100 Notable alumni of
University of Adelaide
Updated:
The University of Adelaide is 450th in the world, 9th in Oceania, and 7th in Australia by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from the University of Adelaide sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Julia Gillard
- Occupations
- politicianinternational forum participantlawyer
- Biography
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Julia Eileen Gillard AC is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. She held office as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), having previously served as the 13th deputy prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. She is the first and only woman to hold either office in Australian history.
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Dichen Lachman
- Occupations
- film actoractor
- Biography
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Dichen Lachman is an Australian actress and model. She earned recognition starring as Katya Kinski in the soap opera Neighbours (2005–2007) and as Sierra in Joss Whedon's science fiction drama series Dollhouse (2009–2010).
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Lionel Logue
- Occupations
- physicianspeech and language therapistactorscientist
- Biography
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Lionel George Logue, was an Australian speech and language therapist and amateur stage actor who helped King George VI manage his stammer.
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J. M. Coetzee
- Occupations
- linguistnovelistuniversity teacherpoetprose writer
- Biography
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John Maxwell Coetzee FRSL OMG is a South African and Australian novelist, essayist, linguist, translator and recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is one of the most critically acclaimed and decorated authors in the English language. He has won the Booker Prize (twice), the CNA Literary Award (thrice), the Jerusalem Prize, the Prix Femina étranger, and The Irish Times International Fiction Prize, and holds a number of other awards and honorary doctorates.
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Elton Mayo
- Occupations
- sociologistpsychologistprofessor
- Biography
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George Elton Mayo was an Australian born psychologist, industrial researcher, and organizational theorist. Mayo was formally trained at the University of Adelaide, acquiring a Bachelor of Arts Degree graduating with First Class Honours, majoring in philosophy and psychology, and was later awarded an honorary Master of Arts Degree from the University of Queensland (UQ).
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Raditya Dika
- Occupations
- stand-up comedianfilm directorwriteractor
- Biography
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Dika Angkasaputra Moerwani Nasution, known as Raditya Dika, is an Indonesian author, actor, movie director, YouTuber, and social media personality. He is best known for his stand-up comedy.
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Jonathan LaPaglia
- Occupations
- television actormodelfilm directorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Jonathan LaPaglia is an Australian actor and television personality. He has hosted Network 10's revival of Australian Survivor since 2016. As an actor, LaPaglia is known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the television series Seven Days, Kevin Debreno in The District and Detective Tommy McNamara in New York Undercover.
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Penny Wong
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- political adviserbarristerpolitician
- Biography
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Penelope Ying-Yen Wong is an Australian politician who is serving as the current minister for Foreign Affairs and leader of the Government in the Senate in the Albanese government since 2022. A member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), she has been a senator for South Australia since 2002. Wong previously served as minister for Climate Change and minister for Finance and Deregulation during the governments of Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard from 2007 until 2013.
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Julie Bishop
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianlawyer
- Biography
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Julie Isabel Bishop is an Australian former politician who served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2018 and deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 2007 to 2018. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Curtin from 1998 to 2019. She has been the chancellor of the Australian National University since January 2020.
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Tony Tan Keng Yam
- Years
- 1940-.. (age 84)
- Occupations
- mathematicianpoliticianinternational forum participantbusinessperson
- Biography
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Tony Tan Keng Yam is a Singaporean banker and politician who served as the seventh president of Singapore between 2011 and 2017. Tan won the 2011 presidential election in a four-cornered fight and served as the president of Singapore until 2017. He did not seek for a re-election in the 2017 presidential election, which was reserved for Malay candidates after a constitutional amendment.
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David Chalmers
- Occupations
- university teacherphilosopheracademic
- Biography
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David John Chalmers is an Australian philosopher and cognitive scientist specializing in the areas of philosophy of mind and philosophy of language. He is a professor of philosophy and neural science at New York University, as well as co-director of NYU's Center for Mind, Brain and Consciousness (along with Ned Block). In 2006, he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In 2013, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
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Abdul Taib Mahmud
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- In 1960 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Abdul Taib bin Mahmud is a Malaysian politician who served as the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from March 2014 to January 2024 and the 4th Chief Minister of Sarawak from March 1981 to February 2014, making him the longest-serving head of government of a Malaysian state, serving in the position for 33 years and the longest MP in Sarawak. He served as President of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which was part of the Barisan Nasional coalition until 2018. He is of ethnic Melanau descent.
