeritus, The Bionic Ear Institute
Professor Andrew Coats, 2.00pm, 16 June 2006 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Community) and former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney
Dr Jill Ker Conway, 2.00pm, 12 May 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Historian, feminist, literary scholar and writer
Mr Peter Core, 4.00pm, 31 March 2006 (Faculties of Veterinary Science and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources graduation ceremony)
Director of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
Professor Hans Coster, 9.30am, 26 May 2006 (Faculty of Engineering graduation ceremony)
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Sydney
Ms Louise Davis, 9.30am, 28 April 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Corporate Community Relations, IBM Asia-Pacific
Mr Ralph Doubell, 11.30am, 31 March 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Olympic Gold medallist and former world record holder, Director of the NSW Institute of Sport from 2001-3, Australian Marketing Manager and NSW State Manager of the Rushton Group, one of the largest independent valuation firms in Australia.
Ms Kerry Doyle, 9.30am, 5 May 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Executive Director, NSW Ministry for Science and Medical Research
Professor Alan Dupont, 2.00pm, 13 October 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Foundation Michael Hintze Chair of International Security and Director of the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney
Professor Ernest Edmonds, 11.30am, 21 April 2006 (Faculty of Architecture graduation ceremony)
Professor of Computation and Creative Media, Faculty of Information Technology, UTS
Emeritus Professor Robin Fraser, 4.00pm, 24 November 2006 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony)
Formerly of the Department of Pathology of the University of Otago. Professor Fraser graduated in Medicine at the University of Sydney, and went on to complete his doctorate in experimental pathology at the Australian National University. There followed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago before he returned to a Senior Lectureship at Sydney. In 1974 he moved to New Zealand and was one of the first sub-Professorial appointments at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Here he made a major contribution to the understanding of liver disease and developed an international reputation for his elucidation of how the body handles dietary fats, and the implications for arterial and liver disease. In 1987 he was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Otago and the following year was appointed inaugural Associate Dean of Research. He holds senior research appointments here in Sydney and regularly publishes scholarly papers. He continues to supervise research students.
Mr George Frazis, 11.30am, 2 June 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Executive General Manager, NAB
Professor Geoff Gallop, 11.30am, 13 October 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Director, Graduate School of Government, University of Sydney
Dr Wayne Gerlach, 4.00pm, 2 June 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Executive Director, Biotechnology, Johnson & Johnson
Professor Malcolm Gillies, 2.00pm, 7 April 2006 (Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery graduation ceremony)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, ANU
Adjunct Professor Libby Gleeson, 9.30am, 15 December 2006 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
Award-winning writer of children's novels, and former teacher in secondary and tertiary institutions
Professor Susan Groundwater Smith, 9.30am, 7 April 2006 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney
The Hon Justice Peter Hall, 9.30am, 24 November 2006 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony)
Justice Hall graduated in Arts and Law from this University and commenced practice in 1970. A few years later he completed a masters degree and was admitted to the Bar. In 1991 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. As a barrister, his main field of practice was common law and industrial law with a more focussed interest in issues of duress and unconscionable dealing in contract law. In addition, he was much in demand to assist or even conduct, Commissions of Enquiry – most notably perhaps the Royal Commission into the Building Industry and as an Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. An outstanding career was capped with his appointment to the Common law and Criminal Divisions of the Supreme Court in 2005.
Ms Dorothy Hoddinott, 2.00pm, 28 April 2006 (Faculty of Education and Social Work and Board of Studies in Indigenous Studies graduation ceremony)
Principal of Holroyd High School
Professor Newell Johnson, 11.30am, 15 December 2006 (Faculty of Dentistry graduation ceremony)
Foundation Dean and Head of the School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University
Emeritus Professor Edwin Judge, 4.00pm, 12 May 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Founding Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University 1969-93
Mr Lou Klepac AM, 11.30am, 20 October 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Curator, art critic and author.
