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.
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.
Changing the world may seem like an impossible feat, but for mechanical engineering graduate Eldin Rostom that dream is one step closer, thanks to breakthrough technology, which could change the lives of those suffering respiratory disorders.
After completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Acc & Fin) at our Perth campus in 2006, he returned to Kuala Lumpur and founded Planters – a conservation program which now being incorporated as a public company whose main goal is to preserve biodiversity through strategic reforestation.
As a young boy growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Kid Chan would beg his mother to take him to the local bookstore.
There amongst the many shelves he would find a quiet place to sit on the floor and flick through glossy magazines from around the world.
Whether it was working on old cars on his family’s farm in Albany or taking apart computers with his older brothers – making things better and finding better ways of working fuelled his passion and curiosity.
Dr Marnie Gibson was just three years old, when she entered full time schooling to quench her thirst for knowledge and the world around her. With more questions than her mum could answer, a decision was made to place her in a Montessori School, where her strong interest in learning could be nurtured.
For Curtin business graduate Ligwina Hananto the seemingly unusual pairing is her bread and butter. The founder and CEO at QM Financial is a popular stand-up comedian in her home country of Indonesia.
Days from graduating with a Master of Arts in professional and publishing writing, the 24-year-old reflects on her parents’ brave decision to flee Syria for London when she was just two, and her personal journey as the child of immigrant parents.
A warm and familiar face to all those who present at the pharmacy counter, Allan has been dispensing medication for Perth’s most vulnerable and ill children at Perth Children’s Hospital (formerly Princess Margaret Hospital) for 47 years.
When Joanne Beedie and her husband Scott found out they were pregnant with identical twins seven years ago, they thought they had won the lottery. With the rare occurrence happening in just three to four births in every 1000, this year’s John Curtin Medallist said she felt like the luckiest person in the world.
Curtin WA School of Mines’ graduate and Harvard Business alumnus Josh Redmond has experienced many triumphs over his 15-year career in the resources industry.
Starting as a vacation student for Mining and Civil Contractor company MACA, he worked his way up through various roles including mine engineer, project manager, country manager and then general manager.
Losing her stepfather to suicide when she was 20, was a shock Ashlee Harrison did not see coming.
Curtin Commerce graduate and Founder of zero2hero said the tragedy ripped her family apart and left them picking up the pieces.
From crunching numbers as a government auditor in Perth, to crushing it on Melbourne’s greatest culinary stage on Masterchef Australia – Ralph Kahango is no stranger to pressure.
Originally from Zimbabwe, the Curtin accounting graduate said taking his younger sister’s advice and applying for the highly competitive cooking show this year was the best decision he ever made.
Seven years ago, Curtin Commerce graduate Katie Liew was crunching numbers in her accounting job when she suddenly realised this career path wasn’t for her. Despite a love for English while at school, Katie said she chose to study accountancy with the belief it would lead to greater employment opportunities.
Born in Perth, the 28-year-old Commerce graduate is now a Climate Tech Investor and Impact Strategy Consultant in the Netherlands, collaborating with organisations to help grow their global impact with thoughtful strategies.
Growing up in Esperance along our State’s picturesque south coast, a young Josh Byrne was inquisitive about the world around him.
The coastal location with its brilliant blue waters, powdery white beaches, and spectacular national parks, proved the ideal landscape to awaken the environmental scientist’s love and appreciation for nature.
Philanthropist, businesswoman and educator Dr Sandy Chong is a global changemaker on a mission.
Armed with a passion for education and dreams of equality, the Curtin Bachelor of Commerce in Management and Marketing and PhD Information Systems graduate, is making meaningful impact as a climate crusader and lead strategist.
Curtin mechanical engineering graduate Ted Lee was cruising along Tonkin Highway on his motorbike headed for uni.
Eight weeks out from completing his studies, he could almost see the finish line, when tragedy struck.
Every Australia Day, the rumble of light aircraft and the explosion of fireworks above her home in South Perth, would strike fear in the heart of Mawas. Bombed by the Japanese during World War II, she remained shaken by the terrifying ordeal years later.
From a young age, WA business leader John Barrington AM learnt the importance of giving back.
A Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club member since he was six, John not only developed a competitive spirit in his early years, but a strong desire to help others.
