Lachlan Ballinger
BBus(Acc) 2007

Lachlan is considered a trailblazer in the Accounting industry and through his success and innovative approach he has inspired many young accountants to be more entrepreneurial. Lachlan commenced his own accounting firm, yield advisory, at age 30 in 2014. Since its inception, the firm has exponentially grown to over 30 team members with offices in Brisbane, Sydney and on the Sunshine Coast. yield advisory has recently been recognised as one of top accounting firms in the country by being named a finalist in the Australian Accounting Awards (top 8 firms) as well as the national Xero Awards (top 3 firms).

Nic Blair
BBus(Mktg) 2007

Nic Blair is a serial entrepreneur and winner at the 2019 and 2022 Young Entrepreneur Awards. In 2011, he launched marketing agency Search Factory, which was later acquired by global media company Dentsu. Following this successful exit, he launched Midnight Health in February 2021, a digital healthcare startup that has seen over 30,000 patients through its brands Youly, Stagger, Hub.health and Vidality and recently raised capital at a $48 million valuation. He’s been featured in BRW Fast Starters, Deloitte Technology Fast 50, Smart Company 30 Under 30 and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Damian Brennan
BA(Des&Mktg) 2007

Damian is an entrepreneur and marketer with a career spanning 17 years and nine startups across three continents. Currently, Damian is the co-founder of Legion Telecom, a high-speed fibre network provider which has raised over $3 million to change the way the internet is delivered to businesses in South-East Queensland. He is the co-founder of Crickslab, the world’s first cricket super app, and is the group head of marketing for Virtugroup, Dubai’s leading company formation experts. Damian also uses his skills for social causes as a board member for TroTro Tractor, the Uber of farming vehicles in West Africa.

Mahalia Cassidy
BOccThpy(Hons) 2019

Mahalia Cassidy is a professional netball player with the Sunshine Coast Lightning, in the nation's top level netball league, and works as an Occupational Therapist in aged care. She had a stand-out 2022 season with Lightning, achieving Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year. Mahalia is passionate about giving back to the community and volunteers one day per week at STEPS Pathways College — an organisation designed to develop independence for people with a disability. She is also part of Lightning’s Reconciliation Action Group, and was involved in the working group that helped to stand up the Lightning v West Coast Fever Pride Round. Mahalia is a fantastic role model to young girls and boys and leaves a lasting impact on the hundreds of people she connects with each and every year.

Alise Fox
MSc 2020, BSc(Hons) 2015, BEd/BSc 2013

Alise is passionate about mathematics, the natural environment and public engagement with STEM. As a fisheries scientist, she develops population models for wild fish species in the Great Barrier Reef to ensure fishing levels are sustainable. She has over a decade of experience teaching mathematics, both at university and high school. Her diverse and fast-growing portfolio of STEM engagement activity includes television, podcasts, and public presentations for children, high school students and adults. She was Highly Commended for the 2022 Queensland Women in STEM Prize and is using that platform to springboard her science communication projects to have greater impact.

Candice Fox
BA(Hons) 2011, BEd/BA 2010

Candice Fox is an Australian crime fiction novelist who completed her BA/BEd and Honours degrees at UniSC. She is a multi-time New York Times and Sunday Times best selling author, and the three-time recipient of the Australian Crime Writers Association's Ned Kelly Award. She collaborates with the world's best selling author, James Patterson, and her novel Crimson Lake was adapted into the smash hit television drama Troppo, starring Thomas Jane and Nicole Chamoun. She is published in over 20 languages.

Dr Brad Stefanovic
PhD 2013, BSc(Sp&ExSc) 2006, BSc(Hons) 2007

Dr Brad Stefanovic is Vice President of clinical operations at major biotech firm Aura Biosciences in New York City, one of the most promising late-stage biotech companies currently listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Since completing his PhD at UniSC, Brad has made valuable professional contributions in the clinical trials and biotechnology industries. Brad identified Aura’s growth opportunities and potential for public offering on the stock exchange for their virus like drug conjugate product in treating cancer and is credited for doubling Aura’s clinical and research capacity. Brad helped lead Project On-ramp, an initiative facilitating summer interns, with hopes to increase this number over the next 3 years, thereby increasing diversity in the STEM field.