Brisbane alumni ambassadors

Deputy Chair, Brisbane Alumni Ambassador Council
Chief Operations Officer, Bookipi

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) 2013

After completing a Bachelors of Management in Canada, Chad left the company he founded to study law at UQ. He was heavily involved in student societies, becoming President of the UQ Law Society for 2013.

Graduating from UQ Law in 2013, Chad was admitted to the legal profession while working at a law firm.

Chad is currently Chief Operations Officer at Bookipi. He was previously Chief Operating Officer at GoCatch, an Australian rideshare and taxi booking app. He worked closely with Municipal, State, and Federal governments to develop technologically integrated transport networks with GoCatch.

Prior to GoCatch, Chad was the Commercial Lead for Brisbane based technology company VroomVroomVroom where he negotiated global agreements with leading car hire companies and set corporate strategy and policy.

Chad has extensive experience in the rideshare space, having spent nearly 2 years at Uber growing the Queensland rideshare market.

Chad’s career highlight was growing Uber Queensland into a reliable way to get around and an opportunity for those under and un-employed. His areas of specialty include law, technology, commerce and start ups.

He advises new graduates to try many things to see what they really enjoy and where they excel. They should use those passions to make their mark. His favourite memory from UQ is working on the UQ Law Revue – long days of planning, rehearsals and building, weeks of labour, and a brilliant final product. Best of all, he worked with a group of brilliant and dedicated people.

Chad is always looking for the next opportunity to throw on a pair of skis. He is an avid reader and cinema goer.

Deputy Chief Risk Officer, QIC

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Information Technology 2005

Deb was appointed Deputy Chief Risk Officer at QIC in March 2020 and was previously General Manager of QIC’s Risk Management Group.

In this role, Deb is responsible for developing and implementing QIC’s enterprise-wide risk framework and strengthening the culture of accountability, governance and risk management across the organisation.

Deb joined QIC’s Risk team in 2016 after 10 years in QIC’s Global Fixed Income team. From 2011 to 2015 Deb led QIC’s Global Trading team from London and oversaw fixed income, currency, equity and commodity trading across QIC’s liquid market product suite.

Deb graduated from UQ in 2005 with a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Information Technology. Since joining QIC’s inaugural graduate program in 2006, Deb’s commitment to continuous learning has led to Executive Education studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the Harvard Business School in the areas of leadership and advanced risk management. In December 2018, Deb returned to HBS to present to the 2018 and 2019 Executive cohorts on QIC’s application of learnings from the Risk Management for Corporate Leaders program.

Over the last 14 years with QIC, Deb has attended dinners with prominent central bankers, travelled extensively, and been on a journey of continual learning and development.

Deb said, “At each turn I’ve been encouraged to broaden my skill set and embrace new challenges. That included being in London and New York at the height of the financial crisis and leading QIC’s global trading function from London who were on two occasions recognised as performing at industry best practice. In my current Risk role, I have the privilege of leading an outstanding team which has a broad and exciting mandate of overseeing QIC’s operational, portfolio, strategic and emerging risks.”

In her speech to new graduates at the July 2018 graduation ceremony, Deb shared three things she “knows for sure”:

1. the power of finding meaning in your work;
2. that success depends on your willingness to take risk; and
3. the inevitability of, and need to embrace change.

In 2019 Deb was appointed to UQ’s Advisory Board for the UQ School of Economics and the Advisory Board for UQ’s Trust, Ethics and Governance Research Group. Deb is also Chapter Vice President of RIMS Australasia, a global, not for profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of the practice of risk management.

Deb said she has always enjoyed studying and loved to learn, but has particularly fond memories of representing UQ in volleyball at the State and Australian University games.

Outside of work, Deb enjoys running, boxing, reading, travelling and enjoying good food and wine.

Managing Director - Global Liquid Strategies, QIC
Ambassador Emeritus

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Economics 1985, Master of Business Administration 2010

Professional memberships
Fellow, Australian Institute of Management
Member, Australian Business Economist Association (NSW)
Member, Financial Advisory Council for Sisters of Mercy
Member, Chief Executive Women

Susan leads QIC’s Global Liquid Strategies (GLS) capability in the successful management of a diverse range of global listed market solutions for QIC’s clients.