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Howard Florey
- Occupations
- professorchemistbiologistpharmacistphysician
- Biography
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Howard Walter Florey, Baron Florey, was an Australian pharmacologist and pathologist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Ernst Chain and Sir Alexander Fleming for his role in the development of penicillin.
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William Lawrence Bragg
- Occupations
- crystallographerphysicistuniversity teacherchemistmathematician
- Biography
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Sir William Lawrence Bragg, CH, OBE, MC, FRS was an Australian-born British physicist and X-ray crystallographer, discoverer (1912) of Bragg's law of X-ray diffraction, which is basic for the determination of crystal structure. He was joint recipient (with his father, William Henry Bragg) of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915, "For their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays"; an important step in the development of X-ray crystallography.
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Adam Liaw
- Occupations
- reality television participantlawyer
- Biography
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Adam Liaw is a Malaysian-born Australian cook, television presenter and author. He was the winner of the second season of MasterChef Australia, defeating student Callum Hann in the final. Liaw has produced, written and hosted his own cooking programs, including the Destination Flavour series and the talk and cooking show The Cook Up with Adam Liaw on SBS Food.
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Ong Teng Cheong
- Years
- 1936-2002 (aged 66)
- Occupations
- politicianarchitect
- Biography
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Ong Teng Cheong was a Singaporean statesman, architect and union leader who served as the fifth president of Singapore from 1993 to 1999. He was the first president to be directly elected in a popular vote in Singapore's history after winning the 1993 presidential election.
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Sevim Dağdelen
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- 2001-2002 studied jurisprudence
- Occupations
- journalisttranslatorpolitician
- Biography
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Sevim Dağdelen is a German politician and a member of the Bundestag. She was elected for Left Party (die Linke) and switched in October 2023 to Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht.
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Nick Xenophon
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Nick Xenophon is an Australian politician and lawyer who was a Senator for South Australia from 2008 to 2017. He was the leader of two political parties: Nick Xenophon Team federally, and Nick Xenophon's SA-BEST in South Australia.
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Sara Ahmed
- Occupations
- philosopherwriter
- Biography
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Sara Ahmed is a British-Australian writer and scholar whose area of study includes the intersection of feminist theory, lesbian feminism, queer theory, affect theory, critical race theory and postcolonialism. Her seminal work, The Cultural Politics of Emotion, in which she explores the social dimension and circulation of emotions, is recognized as a foundational text in the nascent field of affect theory.
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Gillon McLachlan
- Occupations
- sports executive
- Biography
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Gillon McLachlan is an Australian sports administrator. He is the former chief executive officer of the Australian Football League (AFL). He was appointed to the role in 2014, succeeding Andrew Demetriou, having previously served as his deputy, and finished his contract at the end of the 2023 season, passing the reins to Andrew Dillon.
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Christopher Pyne
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Christopher Maurice Pyne is a retired Australian politician. As a member of the Liberal Party, he held several ministerial positions in the Howard, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments, and served as a member of parliament (MP) for the division of Sturt from 1993 until his retirement in 2019.
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John Finnis
- Occupations
- philosopherlegal scholar
- Biography
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John Mitchell Finnis is an Australian legal philosopher and jurist specializing in jurisprudence and the philosophy of law. He is an original interpreter of Aristotle and Aquinas, and counts Germain Grisez as a major influence and collaborator. He has made contributions to epistemology, metaphysics, and moral philosophy.
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S. Iswaran
- Occupations
- international forum participantpolitician
- Biography
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Subramaniam Iswaran, commonly known as S. Iswaran, is a Singaporean former politician who served as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations between 2018 and 2024 and Minister for Transport between 2021 and 2024. A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the West Coast division of West Coast GRC between 2001 and 2024.
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G. Parameshwara
- Years
- 1951-.. (age 73)
- Occupations
- agronomistpoliticianpedagogue
- Biography
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Gangadharaiah Parameshwara is an Indian politician who serving as Home minister of Karnataka. He is also the seventh Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, and longest-serving President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee for two consecutive terms.
