Leaders in their fields

The friendships established during University days become the networks of influence that have a positive impact on the lives and careers of the University's graduates and on the continued strength and reputation of the University itself.

Making an Impact across the years

The University's alumni are its greatest achievement and its best ambassadors. University of Adelaide alumni occupy positions of influence in business, government, academia and the arts, both in Australia and overseas.

1882
Richard Sanders Rogers (BA, MA 1897, DSc 1936): First boy from a State School to enter the University of Adelaide; medical practitioner, early exponent of the application of X-Rays and hypnotism to medicine; leading authority on native orchids in Australasia

1883
William Ernest Cooke (BA, MA 1889): First Government Astronomer in Australia (in Western Australia 1896-1912)

Sir George Murray (BA): Chancellor of the University of Adelaide 1916-1942

1884
Thomas Hewitson (LLB): President of the South Australian Industrial Court 1927-1930

1885
Edith Emily Dornwell (BSc): Australia's first female science graduate

1887
David Henry Hollidge (BA, MA 1889): Founder of Kyre College, later incorporated into Scotch College, Adelaide

1888
William Ashley Magarey (LLB): Established the Magarey Medal awarded annually by the South Australian National Football League (SANFL)

1889
Frank Sandland Hone (BA, MBBS 1889): Public health and preventive medicine reformer

1890
Edward Erskine Cleland (LLB): Judge of the South Australian Supreme Court 1936-1943

1891
Charles Henry Standish Hope (MD): Kaisar-I-Hind Medal for service to medicine in Bengal

Laura Margaret Fowler (MBBS): Australia's first woman surgeon; Kaisar-I-Hind Medal for service to medicine in Bengal

1893
Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn (BA): Physician and Consultant, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, 1899-1972; founder and first President, Royal Australasian College of Physicians; Chancellor of the University of Sydney, 1941-1964

1895
Frank Beaumont Molden (LLB): Lord Mayor of Adelaide 1919-1921

1896
William Reynolds Bayly (BA, BSc 1898): Educator, Headmaster Geelong College, Prince Alfred College

Henry Simpson Newland (MBBS, MS 1902): Early pioneer of plastic and restorative surgery

1897
Herbert Angas Parsons (LLB): Judge of the South Australian Supreme Court 1921-1945; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide 1942-1945

1899
Henry Newman Barwell (LLB): Premier of South Australia 1920-1924

1900
Henry Mortimer Muirhead (Final Certificate in Law): Chief Magistrate of the Adelaide Court 1939-1950

1901
John Mellis Napier (LLB): Lieutenant Governor of South Australia 1942-1971, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide 1948-1961

Norman William Jolly (BSc): Forester, first South Australian Rhodes Scholar, Queensland Director of Forests 1911-1918

1902
Dr Helen Mayo (MBBS, MD 1926): Australian pioneer of women's and children's health, founder Mothers and Babies Health Association

1903
Roy Lister Robinson (BSc): Rhodes Scholar, 1st Baron Robinson, visionary forester, inspired the creation of the British Forestry Commission in 1916

1905
Thorburn Brailsford Robertson (BSc, DSc 1908): Biochemist, played a pivotal role in establishing insulin manufacture in Australia in the early 1920s

Henry Kenneth Fry (BSc, MBBS 1906): Rhodes Scholar, physician and anthropologist, Medical Officer for the City of Adelaide

1906
Reginald John Rudall (LLB): Rhodes Scholar, member and Minister of the South Australian Parliament for 17 years

1908
Sir Lawrence Bragg (BA): Youngest-ever recipient of Nobel Prize (for Physics)

1909
Sir Douglas Mawson (DSc): Renowned Antarctic explorer

1910
Cecil Thomas Madigan (BSc): Rhodes Scholar, Geologist and Explorer, member of the Australasian Antarctic expedition 1911-1914

1912
Dorothy Angove, née Clare (BA): Educator, Headmistress of Girton School (now Pembroke)

1913
John Christian Mayo (MBBS): Radiology specialist, co-founder of Perrett Medical Imaging, one of the largest medical imaging practices in Australia

1915
Francis Edgar Williams (BA, MA 1928): Government Anthropologist in Papua, 1922-1943

1916
Mary Cecil Tenison-Woods (LLB): First woman admitted to the bar in South Australia

1917
Sir Hugh Cairns (MBBS): Internationally renowned neurosurgeon, Nuffield professor of surgery at Oxford 1937-52

1919
Sir Leonard Charles Lindon (MBBS, MS 1923): Eminent Neurosurgeon

1921
Lord Howard Florey (MBBS): Rhodes Scholar, Nobel Prize for Medicine, pioneered the application and manufacture of penicillin

