The University of Tasmania Alumni Awards seek to recognise and honour the achievements of University of Tasmania graduates who have made, or are making, a significant difference in both local and/or wider international communities.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Ms Lisa Chung AM (LLB 1982) is one of Australia’s most respected company directors and governance leaders, whose career has spanned the legal, corporate, arts, education, and community sectors. She serves as Chair of Australian Unity and has provided leadership across major organisations, strengthening governance, guiding strategic direction, and delivering lasting impact.
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2020 for service to the community, she has championed the support of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and to follow in the footsteps of the distinguished alumni who have come before me,” Lisa said.
“As the first in my family to attend university, I am especially grateful for the strong educational foundation I received at the University of Tasmania. I look back on my time there with great fondness and gratitude.”
International Alumni Award
Dr Jim Luong (PhD 2013) is a globally recognised scientist whose innovations have transformed separation science and industrial analytical practice. Based in Canada, his pioneering contributions have improved scientific instrumentation and manufacturing operations worldwide.
Jim has notably applied fundamental scientific principles to develop elegant, practical solutions to complex problems.
He is a Fellow of Dow Chemical, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and has been repeatedly named in The Analytical Scientist Power List, recognising his international influence, scientific leadership, and sustained contributions to the analytical sciences.
“Any success I have achieved reflects the support and encouragement of my partners, collaborators, mentors, leaders, friends, and family,” Jim said.
“I accept this award with profound gratitude and hope that my work has made a positive and lasting contribution to others and to the broader scientific community.”
Young Alumni Award
Mr Robert Arnott (BA-BBus 2012) is one of Australia’s most acclaimed young authors. Robbie has established an international literary reputation through his novels Flames, The Rain Heron, Limberlost, and Dusk, with his work translated into ten languages and recognised by leading publications including The New York Times and The New Yorker.
His novels have earned some of Australia’s most prestigious literary honours, including The Age Book of the Year, the Indie Book of the Year Award, the Voss Literary Prize, with multiple shortlistings for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
"I'm thrilled and honoured to be recognised by my University in this way,” Robbie said.
“Studying at the University of Tasmania was, in many ways, the making of me, and I hope I can continue to give back to the Tasmanian community through my work."
Dr Anis Ta’eed (MBBS 2010) is a specialist nephrologist whose leadership is improving kidney care across the Pacific. After completing his specialist training in Australia, Anis became Head of Nephrology at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji and Director of the Fiji National Kidney Centre.
As President of the Nephrology Society of Fiji, he has driven collaboration, education, and advocacy for kidney health throughout the region. He has also helped establish wider international partnerships and training opportunities.
“This award recognises the important role the University has played in enabling me to provide much needed specialist healthcare development in the Pacific, the region where I was raised,” Anis said.
“Working in Fiji has allowed me to make a meaningful contribution to global healthcare equity by supporting emerging kidney services in the region.”
Connect with our alumni community to discover more.
Image top right (L-R): Lisa Chung AM, Dr Jim Luong, Robert Arnott, Dr Anis Ta'eed