Winners of the 2024 Arts Alumni Awards announced

Six alumni from the Faculty of Arts were presented with Arts Alumni Awards by interim Dean Professor Lesley Stirling at the Arts Awards ceremony on 29 May.

Presented annually, the Arts Alumni Awards recognise alumni who have made valuable contributions across a range of fields both locally and internationally.

Emeritus Redmond Barry Professor Janet McCalman AC was presented with the Contribution to Faculty and University Award. Professor McCalman began teaching at the University of Melbourne in 1998, and in 2008 started specialising in interdisciplinary breadth subjects across both the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. She is an acclaimed author of multi-award-winning books and has received accolades over the years for her contributions to education and the wider community.

Professor Anthony Elliott AM was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work as a leading authority on the digital revolution and artificial intelligence in Australia. Professor Elliott has authored and edited over 50 books, and in 2023 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant contributions to education, social science policy, and research.

Sonia Lim, a trailblazer in cybercrime prevention and women’s empowerment, received the Leadership Award for her collaboration with numerous non-profits. Sonia has spoken publicly on cybercrime prevention at a variety of events, conferences and workshops in Myanmar.

The Leadership Award was also presented to Professor Robert McGauran, the Founding Director of MGS Architects. Robert has dedicated his career to addressing major challenges facing communities and urban environments, which has included working on affordable housing and urban renewal projects that have set industry benchmarks.

The Rising Star Award for Young Alumni was presented to two exceptional recent graduates.

Kareem El-Ansary, a policy strategist and dedicated advocate for effective intergenerational public policy in Australia, was recognised for his work leading campaigns nationally and internationally to enhance the engagement and value of young people in society.

Ann Liang, a young author who has spent multiple weeks on the New York Times bestseller list was celebrated for her contributions to literature and for her engagement with aspiring writers and student-led initiatives.

Read more about the 2024 recipients on the Arts Alumni Awards website.