58 Notable alumni of
Flinders University
Updated:
Flinders University is 1174th in the world, 25th in Oceania, and 20th in Australia by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 58 notable alumni from Flinders University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
-
Terence Tao
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- 1989-1992 graduated with Bachelor of Science in mathematics
- Occupations
- university teachermathematicianacademic
- Biography
-
Terence Chi-Shen Tao FAA FRS is an Australian-American mathematician, Fields medalist, and professor of mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he holds the James and Carol Collins Chair in the College of Letters and Sciences. His research includes topics in harmonic analysis, partial differential equations, algebraic combinatorics, arithmetic combinatorics, geometric combinatorics, probability theory, compressed sensing and analytic number theory.
-
Xavier Samuel
- Occupations
- actorfilm actormusicianstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
-
Xavier Samuel is an Australian film and theatre actor. He has appeared in leading roles in the feature films Adore, September, Further We Search, Newcastle, The Loved Ones, Frankenstein, A Few Best Men, and played Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Billy in Spin Out. He also starred as Cass Chaplin in Blonde.
-
Noni Hazlehurst
- Occupations
- actorfilm actorsingertelevision presenterfilm director
- Biography
-
Leonie Elva "Noni" Hazelhurst AM, is an Australian actress, director, writer, presenter and broadcaster who has appeared on television and radio, in dramas, mini-series and made for television films, as well also on stage and in feature films since the early 1970s. Hazlehurst has been honoured with numerous awards including Australian Film Institute Awards, ARIA Awards and Logies, including being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
-
Mamoru Mohri
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Master of Science
- Graduated with Doctor of Science
- Occupations
- astronautchemist
- Biography
-
Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, AM is a Japanese scientist, a former NASDA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions. He is the first Japanese astronaut who was part of an official Japanese space program. The first Japanese person in space, Toyohiro Akiyama, was a journalist who was trained in the Soviet Union.
-
Gary Sweet
- Occupations
- actorfilm actorsingerstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
-
Gary Sweet is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in Alexandra's Project (as Steve), Police Rescue (as Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock), Cody (as Cody), Big Sky (as Chris Manning), Bodyline (as Donald Bradman), Stingers (as DI Luke Harris) and House Husbands (as Lewis Crabb).
-
Richard Harris
- Occupations
- oratoranesthesiologistfilmmakercave diverwriter
- Biography
-
Richard Harris is an Australian anaesthetist and cave diver who is currently the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia. Harris is best known for having played a crucial role in the Tham Luang cave rescue. He and Craig Challen were jointly awarded 2019 Australian of the Year as a result of that rescue. Harris was appointed as South Australia's Lieutenant-Governor in 2024, and was sworn in on 9 February 2024.
-
Pratikno
- Occupations
- academicpolitician
- Biography
-
Pratikno is an Indonesian politician and academic. He currently serving as Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs. He also served as the Minister / Secretary of State of Indonesia in the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, the cabinet appointed by President Joko Widodo for his second term in office 2019–2024.
-
Rodney Brooks
- Occupations
- engineercomputer scientistroboticistartificial intelligence researcheruniversity teacher
- Biography
-
Rodney Allen Brooks is an Australian roboticist, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, author, and robotics entrepreneur, most known for popularizing the actionist approach to robotics. He was a Panasonic Professor of Robotics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and former director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He is a founder and former Chief Technical Officer of iRobot and co-founder, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics) and is the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Robust.AI (founded in 2019).
