The achievements of The University of Queensland's exceptional alumni have been recognised in the 2019 Alumni Awards, including Academician Emeritus Professor Dato' Dr Sai Kit Lam and Dr Paula Parker from the Faculty of Science.
Academician Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr Sai Kit Lam, who is the recipient of the International Alumnus of the Year award, has been at the forefront of infectious viral disease research for more than 40 years.
“To be able to contribute towards the betterment of society through one’s profession provides immeasurable joy and a sense of fulfilment,” he said.
Graduating from UQ in 1963 with Master of Science (Microbiology), Dr Lam is best known for heading the medical team that discovered the Nipah virus, which resulted in the containment of a severe encephalitis outbreak in Malaysia in 1999.
Dr Lam’s work has been recognised world-wide and he has won a number of prestigious awards throughout his illustrious career, including the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health from the King of Thailand in 2001 and France’s Knight of the National Order of Merit in 2005.
Veterinarian Dr Paula Parker has been awarded the 2019 Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Dr Parker's work and advocacy in the veterinary field has established her as a leader in the industry, most notably in her appointment as the youngest president of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) in 2017.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) in 2008, Dr Parker has been heavily involved with representative veterinary bodies since the beginning of her career, and has been lauded by her peers for her leadership, drive, and progressive vision for veterinary medicine.
“You don’t often realise that you can make a really significant difference in someone’s life through what may seem like an ordinary, mundane moment,” she said.
“I certainly had lectures at the Vet Science Program at UQ that had that effect on me.”
Dr Parker’s continuing roles as an advocate and spokesperson have been critical in helping veterinarians reach their full potential, and in catalysing change within the industry.
The University of Queensland 2019 Alumni Awards recognise the achievements of alumni who have accomplished outstanding success in their fields and made exemplary contributions to their community.
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC said the awards are an opportunity to highlight the outstanding talent of alumni and the widespread impact of their work.
“We are honoured to recognise an incredible group of alumni who are making an impact in a diverse range of industries. Between them, their achievements include breaking ground in humanitarian law, halting deadly viral outbreaks in their tracks, pioneering women in executive leadership, and more,” Professor Høj said.
The 2019 UQ Alumni Awards will be presented at the annual Courting the Greats ceremony on 16 October, where the UQ Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year will also be acknowledged.
Full details of the UQ 2019 Alumni Award recipients can be found on the UQ Alumni website.
