James McWha Rising Star Award

The James McWha Rising Star Award recognises a young alum who is making a significant contribution as an emerging leader within their profession and/or community.

Nominations for the 2024 James McWha Rising Star Award will open mid-year. For further information please contact the Alumni Relations team at alumni@adelaide.edu.au, +61 8 8313 5800. 

James McWha Rising Star Award recipient 2023

Dr Sarah Boyle

Dr Sarah Boyle is an exceptional young leader in the field of breast cancer research, whose innovative approaches to breast cancer research are leading the way to new frontiers in the treatment of breast cancer in South Australia.

Read more about Dr Sarah Boyle
  • 2022 Recipient 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.

  • 2022 Recipient 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.

  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.

  • Previous recipients lists

Further information

Nominations for the 2024 James McWha Rising Star Award will open mid-year. For further information please see the Distinguished Alumni Awards Rules  or contact the Alumni Relations team at alumni@adelaide.edu.au or +61 8 8313 5800.