Recognised as an innovative, high-performing team of 28 investment professionals based in Brisbane and London, GLS manages approximately $33 billion in funds for 60 institutional clients. Solutions the team mange include absolute return, unconstrained and benchmark aware global fixed interest, incorporating active strategies across interest rate, inflation, currency and credit markets, as well as implementation and targeted exposure management services across fixed interest, currency, equities and commodities.

Before joining QIC in November 2001, Susan held positions as the Head of Strategy for NRMA Asset Management; Senior Vice President at Bankers Trust Funds Management; and Manager, Fixed Interest, at Suncorp Investment Management. She also worked as an economist for National Australia Bank and was Director, Foreign Exchange Services with Syntec Economic Services.

Student Alumni Ambassador, The University of Queensland

Madeleine is currently completing a Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management (Events) and Bachelor of Arts (French, Journalism).

As well as being a founding member and former executive of UQ’s Tourism, Hospitality & Events Society, Madeleine has studied abroad in France and is a BEL Student Ambassador.

Associate Director, Enterprise Transformation, KPMG Australia

UQ qualifications
MBA 2015

Stephanie Elwin is an Associate Director in KPMG’s Enterprise Transformation consulting practice, with more than 15 years’ change management, leadership and communications experience. Prior to joining KPMG, Stephanie spent seven and a half years in the Australian Government in Canberra and Brisbane, leading large-scale reform projects and a number of successful diversity programs. She has also worked in a range of advisory roles in the oil and gas and insurance sectors, and in state government.

Stephanie’s advice to new graduates is to not be afraid to take risks early in your career to help you find your professional passion, and to seek global opportunities. Employers are looking for breadth of experience and for personal maturity – both of which will be aided by living and working overseas, and taking a chance on roles that may appear to be a less direct path to your professional goals.

Professor Neil Paulsen was Stephanie’s favourite lecturer during her MBA studies. Neil’s engaging teaching style – in one of Stephanie’s main professional interest areas of ‘leading people and teams’ – and care for his students was a stand-out amongst an exceptional calibre of teaching staff at UQ Business School.

Stephanie has stayed closely involved with the Business School since graduating in 2015, meeting regularly with current students and speaking at a number of MBA career and recruiting events. Stephanie was awarded the MBA Director’s Award for Leadership at the conclusion of her MBA, and now co-sponsors the MBA Women’s Leadership Impact Prize, which is awarded to the top female talent in the MBA program each year.

After three years serving on the Melbourne Ambassador Council, Stephanie joined the Brisbane Ambassador Council in 2019.

Stephanie is married to a decorated military veteran and has three adult step-children.

Student Alumni Ambassador, The University of Queensland

Laura is very involved in the UQ startup scene and is currently completing a Bachelor of Business Management (International Business & Marketing) and Diploma of Languages (Spanish).

Laura has represented the University abroad on multiple occasions, including a one-month internship in Shanghai as part of UQ Ventures ‘Startup Adventure’ program, a semester exchange in Spain, and student entrepreneur study tours to South Korea and the UK. She also formed part of a UQ student and staff team who created a four-part video series promoting UQ Idea Hub.

Laura is currently Club Secretary of the UQ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Society.

Former CEO and President, General Electric Europe

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce 1986, Doctor of Business honoris causa 2014

Mark Hutchinson is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Europe, responsible for managing GE's European activities and leading the efforts to strengthen GE's operations across Europe.

Prior to his appointment, Mark was President and CEO, GE Greater China, responsible for GE’s growth strategy and leading a team across manufacturing, sourcing, sales and other functions. During his tenure in China, Mark developed and executed a shared growth strategy for all the GE businesses helping to drive double-digit growth, year-over-year, under his leadership.

He was previously President of GE Capital Real Estate, International, where he led the real estate team in Europe and Asia successfully through a dramatic cycle. During his decade-long stint as a leader of GE’s capital markets team, Mark successfully led a host of complex transactions in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

Prior to joining GE, Mark was head of the Asian project advisory team based in Hong Kong for Barclays Merchant Bank. The successful privatisation of Western Harbour Crossing and the Route 3 Project, both key elements of Hong Kong’s infrastructure development, was a central accomplishment during his tenure.