Affectionately known as Chief fairy godmother, Make-A-Wish CEO and Curtin Master of Film and Television graduate Hazlina Abdul Halim is certainly no stranger to taking the plunge.
An architecture graduate by trade, Perth entrepreneur Iris Smit is building her cosmetics empire one must-have beauty product at a time.
The Curtin graduate and inventor of The Quick Flick said banking on herself was the best decision she could have ever made, ahead of her business launch in 2017.
Born and raised in rural WA, social media and PR guru Lavinia Wehr has always been a country girl at heart.
From driving tractors on her family’s farm near Esperance from age five, to helping her family with harvest on her summer holidays, the Curtin Commerce grad doesn’t only understand agriculture life, it’s in her DNA.
Armed with just a mobile phone, Curtin University journalism student Dylan Storer still managed to provide ground-breaking coverage of the devastating floods that ravaged his hometown of Fitzroy Crossing at the start of the year.
He unwittingly found himself at the centre of the extreme weather event caused by Cyclone Ellie, which saw torrential rain engulf the town and destroy homes and local businesses.
Growing up in Geraldton in a low socioeconomic suburb, Curtin Business and Law graduate Emma Garlett recalls a community rife with crime, drug use and violence.
Living in a neighbourhood populated with government housing, wasn’t a pleasant place to call home, with the 28-year-old Nyungar-Nyiyaparli-Yamatji woman witnessing first-hand the struggles and downfall of her people daily.
If it weren’t for the generosity of a stranger, Curtin’s Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne would never have discovered the transformational power of a higher education.
Nor would she have embarked on such a remarkable academic journey which has led her across the Pacific Ocean and over the Nullarbor to Curtin University.
Did you know that less than 10,000 out of 400 million businesses globally are measuring their carbon emissions?
As companies become increasingly conscious of their global footprint, Co-founder of Singapore based Unravel Carbon Marc Allen (BEng, Chemical Engineering 1998) is arming businesses with the tools to decarbonise themselves and their networks of businesses within their supply chains.
Beyond the vivid colours and beautiful symbols, Aboriginal art can be a powerful vehicle for reconciliation, cultural preservation and change.
With the ability to connect communities and shape the future, founder and designer of luxury fashion label Kirrikin, Dr Amanda Healy said it was heart-warming to see Aboriginal fashion and culture slowly emerge on the international runway.
From a young age Curtin graduate (Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) 1997) and head of Rio Tinto’s Battery Materials, Marnie Finlayson wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Whether she was working on her family’s sheep station in Jeedamya, about 200km north of Kalgoorlie, or shovelling rocks under the crusher at her uncle’s gold mine near Leonora, Marnie was happiest working in a team.
Curtin Law student Annabel Biscotto. Author | Carmelle Wilkinson Since she was four years old, […]
Five years ago, Curtin graduate Brittany Garbutt (BA Creative Advertising & Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration, 2014) took the plunge and splashed $100,000 of her hard-earned savings on launching a humble pretzel business.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that photographs/videos on this page contain images of deceased persons, which may cause sadness or distress.
Growing up in Afghanistan, the ominous sound of missiles and rockets flying overhead became the norm for Curtin nursing graduate Ezz Rahmati (BS Nursing, 2022).
Nowadays the 28-year-old, who calls Perth home, is comforted by the hum of traffic and the sound of the occasional passenger jet as he lays in bed at night.
It’s surreal. It’s incredible that the people of Swan trusted me to be their local member, it’s a real honour. To be honest, I didn’t necessarily think that someone like me would be supported, but the people spoke. As a female, a person of colour and an engineer, I’m quite different compared to previous candidates or members. When I heard I was the first female in this position in 101 years I almost didn’t believe it.
Emerging from the pandemic haze, stronger than ever, fashion companies are adapting to new consumer priorities and shifting their focus towards more sustainable and ethical wear.
From an aspiring young accountant to successful property valuer, Ross Drennan (B.Com Property and Accounting, 2007) can confidently add events and hospitality trailblazer to his growing list of rising achievements.
From WA country girl to owner of a billion-dollar company, Perth entrepreneur Megan Wynne’s contribution to the employment services, health, disability, and vocational rehabilitation space is nothing short of extraordinary.
WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson Author | Carmelle Wilkinson Over the past two years […]
Cook, author, business owner and dumpling king – Brendan Pang is on one impressive culinary […]
New heritage laws passed through the WA House of Parliament last year aim to protect sacred sites, taking into consideration Indigenous voices and their vast environmental knowledge and cultural awareness. Revised following the destruction of Aboriginal heritage sites at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia’s Pilbara in 2020, the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 helps guide the future of mining in WA from an Indigenous perspective.
“Unfortunately, however, there are people that view a person with a disability differently and as I got older, I wanted to use my social media knowledge and degree at Curtin to help breakdown that misconception.”
“We want people to think of Curtin’s Community Pantry as their pantry at home. It’s always stocked, and you’re welcome to pop in and grab anything you need. There is no judgement and no need to ask for permission.”
As one of the first points of contact for people seeking health advice, Rebecca said pharmacists working in the current Covid-19 environment had overcome several challenges, including increased levels of fear and anxiety and growing abuse from customers.
Curtin’s position that equitable access to healthcare should be universal, irrespective of geographical location, has been embraced by the students, who rated Curtin’s medical school the best in Australia for the past three years in the Good Universities Guide, with five-star scores in the latest guide for learner engagement, learning resources, skills development, teaching quality and overall experience.
Thank you for the kind words! I am from Southeast Asia, where income inequality and the disparity between standards of living within the region are substantial, particularly in Malaysia where I was born. I lived in a small house in a collapsing neighbourhood there but have also been privy to the luxuries of life here in Australia. I am lucky to have been gifted a better quality of life and I intend to use this to help those less fortunate than me.
With a degree in occupational therapy (1993) from Curtin, Kellie Parker began working in occupational health and safety at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations before transitioning into management roles.
As managing director, I worked hard to continue the business’ progressive tradition, which started in 1959. Collier Homes is a special brand and a household name. My vision was to shape it into one that was more design-oriented, thoughtful and inclusive – “good design, made accessible” became our motto. I believe the refreshed branding and projects we took on spoke to that vision.
News pages have no trouble covering the consequences of violent extremism – whether it’s the latest terrorist attack and the lives lost as a result, updates on the War on Terrorism or news of far-right radicals sparking death threats at anti-vaccination rallies.
It’s nearly that time of year again when we embrace the sound of festive tunes, over-indulge in sweets, and make a mad dash to the nearest shopping centre for a frantic last-minute spending frenzy.
“I went to my doctor and said: ‘I feel like my head is not working properly’,” says Eileen. “My doctor did some memory tests and then sent me to a specialist (gerontologist) who organised a brain scan that showed I had Alzheimer’s disease. I don’t know why I have it because my two sisters don’t have it and neither does my 97-year-old mother.”
Adam Gangemi on a mine site in his role as Managing Director of Super Smart […]
Entrepreneurs are easy to admire. They’re explorers and creators – they create new products, services, jobs, and perhaps even new industries. But what is an entrepreneur, and how are they created?
“Take your time to pause and reflect before you leap into the unknown. Use this time to consider what truly drives you. And when you do take that leap, make sure you give it your absolute all.”
In the 1970s social housing was clustered into specific suburbs, so the poor and rich were separated. Our family was very low income, as were our neighbours. At school, teachers either brought out the best in us or judged our academic capability by our postcode. Their expectations of my family and I were always low.
We recently spoke to Curtin graduates living and working all over the globe — London, Singapore, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, New York, and Houston — about what it has been like to experience the pandemic where they are, the challenges they’ve faced, and ultimately, how they are managing to get through it.
Businessperson, philanthropist, mentor and educator, Dr Sandy Chong (BCom Management and Marketing, 1996, PhD Information Systems, 2003) has been a champion for change ever since she began her higher education journey and decided she wanted to be a “student for life.”
A Bunuba woman and community leader, June is the first Aboriginal woman to be appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. She spends her time advocating for Indigenous languages, social justice, women’s issues and working to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Mental illness among university students in Australia is currently a relatively under-researched field, according to the 2017 Orygen report.
Passed around by Student Guild members, shared among student protestors walking down the streets of Perth’s CBD, and more recently transformed into an online blog, the small and sometimes carefully, sometimes haphazardly, constructed student newspaper known as Grok has a long history in Perth.
Not all women experience the same disadvantage or inequality. Vanessa Guthrie AO, a Curtin University Council member, understands this. She believes true equality for women cannot be achieved unless women of all backgrounds and circumstances are given the opportunity for a university education.