Alumni Impact Awards - Southern Cross University

Professor Tyrone Carlin, Vice-Chancellor and President

Celebrating our outstanding alumni

As we continue to celebrate the people, values and achievements that make Southern Cross such an extraordinary institution, we recognise the remarkable impact of our alumni community.

This year’s Alumni Impact Award recipients are an outstanding example of this. 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.

I invite you to learn more about each of these outstanding alumni by reading their stories and hearing about their impact.

Professor Tyrone Carlin
Vice-Chancellor & President, Southern Cross University

2025 Alumni Impact Award Winners

Alumnus of the Year, Dr Kellie Wren

Dr Wren is the Executive Director of Medical Services at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital and Chair of the Queensland Clinical Senate. A medical doctor and anaesthetist with more than 20 years’ experience in Queensland Health, she combines clinical insight with business acumen gained through her MBA from Southern Cross University. Named the University’s 2025 Alumni of the Year, Kellie is known for her humour, empathy and innovative leadership driving positive change across the health system.

Learn more about Dr Wren

Young Alumnus of the Year, Moesha Johnson OLY (dual recipient)

Moesha is an Olympic silver medallist and two-time world champion in open water swimming. A 2019 graduate of Southern Cross University’s Biomedical Science, she balances her elite sporting career with a passion for science, drawing on her academic training to enhance her performance and professionalism. Moesha is celebrated for her determination, regional roots in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers, and her commitment to inspiring the next generation of athletes and scientists.

Learn more about Moesha

Young Alumnus of the Year, Emily Williams (dual recipient)

Emily is a Southern Cross University graduate in Law and Social Science and currently serves as Consul at the Australian Consulate in Noumea, New Caledonia. A Torres Strait Islander, Emily has represented Australia in high-profile international roles, including at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Her career spans crisis response, consular services, and international policy. Her Southern Cross education and scholarships have provided a strong foundation for leadership, advocacy, and making an impact both locally and globally.

Learn more about Emily

International Alumnus of the Year, Professor Sisira Ediriweera

Professor Ediriweera’s passion for ecological conservation led him to Southern Cross University, where he completed his PhD in Biophysical Remote Sensing. Today, he stands as a pioneering figure in forest ecology, higher education leadership, and sustainability in Sri Lanka. Professor Ediriweera's work has advanced forest research, empowered communities, and shaped environmental policy both locally and internationally.

Learn more about Professor Ediriweera

Early Career Alumnus of the Year, Grant Grierson

Grant is an award-winning educator and Southern Cross University Master of Education graduate. Known for turning curiosity into confidence, he inspires secondary students in robotics, engineering, and programming to design real-world solutions to global problems. Grant champions STEM education, creativity, and student-led innovation, shaping the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers with imagination, mentorship, and purpose.

Learn more about Grant

Grant Grierson 2025 Alum Impact Early-Career

Community Impact Alumnus of the Year, Theresa Mitchell

Theresa is the founder of Agape Outreach Inc., a Northern Rivers and Gold Coast-based charity tackling homelessness with dignity, compassion, and practical support. A Southern Cross University graduate in Psychological Science (Honours), Theresa draws on her lived experience and education to lead programs supporting over 1,500 people each week. Theresa is recognised for her resilience, advocacy, and commitment to transforming lives through care, policy, and education.

Learn more about Theresa

Meet our previous award winners

From world records and activism, to public service, environmental rehabilitation and youth mental health, each of our award recipients have a story of impact that is Transforming Tomorrow.

Discover our past award winners who are impacting communities across their respective industries.

Meet our past winners

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Alumni Impact Awards 2025