Recipients of 2024 Alumni Impact Awards announced

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Six outstanding Southern Cross University graduates have been recognised as the 2024 Alumni of the Year.

The Alumni Impact Awards celebrate the outstanding professional, research and community impact of graduates in their chosen fields.

From urban agriculture and saving the reef to caring for others, business innovation and research, these alumni champion the Southern Cross University ethos of striving for excellence.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin congratulated this year's award recipients.

"As we commemorate our thirtieth year as a university, we celebrate the people, the values and the achievements that make Southern Cross such an extraordinary institution.

This year's Alumni Impact Award recipients are an outstanding example of this. Through entrepreneurship, research, social and environmental activism these graduates have created lasting, positive change and a brighter, more sustainable future," he said.

Congratulations to our 2024 Impact Award winners:

Alumnus of the Year - Jonathan Freeman

Jonathan 'Jono' Freeman is the Founder and CEO of Club Active, one of Australia's leading over-50s health and fitness exercise physiology clinics. The organisation's mission is 'to change the way our members age' through individually tailored exercise programs led by university-qualified allied health professionals.

Jono is a graduate of the Bachelor of Exercise Science and Nutrition and has provided mentorship, guidance, and hands-on experience to the University's aspiring exercise physiologists, supporting them during their degree, clinical placements and employment opportunities at Club Active. As an accredited exercise physiologist, he encourages others to create a lasting positive impact on health and wellbeing.

"What gets me out of bed in the morning is knowing that we can change people's lives," Jono said.

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This year two recipients were announced for the Young Alumnus of the Year Award:

Young Alumnus of the Year - Jessica McEvoy

Nursing graduate Jessica McEvoy was nominated for her outstanding dedication to improving patient care in acute mental health services.

As the Nurse Unit Manager of the Coffs Harbour Acute Mental Health Unit, Jessica is recognised as an inspirational leader and manager, dedicated to her staff's growth, effective workplace change, and enhancing care for patients with mental illness.

Jessica studied a Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Healthcare Leadership at Southern Cross University, is a proud 2024 Australian College of Nursing Bullwinkel Scholar, and is completing her Bachelor of Innovation with Honours and a Master of Mental Health Nursing with Southern Cross University - all while continuing to inspire her staff and helping redefine how mental health care is delivered. Read more

Young Alumnus of the Year - Andrew Nichols

Masters of Business Administration (MBA) graduate and commercial manager Andrew Nichols is a born entrepreneur, co-founder of a unique fragrance brand called Mr Hux.

He has successfully combined his corporate experience with a passion for creating accessible, genderless fragrances.

Inspired by his dog Huxley, Andrew and his partner have made Mr Hux the only Australian fragrance brand to cater to the visually impaired community by incorporating braille on their packaging.

Committed to sustainability, they ensure all packaging is recyclable or reusable. Andrew credits his MBA from Southern Cross University for helping him navigate the challenges of starting and growing his own business. Read more

Early Career Alumnus of the Year - Georgia Page

Nominated for her remarkable dual career as an elite athlete and healthcare professional, our Early Career Alumnus of the Year Georgia Page is a former professional athlete and osteopath whose contributions extend beyond the field.

Georgia has competed at the highest levels of rugby, having played for the St George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership, as well as the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NSWRL Women's Premiership. Her rugby union experience includes playing for the Melbourne Rebels in the Super W, further showcasing her versatility and dedication to the sport.

Georgia studied a Bachelor of Clinical Science (Osteopathic Studies) and a Master of Osteopathic Medicine and is now pursuing a PhD, focusing on strategies to reduce head injuries in women's rugby league, one of the most pressing issues in contact sports today. Read more

International Alumnus of the Year - Dr Dexter Dela Cruz

Dr Dexter Dela Cruz came to Southern Cross University as a recipient of an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) John Allwright Fellowship and completed his PhD in 2019 supervised by Southern Cross University's Distinguished Professor Peter Harrison.

Dexter's work in coral reef restoration, particularly through the Larval Enhancement Method, has gained international recognition. Now a postdoctoral research scientist at Southern Cross University, Dexter is also a key researcher and field coordinator for the $2.5 million ACIAR coral restoration project in the Philippines.

"I am always a student, absorbing everything I can to improve my knowledge and capacity to make a difference," he said. Read more

Community Impact Award - David Sivyer

Nominated for his outstanding contributions to sustainable agriculture and circular economy practices, David Sivyer is the visionary founder of Feedback Organic Recovery, New South Wales's pioneering circular urban agriculture organisation.

Through his innovative approach, the Southern Cross University business graduate has diverted more than two million litres of food waste from landfills, transforming it into compost to grow organic food. His work not only addresses environmental issues but also fosters community engagement and education.

David's dedication to sustainability has earned him numerous accolades, including a Student Entrepreneur of the Year award and recognition as a Hunter Hero in sustainability. Read more

Visit scu.edu.au/alumni-impact-awards to learn more about these inspiring #alumniofSCU.