Latest news with #DistinguishedAlumniAward
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating The Kiwis Shaping A Better World
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University's Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2025 showcase how their study at the creative, scientific, and political centre of New Zealand continues to help them shape a better world. Every two years, Te Herenga Waka awards the brightest and boldest innovators, visionaries, and community connectors from within its 140,000 alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards. For 2025, five exceptional alumni have been named as winners: Dai Henwood ONZM —comedian, author, and beloved entertainer. Tanea Heke MNZM —actor and Director of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, nurturing the next generation of performing arts talent. Dr Ratu Mataira —physicist and CEO of OpenStar Technologies, leading groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Dr Vincent O'Malley —acclaimed author and historian, illuminating forgotten parts of our shared history. Dr David Harland —respected diplomat, brokering peace between nations. The five winners are trailblazers and leaders whose diverse work—from inspiring performing arts students to fostering peace, from pioneering science to uniting us through laughter—exemplifies the University's core values of kaitiakitanga, manaatikanga, whanaungatanga, akoranga, and whai mātauranga. Chancellor Alan Judge says, 'Our distinguished alumni award winners reflect the high calibre of graduates we produce at Te Herenga Waka. They share a profound commitment to excellence and our mission to mobilise understanding and action for a better world. 'We are proud to call them alumni and are excited to celebrate their achievements next month,' he said. The Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at an event in Wellington on Thursday 18 September. Biographies David Harland, BA 1983 Dr David Harland is a diplomat and the executive director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Geneva-based foundation that specialises in the mediation of armed conflict. He previously worked for the United Nations, including in Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti and Timor Leste, and he wrote the UN Secretary-General's landmark report on the fall of Srebrenica. David serves on the UN Secretary-General's high-level advisory board on mediation. He has degrees from Harvard University, Tufts University, Beijing University and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Tanea Heke, BA 1995 Tanea Heke MNZM is an actor, director and producer of theatre, and has been Tumuaki/Director of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School since 2019. As an actor, Tanea has starred in several theatre, film and television productions over the years, including the film Cousins by Briar Grace Smith. She co-founded Hāpai Productions, a mana wahine, kaupapa Māori theatre company in 2013. She is an artist Trustee on The Arts Foundation—Te Tumu Toi and was the 2020 recipient of the Creative New Zealand Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi Making a Difference Award. She was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours List 2022. Dai Henwood, BA 1999 Dai Henwood ONZM has been performing comedy for over 25 years, beginning in Wellington at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied theatre and film. Well-recognised for his appearances on 7 Days, Dai has also hosted the NZ Music Awards, Family Feud, Dancing with the Stars, and Lego Masters New Zealand. He has won numerous awards for comedy, including Best Male Comedian at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards nine times. In 2024, he published the bestselling book Life of Dai, as well as the documentary Live and Let Dai, both of which share his journey with stage four cancer. He was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours. Ratu Mataira, BSc (Hons) 2017, PhD 2022 Physicist Dr Ratu Mataira is on a mission to harness the power of the sun, right here in Te Whanganui-a-tara Wellington. Ratu completed his PhD in Applied Superconductivity at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. By the end of his PhD, he had set the bar as the most prodigious student to graduate from the Robinson Research Institute, the world leader in such technologies. The 33-year-old leads OpenStar Technologies, a Wellington-based start-up building a 'levitated dipole' fusion reactor prototype. Multi-national groups have been trying to achieve this same goal for decades, with massive teams and enormous budgets. Vincent O'Malley, PhD 2004 Dr Vincent O'Malley FRHistS FRSNZ is an award-winning Wellington writer and historian who has authored many bestselling and acclaimed works on Aotearoa New Zealand history, including The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000 (2016) and The New Zealand Wars/Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (2019). His book Voices from the New Zealand Wars/He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa won the general non-fiction prize at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. In the same year, he received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Non-Fiction. In 2023, he was awarded the Humanities Aronui Medal by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and was a semi-finalist for Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Celebrating The Kiwis Shaping A Better World
Press Release – Victoria University of Wellington Every two years, Te Herenga Waka awards the brightest and boldest innovators, visionaries, and community connectors from within its 140,000 alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards. Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University's Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2025 showcase how their study at the creative, scientific, and political centre of New Zealand continues to help them shape a better world. Every two years, Te Herenga Waka awards the brightest and boldest innovators, visionaries, and community connectors from within its 140,000 alumni with Distinguished Alumni Awards. For 2025, five exceptional alumni have been named as winners: Dai Henwood ONZM —comedian, author, and beloved entertainer. Tanea Heke MNZM —actor and Director of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, nurturing the next generation of performing arts talent. Dr Ratu Mataira —physicist and CEO of OpenStar Technologies, leading groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Dr Vincent O'Malley —acclaimed author and historian, illuminating forgotten parts of our shared history. Dr David Harland —respected diplomat, brokering peace between nations. The five winners are trailblazers and leaders whose diverse work—from inspiring performing arts students to fostering peace, from pioneering science to uniting us through laughter—exemplifies the University's core values of kaitiakitanga, manaatikanga, whanaungatanga, akoranga, and whai mātauranga. Chancellor Alan Judge says, 'Our distinguished alumni award winners reflect the high calibre of graduates we produce at Te Herenga Waka. They share a profound commitment to excellence and our mission to mobilise understanding and action for a better world. 