University of Melbourne celebrates Indian alumni in Delhi with Melbourne Lord Mayor

L-R: Andrew Rowse – Councillor City of Melbourne, Harshita Gupta Alumna University of Melbourne, Nick Reece Lord Mayor at City of Melbourne, Aalia Khan General Manager at the University of Melbourne's Global Centre Delhi, Michelle Wade Commissioner South Asia at Global Victoria, State Government of Victoria, Australia
L-R: Andrew Rowse – Councillor City of Melbourne, Harshita Gupta Alumna University of Melbourne, Nick Reece Lord Mayor at City of Melbourne, Aalia Khan General Manager at the University of Melbourne's Global Centre Delhi, Michelle Wade Commissioner South Asia at Global Victoria, State Government of Victoria, Australia

The University of Melbourne, together with the City of Melbourne, welcomed Indian alumni, academics and industry to the Melbourne Connections event in Delhi.

Held at the University’s Melbourne Global Centre – Delhi (MGC – D), the gathering coincided with Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece’s first official visit to India.

The event united 20 graduates from four Melbourne universities, celebrating their achievements in shaping industries, research and innovation across India, Australia and the world.

MGC – D Director Professor Muthupandian Ashokkumar highlighted the central role of Indian alumni in the University's relationship with India.

“Our Indian alumni are the heart of our enduring relationship with India. We are proud of their contributions across many fields and remain committed to supporting their journey as part of our global community,” Professor Ashokkumar said.

The Lord Mayor, a University of Melbourne alumnus and Principal Fellow, emphasised the value of global talent and international relationships.

“International students are integral to Melbourne’s community and economy. Indian students are now our largest cohort – and we are proud to be meeting University of Melbourne alumni in Delhi,” Mr Reece said.

“International education builds a human bridge between our two countries that underpins a lifelong, prosperous relationship."

Ms Harshita Gupta, who completed a Master in Management (Marketing) at the University of Melbourne, shared her enriching experience as an international student.

"The University provided strong support for students like me who wanted to grow personally and professionally," Ms Gupta said.

"From meeting people from so many cultures to trying new cuisines, these experiences built my confidence. The campus was always full of energy, with daily events, clubs and creative platforms.

“I had the chance to organise artistic workshops for cultural events like Eid and Diwali, which made me feel valued as an artist and helped me share my creativity with the community."

The University's 1,800-strong alumni community in India spans Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, fostering collaborations across education, research and industry. MGC – D, established in 2024, serves as a hub for lifelong alumni activity and cross-border engagement.