From hospitals and homelessness services to diplomacy, education, sport and sustainability, the 2025 Southern Cross University Alumni Impact Awards celebrate graduates whose leadership and innovation are transforming lives across the globe.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin congratulated this year’s recipients, saying, ‘We take great pride in recognising alumni who are creating positive and lasting change across Australia and the world.’
Here are the 2025 Impact Award winners:
Alumnus of the Year – Dr Kellie Wren. This award recognises Dr Kellie Wren’s innovative approach to shaping the future of healthcare leadership and her more than two decades of service.
As Executive Director of Medical Services at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, Dr Wren says her 2019 Master of Business Administration gave her ‘a whole new toolkit’ to drive positive change in one of Queensland’s most complex health systems.
By blending business insights with clinical acumen, Dr Wren leads the Queensland Clinical Senate, bringing healthcare leaders, medical professionals and consumers together to champion safer, more efficient patient care.
‘Winning this award makes me feel so proud,’ she said. ‘It’s recognition that what I’ve been doing since I graduated is helping people, and that really drives me on to keep fighting for change.’
Young Alumnus of the Year (Joint Winner) – Moesha Johnson. Olympic silver medallist and two-time world champion open water swimmer Moesha Johnson has come full circle, proudly returning to her Northern Rivers roots to be named Young Alumnus of the Year.
A 2020 Biomedical Science graduate and former Elite Student Athlete, Ms Johnson has balanced sporting excellence with academic achievement. Even on the world stage, as she sets her sights on Olympic gold in 2028, her humility remains her hallmark.
‘To still be part of Southern Cross after all these years shows that you might only be at uni for three years, but you’re part of that community for life.’
Young Alumnus of the Year (Joint Winner) – Emily Williams. Torres Strait Islander Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Social Science graduate (2020) Emily Williams is honoured for her distinguished service to Australia as Consul at the Consulate-General in Nouméa.
Her leadership during the 2024 New Caledonia civil unrest helped coordinate emergency evacuations for more than 500 people.
‘Every time I represent Australia overseas, my culture grounds me,’ said Ms Williams. ‘It reminds me where I come from and why I do what I do.’
Through her work, she has connected with First Nations communities across the Pacific and represented Australia at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
‘At Southern Cross, I always felt seen. My lecturers supported every crazy idea, and helped me make them real.’
Early Career Alumnus of the Year – Grant Grierson. Curiosity and play are at the heart of great teaching for Master of Education graduate, Grant Grierson.
His robotics and engineering students are designing real-world solutions – from communication tools for refugees to AI programs detecting lung disease – guided by his philosophy that ‘learning should feel like discovery’.
Mr Grierson is awarded for his passion for innovation and inclusion, particularly encouraging girls in STEM, which has made him a role model for the next generation of educators.
‘If you feel like you’ve plateaued, ask yourself: is this really where you want to stop? Push yourself a little bit further,’ he suggests.
International Alumnus of the Year – Professor Sisira Ediriweera. Forestry ecologist, Sri Lankan university leader and community conservationist, Professor Sisira Ediriweera is recognised for his two decades nurturing both ecosystems and young scientists.
A 2013 Southern Cross PhD graduate, Professor Ediriweera’s research on rainforest biomass using LiDAR technology helped pioneer new methods in global forest monitoring. As Dean at Uva Wellassa University, he has built research programs, restored degraded forests and mentored a generation of scientists.
‘Science must serve society,’ said Professor Ediriweera. ‘Southern Cross showed me what’s possible in research-led education, and I’ve tried to bring that spirit home.’
Professor Ediriweera’s 2026 Fulbright Scholarship to Yale University will extend his international collaborations on sustainability and community-based conservation.
Community Impact Award – Theresa Mitchell. Founder of Agape Outreach Inc., Theresa Mitchell has transformed personal hardship into a lifeline for thousands experiencing homelessness and food insecurity across the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast.
A double graduate of Southern Cross with a Bachelor and Honours in Psychological Science (2022/2023), Ms Mitchell’s approach is one of practicality and compassion.
‘Homelessness isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about belonging,’ she said. ‘The most important thing we give isn’t food, it’s unconditional, sacrificial love.’
Agape now supports more than 1,500 people each week through food rescue and meal delivery, mental health services and life-skills programs. Theresa Mitchell plans to extend her impact through PhD research quantifying the true cost of homelessness.
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