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Mark Oliphant
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- In 1922 studied physics
- Occupations
- nuclear physicistphysicistgovernor
- Biography
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Sir Marcus Laurence Elwin Oliphant, AC, KBE, FRS, FAA, FTSE was an Australian physicist and humanitarian who played an important role in the first experimental demonstration of nuclear fusion and in the development of nuclear weapons.
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Clementine Ford
- Occupations
- authorjournalist
- Biography
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Clementine Ford is an Australian feminist writer, broadcaster and public speaker. She wrote a regular column for Daily Life for seven years.
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Sarah Hanson-Young
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Social Science
- Occupations
- campaign managerinternational forum participantcolumnistbankerpolitician
- Biography
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Sarah Coral Hanson-Young is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for South Australia since July 2008, representing the Australian Greens. She is the youngest woman to be elected to federal parliament, winning election at the age of 25 and taking office at the age of 26. She was the youngest person ever elected to the Senate (although several others have been appointed at younger ages), until Jordon Steele-John was elected in 2017.
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Annabel Crabb
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- television presenterjournalistpolitical pundit
- Biography
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Annabel Crabb is an Australian political journalist, commentator and television host who is the ABC's chief online political writer. She has worked for Adelaide's The Advertiser, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald, and won a Walkley Award in 2009 for her Quarterly Essay, "Stop at Nothing: The Life and Adventures of Malcolm Turnbull". She has written two books covering events within the Australian Labor Party, as well as The Wife Drought, a book about women's work–life balance. She has hosted ABC television shows Kitchen Cabinet, The House, Back in Time for Dinner and Tomorrow Tonight.
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Peter Malinauskas
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Commerce
- Occupations
- shop assistanttrade unionistpolitician
- Biography
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Peter Bryden Malinauskas is an Australian politician serving as the 47th and current premier of South Australia since March 2022. He has been the leader of the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and a member of the House of Assembly (MHA) for the division of Croydon since April 2018. He was previously the Leader of the Opposition from 2018 until he led his party into government in the 2022 state election.
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Claire Lehmann
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Claire Lehmann is an Australian journalist and the founding editor of Quillette.
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Adenan Satem
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Adenan bin Haji Satem, popularly known as Tok Nan, was a Malaysian politician who served as the fifth chief minister of Sarawak from March 2014 to his death in January 2017. During his tenure, Adenan held the position as the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition. He was of Malay descent.
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Hamish McLachlan
- Occupations
- sports commentator
- Biography
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Hamish Angus McLachlan is an Australian sports broadcaster and host with Seven Sport.
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Robin Warren
- Occupations
- biologistpathologistphysicianmicrobiologistresearcher
- Biography
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John Robin Warren is an Australian pathologist, Nobel Laureate and researcher who is credited with the 1979 re-discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, together with Barry Marshall. The duo proved to the medical community that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the cause of most peptic ulcers.
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Don Dunstan
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Donald Allan Dunstan was an Australian politician who served as the 35th premier of South Australia from 1967 to 1968, and again from 1970 to 1979. He was a member of the House of Assembly (MHA) for the division of Norwood from 1953 to 1979, and leader of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party from 1967 to 1979. Before becoming premier, Dunstan served as the 38th attorney-general of South Australia and the treasurer of South Australia. He is the fourth longest serving premier in South Australian history.
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Simon Birmingham
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- political adviserpoliticianinternational forum participant
- Biography
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Simon John Birmingham is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for South Australia since 2007. A member of the Liberal Party, he served in the Morrison government as Minister for Finance from 2020 to 2022 and as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment from 2018 to 2020. He previously served as Minister for Education and Training in the Turnbull government from 2015 to 2018, and as a parliamentary secretary and assistant minister in the Abbott government.
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Jay Weatherill
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Jay Wilson Weatherill is a former Australian politician who was the 45th premier of South Australia, serving from 21 October 2011 until 19 March 2018. Weatherill represented the House of Assembly seat of Cheltenham as a member of the South Australian Labor Party from the 2002 election to 17 December 2018, when he retired.
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Andy Thomas
- Occupations
- engineerastronaut
- Biography
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Andrew Sydney Withiel "Andy" Thomas, AO is an Australian and American aerospace engineer and a former NASA astronaut. He has dual nationality; he became a U.S. citizen in December 1986, hoping to gain entry to NASA's astronaut program. He is married to fellow NASA astronaut Shannon Walker.