Dr John Laker, 2.00pm, 26 May 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Chair of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
Professor Lawrence J Lau, 2.00pm, 4 November 2006 (University of Sydney graduation ceremony in Hong Kong) - occasional address
Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Bryan Lawson, 11.30am, 24 November 2006 (Faculty of Architecture graduation ceremony)
Architect and psychologist, and Dean of Architectural Studies at the University of Sheffield. After his architectural training he completed a masters degree then his doctorate in psychology. His study of the design process led to the publications ‘How Designers Think’, and ‘Design in Mind’ and he consults internationally on the relationship between architectural space and human behaviour. His research group have developed tools used by the British and Irish Health Services in the design of health care and therapeutic environments. In addition, Professor Lawson is Distinguished Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore and at the University of Technology of Malaysia.
Mr Daniel Lunney, 2.00pm, 19 May 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Principal Research Scientist, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation
Dr William Mansell, 11.30am, 26 May 2006 (Faculty of Engineering graduation ceremony)
Managing Director, Chadwick Technology Pty Limited
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, 3.00pm, 13 June 2006 (part of the Faculty of Medicine’s 150th birthday celebrations)
Director of the International Centre for Health and Society and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College, University of London
Dr Frank Martin, 11.30am, 5 May 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Adjunct Associate Professor, Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Justice Peter McClellan, 9.30am, 19 May 2006 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony)
Supreme Court of NSW
Ms June McPhie, 11.30am, 19 May 2006 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony)
President of the Law Society
Mr Charles Merewether, 4.00pm, 28 April 2006 (Sydney College of the Arts graduation ceremony)
Curator and Artistic Director, Sydney Biennale
Professor Margaret Miller, 9.30am, 20 October 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
The Arthur and Renee George Professor of Archaeology at the University of Sydney. Professor Miller graduated with first class honours from the University of British Columbia and Oxford then completed her doctorate at Harvard. Her first appointment was to the classics department at McMaster University where she enhanced her scholarly reputation. There followed appointments at the University of Toronto before she took up her appointment here in 2005. The Chair that Professor Miller holds the Arthur and Renee George Chair has been held by some very distinguished archaeologists – one thinks of Alexander Cambitoglou and more recently Richard Green. Such was her standing that few were surprised when the Chair was offered to her and all were delighted when she accepted. Professor Miller’s work focuses on ancient Greek relations with and responses to the Near east, the archaeology of Anatolia in the Persian period and ancient Greek social life and she has led excavations in Greece, at Mytilene and Corinth, and in Turkey and Egypt.
Mr Max Moore-Wilton AC, 4.00pm, 13 October 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
An Executive Director of Macquarie Bank and Chairman of Macquarie Airports, Chairman of Sydney Airport Corporation Limited and President of the Airport Council International (ACI) Asia/Pacific Region, and member of the Advisory Council for the Graduate School of Government, University of Sydney.
Adjunct Professor Belinda Moyes, 4.00pm, 7 April 2006 (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery graduation ceremony)
Chair, National Nursing and Nurse Education Taskforce
Mrs Roslyn Poignant, 2.00pm, 21 April 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Anthropologist, curator and writer
Mr Stephen Roberts, 9.30am, 12 May 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
CEO, Citigroup
Justice Geoffrey Robertson QC, 11.30am, 7 April 2006 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Barrister, Founder and Head, Doughty Street Chambers and Appeal Judge, UN Special Court for Sierra Leone
Dr Greg Roger, 2.00pm, 24 November 2006 (Faculties of Engineering and Nursing graduation ceremony)
A medical graduate of the University of Sydney. Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering. Whilst studying Medicine, Dr Roger developed a keen interest in orthopaedic medicine and was fascinated by medical prosthetic problems. This enthusiasm led to him completing a masters degree in Engineering and a new career in orthopaedic engineering. One of his innovations was the highly successful ‘Active Knee’ prothesis and to develop it he set up his own company which has subsequently helped other Australian surgeons to design and bring to commercial success, their innovations. In 2004, Dr Roger received a Clunies Ross Award and in 2005, the Warren Centre Hero of Innovation Award.