-
Doc Neeson
- Occupations
- singersongwriter
- Biography
-
Bernard Patrick "Doc" Neeson OAM was an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. He was the front man for the hard rock band The Angels from its formation in February 1976 through to 1999. The band then split up and reformed in 2008 after a lengthy legal battle where Doc resumed his place as front man. For the group, Neeson was the main singer-songwriter and was the driving force behind the band being propelled into stardom for a period spanning over three decades. Their top 20 studio albums on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart are Face to Face (June 1978), No Exit (June 1979), Dark Room (June 1980), Night Attack (November 1981), Watch the Red (May 1983), Two Minute Warning (November 1984) and Howling (October 1986). Their number-one album, Beyond Salvation, on the ARIA Albums Chart appeared in February 1990 and was followed by another top 20 album, Red Back Fever (November 1991). The group's top 20 singles on the related Australian charts are "No Secrets" (1980), "Into the Heat" (1981), "Never so Live" (1981), "We Gotta Get out of This Place" (1987), "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" (live, 1988), "Let the Night Roll On" (1990) and "Dogs Are Talking" (1990). On 20 October 1998, at the ARIA Awards the group were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
-
Brendan Nelson
- Occupations
- physicianpoliticiandiplomat
- Biography
-
Brendan John Nelson AO is an Australian business leader, physician and former politician. He served as the federal Leader of the Opposition from 2007 to 2008, going on to serve as Australia's senior diplomat to the European Union and NATO. He currently serves in a global leadership role with Boeing.
-
Agnes Milowka
- Occupations
- marketing managercave diverwritercaverunderwater photographer
- Biography
-
Agnes Milowka was an Australian technical diver, underwater photographer, author, maritime archaeologist and cave explorer. She gained international recognition for penetrating deeper than previous explorers into cave systems across Australia and Florida, and as a public speaker and author on the subjects of diving and maritime archaeology. She died aged 29 while diving in a confined space.
-
Greig Pickhaver
- Occupations
- comediantelevision actor
- Biography
-
Gordon Greig Pickhaver AM is an Australian actor, comedian and writer, who forms one half of the satirical sports comedy duo Roy and HG as the excitable sports announcer HG Nelson. The award-winning duo teamed up in 1986 for the Triple J radio comedy program This Sporting Life, and were broadcast nationwide for 22 years, leading to several successful television spinoffs.
-
Scott Hicks
- Occupations
- directorfilm directorscreenwriter
- Biography
-
Robert Scott Hicks is an Australian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known as the director of Shine, the biopic of pianist David Helfgott. Hicks was nominated for two Academy Awards. Other movies he has directed include the film adaptations of Stephen King's Hearts in Atlantis and Nicholas Sparks' The Lucky One.
-
Kia Silverbrook
- Occupations
- inventor
- Biography
-
Kia Silverbrook is an Australian independent inventor and scientist. He is one of the most prolific inventors in the world, and has been granted 4,747 US utility patents as of 14 February 2022. Internationally, he has 9,874 patents or patent applications registered at the international patent document database (INPADOC). Silverbrook has founded companies and developed products in a wide range of disciplines, including computer graphics, video and audio production, scientific computing, factory automation, digital printing, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), molecular electronics, internet software, content management, genetic analysis, MEMS devices, security inks, photovoltaic solar cells, and interactive paper.
-
Hannah Kent
- Occupations
- novelist
- Biography
-
Hannah Kent is an Australian writer, known for two novels – Burial Rites (2013) and The Good People (2016). Her third novel, Devotion, was published in 2021.
-
Rebekha Sharkie
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- political advisercivil servantpoliticianparalegalresearcher
- Biography
-
Rebekha Carina Sharkie is an Australian politician and member of the Centre Alliance party. She is a member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Mayo in South Australia.
-
Melissa Bergland
- Occupations
- actorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Melissa Bergland is an Australian actress best known for her role as Jenny Gross in the Seven Network drama Winners & Losers.
-
John Bannon
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- politiciantrade unionisthistorian
- Biography
-
John Charles Bannon AO was an Australian politician and academic. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party from a single term in opposition back to government at the 1982 election.
-
Amanda Rishworth
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Psychology
- Occupations
- psychologisttrade unionistretail workerpolitician
- Biography
-
Amanda Louise Rishworth is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been Minister for Social Services in the Albanese government since 2022. She has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2007 federal election, representing the South Australian seat of Kingston.
-
Joseph Cheng
- Years
- 1949-.. (age 76)
- Occupations
- political scientistpolitical activistuniversity teacherjustice of the peacepolitician
- Biography
-
Joseph Cheng Yu-shek, JP is a Hong Kong political scientist and democracy activist. He was the secretary general of the Civic Party and convenor of pro-democratic groups including Power for Democracy and Alliance for True Democracy.
