James McWha Rising Star Award

The James McWha Rising Star Award recognises young alumni who are making a significant contribution as emerging leaders within their profession and/or within their community.

Nominations for 2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards are now closed. For further information please contact the Alumni Relations team at alumni@adelaide.edu.au, +61 8 8313 5800. 

James McWha Rising Star Award 2022 Recipients

Dr Phiala Shanahan

South Australia Woman of the Year 2023 winner and recipient of the James McWha Rising Star Award 2022, Professor Phiala Shanahan has made a significant contribution to physics, as the youngest Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at the age of 27. She has become a leader in theoretical physics and is a passionate educator.

Read more about Dr Phiala Shanahan

Dr Angela Alder-Price

Recipient of the James McWha Rising Star Award 2022, Dr Angela Alder-Price is an orthopaedic researcher, senior lecturer and the only female upper-limb surgeon in South Australia. Her dual pursuit of surgery and science is driven by a passion for improving patient outcomes.

Read more about Dr Angela Alder-Price
  • 2021 Recipient Luisa Panuccio

    Recipient of the 2021 James McWha Rising Star Award, Luisa Panuccio, is a civil and architectural engineer on a mission to change the face of women in STEM.
    Read more

  • 2019 Recipient Professor Kristin Carson-Chahhoud

    Recipient of the 2019 James McWha Rising Star Award, Professor Kristin Carson-Chahhoud aims to close the gap between clinical research trials and real-world patient care, with a focus on one of the key modifiable health risk factors: tobacco avoidance. She is working to improve the care of individual patients as well as communities.
    Read more

  • 2019 Recipient Hannah Wandel

    Recipient of the James McWha Rising Star Award 2019, Ms Hannah Wandel is the founder of not-for-profit organisation Country to Canberra, which runs programs that provide education, leadership and mentorship opportunities for young women in regional and remote Australia. To date, her organisation has helped 3,500 girls from rural and remote communities nationally.
    Read more

  • 2017 Recipient Annabel Crabb

    Recipient of James McWha Award of Excellence 2017

    Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (1997)
    A political journalist, author and media personality, Ms Crabb has been a journalist for major print publications in Australia and in London and has won a prestigious Walkley Award. In recognition of excellence in her career, and being an outstanding role model for other graduates.

Award recipients before 2017

For further information about the James McWha Rising Star Award, please contact alumni@adelaide.edu.au