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Hieu Van Le
- Occupations
- accountantgovernoreconomist
- Biography
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Hieu Van Le, was the 35th governor of South Australia, in office from 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2021. He served as the state's lieutenant-governor from 2007 to 2014. He also served as chair of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) from 2006 to 2009. Le is the first person of Asian heritage to be appointed a state governor in Australia, and first person of Vietnamese background to be appointed to a vice-regal position anywhere in the world.
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Pru Goward
- Occupations
- writerpoliticiancivil servantbiographerjournalist
- Biography
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Prudence Jane Goward is an Australian former politician and was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2019, representing the seat of Goulburn.
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Natasha Stott Despoja
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja AO is an Australian diplomat, advocate, author, and former politician. Starting her career in student politics, she became an advisor to the Australian Democrats and was appointed to the Australian Senate in 1995 at the age of 26. At the time, she was the youngest woman to serve in federal Parliament. She went on to become deputy leader of the Democrats in 1997 and then federal leader from 2001 to 2002. She retired from the Senate in 2008 as the longest-serving senator from her party.
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Phyllis Cilento
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Doctor of Medicine
- Occupations
- physician
- Biography
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Phyllis Dorothy Cilento, Lady Cilento was an Australian medical practitioner, prominent medical journalist, and pioneering advocate of family planning in Queensland.
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Mark Butler
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politiciantrade unionist
- Biography
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Mark Christopher Butler is an Australian politician. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served in the House of Representatives since 2007. He was a minister in the Gillard and Rudd governments and also served as national president of the ALP from 2015 to 2018.
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Amanda Vanstone
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianradio personality
- Biography
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Amanda Eloise Vanstone is an Australian former politician and a former Ambassador to Italy. She was a Liberal Senator for South Australia from 1984 to 2007, and held several ministerial portfolios in the Howard government. After her resignation from the Senate in 2007, she served as the Australian Ambassador to Italy until July 2010. Her time as Minister for Immigration was marked by controversies within the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
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Joseph Pairin Kitingan
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan is a Malaysian politician who served as the 7th Chief Minister of Sabah from April 1985 to March 1994 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Keningau from August 1986 to May 2018. He is founding President of the United Sabah Party (PBS) and brother of Jeffrey Kitingan, the Deputy Chief Minister II and State Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Sabah and President of Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) as well as uncle of Maximus Ongkili, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs and President of PBS. He is the longest MP in Sabah.
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Helen Caldicott
- Occupations
- autobiographerpeace activistphysician
- Biography
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Helen Mary Caldicott is an Australian physician, author, and anti-nuclear advocate. She founded several associations dedicated to opposing the use of nuclear power, depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons proliferation, and military action in general.
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Katrin Albsteiger
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Katrin Albsteiger is a German politician from the Christian Social Union of Bavaria.
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Rawi Bhavilai
- Years
- 1925-2017 (aged 92)
- Occupations
- astronomerwriter
- Biography
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Rawi Bhavilai was a Thai astronomer, writer and translator. He served as a professor at the Physics Department of the Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, and was known for his writings on astronomy as well as philosophy and religion. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Thailand, and was named National Artist in literature in 2006.
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Alex Antic
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politicianlawyersolicitor
- Biography
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Alexander Charles Antic is an Australian politician who has been a senator for South Australia since 2019 representing the Liberal Party.
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Miguel Syjuco
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
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Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino writer from Manila and the grand prize winner of the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize for his first novel Ilustrado.
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John Bannon
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- historiantrade unionistpolitician
- Biography
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John Charles Bannon 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.
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Frances Adamson
- Occupations
- diplomatgovernorcivil servant
- Biography
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Frances Jennifer Adamson, is an Australian public servant and diplomat who is the 36th Governor of South Australia, in office since 7 October 2021. She previously served as Australian Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2015 and as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2016 to 2021.
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Colin Thiele
- Occupations
- children's writerwriter
- Biography
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Colin Milton Thiele was an Australian author and educator. He was renowned for his award-winning children's fiction, most notably the novels Storm Boy, Blue Fin, the Sun on the Stubble series, and February Dragon. As Vice Principal and Principal of Wattle Park Teachers College and Principal of Murray Park CAE for much of the 1960s and 70s he had a significant impact on teacher education in South Australia.
