Occasional speakers

The Occasional Speakers' address is a highlight of the graduation ceremony. Over the years, Southern Cross University has been fortunate to feature some truly exceptional Occasional Speakers at our ceremonies.

2025 Graduation Ceremonies

Lismore Occasional Speaker Professor Tyrone Carlin 9 October 2025 4pm

Lismore Occasional Speaker Councillor Steve Krieg 9 October 2025 1pm

Lismore Occasional Speaker Mr Murat Dizdar 9 October 2025 10am

Melbourne Occasional Speaker Mrs Georgina Downer September 12 2025

Coffs Harbour Occasional Speaker Mr Jonathan Freeman 27 June 2025

Sydney Occasional Speaker Mr Alister Henskens SC MP 30 May 2025

Gold Coast Occasional Speaker Ms Sharon Hunneybell 16 April 2025 5pm

Gold Coast Occasional Speaker Professor Mary Spongberg 16 April 2025 1pm

Gold Coast Occasional Speaker Mr Hermann Vorster MP 16 April 2025 9am

Gold Coast Occasional Speaker Distinguished Professor Anne Graham 15 April 2025 5pm

Gold Coast Occasional Speaker Ms Julie Granger 15 April 2025 1pm

2024 Graduation Ceremonies

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Thomas Roche 11 October 2024 3pm

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Scott Aplin 11 October 2024 12pm

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Ms Monika Wheeler 11 October 2024 9am

Melbourne Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Thomas Roche 13 September 2024 10am

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Les Christidis 21 June 2024 2pm

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Pat Conaghan MP 21 June 2024 10.30am

Sydney Graduation Occasional Speaker The Honourable David Elliot 21 May 2024 10am

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Julie Jomeen 2 February 2024 6.30pm

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Julie Jomeen 2 February 2024 2.30pm

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Ms Jules Allen 2 February 2024 10.30am

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles 1 February 2024 5.30pm

2023 Graduation Ceremonies

Lismore Graduation Ceremony Occasional Speaker Professor Jon Hill 29 September 2023 2pm

Lismore Graduation Ceremony Occasional Speaker Dr Stephen Van Mil 29 September 2023 10am

Melbourne Graduation Ceremony Occasional Speaker Professor Mike Ewing 1 September 2023 10am

Gold Coast Graduation Ceremony Occasional Speaker Mr Dermot O'Gorman 5 April 2023 2pm

Gold Coast Graduation Ceremony Occasional Speaker Ms Karen Phillips 5 April 2023 10am

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Stuart Cook 20 June 2023 11am

Sydney Graduation Occasional Speaker Nicholas Burton Taylor AM 24 February 2023 3pm

2022 Graduation Ceremonies

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Justin Harrison 13 December 2022 5.30pm

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Ben Cox 13 December 2022 1.30pm

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Mrs Laura Gerber MP 13 December 2022 9.30am

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Mrs Jane Laverty 5 November 2022 2pm

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Damian Chapelle 5 November 2022 10am

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker John Stewart 10 September 2022 2pm

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Pasi Sahlberg 10 September 2022 11am

Sydney Graduation Occasional Speaker Nic Brown 20 August 2022 2pm

Sydney Graduation Occasional Speaker Lisa Blair 20 August 2022 10am

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Jennene Buckley 30 June 2022 5.30pm

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Miss Amanda Leigh Philp 30 June 2022 1.30pm

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Marianne Wallis AM 30 June 2022 9.30am

Melbourne Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles 1 October 2022 2pm

Melbourne Graduation Occasional Speaker Mr Craig Phillips AM 1 October 2022 10am

2021 Graduation Ceremonies

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Dr Ian John Hutton 26 June 2021 4pm

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor William Edgar Boyd 26 June 2021 12.30pm

Coffs Harbour Graduation Occasional Speaker Dr Stewart Dowrick 26 June 2021 9am

2019 Graduation Ceremonies

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Iain Graham 13 December 2019 4pm

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Professor Peter Harrison 13 December 2019 1pm

Lismore Graduation Occasional Speaker Anita Bellman 13 December 2019 10am

Gold Coast Graduation Occasional Speaker Ms Sharon McDowell-Skaines 29 November 2019 7pm