Professor Reuben Rose, 4.00pm, 15 December 2006 (Faculties of Veterinary Science and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources graduation ceremony)
Meat & Livestock Australia
Datuk Rafiah Salim, 20 September 2006 (University of Sydney graduation ceremony in Kuala Lumpur) - occasional address
Vice-Chancellor, University of Malaya
Professor Peter Schofield, 9.30am, 16 June 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
CEO, Prince of Wales Hospital
Mr Mark Scott, 4.00pm, 26 May 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Managing Director, ABC
Professor Shih Choon Fong, 28 September 2006 (University of Sydney graduation ceremony in Singapore) - occasional address
President, National University of Singapore
Mr Joseph Skrzynski AM, 9.30am, 2 June 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Managing Director of Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners group (CHAMP), and Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate as well as Chair of the Senate's Investment and Commercialisation Committee.
Mr Adam Spencer, 9.30am, 31 March 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate, Host of the ABC 702 breakfast show, Triple J Breakfast Radio Host 1998-2004, Host of The Quantum Science Show 1997-2000, appearances on ABC’s The Glasshouse, Good Newsweek, The Fat and Grandstand Sport, and Coach University of Sydney Women’s Soccer 4th Grade.
Dr Alastair Stone, 9.30am, 13 October 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Managing Director, Pacific Infrastructure
Mr David Stratton, 2.00pm, 9 June 2006 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Director of the Sydney Film Festival 1966 to 1983, film critic, author and television presenter, presenter for the Centre for Continuing Education since 1991
Dr Norman Swan, 3.00pm, 13 June 2006 (part of the Faculty of Medicine’s 150th birthday celebrations)
Radio and television presenter, producer and journalist on health and medical matters
Mr Richard Vahtrick, 4.00pm, 20 October 2006 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Vice-President, Finance of IBM Global Technology Services Asia Pacific. Richard Vahtrick graduated in Science in this University and spent his early career in banking, pharmaceutical research and distribution industries. But it was with IBM that he found his niche and where he now in the Chief Executive Officer of their US9billion services business in the Asia Pacific region where his major interests are corporate risk management, the provision of financial innovation to support technical innovation and developing and mentoring global financial talent.
Mr Che Wall, 9.30am, 21 April 2006 (Faculty of Architecture graduation ceremony)
Environmental engineer, Lincolne Scott Engineers
Mr Max Walsh, 11.30am, 12 May 2006 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Editor-at-Large, The Bulletin
Professor Wang Shenghong, 31 October 2006 (inaugural University of Sydney graduation ceremony in Shanghai)
President of Fudan University
Dr Lyn Weekes, 9.30am and 11.30am, 24 March 2006 (Faculty of Pharmacy graduation ceremony)
CEO, National Prescribing Service
Ms Jane Woodruff, 2.00pm, 15 December 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
CEO, Uniting Care Burnside
Photo below, Memento Photography:

Professor Ken Wyatt, 2.00pm, 5 May 2006 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Director, Aboriginal Health, NSW Department of Health

2007

Professor Vassilios Agelidis, 4.00pm, 30 November 2007 (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies graduation ceremony)
EnergyAustralia Professor of Power in Engineering, University of Sydney
Dr Bruce Baker, 2.00pm, 27 April 2007 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Linguist, inventor, scientist and entrepreneur, from the University of Pittsburgh
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, 10 November 2007 (graduation ceremony held in Beijing, China).
Chancellor, the University of Sydney
Dr John Bennett AM, 11.30am, 1 June 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Lawyer and legal historian, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Dr Kerrie Bigsworth, 2.00pm, 4 May 2007 (Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning graduation ceremony)
Director of the New South Wales Office for Women
Dr Paul Brock AM, 2.00pm, 30 November 2007 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
Director of Learning and Development Research with the NSW Department of Education and Training. He is responsible for supporting quality teaching, learning and accountability for student learning outcomes. Paul has recently released his book called "A Passion for Life – An Inspiring Story of Resilience and Hope".
