The Women’s College Alumnae Association has elected Prof Jakelin Troy as its new President.

Jaky attended College 1980-82, 85 and is currently Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research at the University of Sydney.

She is a Ngarigu woman whose country is the NSW Snowy Mountains.

Jaky has studied widely in Australia, Japan and Mexico particularly in the fields of linguistics, anthropology, visual arts, education, archaeology and languages learning. She has a BA (Hons) in anthropology from the University of Sydney, a PhD in linguistics from the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University and a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education from the University of Canberra.

Jaky is consulted widely on Indigenous issues and language, as well as writing opinion pieces. Her latest interview with the ABC can be heard:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2016/07/08/4496935.htm

Prof Troy will be supported in her presidency by the new Alumnae Committee comprising:

Lucinda GARLING (2003-04) Vice President, Victoria Harper (MORGAN: 1981-84) Secretary, Magdalen MALONE (1983-85) Treasurer, and Committee Members: Meredith Bowman (WATTS: 1985-88), Eleanor Cowan (CHAMBERS: 1996-2001), Carolyn GAVEL (1984-88), Elizabeth MacDiarmid (STUART: 1985-87), Serena Porges (HOOK: 1983-84) and Edwina TIDMARSH (2007-09)

The College sincerely thanks outgoing President, Victoria Edwards (2000-02) and her Committee for their dedicated work and contributions over their term.

On 23 May 2016 the biennial Women’s College Alumnae Awards were presented during a special Formal Dinner in the College Dining Hall. The Awards recognise the significant personal and professional achievements of some of our many talented alumnae.  Our warmest congratulations go to Elizabeth Elliot (winner, Alumna Award), Mary Assunta (winner, Alumna Community Achievement Award) and Julia Fetherston (winner, Young Alumna Award). The nominees presented an impressive array of achievements, making the task of the Selection Committee an unenviable one.

2016 Nominees:

Alumnae Awards Dinner: Marie Coleman, 2014 winner Sally Crossing, Mary Assunta, Rowena O’Neill and Elizabeth Elliott

Mary ASSUNTA KOLANDAI (2001-08): Mary Assunta is a world-renowned tobacco control advocate with over thirty years’ experience. Mary’s career has focussed primarily on addressing the impact of tobacco in developing nations. As Director of the International Tobacco Control Project at Cancer Council Australia, Mary works to support the development of policy throughout the ASEAN region. (Winner, Alumna Community Achievement Award)

Rebecca BARRY (2003-06): After five years working in commercial law, Rebecca joined Westpac’s BT Financial Group. She is currently National Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Migrant and Expatriate Banking. In addition to pro bono legal work Rebecca devotes time to improving conditions for women in the legal profession as an office bearer of a number of NSW law societies.

Karen CANFELL (1987-89): Karen Canfell is Director of the Cancer Research Division at the Cancer Council NSW; a Conjoint Professor at the University of NSW Faculty of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. Karen’s extensive research profile includes evaluating new strategies for cancers affecting women, including cervical cancer prevention and breast screening.

Marie Coleman (BURNS: 1950-53): Feminist, community activist, educator, researcher, public servant and journalist, Marie Coleman is a tireless campaigner for the rights of women and families. The first woman to head a Commonwealth Government statutory agency, her contribution to community activism has been longstanding, sustained, and of national significance.

Elizabeth ELLIOTT (1975-78): Elizabeth Elliott is Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Sydney and Consultant Paediatrician at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. She has dedicated her career to improving the health and quality of life of children, including Indigenous and refugee children, through her work in a number of fields, notably fetal alcohol syndrome. (Winner, Alumna Award),

Julia FETHERSTON (2005-08): In her current role as a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group, Julia Fetherston is emerging as a leading innovator and an expert in defining how to radically improve public services internationally. Most recently she has been advising the Saudi Arabian government on strategies to increase the presence of women in the work force. (Winner, Young Alumna Award)

Heidi HARRINGTON-JOHNSON (2004-05): An international model for the past fifteen years, Heidi Harrington-Johnson now resides in New York, where she undertook a masters in journalism and now pursues writing alongside her modelling career, mentoring homeless children and prison inmates in an effort to improve their lives through cultural reportage and fostering creativity.

