The CDU Alumni Awards recognise and celebrate the significant contributions made by CDU alumni in bringing about positive change to their communities and the world. These alumni are game-changers and trailblazers, pioneers in their field and fearless in their endeavours. They are inspirational and their impact is creating a brighter future for all.
Watch highlights from the 2022 CDU Alumni Awards Gala Dinner.
2022 Alumni Award winners
Dr Shellie Morris
Distinguished Alumni Award
sponsored by Northern Territory Government
Indigenous Alumni Award
sponsored by Newmont Australia
Dr Shellie Morris has made a life-time commitment to developing First Nations music and, through her musical involvement, has contributed to community development at a regional
and national level.
Norman Evans
Alumni Award for Industry Excellence
sponsored by Halikos
Dr Norman Evans is a wealth of knowledge and experience, having helped multiple companies reach success. He has worked in a number of industries, including the not-for-profit sector. Author, entrepreneur, guest lecturer and a great guy, Norman is a shining light for fellow CDU Alumni and students.
Alina Biju
Alumni Award for Community Service
sponsored by Northern Territory Government
Alina found her passion for volunteering while studying at Charles Darwin University. Since then, she has founded her own student group, hosted self-defence events, and received the Northern Territory Volunteer of the year award.
Joel Benesha
Alumni Award for Early Career Achievement
sponsored by NEC
Joel Benesha is what you'd call a high achiever. During his time at CDU, the software engineering honours graduate was the recipient of more than 10 scholarships, was the winner of Croc Pitch 2019, and in 2020 he won the NT Young Achievers Award for Innovation.
Angelo Trias
International Alumni Award
sponsored by Allianz Care
Graduating with a Masters in Emergency and Disaster Management in 2017, Angelo Trias was an Australia Awards Scholarship winner who was recruited by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as Program Director of the Graduate School of Development Management. He now works at INTERPOL as a project manager in the cyber-crime directorate.
Special Commendations
Kalinda Griffiths
Indigenous Alumni Award - Special Commendation
sponsored by Newmont Australia
Dr Kalinda Griffiths is an emerging internationally recognised Aboriginal researcher with a focus on data governance and epidemiology to drive health equity in Australia. Her outcomes are highly translational and works to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for all Australians with a particular focus on health measurement, data quality and governance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Guilhermina de Araujo
International Alumni Award - Special Commendation
sponsored by Allianz Care
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies from CDU in 2016, Guilhermina has established herself as a leading researcher in the field of women’s rights in Timor-Leste. When she returned to Timor-Leste in 2016 she began a collaboration with La Trobe University in Melbourne and the National University in Timor-Leste, managing a large program of research to explore how the health sector can better support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Onkar Sharma
Alumni Award for Early Career Achievement - Special Commendation
sponsored by NEC
Onkar Sharma began training at CDU in 2018 as a fresh-faced student with a passion for Baking but with little to no experience. A few months later, Onkar received the 'Most Outstanding Bakery Student ' - the top honour for CDU bakery students.