The University of Newcastle has recognised its next generation of change-makers, from entrepreneurs tackling waste and sustainability to passionate leaders driving community health initiatives, at this year’s Employability Excellence Awards.
Celebrating the achievements of seven students, along with invaluable staff and industry partners, the awards highlighted the transformative impact of Career-ready Placements, extracurricular activities and innovative teaching.
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky said the awards reflect the University’s commitment to producing life-ready graduates who can make an impact from day one.
“These students are already at the forefront of innovation and creativity in their respective fields. Our University is proud to offer a wide range of opportunities that enable students to develop their employability skills and gain professional experience, such as Career-Ready Placements,” Alex said.
“The awards recognise students who’ve not only demonstrated leadership, but also the curiosity and courage to turn their ideas into meaningful action, with over 90 students nominated this year.”
Amongst this year’s award winners is Claudia Brinsma, PhD candidate in Biological Sciences who was awarded Student Entrepreneur of the Year for her work in sustainable biotechnology.
While studying her PhD, Claudia founded Zyora, a startup turning brewery and biotech by-products into skincare.
Inspired by a desire to rethink how society uses waste and resources, Claudia has built on her previous venture experience, where she attracted support from the CSIRO, Federal Government, and the University’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) Accelerator program.
“The impact I’m hoping to create with Zyora is getting rid of one of our major waste streams. Breweries and wineries create hundreds of thousands of tonnes of bio waste every year, we’re using that to create everyday products,” Claudia said.
“We’re enabling that circular economy in an industry where that probably wasn’t thought about. As a scientist, you don’t think you’re going to be winning entrepreneur awards. I’m grateful I can take this and show people that the pathway to commercialisation is a real one, and not a scary one.”
The awards also acknowledge the crucial role of staff and employers in creating valuable placement opportunities. Eight organisations have been inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame for their ongoing support and collaboration.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Belinda Tynan, said industry partners play an essential role in shaping future-ready graduates.
“Our programs are designed in partnership with employers to ensure our graduates have the skills and mindset to thrive in an evolving workforce,” Belinda said.
The University’s strong focus on employability will continue into 2026, with more than 14,000 students completing an industry placement in the past 12 months.
IMAGE | Claudia Brinsma, Founder of Zyora.