Kate McCROSSIN (2001-04): A solicitor at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Kate McCrossin works to improve systemic disadvantage, assisting Indigenous and youth who are the subject of racism and poor public policy. She has dedicated her working life to date to such advocacy, having previously been a solicitor at the Refugee Advice and Casework Service.

Rowena O’NEILL (2002-05): A Manager at Macquarie Funds Group specialising in asset management and equity capital markets, Rowena O’Neill has developed her leadership in the not-for-profit sector through her role as National Development Manager, Fitted for Work. Rowena has dedicated her energies, expertise and networks to assisting disadvantaged women to access employment.

Friday 20 May, 2016

As members of the College communities would be aware, there has been significant media coverage over the last fortnight about incidents of unacceptable behaviour at Sydney University colleges and broader issues around poor college cultures.

We feel it is important to state that Women’s College is fully committed to ensuring that all our students have a positive College experience and where this is not, or has not been the case, we will continue to investigate and respond accordingly.

We expect the highest standard of behaviour from all our students.  We recognise that having 280 young adults in a residential environment presents unique challenges, but we remain committed to setting a high standard for expected behaviour and focusing our students’ attention on the importance of leadership and supporting one another throughout their College experience.  We acknowledge that we are not immune to the behaviours that have been reported at other colleges and we have taken active steps to ensure there are many ways that students can report any concerns they might have and we will continue to work to ensure that all students are aware of the support available.

This week, we held a ‘Snap Chat’ conversation with students and were impressed and proud of the way that our students are thinking about the important issues of sexism and culture.  It was clear that the students were very upset with the way that college life was being portrayed in the media, and that they were keen to share their positive experiences.  While we acknowledge the importance of sharing the positive stories, we did also reinforce that if even one student had experienced bullying or harassment, that was one too many in our eyes.

While we do not want to sound defensive, it is important to note that the media’s reporting of the University’s position in relation to colleges is not accurate, and in fact we have worked closely with the Vice Chancellor’s Office in recent days and will continue to support his efforts to bring college leaders together to progress discussions about how to ensure that cultural issues across and between colleges are identified and addressed.

Over the coming weeks, we will actively participate in the dialogue with the other colleges and the Vice Chancellor regarding opportunities to work together to ensure that all University of Sydney students live and study in an environment free from bullying and harassment.  We will also continue to evolve our conversations with current students about the role of young women in setting cultural norms and standards and the opportunity that Women’s has to continue to role-model leadership behaviours and behaviours that reflect a positive and supportive culture.  We are very aware that for our students to live in a world where they experience gender equality, Women’s College will need to play a role in the broader societal conversations about eradicating sexism and all forms of discrimination against women.

Please know that issues of behaviour and culture are not only considered by the leadership of Women’s College when a media article is published.  Front of mind for all staff, year round, is how to continue to ensure that all students have the optimal experience during their time at Women’s and exit the College with a strong sense of purpose and vision for their future.  This will continue to be a priority for us.

Please do not hesitate to contact the College if you have any concerns about these matters.  We do appreciate the support we have received already from so many in our community.

Julie McKay (Chair) and Dr Amanda Bell (Principal)

Nominations for the 2024 Women’s College Alumnae Awards open on Monday 19 February 2024.

These Awards seek to recognise the achievements and service of our alumnae in their professions, community, arts, sport or family life and aim to reflect women’s leadership, vision, creativity, innovation and initiative.

Three awards will be given in 2024:

• The Women’s College Alumna Award
• Young Alumna Award
• Alumna Community Achievement Award
  

Further information, criteria for nomination and a nomination form can be found here.

Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 29 March 2024. Nominations have been extended and close at 5pm on Monday, 8 April 2024.

Winners will be announced at the Alumnae Awards Formal Dinner in the College Dining Hall from 6pm on Monday 13 May 2024.

For further information on the Awards, please contact the Alumnae & Philanthropy Coordinator Hannah Heading.

Katrina Dawson’s family speak about creating her legacy: funding three scholarships for young women of merit at Women’s College. See the Sydney Morning Herald article.