'We are proud to call them alumni and are excited to celebrate their achievements next month,' he said. The Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at an event in Wellington on Thursday 18 September. Biographies David Harland, BA 1983 Dr David Harland is a diplomat and the executive director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Geneva-based foundation that specialises in the mediation of armed conflict. He previously worked for the United Nations, including in Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti and Timor Leste, and he wrote the UN Secretary-General's landmark report on the fall of Srebrenica. David serves on the UN Secretary-General's high-level advisory board on mediation. He has degrees from Harvard University, Tufts University, Beijing University and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Tanea Heke, BA 1995 Tanea Heke MNZM is an actor, director and producer of theatre, and has been Tumuaki/Director of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School since 2019. As an actor, Tanea has starred in several theatre, film and television productions over the years, including the film Cousins by Briar Grace Smith. She co-founded Hāpai Productions, a mana wahine, kaupapa Māori theatre company in 2013. She is an artist Trustee on The Arts Foundation—Te Tumu Toi and was the 2020 recipient of the Creative New Zealand Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi Making a Difference Award. She was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours List 2022. Dai Henwood, BA 1999 Dai Henwood ONZM has been performing comedy for over 25 years, beginning in Wellington at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, where he studied theatre and film. Well-recognised for his appearances on 7 Days, Dai has also hosted the NZ Music Awards, Family Feud, Dancing with the Stars, and Lego Masters New Zealand. He has won numerous awards for comedy, including Best Male Comedian at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards nine times. In 2024, he published the bestselling book Life of Dai, as well as the documentary Live and Let Dai, both of which share his journey with stage four cancer. He was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours. Ratu Mataira, BSc (Hons) 2017, PhD 2022 Physicist Dr Ratu Mataira is on a mission to harness the power of the sun, right here in Te Whanganui-a-tara Wellington. Ratu completed his PhD in Applied Superconductivity at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. By the end of his PhD, he had set the bar as the most prodigious student to graduate from the Robinson Research Institute, the world leader in such technologies. The 33-year-old leads OpenStar Technologies, a Wellington-based start-up building a 'levitated dipole' fusion reactor prototype. Multi-national groups have been trying to achieve this same goal for decades, with massive teams and enormous budgets. Vincent O'Malley, PhD 2004 Dr Vincent O'Malley FRHistS FRSNZ is an award-winning Wellington writer and historian who has authored many bestselling and acclaimed works on Aotearoa New Zealand history, including The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000 (2016) and The New Zealand Wars/Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa (2019). His book Voices from the New Zealand Wars/He Reo nō ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa won the general non-fiction prize at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. In the same year, he received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Non-Fiction. In 2023, he was awarded the Humanities Aronui Medal by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and was a semi-finalist for Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year.
Mint
31-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
India's first academic hub on Private Equity and Venture Capital: IIM Bangalore set to Inaugurate Tony James Centre
The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is set to inaugurate the Tony James Centre for Private Equity and Venture Capital on 6 August. This will mark the launch of the first Global Centre of Excellence dedicated to research, education, and collaboration in the private equity and venture capital (PEVC) field in Asia's third-largest economy. The Centre, named after Blackstone's Hamilton "Tony" James, has been established with support from Mathew Cyriac, Chairman of Florintree Advisors, Co-founder of Yali Capital, and 1994 IIMB graduate. An MoU formalising the creation of the Centre was signed on 24 August 2024 between IIMB and Cyriac, the premier management institute said in an official statement, adding that it is one of the largest individual alumni contributions in the history of IIMB. "This is more than a tribute, it is a commitment to a future where Indian talent leads global investing conversations," Cyriac said ahead of the inauguration. Cyriac, a gold medalist of his batch and the 2025 recipient of IIMB's Distinguished Alumni Award, has made one of the most significant contributions in the institute's history. His donation supports the new Centre, scholarships for students pursuing finance in the PGP and Doctoral programmes, and naming four classrooms to recognise key faculty members. The inaugural event on 6 August will bring together prominent leaders from the global private equity and venture capital community. The ceremony will open with a welcome address by Professor Sourav Mukherji, Dean of Faculty and Dean of Alumni Relations and Development. Professor Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge at IIM Bangalore, will deliver the opening remarks, introduce the newly launched Centre, and announce the appointment of Professor Ashok Thampy from the Finance and Accounting area as its Chairperson. Professor Thampy, who holds the Florintree Chair in Private Equity and Venture Capital at IIMB, will present the Centre's vision and outline its upcoming initiatives. "The Tony James Centre will be a catalytic force in shaping the future of PEVC in India and beyond. Through research, teaching, and sustained engagement with industry, we hope to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will redefine the dimensions of investment and enterprise," said Professor Thampy. Professor Ashok Thampy, who has been appointed as Chairperson of the Centre and holds the Florintree Chair in Private Equity and Venture Capital, will present the Centre's roadmap. "The Tony James Centre will be a catalytic force in shaping the future of PEVC in India and beyond," he said. Designed as a leading platform for academic research, industry engagement, and policy dialogue, the Centre aims to bring together global experts and develop deep insight into emerging private equity and venture capital trends. It also intends to nurture a new generation of finance professionals grounded in strong ethics and global best practices. To attend the launch event, kindly register HERE.