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Don Farrell
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- winemakerpostal workerwaiterretail workertrade unionist
- Biography
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Donald Edward Farrell is an Australian politician and former trade unionist. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State in the Albanese government since 2022. He has served as a Senator for South Australia since 2016, after a previous term from 2008 to 2014.
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Vickie Chapman
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Vickie Ann Chapman is a former Australian politician, representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Bragg for the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia between the 2002 election and May 2022. Chapman served as the Deputy Premier of South Australia and Attorney-General between 19 March 2018 and 22 November 2021 in the Marshall government. She was the first woman to hold either post.
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William Denny
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- soldierautobiographernewspaper editorclerklawyer
- Biography
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William Joseph Denny was an Australian journalist, lawyer, politician and decorated soldier who held the South Australian House of Assembly seats of West Adelaide from 1900 to 1902 and then Adelaide from 1902 to 1905 and again from 1906 to 1933. After an unsuccessful candidacy as a United Labor Party (ULP) member in 1899, he was elected as an "independent liberal" in a by-election in 1900. He was re-elected in 1902, but defeated in 1905. The following year, he was elected as a ULP candidate, and retained his seat for that party (the Australian Labor Party from 1917) until 1931. Along with the rest of the cabinet, he was ejected from the Australian Labor Party in 1931, and was a member of the Parliamentary Labor Party until his electoral defeat at the hands of a Lang Labor Party candidate in 1933.
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Amanda Rishworth
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Master of Psychology
- Occupations
- retail workertrade unionistpsychologistpolitician
- Biography
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Amanda Louise Rishworth is an Australian politician who has served as the Australian Labor Party member for the House of Representatives seat of Kingston in South Australia since the 2007 election. Rishworth was appointed Minister for Social Services in the Albanese ministry.
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Lockwood Smith
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
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Sir Alexander Lockwood Smith is a New Zealand politician and diplomat who was High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom from 2013 to 2017 and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2008 to 2013.
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Hugh Cairns
- Occupations
- neurosurgeon
- Biography
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Sir Hugh William Bell Cairns KBE FRCS was an Australian neurosurgeon. For most of his life he lived in England. His concern about despatch rider injuries sparked research which led to increased use of motorcycle helmets.
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John Keane
- Occupations
- philosopher
- Biography
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Born in southern Australia, John Keane is Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney. For 25 years he also held a position at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, which he resigned from in November 2023.
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Norman Tindale
- Occupations
- archaeologistanthropologistentomologist
- Biography
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Norman Barnett Tindale AO was an Australian anthropologist, archaeologist, entomologist and ethnologist.
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David Speirs
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- In 2008 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politiciancivil servant
- Biography
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David James Speirs is a Scottish-born Australian politician currently serving as Leader of the Opposition in South Australia and Leader of the South Australian Liberal Party since April 2022. He has been a member of the South Australian House of Assembly since the 2014 state election, representing Bright from 2014 to 2018 and Black (the successor to the former) since 2018. Speirs served as the Minister for Environment and Water in the Marshall Ministry between March 2018 and March 2022.
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Martin Parkinson
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- Occupations
- economistcivil servant
- Biography
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Martin Lee Parkinson is a senior Australian public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of the Treasury between March 2011 and December 2014. On 3 December 2015 it was announced that he would return to the public service as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He retired from the position on 30 August 2019 and was replaced by Phil Gaetjens, former chief of staff to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Parkinson has served as the Chancellor of Macquarie University since 2019.
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Sean Williams
- Occupations
- writerscience fiction writernovelistauthorjournalist
- Biography
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Sean Llewellyn Williams is an Australian author of science fiction who lives in Adelaide, South Australia. Several of his books have been New York Times best-sellers.
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Lia Finocchiaro
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Lia Emele Finocchiaro is an Australian politician. She has been a Country Liberal Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for the seat of Spillett since her election in 2016. She became Leader of the Opposition in the Northern Territory after the resignation of Gary Higgins on 1 February 2020. She was previously the member for Drysdale from 2012 to 2016.
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Arjun Bahadur Thapa
- Years
- 1956-.. (age 68)
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
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Arjun Bahadur Thapa is a Nepali diplomat and former General Secretary of SAARC.