Lyn Bronger, 9.30am, 23 March 2007 (Faculty of Pharmacy graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Pharmacist and pharmacy educator, and recipient of an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Sydney
Geraldine Brooks, 11.30am, 30 March 2007 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner (in 2006, for her novel “March”), journalist and war correspondent, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Gillian Calvert, 2.00pm, 30 March 2007 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People
Dr Peter Chippendale, 2.00pm, 20 April 2007 (Faculty of Education and Social Work and the Board of Studies in Indigenous Studies graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Scholar in the early history of the University of Sydney, co-author of "Australia’s First, A history of the University of Sydney" volume 1 1850-1939, author of many researched articles published in the Archives journal, "Record" and recipient of the title of Honorary Fellow of the University.
Dr Christine Clarke, 9.30am, 6 December 2007 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony)
Cancer Institute NSW Fellow and research group leader in Translational Oncology, Westmead Institute for Cancer Research
John Conde, 9.30am, 25 May 2007 (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies graduation ceremony)
Chairman of Energy Australia
Professor Chris Cunningham, 11.30am, 27 April 2007 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Director of the Research Centre for Maori Health and Development at Massey University in New Zealand
Frederick Rawdon Dalrymple AO, 2.00pm, 18 May 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Former Australian Ambassador to Israel, Indonesia, the USA and Japan, Honorary Associate in the Faculty of Economics and Business and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Science in Economics
Professor Johann de Vries, 11.30am, 14 December 2007 (Faculty of Dentistry graduation ceremony)
Dean of the School of Dentisty, University of Adelaide
Professor Robert Dixon, 9.30am, 26 October 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Graduate in Arts of the University of Sydney and subsequently, Doctor of Philosophy. He was appointed Professor of Australian Literature in 2007, a chair that was created in 1963 and remains the only permanent chair in Australian literature in the country.
Dr Tim Entwisle, 2.00pm, 26 October 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, where he has responsibility for the Sydney gardens, including the Domain, and the Mount Tomah and Mount Annan gardens. He was recently appointed, New South Wales Government Botanist.
Bill Ferris AO, 2.00pm, 19 October 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Mr Ferris graduated in Economics from the University of Sydney and is Executive Chairman, CHAMP Private Equity. In 1990, Mr Ferris was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contribution to industry and the export sector, both manufacturing and services. His has been a long and distinguished career of wealth creation, industry reform and philanthropy. He chairs the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and in 2005, set up the Ferris Family Foundation to assist worthy charitable causes.
Rachel Trixie Anne, Baroness Gardner of Parkes, 9.30am, 4 April 2007 (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery graduation ceremony)
A founder member and long-standing Vice-President of the Sydney University UK Alumni Association, and recipient of the title of Honorary Fellow of the University
Professor Jürgen Götz, 11.30am, 15 June 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Brain and Mind Institute
The Honourable Nick Greiner AC, 11.30am, 19 October 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Mr Greiner graduated in Economics from the University of Sydney and was formerly Premier and Treasurer of New South Wales. On leaving politics in 1992, he returned to the business world and is currently Chairman of Bradken Limited, Bilfinger Berger Australia, United Utilities Australia and The Nuance Group. He is Deputy Chairman of Stockland Trust and a Director of QBE Insurance and McGuigan Simeon Wines. In 1994 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for public sector reform and management and services to the community.
The Hon Justice Kenneth Robert Handley AO, 9.30am, 11 May 2007 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony)
A distinguished barrister and judge, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws
Elaine Henry, 11.30am, 20 April 2007 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
Chief Executive Officer of The Smith Family
The Hon Justice John Dyson Heydon AC, 11.30am, 11 May 2007 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony)
A distinguished barrister and judge, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws
Professor Ian Hickie, 11.30am, 13 April 2007 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony)
Professor of Psychiatry and Executive Director of the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute
Professor Jennifer Hodgson, 4.00pm, 14 December 2007 (Faculty of Veterinary Science and Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural resources graduation ceremonies)
Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, USA; Veterinary Science graduate of the University of Sydney and former Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Veterinary Science
Martin Hoffman, 9.30am, 19 October 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Mr Hoffman graduated in Economics from the University of Sydney, and is Chief Executive Officer of Loop Mobile Limited, an international provider of mobile social networking services, focused on 3G networks, and targeting the youth and young adult demographic. He is also a director and the honorary treasurer of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and a director of the Sydney International Film Festival.