Ambassador Emeritus

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Agricultural Science 1993, MBA 2003

Mark's first job was as a trainee cotton trader with a US based cotton merchant. After eight years, he had gained valuable experience in commodity trading, futures, derivatives, and the physical trade of products into export channels around the world. Importantly, he learned a lot about people and human behaviour through the inevitable challenges of global crises, financial market volatility and weather events.

Mark was driven to start his own business, and in 2006 he founded Blue Sky Private Equity Pty Ltd. As Blue Sky evolved, Mark found they had more to offer than just private equity, and branched into private real estate, hedge funds, water and infrastructure.

Mark has this advice for new graduates: “So many young people I speak to are focused on building a career. That's fine, but what does it really mean? Most think it is about building a strong CV – having the right degree, good marks, some social responsibility, sporting and leadership achievements, and working for the right "brands". But when you scratch the surface so often the CV is a pretty picture but it has no substance.

“Building a career is more than ticking boxes – it is really about making a difference, demonstrating conviction and commitment to the company you work for, and working there long enough to deal with the consequences (good and bad) of the decisions you make. The 10000 hour rule of working in one place applies more often than not, and we actively seek out people who have built up experiences, not brands. Your CV has no real value if you haven't built experiences to match the story you are telling about yourself.”

As an undergraduate, Mark was a resident of Emmanuel College for four years where he built friendships that would last a lifetime. Mark said, “Emmanuel was a brilliant place to study, as are all the residential colleges at UQ. This unique and cloistered environment is the perfect place to transition from school to the real world.”

Mark’s primary interest outside of work is horse racing and breeding.

Financial Adviser, More Life Planning
Associate Lecturer, UQ Business School

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), Bachelor of Economics 1999

Professional memberships
Financial Planning Association of Australia

Upon graduating from UQ, Mark was hired by a Global Management consulting firm. Two weeks later, he was in Korea advising a consortium of international banks and the Board of one of Korea’s largest technology companies on how to restructure their business.

After a number of years in management consulting and private equity, Mark joined a small management buy-out team to purchase a business outsourcing firm from administration, which was subsequently restructured and developed over a number of years.

More recently, Mark’s passion has been to assist others to achieve their financial freedom. Currently a Financial Adviser at More Life Planning, Mark works with people to achieve their desired balance between work, financial goals, lifestyle and family time, and focus on living an amazing life rather than “making a living”.

Mark’s advice to graduates is: “Take time to study yourself. Understand your strengths, your weakness and most importantly your passion. People respond to authenticity, if you are pursuing your passion you will find opportunities will open up for you. You will wake every day with enthusiasm and energy to pursue your dream and you won’t look back on a life of regret. Continue to read, study widely and take time reflect on your life – regardless of your age or experience, you can continue to learn and grow.”

Mark considers his BCom Honours year with supervisor Professor Gray to be the foundation upon which he has built his career.

“I still consider myself extremely lucky for having Professor Gray as a supervisor in my honours year. Having such a world class professor encourage you to achieve your best and take your thinking to a new level was amazing. I am still lucky enough to be able to still call Professor Gray a good friend and mentor.”

Outside of the office, Mark enjoys spending time bushwalking and hiking, and spending time with his family.

Consultant, CurzonCo

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce 1990, Bachelor of Laws 1992

After graduating from UQ, Tim Wilson began his career as a corporate lawyer with Minter Ellison in Brisbane.

He completed a Masters of Finance at London Business School and shifted to twelve years of Investment banking in London, Sydney and Brisbane.

A specialist in private equity, Tim was previously Director and Deputy Chairman of Blue Sky Alternative Investments Ltd, and Managing Director of Blue Sky Private Equity.

His advice to new graduates is to nurture the friendships along the way, and says a good network has as much value as exceptional grades.

Tim fondly remembers commerce lectures with Professor Stephen Gray and his favourite law lecturer was Professor Suri Ratnapala.

Tim enjoys family time with his four sons, travelling, and supporting rugby.