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Roma Mitchell
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- judgelawyeracademicgovernorchancellor
- Biography
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Dame Roma Flinders Mitchell, AC, DBE, CVO, QC was an Australian lawyer, judge and state governor. She was the first woman to hold a number of positions in Australia – the country's first woman judge, the first woman to be a Queen's Counsel, a chancellor of an Australian university and the Governor of an Australian state.
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Deep Saini
- Years
- 1955-.. (age 69)
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy in plant physiology
- Occupations
- biologistuniversity teacheracademicacademic administratorphysiologist
- Biography
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Hargurdeep Saini, also known as Deep Saini, is a scientist, and is the President and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University.
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Tom Koutsantonis
- Occupations
- taxi drivertrade unionistpoliticianbusinessperson
- Biography
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Anastasios "Tom" Koutsantonis is an Australian politician in the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, representing the seats of West Torrens and Peake (1997−2002) as a Labor member in the South Australian House of Assembly.
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John Hirst
- Occupations
- historian
- Biography
-
John Bradley Hirst, was an Australian historian and social commentator. He taught at La Trobe University from 1968 until his retirement in 2006, edited Historical Studies—Australia's leading historical journal—from 1977 to 1980, and also served on the boards of Film Australia and the National Museum of Australia. He has been described as a "historian, public intellectual, and active citizen". He wrote widely on Australian history and society, publishing two well-received books about colonial New South Wales. Hirst also frequently published opinion pieces in the media.
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Martin Hamilton-Smith
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- politicianbusinesspersonmilitary officer
- Biography
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Martin Leslie James Hamilton-Smith is a former Australian politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Waite from the 1997 election until his retirement in 2018. First elected as a candidate for the Liberal Party, Hamilton-Smith was the state parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party and the Leader of the Opposition in South Australia from 2007 to 2009, and a Minister in the Kerin Liberal government from 2001 to 2002.
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Edward J. Steele
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- 1971-1975 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- immunologistresearcher
- Biography
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Edward J. "Ted" Steele is an Australian molecular immunologist with interests in virology and evolution. He is an honorary research associate at the C.Y.O'Connor ERADE Village Foundation in Piara Waters, WA, Australia.
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John Burton Cleland
- Occupations
- anthropologistmycologistbotanistphysicianornithologist
- Biography
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Sir John Burton Cleland CBE was a renowned Australian naturalist, microbiologist, mycologist and ornithologist. He was Professor of Pathology at the University of Adelaide and was consulted on high-level police inquiries, such as the famous Taman Shud Case in 1948 and later. He also studied the transmission of dengue virus by the mosquito Stegomyia fasciata (Aedes aegypti).
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Jim Fung
- Occupations
- martial artist
- Biography
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Fung Chuen Keung, known as Jim Fung, was a practitioner and teacher of Wing Chun kung fu and founder of the 'International Wing Chun Academy'. He had been training under his master, Tsui Seung Tin (徐尚田), since 1960.
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Adrian David Cheok
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- computer scientistpoliticianuniversity teacherelectrical engineer
- Biography
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Adrian David Cheok is an Australian electrical engineer and academic. He is a professor at iUniversity in Tokyo, Japan. In the 2019 federal election, he ran to represent the Division of Boothby as a member of the far-right Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party. Cheok has been described as a sex robot expert.
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Shaun Bonett
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
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Shaun Bonétt is an Australian entrepreneur and property developer who founded and is CEO of Precision Group.
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Helen Mayo
- Occupations
- physicianbacteriologist
- Biography
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Helen Mary Mayo was an Australian medical doctor and medical educator, born and raised in Adelaide. In 1896, she enrolled at the University of Adelaide, where she studied medicine. After graduating, Mayo spent two years working in infant health in England, Ireland and British India. She returned to Adelaide in 1906, starting a private practice and taking up positions at the Adelaide Children's Hospital and Adelaide Hospital (later the Royal Adelaide).
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Kyam Maher
- Born in
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Australia - Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Kyam Joseph Maher is an Australian politician and lawyer who has been Attorney-General of South Australia and the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council since March 2022. He was appointed to a casual vacancy in the South Australian Legislative Council for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party on 17 October 2012. He previously served in the Cabinet of South Australia between 2015 and 2018 and was the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council between 2016 and 2018.
