Alumni Action Group

Andrew personally experienced the positive effect of an active and interconnected alumni community whilst studying on exchange in Canada. He also had a great student experience at VU and want to continue building that relationship with the University as an alumnus and ensure others have access to similar opportunities.

He was always thankful to the university for providing him with worldly opportunities and would like to return the favour by giving a leg up to the next generation coming through.

Qualification: Bachelor of Exercise Science & Human Movement / Bachelor of Arts (Sports Administration) at Victoria University.

Job: Accounts Manager, Prestige Global Events.

Additional Educational Background: Bachelor of Sports Management from University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Community Involvement: Andrew volunteered as the Marketing and Communications Adviser for Special Olympics Samoa.

Catherine is a VU lecturer in supply chain logistics within the Victoria University Business School, and the Project Manager for Victoria Business Confucius Institute.

She received her Doctoral degree in supply chain optimisation from Victoria Institute of Strategic Economics Studies in the (at that time) College of Business at Victoria University, and a Bachelor and a Master degree both in Applied Mathematics in Beijing. During her study at VU, Catherine was committed to advocating for postgraduate and international students.

She has served as President of the International Students Association, and Postgraduate Association, and was a national committee member of the Council of International Students Australia in 2013-2014; the Council of Australia Postgraduates Associations; and the Victorian Association of Chinese PhD Students and Scholars. In 2013 Catherine was recognised as the state of Victoria’s international postgraduate student of the Year for her many contributions to international students and her academic achievement.

Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Victoria University.

Job: Lecturer in supply chain logistics and Project Manager, Victoria Business Confucius Institute, Victoria University.

Additional Educational Background: Bachelor and Master degree in Applied Mathematics from Beihang University in China.

Awards and industry achievements: VU Outstanding Student Future Alumni Award 2015.

Community involvement: Catherine was heavily involved in international student advocacy where she took on executive roles at university-level and nationwide associations.

Qualification: Masters of Project Management, Victoria University.

Job: Senior Account Manager for Brand Events Australia, Founder of Andiamo Projects.

Additional Educational Background: Bachelor of Business in Tourism Management from Charles Sturt University.

Mark has been involved with Victoria University for over 21 years.

Qualification: Graduate Diploma in Management, Graduate Diploma in Marketing and Master of Business, Victoria University.

Job: Network Strategy and Regulation Advisor, AGL.

Additional Educational background: Bachelor of Engineering at Deakin University.

Industry experience: Mark has previously worked at the Australian Energy Market Operator, which operates the gas and electricity systems as well as the wholesale gas and wholesale electricity markets across South East Australia.

He has worked in the energy industry for over 33 years in both gas and electricity and has been involved in many aspects of energy market reform, including the introduction of the Victorian gas market in 1999, the development of the Australian National Gas Market and many changes relating to Metering Competition. Mark also lectured in marketing at RMIT’s Faculty of Business between 2002 and 2012.

Awards and industry achievements: Victoria University’s 90 Legends of the Faculty of Business and Law, in 2006.

Community involvement: In his early years Mark was involved with various Apex Club’s for many years holding roles such as Secretary and President, and is now involved in the backstage operation of many arts groups, including the Williamstown Little Theatre, various community choirs, such as Melbourne Singers of Gospel, the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

With VU bachelor degrees in both Engineering and Law and as a finalist in the 2016 VU Alumni Awards, Rene brings substantial infrastructure knowledge and experience to the AAG. He is focused on assisting VU on its ongoing growth plans within Engineering and Law industry.  

Qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Laws at Victoria University.

Current Occupation: Contracts Manager, Rail Systems, Sub Alliance & Support Services, for the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Alliance, $1.6 billion worth of Infrastructure spend.

Community / Industry Involvement: Rene is focused on driving Social Procurement and Corporate Social Responsibility for the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Alliance. This ensures there are major spend in areas within the community and local traders adjacent to the Project.

Rene has been admitted into legal practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria, but currently not a practising lawyer, he is also currently mentoring future VU law graduates in career paths, within a focus on infrastructure delivery.