-
Jenny Leong
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Jenny Leong, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Newtown for the Greens since 2015. Leong is the first person to represent Newtown in its current form, as it was created for the 2015 election.
-
Aimee Horne
- Occupations
- actorsinger
- Biography
-
Aimée Rene Horne is an Australian actress and singer. She has worked in film, theatre, radio and television and is an established voice-over artist. She is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
-
Peter Goers
- Occupations
- radio personality
- Biography
-
Peter Goers OAM is a South Australian arts critic, producer, director, columnist and author who hosted The Evening Show for over twenty years on ABC Radio Adelaide, broadcasting throughout South Australia and to Broken Hill. Goers presented his final Evening Show with a live audience at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide on Thursday November 30, 2023. His career spans over 40 years in the entertainment industry across a range of different mediums and formats including television, print, radio and theatre, and he is frequently engaged as a guest speaker. In the Australia Day Honours, 2013, Goers was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his "service to the community as a radio broadcaster".
-
Susan Close
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politiciancivil servantacademic administrator
- Biography
-
Susan Elizabeth Close is an Australian politician, who is currently the deputy premier of South Australia since March 2022. She also holds the ministerial portfolios of Minister for Climate, Environment and Water; Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science; and Minister for Defence and Space Industries.
-
Kevin Hogan
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Kevin John Hogan is an Australian politician. He has been a Nationals member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Page in New South Wales, since September 2013.
-
Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 73)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Siale ʻAtaongo Kaho, Lord Tuʻivakanō is a Tongan politician who served as the prime minister of Tonga from 2010 to 2014.
-
Skye Kakoschke-Moore
- Occupations
- policy advisorpolitician
- Biography
-
Skye Louise Kakoschke-Moore is an Australian politician who was a Senator for South Australia in the Parliament of Australia from July 2016 until she resigned in November 2017 during the parliamentary eligibility crisis, following her realisation that she was a dual citizen. Kakoschke-Moore had served as Nick Xenophon Team whip and spokesperson for mental health, disability, Indigenous affairs, veteran's affairs, women, arts and sports. She was also the social services spokeswoman for the party in the Senate.
-
Robert Simms
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianbarrister
- Biography
-
Robert Andrew Simms is an Australian politician, representing the Greens South Australia. He was a Senator for South Australia from 2015 to 2016, an Area Councillor for the City of Adelaide from 2014 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2021. Since May 2021, he has been a member of the South Australian Legislative Council.
-
Jackie Huggins
- Occupations
- writerhistorianbiographer
- Biography
-
Jacqueline Gail "Jackie" Huggins AM FAHA is an Aboriginal Australian author, historian, academic and advocate for the rights of Indigenous Australians. She is a Bidjara/Pitjara, Birri Gubba and Juru woman from Queensland.
-
Rini Widyantini
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- In 1999 graduated with Master in Public Administration
- Occupations
- bureaucratcivil servant
- Biography
-
Rini Widyantini is an Indonesian politician serving as minister of administrative and bureaucratic reform since 2024. She served as deputy minister for institutional affairs from 2012 to 2013, and as deputy minister for institutional affairs and governance from 2013 to 2021.
-
Kate Ellis
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Katherine Margaret Ellis is an Australian former politician, who represented the Division of Adelaide in the Australian House of Representatives for the Australian Labor Party from 2004 until 2019. She served in multiple portfolios in the outer ministry of the 2007–2013 federal Labor government and was in the shadow cabinet after that. In March 2017 Ellis announced that she would step down from shadow cabinet as of the next reshuffle and leave parliament at the 2019 federal election.
-
Tom Kenyon
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical adviserwarehouseman
- Biography
-
Thomas Richard Kenyon is a former Australian politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Newland for the Labor Party from the 2006 election until his defeat in 2018. Kenyon left the Labor Party in 2021 to found the Family First Party.
-
Andrew Southcott
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- Occupations
- politiciansurgeonphysician
- Biography
-
Andrew John Southcott is an Australian politician and medical practitioner. He was the Liberal member for the House of Representatives seat of Boothby from the 1996 election until he stood down at the 2016 election.
