The Australian National University (ANU) has named international comedian Hannah Gadsby, its Alumna of the Year.
Vice-Chancellor of the ANU, Brian Schmidt said Ms Gadsby was deserving of the award for her social commentary promoting gender equity and LGBTIQ issues which had reached millions of people.
“She has received international recognition for her insight into trauma and abuse – and has fought to make visible those whose situations often go unseen,” Professor Schmidt said.
“These are values we live by at ANU, and hope our whole community share throughout their lives.”
Ms Gadsby, who graduated from ANU with an Art History degree in 2003, said she was “pretty chuffed” to receive the honour although she acknowledged she hadn’t perhaps been the best student.
She also advised recent graduates not to put too much pressure on themselves to be perfect.
Professor Schmidt said the other 2019 ANU Alumni of the Year awards went to ACT Magistrate, Louise Taylor for her impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and access to justice for women in the community, and Sir Mike Brady for his contribution to science, particularly the impact of his medical research on diagnostic imaging patients.
He said Alexandra Clare was awarded Young Alumna of the Year Award for her humanitarian advocacy through Re:Coded which creates professional opportunities in the technology industry for youth in conflict-affected countries across the Middle East, while Lauren Dreyar and James Connolly were recognised for their volunteer work.
Professor Schmidt used the opportunity to launch a new fundraising campaign at the Awards dinner to help provide scholarships to make ANU more accessible to all students.
“We recognise talent is everywhere, opportunity is not, and these fundraising efforts will focus on student support to give any student with the will and capacity to succeed the opportunity to study at ANU,” Professor Schmidt said.
