Celebrating our 2025 Dean’s Alumni Award winners
17 October 2025
Monash Business School alumni, pictured with Prof Simon Wilkie,
have been honoured for their leadership and lasting impact.
Seven outstanding Monash Business School graduates have been honoured for their leadership and lasting impact at this year’s Dean’s Alumni Awards.
Their achievements were celebrated at a gala dinner on Thursday night, when guests were treated to fragrance samples from Flâner, founded by Andrew Hardeman, and sorbet and gelato from Boozy Scoop, founded by Daniel Loke. Both are Monash Business School alumni.
Professor Simon Wilkie, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics and Head, Monash Business School, said this year’s recipients were an exceptional and inspirational group of leaders, who were making widespread and much-needed change for broad societal benefit.
Their sectors spanned paediatric research, high-performance sport, youth entrepreneurship, and more.
“They have truly enriched the Monash Business School alumni community, Prof Wilkie said. “They have worked incredibly hard to achieve what they have, in turn making lasting contributions to industry, society and diverse communities.”
MEET OUR RECIPIENTS
Emerging Talent Award: Nathaniel Diong
At 16, Nathaniel Diong worried he was falling behind.
“I couldn’t shake the feeling that I lacked the skills to navigate the next steps in life,” he said.
Then he joined an entrepreneurship hackathon and discovered learning could be “fun, exciting, and electric.”
Inspired, he founded the Future Minds Network, a social enterprise that has helped more than 13,000 young Australians to build their own businesses, charities and technology.
Since then, he has taken his award-winning programs to 22 countries, working with universities, governments and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs across the Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa.
He also chaired the Victorian Government’s Youth Advisory Board, advocating for quality education for 1.2 million young Victorians, and was the youngest director of SENVIC, Victoria’s peak social enterprise body.
A Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and Young Australian of the Year finalist, the Bachelor of Commerce graduate now adds the Dean’s Alumni Award to his achievements.
“It feels incredible to be recognised for the work we’ve done - designing programs in partnership with Monash University to empower young people with future-ready skills.”
Professional Achievement Award: Dr Vera Ignjatovic AM
When Global Executive MBA graduate Dr Vera Ignjatovic joined Monash Business School, she doubted whether she belonged.
“I felt so out of place, especially as a medical researcher who has always been told that business is ‘the dark side’,” she said. “From that time to now, receiving an award from the Monash Business School feels surreal.”
A pioneer in paediatric medical research, Dr Ignjatovic has spent 25 years at the intersection of science, clinical practice and healthcare innovation.
In 2025, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia.
Receiving the Professional Development Dean’s Award was especially meaningful.
“Life is too short to spend it doing something average. I have focused on saying yes, reaching for the stars, and having fun along the way.”
Professional Achievement Award: Scott Cairns
Scott Cairns has never followed a conventional career path.
From Melbourne accounting firms to senior finance roles in Baghdad, Afghanistan and Jordan, his professional journey has spanned some of the world’s most complex environments.
That breadth of experience laid the foundation for Creation Business Consultants - a tax and advisory firm employing more than 40 staff across four countries.
“Each position and qualification has contributed to expanding my expertise and opening new avenues,” he said.
The Bachelor of Commerce graduate said recognition from Monash Business School was a career highlight.
“Professionally, it is a humbling experience to be recognised by my alumni from a university that I hold in such high esteem,” he said.
Impact Award: Associate Professor Catherine Quinlan
A/Prof Catherine Quinlan.
From her very first week in paediatrics, Associate Professor Catherine Quinlan knew she had found her calling.
“It felt almost magical that a baby born with no kidney function could survive and thrive thanks to the dedication of an extraordinary team,” the Global Executive MBA graduate said.
A genetic kidney disease specialist, she established Australia’s first multidisciplinary kidney genetics service and led the Kidney Flagship at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Along the way, she has pioneered genomic diagnostics, influenced national health policy, and built international education platforms.
In 2025 she will return to Ireland as Director of Research Partnerships and Impact at the Paediatric Academic Health Science Centre and paediatric nephrology consultant at Children’s Health Ireland.
Receiving the Dean’s Impact Award was deeply significant, marking her Australian achievements and next chapter leading collaborative paediatric research in Ireland.
“What continues to inspire me is the children themselves. Clinical medicine and research are team sports, and I have been fortunate to work with extraordinary colleagues, students, and families who share the same vision.”
Community Award: Associate Professor of Practice Brigette McGuire
Brigette McGuire’s career began on the tennis court.
As a young coach, the Master of Marketing graduate helped train future champions Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik, relishing the high-performance environment that encouraged creativity, ambition, and continuous improvement.
That experience launched a career at the intersection of sport, business, and social change, which has seen her build national participation programs, found McGuire Marketing and serve as President of the Women’s Tennis Foundation.
Today, as a Professor of Practice at Monash Business School, she applies that same ambition to values-based marketing and education.
She said she felt humbled to receive the Dean’s Community Award.
“As one of the top 50 Business Schools in the world, Monash Business School has esteemed alumni in every business sector, so to receive this award is an unexpected joy.”
Indigenous Award: Kyra Galante
At the age 18, Kyra Galante began her professional journey in the mining industry through an Aboriginal Mining Training Program in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, at a time when opportunities for both women and Indigenous peoples were rare.
Her early experiences on site, including witnessing and experiencing acts of racism and exclusion, became a catalyst for her lifelong commitment to creating meaningful change.
“This experience inspired me to dedicate my career to cultural education and training, supporting organisations to deepen their understanding, strengthen accountability, and foster environments where Indigenous employees are valued, supported and empowered,” she said.
A proud Guburn (Kupurn) woman and distinguished graduate of the Master of Indigenous Business Leadership program, Ms Galante has devoted more than two decades to advancing Indigenous engagement, leadership, and economic development across the nation.
In her current role as First Nations Participation Director at Worley Australia, and as a Board Member of Reconciliation WA, she exemplifies a leadership philosophy grounded in cultural strength, integrity, and collective responsibility.
“For me, this award represents more than recognition; it signifies the ongoing responsibility to honour the strength, wisdom, and resilience of my ancestor's spirits, and to continue advocating for justice with purpose and courage.”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Emeritus Professor Izan Izan
When Professor Izan Izan graduated from Monash with first-class honours in 1973, she planned to become a chartered accountant.
However, her career took an unexpected turn that saw her become a trailblazer in her field.
After completing an MBA and PhD at the University of Chicago, Professor Izan began her academic career at the University of New South Wales.
In 1981, she joined the University of Western Australia and was appointed Professor of Accounting and Finance in 1990; a milestone personally and for the sector.
“I was the first woman in Australia to be appointed as Professor within these disciplines,” she said.
Recognition followed: she was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (2004), received a national Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2011), and was awarded UWA’s Chancellor’s Medal (2015).
The Dean’s Lifetime Achievement award was an unexpected honour.
“It made me reflect on the roles I have played as lecturer, supervisor, mentor and administrator, and the satisfaction and recognition I had in these roles,” she said.
Learn more about our annual alumni awards.