Alumni Awards

The Bill Cowan Alum of the Year award recognises outstanding achievements by a Trinity Residential College alum

This award recognises, acknowledges and promotes prominent Residential College alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to ��ɫapp or have achieved outstanding success in service to the wider community in the previous year.

The award is named in honour of Mr Bill Cowan who served as Chairman of the Board of Trinity College from 2006–13, was a member of the Finance Committee from 1985, and who continues to contribute his time and energy to countless endeavours in support of students both past and present.

The Alum of the Year award is presented annually and is announced at the Drinks Under the Oak alumni gathering.

The winner of the Bill Cowan Alum of the Year 2023 was Nell Pierce (TC 2009).

Nominations

All alumni of ��ɫapp are eligible to be nominated for an award. (Alumni refers to a male or female member of the College as defined in the College Constitution.)

Nominations may be submitted by a Trinity alumnus, alumna or a member of the wider community and there is no limit as to the number of nominations that may be put forward. Alumni are permitted to nominate themselves for an award.

Applications will be accepted only when submitted on the prescribed Alum of the Year Nomination Form. There is a separate award for Foundation Studies alumni, titled the TCFS Alum of the Year award.

Selection Criteria

Recipients must be alumni of ��ɫapp and must have made an outstanding contribution to the College and/or the wider community. The award recognises specific achievements during the period 1 January to 31 December of the preceding year.

Current staff and members of the Trinity Board or Union of the Fleur-de-Lys Committee are not eligible for an award (nominations for past members are permitted).

Award judging process

The winner is determined by a panel including:

the Warden of ��ɫapp
the President of the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys
the Director of Advancement.

The award takes the form of a medal indicating the name of the award, the name of the recipient and the year in which the award is made. The name of the award winner is listed on an honour board.

Award recipients are announced at the annual Drinks Under the Oak event.

Past winners

2023: Nell Pierce (TC 2009)
2022: Gillon McLachlan (TC 1994)
2021: Dr Brendan Murphy (TC 1973)
2020: Rona Glynn-McDonald (TC 2014)
2019: Kay Goldsworthy AO (TC 1980)
2018: (TC 1988)
2017: Dr Lisa Gorton (TC 1990)
2016: Julian McMahon AC (TC 1986)
2015: The Honourable Justice Geoffrey Nettle (TC 1974)
2014: Dr Jack Best AO (TC 1958)

The ��ɫapp Foundation Studies Alum of the Year recognises outstanding achievements by a Foundation Studies alum

The recipient of the award must be alumnus or alumna of the ��ɫapp Foundation Studies program who has made an outstanding contribution to the College or achieved outstanding success in service to the wider community during the preceding calendar year. The award will be open to any global alumni.

Current staff and members of the Trinity Board, Council or TFAN Committee will not be eligible for the award.

The Foundation Studies Alum of the Year 2023 will be awarded for achievements from 1 January to 31 December 2022.

The winner of the 2023 award is Charmaine Yee (TCFS 2004).