1922
Dr Winifred Wall, née Clark (MBBS): Medical practitioner, anaesthetist, Foundation President, Family Planning Association of South Australia

1923
Sir Mark Oliphant (BSc): Leading nuclear physicist, Governor of South Australia

1925
Phyllis Duguid, née Lade (BA): Feminist and social activist

Sir Walter Crocker (BA): Diplomat, Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia

1926
George Elton Mayo (MA): Leading international contributor to the study of industrial psychology and management

1931
Miriam Hyde (B Mus): Internationally acclaimed composer and pianist, International Woman of the Year (1991-2) for Service to Music (bestowed by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge)

1932
Albert Walter Jones (BSc, MA 1944): Educator, Director-General of Education in South Australia, 1970-77

1934
Dame Roma Mitchell (LLB): Australia's first female Queen's Counsel, Governor of South Australia, founding Chair of the Australian Commission for Human Rights, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide

Gavin Walkley (BE): Architect, established first professional course in Town Planning in Australia; Member, Chairman, Vice-President and President of the National Trust of South Australia, 1977-90

1937
Joan Burton Cleland (BSc, BScHons 1939, MSc 1947): educator, biochemist, eminent ornithologist

John Jefferson Bray (LLD): Chief Justice of South Australia 1967-1978, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide 1968-1982

1938
Helen Crisp, née Wighton (BA): Feminist and educator

1939
Richard Arthur Blackburn (BA): Rhodes Scholar, Judge of the Northern Territory Supreme Court 1966-1971, first Chief Justice of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court

1941
Colin Thiele (BA, Dip Ed 1947): Educator, internationally renowned author (including the children's classic Storm Boy)

1944
Dr Basil Hetzel (MBBS, MD 1929): World authority on iodine deficiency, Foundation Professor of Preventative Medicine, Monash University 1968-1975, Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, Chancellor of the University of South Australia, 'Living National Treasure'

1947
Dr Barbara Hardy (BSc): Conservationist, founder of the Investigator Science and Technology Centre, 1996 South Australian Citizen of the Year

1949
Don Dunstan (LLB 1949): Premier of South Australia 1967-68, 1970-79

Dr Malcolm Bourne (BSc): Food scientist, President of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology

1952
Charles Robin Ashwin (BA): Rhodes Scholar, Diplomat, Australian Ambassador to Egypt and Sudan, FDR, USSR and Mongolia

Datuk Gopal Ayer Sreenevasan (MBBS): World-renowned urologist, Founding Member of the Malaysian Medical Association

1953
David Tonkin (MBBS): Premier of South Australia 1979-1982

1954
Professor Fay Gale (BA Hons): First Honours Geography graduate of the University of Adelaide, first woman President of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, President, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia 1998-2000, Vice-Chancellor, University of Western Australia 1990-1997

Professor Robert Porter (BMedSc): Leading neuroscientist and medical educator, Director of John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University 1980-1989

1957
Raymond Greet (BA): High Commissioner to New Zealand, Fiji, Ambassador to Germany

1959
Lim Leong Geok (BE): Managing Director, Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System

Michael Khor Teik Hean (BE, ME 1964): Outstanding contribution to Government Service and Public Utilities in Singapore

Datuk Dr Samuel Abraham (MBBS): Pioneer of children's health

1960
Dr Richard Hin Yung (MBBS): Pioneer in medical education and practice in post-independence Singapore

Rosemary Taylor (BA): Humanitarian, working for children in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia

Maurice de Rohan (BTech): Civil Engineer, Agent-General for South Australia in London

1961
HE The Hon Sim Cheok Lim (BE, Civil): Singapore's Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Ong Teng Chong (BArch): Former President of Singapore

YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud (LLB, D Univ 1994): Chief Minister of Sarawak, Malaysia

Ken Allen (BEc): Banker, Diplomat, Australian Consul-General in New York

1962
Dr Helen Caldicott (MBBS): Writer, paediatrician, activist, founded Physicians for Social Responsibility and Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament

John von Doussa (LLB): Supreme Court Judge, President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide

Desmond Lugg (MBBS): Chief of Medicine of Extreme Environments, NASA

1963
Dr Margaret Somerville (AUA, Pharmacy): Inaugural winner of Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science; Professor of Law and Medicine at McGill University, Canada

Dr Cheong Choong Kong (BSc): Past Managing Director, Singapore Airlines; Chairman, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation; current Chairman, OCBC Bank, Singapore

1964
Professor Lesley J Rogers (BSc Hons): Internationally recognised neuro-ethologist, feminist and activist, co-founder of the 'Science for the People' movement

