2023 Alumni Awards - Ballarat
The 2023 Federation University Alumni Awards Ballarat event was held at the Mt Helen campus on Tuesday 3 October.
The Awards formally recognise their achievements within their chosen field of study and beyond.
The recipients are:
2023 Alumnus of the Year
Stuart Benjamin
Field of Study: Education
Nomination Category: Outstanding professional achievement; Outstanding service to Federation University or its predecessor institutions; and Outstanding service to the community
Stuart Benjamin’s life experience has been in the representation of regional Australia, with a core drive to advocate for the needs of the people and businesses. Stuart has been Director of the Elmstone Property Group since January 2005, which is an award winning business with proven experience in the development of integrated housing, with a speciality in the supported accommodation space.
He has been an active contributor and leader across multiple industries and community sectors for over 30 years, and for the last decade he has dedicated 50% of his time to his volunteer and not for profit contributions for the community.
2023 Alumni Award for Community Service
Abdul Rasuli
Field of Study: Engineering
Nomination Category: Outstanding service to the community
Abdul Rasuli is a powerful community builder and a natural leader. He is dedicated to the welfare of the Afghan community and to bringing the Afghan and wider Ballarat communities together for the benefit of both. Abdul helps refugees arriving in Ballarat, finding them accommodation, household goods and transport. He informs them about support networks. He is sensitive to the needs of anyone who is desperate and covers the needs, mindful of the person’s vulnerability and without causing embarrassment. He respects each person’s dignity. He is engaging, inclusive, generous and visionary, providing opportunities for the Ballarat community to make a meaningful contribution and invigorating hope in the lives of Ballarat’s Afghan community.
Distinguished Alumna
Elizabeth Morton
Field of Study: Business
Nomination Category: Outstanding academic or research achievement
Elizabeth Morton has demonstrated strong commitment to research and engagement in the field of taxation. Elizabeth has made outstanding contributions reflected in not only high-quality publications and grant success but has shown incredible ability to translate these academic endeavours into real impact, including with respect to policy contributions. Elizabeth’s research is strategically positioned around three core themes: tax compliance, crypto-related activities, and practitioner competencies. Elizabeth has become known as an expert in the crypto-tax space, evidenced through a multitude of invitations to lead discussion and debate on the tax issues arising from this novel technology.