Deakin's 2025 Alumni Awards highlight the diversity and contribution of former students

Diana Taylor AM, the owner and operator of Diana Taylor Legal Consulting, is widely recognised for her leadership as the first female Vice-President of the Geelong Football Club, as a Member for the Order of Australia, and for her key role in expanding Anam Cara House Geelong from a small four-bedroom home to a world-class palliative care facility.

'[The University’s] support and partnership with Anam Cara House Geelong is a true demonstration of both community and national leadership and I’m proud to be walking this journey with Deakin as Anam Cara House Geelong’s Chair.’Best-selling children’s author and literacy advocate Andy Griffiths is beloved in Australia and around the world for his The JUST! and Treehouse series.

He is a lifetime ambassador for The Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which provides culturally relevant resources to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

‘I’m passionate about connecting kids with books so they can experience the same sense of excitement, escapism and possibility that I remember experiencing with books all my childhood,’ Andy said.

Anna Seymour, a London-based Deaf dance artist, actress and producer, was acutely aware of the lack of role models for Deaf dancers while growing up in regional New South Wales.

Her love of dance and desire to bring the dance and Deaf worlds together led her to create the interactive dance rave ‘Spin’ and co-found The Delta Project, a Melbourne-based collective of deaf and hearing dancers.

‘We just wanted to explore and create more professional opportunities for deaf dancers which were basically non-existent,’ Anna said.‘We were sick of inaccessible dance spaces and professional training and performing opportunities so just created them for ourselves and each other.’

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said the University was proud to recognise the 2025 Alumni Award recipients for their exceptional contributions to their communities, professions and Deakin.

‘The calibre of this year’s nominees was extremely high, reflecting the remarkable achievements of our alumni worldwide,’ he said.

The Vice-Chancellor's Alumni Awards were established in 2011 to acknowledge graduates who are shaping industries, driving innovation and creating meaningful change in their communities.

2025 Deakin Alumni Awards recipients

Alumni Excellence Award

• Diana Taylor AM, owner and operator of Diana Taylor Legal Consulting, Chair of Anam Cara House Geelong, Deakin Law School Advisory Board member and Member of the Order of Australia 2024
• Andy Griffiths, award-winning children’s book author and literacy advocate
• Shaun Wilson, co-founder of Bondi Sands and champion of sustainable and ethical business
• Steve Chun Yin LO, founder of Wheel for Oneness and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion within his community.

Young Alumni Excellence Award

• Dr Anika Molesworth, scientist, author, advocate for climate-resilient agriculture and founder of Climate Wise Agriculture
• Anna Seymour, Australian born Deaf dance artist, actress and producer based in London who advocates for inclusivity across disciplines
• Sunaina Jaswal, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at Surf Life Saving Queensland and passionate about the role of women in sport
• Jayden Battey, National Engagement Manager (Partnerships) for aid, development and advocacy organisation Baptist World Aid and emerging housing leader and researcher

Find out more about Deakin’s 2025 Alumni Award winners and watch their inspiring stories here.