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Rob Lucas
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- Occupations
- politicianparty secretary
- Biography
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Robert Ivan Lucas is an Australian former politician and a former member of the South Australian Legislative Council between the 1982 election and the 2022 election, representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. Lucas served as the Treasurer of South Australia between 2018 and 2022 in the Marshall government, and previously served in the role between 1997 and 2002 in the Olsen and Kerin governments. Lucas was the Father of the Parliament until his retirement at the 2022 election.
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John Canny
- Years
- 1953-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- computer scientist
- Biography
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John F. Canny is an Australian computer scientist, and Paul E Jacobs and Stacy Jacobs Distinguished Professor of Engineering in the Computer Science Department of the University of California, Berkeley. He has made significant contributions in various areas of computer science and mathematics, including artificial intelligence, robotics, computer graphics, human-computer interaction, computer security, computational algebra, and computational geometry.
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Matt Cowdrey
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politicianswimmer
- Biography
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Matthew John Cowdrey is an Australian politician and Paralympic swimmer. He presently holds numerous world records. He has a congenital amputation of his left arm; it stops just below the elbow. Cowdrey competed at the 2004 Paralympic Games, 2006 Commonwealth Games, 2008 Paralympic Games, 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the 2012 Paralympic Games. After the 2012 London Games, he is the most successful Australian Paralympian, having won thirteen Paralympic gold medals and twenty three Paralympic medals in total. On 10 February 2015, Cowdrey announced his retirement from swimming.
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Basil Hetzel
- Occupations
- university teacherphysicianepidemiologist
- Biography
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Basil Stuart Hetzel was an Australian medical researcher who made a major contribution to combating iodine deficiency, a major cause of goitre and cretinism worldwide.
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Stephan Knoll
- Years
- 1982-.. (age 42)
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Commerce
- Occupations
- politicianbusinessperson
- Biography
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Stephan Karl Knoll is an Australian politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly electorate of Schubert for the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia from the 2014 state election until the 2022 election. Knoll served as the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government and as the Minister for Planning in the Marshall Ministry between 22 March 2018 and 26 July 2020 and as the Leader of Government Business in the South Australian House of Assembly between 5 February 2020 and 26 July 2020.
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Barbara Pocock
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- 1975-1979 graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- In 1997 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- economistacademicpolitical adviserpolitician
- Biography
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Barbara Ann Pocock AM is an Australian politician who was elected at the 2022 Australian federal election to become a Senator representing South Australia from July 2022. She was officially declared elected by the Australian Electoral Commission on 15 June 2022. Previously, she ran as the Greens candidate for the Division of Adelaide in the 2019 Australian federal election. She is a professor and economist.
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John Rau
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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John Robert Rau SC is an Australian barrister and politician. He was the 12th Deputy Premier of South Australia from 2011 to 2018 and 48th Attorney-General of South Australia from 2010 to 2018 for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party in the Weatherill cabinet. Rau was the Labor member of the House of Assembly seat of Enfield from the 2002 election until announcing his intention to retire from Parliament on 10 December 2018, and submitting his resignation on 17 December 2018.
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Janine Haines
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Janine Winton Haines, AM was an Australian politician who was a Senator for South Australia from 1977 to 1978 and again from 1981 to 1990. She represented the Australian Democrats, and served as the party's leader from 1986 to 1990, becoming the first female federal parliamentary leader of an Australian political party. She was pivotal in "shaping the Australian Democrats into a powerful political entity that held the balance of power in the Senate".
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David O'Byrne
- Occupations
- politiciantrade unionist
- Biography
-
David O'Byrne is an Australian trade unionist and politician. A prominent union leader prior to entering politics and the brother of fellow politician Michelle O'Byrne, he has been an Independent member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly since 2024, after previously serving as a Labor Party member from 2018 to 2024, and from 2010 to 2014, representing the electorate of Franklin.
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Joni Madraiwiwi
- Occupations
- politiciansolicitor
- Biography
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Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Lord Madraiwiwi Tangatatonga was a prominent Fijian lawyer, legal scholar, jurist, and politician. He served as vice-president, and also acting president, of Fiji, and Chief Justice of Nauru.
