Alumni

Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers.

He received a Centenary of Federation Medal for his services to Australian science and in 2002 he delivered the Australia Day address. In 2005 Flannery was named Australian Humanist of the Year, and in 2007 he was honoured as Australian of the Year.

He spent a year teaching at Harvard, and is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the National Geographic Society’s representative in Australasia.

The Weather Makers has been translated into more than 20 languages and in 2006 won the NSW Premier’s Literary Prizes for Best Critical Writing and Book of the Year.

In 2007 Tim Flannery co-founded and was appointed Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who have come together to confront climate change.

Virginia Trioli is a Walkley-winning journalist who currently hosts the ABC’s breakfast television news program. Throughout her distinguished career Trioli has also worked as a journalist for The Age, a columnist for The Bulletin, a radio presenter on both ABC local radio in Melbourne and Sydney, and the host of the revered ABC news program Lateline.

Andrew Demetriou is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Football League. Assuming the role in 2003, Demetriou has led the AFL’s further expansion into New South Wales and Queensland, with the Gold Coast Suns joining the competition in 2011 and Greater Western Sydney set to become the AFL’s 18th team in 2012. Demetriou has also been instrumental figure in delivering the game lucrative television rights deals; the latest agreement for 2012-2016 worth $1.25 billion.

For three years prior to being appointed CEO in September 2003, he served as General Manager - Football Operations, overseeing all aspects of operating of the then 16-team AFL competition. Between 1998 and 2000, Demetriou was CEO of the AFL Players' Association.

Jacinta Allan was elected as the Member for Bendigo East in September 1999 at the age of 25, making her the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Victorian Parliament.

Allan was born in and grew up in Bendigo. She studied at Catholic College Bendigo before completing her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at La Trobe University, Bendigo. While studying, Allan worked at a Coles supermarket and then started work with the Commonwealth Department of Industrial Relations after graduating.

Community involvement has been a central part of Allan’s life. She has been a member of the Committee of Management for the Bendigo Community Health Service and the Loddon Mallee Women’s Health Service.

In 2002, Allan became the youngest ever Minister in the State of Victoria. She served as Minister for Education Services and Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs from 2002 to 2006, and Minister for Regional and Rural Development from 2006 to 2010.

Allan is currently the Manager of Opposition Business and Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response and Shadow Minister for Roads.