Mrs Gail Kelly, 4.00pm, 8 June 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of St George Bank
Paul John Kelly, 11.30am, 18 May 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Editor-at-Large of The Australian, Adjunct Professor of Journalism at the University of Queensland and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Science in Economics
The Honourable Ros Kelly AO, 2.00pm, 1 June 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Ms Kelly graduated in Arts and Education at this University and after a short spell in teaching and business began her political career at the age of 24. She spent 15 years in the House of Representatives, stepping down in 1995. In that time she served in the ministry and held Cabinet responsibilities for the Environment, Sport, Art, Tourism and Territories. After politics Ms Kelly worked at the interface of the environment and the mining industry. In 2000 she was appointed strategic advisor to the international consultancy, Group Earth Resources Management. In 2005 she became Chair of the ERM Foundation. Ms Kelly was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004 for services to the community promoting corporate environmental responsibility and fostering dialogue between business and conservation groups; and also for her service to the Australian Parliament and women’s health.
Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian, 11.30am, 8 June 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Chairperson and CEO of the Community Relations Commission of NSW, and President and CEO of the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Professor Kiaran Kirk, 9.30am, 15 June 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Head of the School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at ANU
Dr Phillip Knightley AM, 9.30am, 8 June 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Author and journalist, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Professor Richard Larkins, 2.00pm, 13 April 2007 (Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony)
Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University
Professor Jocalyn Lawler, 9.30am, 14 December 2007 (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery; Sydney Conservatorium of Music; and other faculties graduation ceremonies) - occasional address
Dean, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery
Associate Professor Catharine Lumby, 9.30am, 1 June 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
Department of Media and Communications and inaugural Chair of the Department
Dr Karen Luxford, 11.30am, 6 December 2007 (Faculty of Health Science graduation ceremony)
General Manager, National Breast Cancer Centre
Andrew Main, 4.00pm, 19 October 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Mr Main is Business Editor of the Australian. His extensive coverage of the HIH collapse resulted in a book, ‘Other Peoples’s Money’. A few years later he followed with a biography of the controversial Sydney stockbroker Rene Rivkin. His eminence in business reporting has been long acknowledged and in 2004 recognized with the Gold Walkely.
Professor Ron McCallum AO, 9.30am, 30 November 2007 (Faculty of Law graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney
Dr Douglas McGregor, 11.30am, 23 March 2007 (Faculty of Pharmacy graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Scientist in the field of cellular immunology and infectious disease, Director of Leadership and Training Initiatives in the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Veterinary Science
Professor William Mitchell, 4.00pm, 23 March 2007 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
Alexander W Dreyfus Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences, Director of the Design Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Visiting Professor in the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture, and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Science in Architecture
Dr David Morgan, 4.00pm, 1 June 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Westpac Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
David Mortimer, 2.00pm, 11 May 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
Chairman of Australia Post
Dr Ann Moyal AM, 11.30am, 26 October 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Historian of Australian science; and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.
Paul Priday, 4.00pm, 11 May 2007 (Faculty of Economics and Business graduation ceremony)
A member of the Advisory Committee and Adjunct Lecturer to the Faculty’s Discipline of Marketing
Professor Krithivasan Ramamrithram, 4.00pm, 25 May 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Head of the School of IT at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Science
Professor Paul Redding, 4.00pm, 20 April 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Member of the Philosophy Department and recently appointed to a personal chair in Philosophy
Professor Colin Rhodes, 9.30am, 13 April 2007 (Sydney College of the Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Dean and Director of Sydney College of the Arts
Dr Phil Robertson, 4.00pm, 26 October 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Chief Operating Officer of the National Information and Communications Technology Research Centre.