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Andrew McLachlan
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- lawyerpoliticianmilitary officerbusinessperson
- Biography
-
Andrew Lockhart McLachlan is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for South Australia since 6 February 2020, representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was previously a member of the South Australian Legislative Council, having been elected at the 2014 state election, and was subsequently elected President of the South Australian Legislative Council in May 2018. He resigned as president and member of the Legislative Council in February 2020, to take up the vacant seat in the Senate caused by the resignation of Cory Bernardi.
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Adele Ferguson
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Economics
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Adele Ferguson is an Australian investigative journalist, best known for her series of exposés of malfeasance in the franchising, aged care, and financial services sectors in Australia which have resulted in major inquiries including the Hayne Royal Commission.
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Leon Simon
- Occupations
- university teacheracademicmathematician
- Biography
-
Leon Melvyn Simon, born in 1945, is a Leroy P. Steele Prize and Bôcher Prize-winning mathematician, known for deep contributions to the fields of geometric analysis, geometric measure theory, and partial differential equations. He is currently Professor Emeritus in the Mathematics Department at Stanford University.
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David Tonkin
- Occupations
- ophthalmologistpolitician
- Biography
-
David Oliver Tonkin was an Australian politician who served as the 38th Premier of South Australia from 18 September 1979 to 10 November 1982. He was elected to the House of Assembly seat of Bragg at the 1970 election, serving until 1983. He became the leader of the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia in 1975, replacing Bruce Eastick. Initially leading the party to defeat at the 1977 election against the Don Dunstan Labor government, his party won the 1979 election against the Des Corcoran Labor government. Following the 1980 Norwood by-election the Tonkin government was reduced to a one-seat majority. His government's policy approach combined economic conservatism with social progressivism. The Tonkin Liberal government was defeated after one term at the 1982 election by Labor led by John Bannon.
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Jack Snelling
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- political advisertrade unionistpolitician
- Biography
-
John James "Jack" Snelling is a former Australian politician. He was the Labor member for the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Playford from the 1997 election until his retirement in 2018. Snelling left the Labor Party in 2021 to found the Family First Party.
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Catherine Branson
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- lawyercivil servantuniversity teacherjudge
- Biography
-
Catherine Margaret Branson is a former Australian judge and public servant. She was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1994 to 2008, and then President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2008 to 2012.
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James Stevens
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Commerce
- Occupations
- campaign managerpolitical adviserpoliticianbusiness executive
- Biography
-
James William Stevens is the Liberal Party member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Division of Sturt in South Australia. He was elected in the 2019 Australian federal election, replacing the retiring Liberal member, Christopher Pyne. Stevens previously served as the Chief of Staff to Steven Marshall, the former Premier of South Australia, and prior to that as the General Manager of Michell Australia.
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Andrew Southcott
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
- Occupations
- physiciansurgeonpolitician
- Biography
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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.
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James Tanton
- Occupations
- mathematician
- Biography
-
James Stuart Tanton is a mathematician and math educator. He is a winner of the Kidder Faculty Prize for his teaching at The St. Mark’s Math Institute, scholar at the Mathematical Association of America, author of over ten books on mathematics, curriculum, and education, and creator of videos on mathematics on YouTube. As of February 2020 his approximately 190 videos had earned over 800,000 views.
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Nick Bolkus
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Nick Bolkus is a former Australian Labor Party politician. He was a member of the Senate from July 1981 to June 2005, representing the state of South Australia.
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Dan Cregan
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- lawyersolicitorbusiness executivepolitician
- Biography
-
Daniel Cregan is an Australian lawyer and Independent politician who has served as Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly since 12 October 2021. He has represented Kavel in the House of Assembly since the 2018 South Australian state election.
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Stephen Patterson
- Years
- 1971-.. (age 53)
- Enrolled in the University of Adelaide
- Graduated with Bachelor of Engineering
- Graduated with Bachelor of Science
- Occupations
- Australian rules football playerpoliticiansoftware engineerbusinessperson
- Biography
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Stephen John Rayden Patterson is an Australian politician, and a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Australian Football League (AFL), and Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
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Hugh P. Possingham
- Occupations
- university teachermathematician
- Biography
-
Hugh Phillip Possingham, FAA, is the former Queensland Chief Scientist and is best known for his work in conservation biology, applied ecology, and basic ecological theory including population ecology. He is also a professor of mathematics, Professor of Zoology and an ARC Laureate Fellow in the Department of Mathematics and the School of the Environment at The University of Queensland.
