Celebrating Southern Cross alumni in New Delhi

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Spongberg, Professor Jon Wardle, Foundation Director of the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), Professor of Nursing Christina Aggar, and Southern Cross Regional Manager – South Asia, Middle East and Africa Subhi Pradhan, enjoyed the opportunity to connect and share industry and research insights with Southern Cross alumni based in New Delhi.

“I was very honoured to meet our distinguished Delhi alumni and talk about the amazing research-driven trajectory of Southern Cross in the last five years. The alumni were super impressive and very interested in the future of the University,” said Professor Spongberg.

The gathering included Ashok Lavasa, Vice-President Private Sector and Public-Private Partnerships at Asian Development Bank; Neelkamal Darbari, Chairperson, Chemical Weapons Convention, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India; Gaurav Manchanda, Regional Learning & Training Manager III, ATS at Amazon; Adam Watson, Managing Director at BAE Systems India; and Srini Govindaraju, Senior Manager at M20 Urban Spaces.

Ashok Lavasa and Neelkamal Darbari were, respectively, the 2019 and 2021 Southern Cross University International Alumnus of the Year.

“Meeting Professor Mary Spongberg and other members of the leadership team was a pleasant journey into my memorable past as a student at Southern Cross, and a glimpse into the University's plans for its future and that of many international students who aim to make good in life,” said Mr Lavasa, who is also a former Election Commissioner of India, a retired IAS Officer and Union Finance Secretary at the Government of India.

For Mr Watson, “Catching up with the Southern Cross team over dinner in New Delhi was a real treat. It gave me time to pause and reflect on the time and effort invested in earning undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Committing the time and effort to study has been worth it! It was wonderful to meet the team and hear about the strides the University is making.” 

“Meeting up with Southern Cross alumni and sharing experiences was a moment of joy. I actually felt nostalgic. I graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Business in Hotel and Catering Management – Lismore campus –  and personally felt this University and campus had shaped my career growth to a great extent,” said Mr Govindaraju.

The achievements of Southern Cross alumni reflect the strength of the University’s global network, shaping industries, driving innovation, and creating meaningful change.