Outstanding alumnus announced

The Honourable Judy Spence took out the crown as the inaugural Griffith Business School (GBS) Outstanding Alumnus, announced at the GBS Alumni Network Dinner, held at the Stamford Hotel, Brisbane on Friday night (October 26).

Griffith Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) Professor Michael Powell said the GBS had created the award to recognise the remarkable achievements and success of GBS alumni.

“Many Griffith alumni go on to achieve great things, so the award is a way we can recognise their success,” Professor Powell said.

“The Honourable Judy Spence is an exceptional example of what many Griffith alumni achieve and we are proud to have her as an alumnus and as the winner of our inaugural Griffith Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award.

“Throughout her career Ms Spence has made many outstanding contributions to her community, to Brisbane and to Queensland and I would like to think the skills and capabilities she developed at Griffith have helped her along the way.”

The Honourable Judy Spence is the longest serving woman in the history of the Queensland Parliament, as well as the State’s first female Police and Corrective Services Minister.

First elected as the Labour Member for Mt Gravatt on December 2, 1989 she is now in her 17th year of service.

During this time she has held many posts, including Minister for Women’s Policy and Fair Trading, Minister for Families, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, Disability Services and Seniors.

Her portfolio has included being Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition on Federal/State relations and Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs and Women, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, and she is the Queensland Minister on the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council.

Ms Spence represents the electorate in which Griffith’s Nathan and Mt Gravatt campuses are located and has conscientiously represented the community.

She has also assisted the university in important ways, including supporting Griffith’s successful bid for the new Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security now based at Griffith’s Mt Gravatt and Nathan campuses.

Ms Spence said she is proud to be a Griffith Alumni, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Asian and International Studies in 1985.

The GBS Outstanding Alumnus Award is open to national and international students.