alumni profiles

News: alumni profiles

The FJ and the footbridge - alumni pranksters "pardoned" by Lord Mayor

They’ve been “on the run” since 1971 after they were accomplices to the dumping of an FJ Holden into the River Torrens. But in April 2025, they had to face the music, confessing to their “crime” to Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.

Nikki Lohitnavy: award-winning tropical winemaker

A portrait of Nikki in front of wine barrels, holding a glass of red wine

Nikki (Visootha) Lohitnavy is an oenologist who has overseen winemaking at GranMonte Co. in Thailand for seventeen years. With her significant experience in tropical viticulture and wine making, alongside new winemaking innovations and techniques that she adapted, the company has led the way for wine tourism in Thailand and amassed more than 100 awards from international wine competitions.

Dr Rachel Spencer: lawyer, writer, life-long learner

A portrait of Rachel smiling widely in front of a huge book case

Dr Rachel Spencer is an independent consultant as well as a writer, editor, academic, and speaker. An avid reader, Rachel also works part-time at Mostly Books, where she hosts a monthly "Law and Literature" book club. She is also the President of the Friends of the Library. She holds an impressive collection of tertiary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts (1985), Bachelor of Laws (1986) and a Master of Laws (1994) from the �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide.

How mentoring changes lives

Mentoring has benefits that extend far beyond professional development for mentees, as mentor Xinyu Dai explains. Hear both sides of the story from an experienced mentor and a recent mentee in the �Ӱ�ֱ��'s Career Access Mentoring Program.

The romantic legacy of the 1970 �Ӱ�ֱ�� Computer Ball

Black and white photo of Clinton and Maureen in their Ball attire, 1970

Posted on Feb 7 2025 by Claire Bowman

At the �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide in 1969, a program authored by two students was employed to match up nearly 1000 people with their ideal counterpart for the �Ӱ�ֱ��’s first AUScA ‘Computer Ball’. Five decades later, the legacy of that night still lives on for at least one couple ... and perhaps many more!

Li Tu

Li Tu is a professional tennis player and Bachelor of Commerce graduate whose unusual career path has taught him the value of hard work, reliability, focusing on what's truly important, and having a great team by your side.

[Read more about Li Tu]

Dr Ross Williams and Andrew Hensel jumped out of a plane for O-Week 1986

Three men smiling in the sun, wearing skydiving gear and holding their bundled parachutes

Posted on Feb 3 2025 by Claire Bowman

“We Could Die!” announced the posters that two students plastered across the North Terrace Campus during O-Week 1986. Beneath this provocative heading, they printed a picture of a human figure under a parachute with the strings cut. The dramatic posters drew quite the crowd to the �Ӱ�ֱ�� oval to witness a “demonstration jump”...

Kim Sparks

A portrait of Kim smiling, wearing glasses

Kim Sparks is currently the Quality Manager at Udder Delights �Ӱ�ֱ��, where she ensures the company’s products meet quality standards and customer expectations. She takes pride in having worked with iconic brands that feature in many people’s fridges and pantries.

[Read more about Kim Sparks]

Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee bin Wan Ariffin

Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee bin Wan Ariffin is a business leader and Chairman of DRB-HICOM Berhad, Gas Malaysia Berhad and Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad. Previously, he was Group Chairman of Malaysia Aviation Group and Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Director of Exxon Mobil Corporation and President and CEO of Petronas.

Associate Professor Craig Lockwood

Association Professor Craig Lockwood is a PhD qualified Registered Nurse, a staff member at the School of Public Health at the �Ӱ�ֱ�� of Adelaide, and Adjunct Associate Professor, Queen's School of Nursing, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He has been Deputy Director at Joanna Briggs Institute of Implementation Science since 2002.