“Curtin Commons is an online storytelling space for Curtin alumni, staff, students and friends. Featuring a series of thought-provoking articles intended to inspire and enlighten, Commons celebrates the many amazing contributions of our Curtin community and how they are striving to create a brighter future for us all.”
– Carmelle Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief
Abbey Cullen was 19 when she had her first seizure.
Now, the morning Triple M radio announcer and journalism graduate is using her media platform to raise awareness and bring epilepsy out of the shadows.
Curtin’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Lindy Fitzgerald, has always been driven to make a difference. Inspired by her parents, she pursued higher education and now leads groundbreaking research at Curtin University.
Captain Ian Cheng, a seasoned pilot with Singapore Airlines, continues to find awe in the skies after 28 years. As Vice President and Chief Pilot for Boeing 777s, he oversees a fleet of 27 aircraft and 450 pilots. His passion for aviation remains undimmed, a testament to the enduring thrill of flight.
This month, our Editor-in-Chief, Carmelle Wilkinson, interviewed James Chen, PBM, President of the Singapore Alumni Chapter.
James is a finance and marketing alumnus with a fascinating career. He’s currently the CEO of Athena Best Financial and co-founder of Every Little Helps charity.
Hi James! When did your interest in finance begin?
“It would have been in my late teens,” James replied. “I enjoyed reading about the stock market and decided to study commerce at Curtin.
A Curtin University speech clinic is helping brain injury survivor Jordan Bowling regain his voice. Two years ago, Jordan fell 13 meters down a cliff, leaving him paralyzed. The clinic offers hope on his long road to recovery.
Dr. Sandy Chong, a successful businesswoman and philanthropist, emphasizes the transformative power of education for women. She believes education is key to unlocking women’s potential as disruptors and leaders. By empowering women, we can create a more equitable and innovative society.
After years of working as a freelance designer around the world, Curtin Commerce graduate Emilie Otto became burnt out and exhausted.
Fast forward to 2024, she is now the owner of House of Hobby, which is a space that helps people find a creative hobby while supporting and empowering local artists and makers to share their skills.
Former Head of English and current Head of Academics and Innovation at Wesley College Adam Kealley understands the power of words.
With a recent PhD in creative writing and cultural studies from Curtin, the avid reader and writer shares his top tips on improving your writing skills.
At 81-years of age, Perth Children’s Hospital pharmacist Allan Jones is showing no signs of slowing down. Allan shares his secret to a long and fulfilling career.
For Creative Spotlight, Curtin Screen Arts and Performance graduate Aisha Valenti shares some of her most favourite murals that she has created around Western Australia over the years.
Growing up, Aisha always dreamed of becoming a professional artist, inspired by muralists who could paint beyond a canvas, Aisha turned this fascination into a full-time career, enlivening boring walls across Western Australia into vibrant masterpieces.
Following a short career in mental health after completing a Bachelor of Social Work at Curtin, Aisha decided to pursue a professional art career and is now using her art to bring the community together through her murals, workshops and masterclasses where people can reconnect with their inner child, let go of life’s stressors and be a part of something they can take pride in.
Inspired by the native Australian flora and fauna that surrounds her everyday, Aisha also hopes that her murals bring a greater awareness to endangered species.
Through her work, Aisha hopes that her art encourages people to slow down and take a moment to step away from the busyness of life for a moment. In a world of hustle and noise, Aisha’s work encourages us to reconnect with our inner child and immerse ourselves in the colour and energy of art.
Discover more of Aisha’s incredible artwork and murals or attend one of her workshops here.
Image Carousel: Photo of Aisha in her studio taken by Kareem Supadi from KS Media, Aisha with her large-scale outdoor mural of a native Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo and wattle located in Burswood, students participating in a mural workshop, Roebuck Primary School mural, Redtailed Cockatoo mural in Bayswater and Aisha with her mural in Bedford.
Read our full interview with Aisha here.
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What do you think about Curtin Commons and the stories we’re sharing? Have any ideas or a story you think we should cover? We want to know.
A ‘commons’ is a space that is shared by and benefits a community.
Our commons is a cultural and virtual one, reflecting the ideas and experiences shared by a proud and distinct Curtin community living in Western Australia and around the world. We hope that this space will inspire us to stay connected in ways that are beneficial to our lives, families and communities.
