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Media Release

August 16 2006

UniSA honours its graduates

More than 1000 UniSA graduates will cross the stage at the Festival Theatre this week - the culmination of years of study for university degrees ranging from Bachelor degrees, Graduate Diplomas and Masters to PhDs. The graduation ceremonies will be held on Thursday and Friday this week (August 17 & 18) at the Adelaide Festival Theatre.

And amid the celebrations, the University will also honour some high profile Australians for their contribution to education and society – including South Australian Premier Mike Rann and former Senator in the Hawke Government, Susan Ryan AO, who will both be made Honorary Doctors of the University of South Australia.

Thursday August 17 will see more than 350 students in health sciences, information technology, engineering and the environment cross the stage. This cohort will include nine students graduating with a PhD. Guest speaker at the 3pm ceremony will be Dr Leanna Read a founder of TGR Biosciences and since 2001, its Managing Director and CEO. UniSA is a foundation shareholder of TGR Biosciences. Dr Read is a biochemist by training with more than 20 years experience in characterising bioactives in milk and other food derived products. Today she serves on the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, the Australian Research Council Board, the NCRIS Committee and the South Australian Premier's Science and Research Council as well as the boards of Novogen Ltd and the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility. She has been a member of the Advisory Board of UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute since 1999 and was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 1999.

On Friday August 18 two ceremonies will be held. At 10.30am, 360 business graduates including 23 PhDs will receive their degrees and also be present as the Premier gives the graduation speech and accepts his honorary doctorate. Just 15 years ago, then Minister of Employment and Further Education Mike Rann introduced the legislation that established the University of South Australia. His award from UniSA acknowledges his deep connections to UniSA and one of its former institutions, the South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT).

At 3pm almost 340 graduates in arts, education and the social sciences, including four PhDs will receive their awards and be present to see another Australian leader honoured for their achievements. Former Federal Minister for Education in the Hawke Government, Susan Ryan, AO, will be guest speaker at the ceremony and will be awarded and honorary doctorate for her tireless commitment to equity and access in education, and improved opportunities for women. One of the founding members of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, since 1972 Susan Ryan has worked to improve the status of women and improve access to education. Committed to issues of equity in society, since her retirement from Australian Parliament she has continued to work in senior positions and is currently the President of the Australia Institute for Superannuation Trustees, playing a leading role in the move to greater corporate accountability and shareholder activism.
 

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