Bob Bishop (BSc Hons): Chairman and CEO of supercomputer company Silicon Graphics

1965
Dr Peter Colman (BSc, PhD 1970): Developed first anti-influenza drug, Australia Prize winner in 1996

1966
Dr David David (MBBS): Head, Australian Cranio-Maxillo Facial Foundation

1967
John Bannon (LLB, BA 1968): Premier of South Australia 1982-1992

John Doyle (LLB): Rhodes Scholar, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, Solicitor-General for South Australia 1986-1995

1968
Hon Robert Hill (LLB, BA 1982): Australian Minister for Defence

Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam (PhD): Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Republic of Singapore

Malcolm Hemmerling (BSc): Chief Executive, 2000 Sydney Olympics

Datuk Yong Poh Kon (BE): Managing Director, Royal Selangor Pewter, Malaysia

1969
Julian Disney (LLB): Rhodes Scholar, social activist and reforming lawyer, founder of Global Governance Group and the 'Families on the Edge' project, head of the International Council on Social Welfare 1996-2000, president of the Australian Council of Social Service 1985-89, Professor of Public Law at the Australian National University 1991-97

David Bruer (BSc): Largest organic winemaker in Australia

1970
Robyn Archer (BA Hons; Dip Ed): Writer, international performer, festival director, including Artistic Director, Adelaide Festival of Arts (1998, 2000), Melbourne International Arts Festival, 2003

YB Dato Sri Adenan Haji Satem (LLB): Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Malaysia

YB Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan (LLB): Chief Minister of Sabah, Malaysia, 1985-1994

1971
Dr Roger Lough (BSc Hons, PhD 1974): Australia's Chief Defence Scientist, Head of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation

Vincent Plush (BMus): Harkness Fellow 1981, composer and music educator, broadcaster and reviewer, founder of The Seymour Group, a leading new music ensemble

1972
Professor James Crawford (BA, LLB Hons): Whewell Professor of International Law, Professorial Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge

1973
Dr Andy Thomas (BE, PhD 1978): First Australian-born astronaut to take part in a Space Shuttle mission

1976
Richard C White (LLB, BA 1982): Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia

1977
Dr Graeme Koehne (BMus, DMus 2002): Composer (including the music for the wedding of Australian Mary Donaldson to Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004)

1980
Tim Cooper (MBBS, MBA 1998): Managing Director of Coopers Brewery, Australia's most successful family-owned brewery

1982
Professor Cheung Yau-kai (DEng): Engineer, inaugural Gold Medal Winner, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

1983
Dr John Nicholls (MBBS): Member of the team that identified the SARS virus

Raymond S Lim (BEc Hons): Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Singapore

1984
Dr Roger Brissenden (BSc, BSc Hons 1985): Manager, Chandra X-Ray Center, operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory

1985
Peter Ong (BEc Hons): Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Singapore

Sara Warneke (BA, BA Hons 1986, PhD 1991): As Sara Douglass, Australia's most successful fantasy author, author of The Axis Trilogy and The Wayfarer Redemption

Kirsti Harms (LLB): Opera Singer and concert performer

1986
Hon Dr Jane Lomax-Smith (PhD): Lord Mayor, City of Adelaide; Minister in the South Australian Government

S Iswaran (BEc): Deputy Speaker of the Singapore Parliament

1987
Peter Leech (BA, BMus 1990, Grad Dip Mus 1996): Conductor, City of Oxford Choir

1991
Natasha Stott Despoja (BA): Youngest woman to enter Australian Federal Parliament

1993
Joel Kaapanda (BA Hons): Regional, Local Government and Housing Minister, Namibia

Sarah Robertson (PhD): Reproductive medicine researcher, 2000 Tall Poppy of South Australian Science

1995
Anna Goldsworthy (BMus): Concert pianist, founding member of prize-winning chamber group, the Seraphim Trio

1996
Didier Elzinga (B Ma & Comp Sc): Created visual effects for Hollywood blockbusters The Core, The Last Samurai and The Lord of The Rings

1997
Duncan Chessell (BSc): First South Australian resident to climb Mt Everest

Caroline Dunn (BAgSc): First female winner of the Jimmy Watson Trophy, Australia's premier wine award

1999
Nicholas Parnell (BMus Perf): Virtuoso percussionist, finalist in the 2001 Young Australian of the Year for contribution to the arts

Briony Hoare (BAg, Oenology): 2003 Young Australian Winemaker of the Year

2001
Lyn Pearson (MBA): Director of Operations, SA Ambulance Service, 2002 South Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year