2026 Award Recipients
Rising Star Award for Young Alumni
An individual who is aged 35 and under and has demonstrated an outstanding level of professional achievement and community involvement since graduating from the University of Melbourne and/or recognition by colleagues and peers of outstanding leadership and impact as a global citizen, over a period of at least five years.
Awarded to Mr Alex Dekker | Bachelor of Commerce 2025
Mr Alex Dekker is recognised for his selfless impact in helping to tackle food insecurity through his charity, Alex Makes Meals.
From its humble beginnings in 2020, the then 19-year-old wanted to support his sister Pietra by cooking her a meal while she was juggling long shifts, working as a doctor during the pandemic. Whilst in the kitchen, Mr Dekker turned to social media to offer meals to others in need. Within eight hours, Alex received 400 responses for help, along with hundreds of offers from people eager to volunteer or contribute.
From that pivotal moment, an idea was born — Alex Makes Meals began and grew rapidly. Today, the not-for-profit kitchen has grown with a team of more than 80 volunteers and generous community support, driven by a simple mission: no human goes hungry. The charity now provides over 3,500 meals each week across 40 sites in Melbourne, supporting people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Recognising the need to strengthen his skills to continue running the business, Alex enrolled into the Bachelor of Commerce in 2022, majoring in Accounting and Finance to continue to develop as a leader to maximise the charity’s impact.
Named a Wattle Fellow in 2023, Alex is committed to finding sustainable solutions for delivering chef‑prepared meals to people in crisis. In 2024, he was recognised as Young Melburnian of the Year and named to Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 – Social Impact List for his transformative work.
Leadership Award
An individual who has achieved significant and recognised impact in business, government or the non-profit sector through leadership in career to date.
Awarded to Dr Gordon de Brouwer | Bachelor of Commerce with Honours 1987, Master of Commerce 1992
Dr Gordon de Brouwer recently concluded nearly four years of intense service as the Australian Public Service Commissioner and Secretary for Public Sector Reform, during which he worked to strengthen and modernise the public service sector.
Through his leadership in public sector reform, Dr de Brouwer shaped a stronger APS that embodies integrity and stewardship, commitment to people centred policy and services, modelled best practice employment, and delivered lasting benefits for the Australian community through excellence in delivery.
During his appointment, Dr de Brouwer led regular departmental capability reviews, introduced stewardship as a core public service value, expanded First Nations representation in senior roles, modernised public sector employment conditions, and strengthened the APS Academy and leadership development.
He has held senior roles across the Prime Minister’s Department, Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
With an outstanding career experience as an economist and leader in environmental policy, Dr de Brouwer served as the Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy from 2013-2017. In 2018, he joined the Australian advisory board of The Nature Conservancy and the Board of the Australian Nuclear Science Organisation.
Before returning to Government in 2022, he was a Professor of Economics, jointly appointed to the Crawford School of Public Policy and College of Business and Economics at ANU.
Following his tenure as APS Commissioner, he will continue contributing to public policy and governance and be active in areas of personal interest, including animal care.
Outstanding Achievement Award
An individual who has achieved long-term, sustained and outstanding achievement and leadership in business, government or the non-profit sector.
Awarded to the Hon. Mary Wooldridge | Bachelor of Commerce with Honours 1990
The Hon. Mary Wooldridge is CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, bringing extensive policy and corporate expertise to advancing fairness and equality in Australian workplaces.
At WGEA, she has driven significant reforms including publishing of employer gender pay gaps, comprehensive collection and publication of employer actions related to sexual harassment prevention and response and a world-first requirement for large employers to set and meet gender equality targets.
From 2006 to 2020, Ms Wooldridge served in the Victorian Parliament, including as Minister for Mental Health, Community Services and Women’s Affairs.
During her influential ministerial tenure, she established the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People, including appointing Australia’s first Aboriginal Commissioner, and Parkville College, an award winning public school within Youth Justice Centres.
She also established Australia’s first Mental Health Complaints Commissioner and Family Drug Treatment Court.
Ms Wooldridge played a pivotal role in establishing Our Watch, the national agency dedicated to preventing family violence. She also led Victoria’s adoption of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Before entering Parliament, she served as CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians and held roles with McKinsey & Company and Consolidated Press Holdings.
She continues her commitment to community and leadership as a Director of Global Citizen (Oceania) and Carey Baptist Grammar School.
Across every chapter of her career, Ms Wooldridge has championed opportunity, equality and meaningful change for Australian families and communities.