Murray Sayle, 11.30am, 4 May 2007 (Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony)
A distinguished career in journalism in both Australia and Britain with a substantial contribution to national public life; and and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters
Vince Sorrenti, 11.30am, 30 November 2007 (Sydney College of the Arts graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Comedian, entertainer and scriptwriter
Photo below, Memento Photography:

Adam Spencer
- 9.30am, 20 April 2007 (Faculty of Education and Social Work graduation ceremony)
- 9.30am, 27 April 2007 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Radio and television presenter and graduate Fellow of Senate
Professor George S Springer, 11.30am, 25 May 2007 (Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies graduation ceremony)
Paul Pigott Professor of Engineering at Stanford University and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering
Peter Thornton, 2.00pm, 25 May 2007 (Faculties of Engineering and Information Technologies, and Science graduation ceremony)
General Manager (Strategy and Planning) of WorleyParsons Rail – a leading provider of public and private sectors transportation needs
Professor John Toon, 4.00pm, 4 May 2007 (Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning graduation ceremony)
From the Chancellor's introduction: An architect and perhaps more particularly, a planner, of distinction, who has served the Faculty of Architecture well. Professor Toon trained in the United Kindom and taught Town Planning at the University of Nottingham till 1960 when he took up a position here in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Promotion followed and he was appointed Head of Department in 1982, a position he held till 1992. Till his retirement in 2004, he was the Director of the University’s Planning Research Centre. Professor Toon’s professional experience is extremely wide ranging – from the post-War construction of a new Coventry Cathedral and major redevelopments in London to preparation of the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Scheme, and through a Leverhulme Scholarship, major projects in Indonesia including the Djakarta metropolitan transport plan. I have listed just some of the highlights. Professor Toon has at various times been retained by industry, the bureaucracy, and government. And although, retired from the University is still keenly sought out for his expert opinions. Right at this moment he is preparing material for books on town planning practice, the making of urban Australia, the formative years of Sydney and the theory of urban design. With that list of credits I can’t think of a more appropriate person to talk to our new graduates.
Professor Richard Trethowan, 9.30am, 4 May 2007 (Faculties of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and Veterinary Science graduation ceremony) - occasional address
Director of the University’s Plant Breeding Institute at Narrabri
Mary Turner, 11.30am, 4 April 2007 (Sydney Conservatorium of Music graduation ceremony)
A quiet achiever in the artistic world of music and painting, Mary Turner was raised on a country property in the central west of New South Wales. She studied art, and through this came into contact with the Macquarie Galleries, the pre-eminent commercial gallery in New South Wales. In 1956 she became a co-Director. The partner ship was extremely successful and spanned a period of 23 years. Subsequently she, and her husband Godfrey, transferred their activities to Canberra. In 1981 she retired, as she embarked on a long term ambition – to create a 20th century Australian art collection for the benefit of the people of Orange and surrounding areas. the collection, which she gifted to the City of Orange contains works by Grace Cossington Smith and Sidney Nolan to name but two. Not content with that, she oversaw the funding and completion of the Orange Regional Gallery where the collection is housed. With this behind her, Mary Turner turned to her other love – music, where again her energies were directed to rural New South Wales through the Orange Music Association and its plans for expansion and excellence. Much has come to fruition – the Association has gained regional conservatorium status and acquired an auditorium and studio complex. And all this since she ‘retired’.
Professor Tony Underwood, 2.00pm, 8 June 2007 (Faculty of Science graduation ceremony)
Director of the Centre for Research on the Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities
Professor Graeme Watts, 9.30am, 30 March 2007 (Faculty of Health Sciences graduation ceremony)
Former Academic Director of the Kolej Antabarabangsa (Malaysia), Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Sydney University and Head of Cumberland College of Health Sciences
Professor Zheng, 14 November 2007 (graduation ceremony held in Guangzhou, China, for graduates from the Pearl River Delta area: Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macao).
President, Sun Yat Sen University

2008

2008 graduation speakers

Senate