-
Hetifah Sjaifudian
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Studied in 2002-2006
- Occupations
- council memberpoliticianactivistresearcher
- Biography
-
Hetifah Sjaifudian is an Indonesian campus activist and politician who became a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from 2009 to 2014 and 2019–present. Additionally, she was designated as Vice Chairman of Commission X in 2019-2024. She is in favor of developing hinterlands and border areas.
-
Werry Darta Taifur
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- university teachereconomistacademic
- Biography
-
Werry Darta Taifur is an Indonesian economist and professor who is currently serving as the Rector of Andalas University. He was sworn into office by Minister of Education Mohammad Nuh on 21 November 2011.
-
Dennis Hood
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- Occupations
- politicianmanagereconomist
- Biography
-
Dennis Garry Edward Hood is an Australian politician who began his political career as a member of the South Australian Legislative Council in 2006 on the Family First Party's ticket. In 2017, Family First merged into the Australian Conservatives and Hood joined the Liberal Party after the 2018 state election.
-
Ian Hunter
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- politicianresearch assistantpolitical adviserparty secretarycommunity organization
- Biography
-
Ian Keith Hunter is an Australian politician, representing the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party in the South Australian Legislative Council since the 2006 state election. Hunter served in the Cabinet of South Australia from October 2011 to 2018.
-
Leanne Armand
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- planktologistmicropaleontologist
- Biography
-
Leanne Armand was an Australian professor of marine science. She was an expert in the identification of diatoms in the Southern Ocean. She was known for her contributions to the understanding of past Southern Ocean dynamics and sea ice as a result of her knowledge of diatom distributions and ecology.
-
Katrine Hildyard
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politiciantrade unionistpolitical adviser
- Biography
-
Katrine Anne Hildyard is an Australian politician representing the electoral district of Reynell in the Parliament of South Australia as a member of the South Australian Labor Party since the 2014 state election.
-
Zoe Bettison
- Occupations
- politiciantrade unionistpolitical adviser
- Biography
-
Zoe Lee Bettison is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Ramsay for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2012 Ramsay by-election.
-
Chris Picton
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical adviserlawyer
- Biography
-
Christopher James Picton is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Kaurna for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2014 state election. He has served as the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in the Malinauskas ministry since March 2022, previously shadowing the role while in opposition.
-
Tony Piccolo
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with graduate certificate in education
- Occupations
- accountantpolitician
- Biography
-
Antonio Piccolo is an Australian politician in the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party as member for the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Light since the 2006 election. He is currently serving as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
-
Bob Such
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- politicianlecturerteacher
- Biography
-
Robert Bruce Such was a South Australian politician. He was the member for the seat of Fisher in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1989 until his death in 2014. He defeated Labor MP Philip Tyler at the 1989 election and was a member of the Liberals until 2000 when he became an independent. Such was Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, and Minister for Youth Affairs, in the Brown Liberal government from 1993 to 1996. He served as Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly for the Rann Labor government from 2005 to 2006. Such was joint Father of the House with Michael Atkinson from 2012.
-
Joe Szakacs
- Years
- 1982-.. (age 43)
- Occupations
- swimmertrade unionistlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Joseph Karl Szakacs is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He is a Labor Party member of the South Australian Legislative Assembly, representing the electoral district of Cheltenham since the 2019 Cheltenham by-election.
-
Son Chhay
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Mathematics
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Son Chhay is a Cambodian politician, and one of the highest-ranking members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. Son Chhay graduated in 1984 from Flinders University in Australia with a bachelor's degree in Mathematical Science. This was followed by a Diploma in Education from the University of Adelaide in 1985. Son Chhay was first elected to parliament in 1993 representing his birth province of Siem Reap and reelected in 1998 in the same province. From 2003 to the present he is a member of parliament representing Phnom Penh in the National Assembly of Cambodia. Son Chhay is well respected for his tireless effort to fight against corruption, promoting liberal democracy and human rights On 14 June 2010, Son Chhay was awarded the Order of Australia award for his services to Cambodia and the Cambodian Australian community in Australia. He is currently married to Christina Son and has 3 children.
