Inspirational Alumna Award

Phoebe Young is a lawyer, writer, speaker and mum to two marvellous young sons. As a university student, she suffered a rare and near-fatal illness that resulted in the amputation of both her legs below the knee and her left hand at the wrist, and significant vision loss. After a gruelling stay in hospital, Phoebe learned to walk on prosthetic legs and navigate the world with low sight, eventually returning to university to complete degrees in Arts and Laws with Honours before working as a Supreme Court Judge’s Associate.

She has spent her legal career advocating for the most vulnerable people in our community through her work at not-for-profit legal centres, charities and government departments. Phoebe is an example of the courage and spirit that live within all of us, which – even when exposed to life’s greatest challenges – can never be extinguished.

• B. Arts, UQ (2006)
• B. Laws (Hons), QUT (2009)
• Grad Dip. Legal Practice, ANU (2011)

Imogen Alton is an athlete whose mum was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in January 2020. ALS is a terminal and incurable form of motor neuron disease (MND).

Imogen’s mum passed away in 2021, and she felt the same powerlessness. Imogen was able to use Zwift Academy – an annual online competition used to select a new professional cyclist for the women’s world tour team Canyon/SRAM – as a way to push herself and bring positivity during a time when she felt none. Imogen was selected as one of five female finalists out of over 150,000 competitors. Simultaneously, she helped organise a charity ride to honour her mum and raise funds for MND and Me. She has now signed with the Sydney Uni-Staminade team and competes in the National Road Series, the peak road cycling competition in Australia. Imogen hopes to pursue cycling as a professional, and continues to contribute to MND through cycling.

• B. Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, UQ (2020)

Jacqueline Schultz has crafted a career in law that has seen her excel in legal roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and Mexico City.

In Australia, Jacqui worked for a national law firm in their construction team, but after being invited to undertake a secondment with Virgin, she realised that she wanted to be in a big business rather than in a big law firm and it wasn’t long until she accepted a role as an in-house lawyer with a major mining company. Jacqui rose through the ranks and was soon running a national legal portfolio.

It is through her work as a Director on the Board of Brisbane Women’s Club – one of Queensland’s oldest clubs – where Jacqui has made an enormous contribution to the women of Brisbane. She works tirelessly at the grass roots level to raise funds, coordinate goods drives and provide educational and networking opportunities to help women come together.

More recently, she was nominated for the QLD Day Awards for rallying together a group of local people to support a flood victim in distress.

• B. Laws, UQ (1998)

Nikki Parkinson is a businesswoman and online community leader who has built a multi-faceted career that spans 20 years in journalism before becoming one of Australia’s pioneer professional bloggers and most recently fashion designer.

Her online publishing business, Styling You, is a Queensland micro business Telstra Business Award winner. It attracts sponsorship from national brands such as FRANKIE4 footwear and Go-To skincare because of the highly engaged community Nikki has built and trust she has fostered.

In launching her own fashion label (Styling You The Label), she not only wanted to create Australian-made wardrobe essentials that simplified a busy woman’s wardrobe, she also wanted to disrupt the way that fashion is marketed to women. Unlike most brands, her designs are modelled on a diverse group of women.

Nikki has a strong core value of giving back, partnering with many charities, including Share The Dignity, Styling Station, The Lady Musgrave Trust and Suited to Success.

• B. Arts / B. Journalism, UQ (1988)

Georgie Dent is a best-selling author, former lawyer, and leading advocate for families, children, women’s empowerment and gender equity. As CEO of The Parenthood, she leads campaigns for paid parental leave, quality early childhood education and care, and family-friendly workplaces, engaging a network of over 80,000 parents and supporters.

A sought-after speaker and media commentator, Georgie is a regular guest on The Today Show and The Project, and has appeared on Q&A, Lateline, The Drum, Weekend Sunrise and more. Her writing has been featured in The Guardian, The Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar and more.

Her memoir, Breaking Badly, was published to critical acclaim in 2019. Recognised for her advocacy, Georgie has received numerous awards, including an Edna Ryan Award and a Pro Bono Impact Award. She has also represented Australia on the global stage, including at the 2018 Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality. 

• B. Business, QUT (2004)
• B. Law (Distinction), QUT (2004)

Libby Munro is an award-winning actor and writer whose work spans theatre, film and television. She is a two-time Matilda Award winner for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role for critically acclaimed productions Venus in Fur and Grounded. Libby also wrote and starred in the thriller The Hunted, earning Best Actress awards in Los Angeles and Paris, and receiving a nomination for Best Australian Short Film at the St Kilda Film Festival. 

Beyond the arts and with qualifications in nutrition and in health coaching, she founded Libby Munro Nutrition, an education-led health company supporting people worldwide with Hashimoto’s disease and autoimmune thyroid conditions through her signature holistic programs. Libby’s mission is to help people feel heard and empowered in their bodies.

Libby continues to create as an actor and writer – recently appearing as Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby – while leading a thriving online business.

• B. Business, QUT (2003)
• B. Dramatic Art (Acting), NIDA (2008)
• Advanced Diploma in Screenwriting (Feature Film), AFTRS (2016)