-
Nazira Abdul
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- 2004-2006 graduated with master's degree in nutritional science
- Occupations
- pediatricianpolitician
- Biography
-
Nazira Karimo Vali Abdula is a pediatrician and politician from Mozambique. She has served as Minister of Health in the government of Filipe Nyusi since January 19, 2015.
-
Petar Pjesivac
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
-
Petar Pjesivac, is a Serbian writer most notably winning the "Golden Owl” literary award for his novel “ Povratak Ž-a “ ( The return of Z. ) in 2013.
-
Andrea Michaels
- Years
- 1975-.. (age 50)
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Andrea Michaels is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Enfield for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2019 Enfield by-election.
-
Carolyn Power
- Born in
-
Australia - Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Carolyn Laura Power is an Australian politician. She was a Liberal member of the South Australian House of Assembly from the 2018 state election until 2022, representing Elder.
-
Craig Lahiff
- Occupations
- directorfilm directorscreenwriter
- Biography
-
Craig Lahiff was an Australian film director. He grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Somerton Park and studied science at the University of Adelaide, then trained as a systems consultant before studying arts in film at Flinders University. He began working in the film industry on crews for movies such as Sunday Too Far Away and The Fourth Wish.
-
Diana Laidlaw
- Enrolled in Flinders University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- political adviserpolitician
- Biography
-
Diana Vivienne Laidlaw AM, commonly referred to as Di Laidlaw, is a former Australian Liberal politician. She was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council (1982–2003) and held several ministerial posts.
-
Graham Joseph Hill
- Years
- 1969-.. (age 56)
- Occupations
- university teachertheologianacademicnon-fiction writer
- Biography
-
Graham Joseph Hill is an Australian theologian who is a former associate professor of the University of Divinity. Since 2024, he works as a mission catalyst for the Uniting Church in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Hill is a research associate with the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, Massachusetts, US, and an associate professor and research fellow at Charles Sturt University. Hill is the author or editor of eighteen theological books. His research focuses on World Christianity but he is also known for his work on biblical egalitarianism and women theologians of global Christianity. He has published in the areas of missiology, applied theology, Christian spirituality and global and ecumenical approaches to missional ecclesiology.
-
Marion Maddox
- Occupations
- academicnon-fiction writer
- Biography
-
Marion Maddox FAHA is an Australian author, academic and political commentator. She is a professor in the department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University. Maddox is a regular commentator on issues of religion and politics in the Australian media and is a member of the Uniting Church. She authored the book God Under Howard: The rise of the religious right in Australian politics which compared the Howard Government with the religious right in the United States and criticised the decline of mainstream Christianity in Australia.
-
Steph Key
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Stephanie Wendy Key is a former Australian politician who was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the Australian Labor Party from the 1997 election until her retirement in 2018, representing the electorates of Hanson (1997–2002) and Ashford (2002–2018).
-
Richard Tipping
- Occupations
- poetsculptor
- Biography
-
Richard Kelly Tipping is an Australian poet and artist best known for his visual poetry, word art, and large-scale public artworks. Examples of his work are held in major collections in Australia and abroad.
-
Alex Frayne
- Occupations
- film director
- Biography
-
Alex Frayne is an Adelaide-based Australian photo artist whose images have received attention locally and abroad. He studied film at the Flinders University of South Australia, where he met long-time collaborator and cinematographer Nick Remy Matthews.
-
Konrad Pesudovs
- Biography
-
Konrad Pesudovs is an Australian optometrist and outcomes researcher in ophthalmology; recognised as the leading optometrist researcher worldwide in terms of H-Index and total citations. He is SHARP Professor of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales (2020-). He was the Foundation Chair of Optometry and Vision Science at Flinders University from 2009 to 2017.
-
Dean Nicolle
- Years
- 1974-.. (age 51)
- Occupations
- arboristecologistbotanist
- Biography
-
Dean Nicolle, is an Australian botanist, arborist and ecologist. He is widely recognised as the leading authority on the genus Eucalyptus.