News18
31-07-2025
- Science
- News18
Missile woman Tessy Thomas to be chief guest at IIT-Delhis 56th convocation
New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) Tessy Thomas known as 'Missile Woman of India" will be the chief guest at 56th convocation ceremony of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on Saturday, according to Director Rangan Banerjee. Thomas, distinguished scientist and former director general (aeronautical systems) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will award degrees to over 2,750 students, including 530 PhDs (highest-ever). Thirty five international students from 20 countries are also graduating this year. 'This year we also see our first graduates in the UG BTech course in Energy Engineering and three PG courses, the Interdisciplinary PG MTech course in Robotics, and Master of Science by Research in VLSI Design, Tools and Technology and Artificial Intelligence," Banerjee said. The IIT-Delhi director said that the revised undergraduate curriculum launched from the academic year 2025-26 emphasizes flexibility, experiential learning, and alignment with contemporary global needs. 'Key themes include environment and sustainability, creative expression, ethical reasoning, and emerging technologies like AI and machine learning. To support a smooth transition from high school, a dedicated one-week induction precedes academic sessions. 'Student wellness is a core focus, with a new Life Skills course covering time management, study habits, digital literacy, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset. This holistic approach equips students not only with academic knowledge but also with essential skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. The curriculum is designed to inspire, engage, and empower," he said. The institute will also honour seven of its esteemed alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Awards (DAA) 2025 at the convocation ceremony. Instituted in 1992, the DAA has been awarded to 151 alumni to date, representing excellence across diverse fields such as science, technology, entrepreneurship, public service, academia, and innovation. The director said that on August 2, coinciding with the 56th convocation ceremony, IIT-Delhi will launch a DAA Wall in the Lecture Hall Complex. 'This commemorative installation will honour recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest recognition conferred by the institute upon its alumni for exceptional achievements and societal contributions. This initiative reflects IIT-Delhi's commitment to strengthening alumni engagement and recognise the lifelong impact of its graduates," he said. PTI GJS GJS KVK KVK view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 18:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Dominion Post
19-07-2025
- Health
- Dominion Post
Mohssen Ghalichebaf
Dr. Mohssen Ghalichebaf, B.D.S., D.M.D., D.D.S., M.S., 85, of Greystone, Cheat Lake, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 10, 2025, with his beloved wife, Karen, by his July 4, 1940, in Iran, to the late Mahmoud and Ismat Ghalichebaf of Tabriz, Iran, at an early age, Mohssen developed a quenchless yearning to learn, which led to his extensive educational pursuits in three countries. Journeying to Turkey, he earned a Bachelor of Dental Science (B.D.S.) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) from the University of Istanbul before traveling to England, where he graduated from the Royal Dental Hospital of London. Endeavoring to become an exceptional dentist, Mohssen voyaged across the Atlantic to earn his Master of Science (M.S.) of Prosthodontics from the University of Rochester, Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, N.Y., and Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) and Maxillofacial Prosthetics from Indiana University in Indianapolis, 1989, Mohssen's global journey culminated in Morgantown, where he joined the WVU School of Dentistry faculty and subsequently met the love of his life, Karen Sue his tenure as Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Dr. Ghalichebaf served as Director of Prosthodontics and Director of the Maxillofacial Prosthetic Clinic. Revered by dental students and fondly known as 'Dr. Moe,' he was a consummate student advocate who loved teaching and Ghalichebaf was a trusted confidant and source of wise counsel. He often shared his vast life experiences to inspire, encourage, and illustrate the importance of living with virtue and overcoming challenges with persistence. For his unswerving commitment to student advancement and success, Dr. Ghalichebaf received the School of Dentistry Team Leader Award, the School of Dentistry Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, and was twice designated the School's Outstanding Teacher of the national and international honors include fellowships in the American College of Dentists, American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, and the American College of Forensic Ghalichebaf's leadership and clinical expertise brought life-changing oral health care to patients in need of prosthodontic treatment. He discovered special purpose and fulfillment in serving children in West Virginia and the surrounding region afflicted with cleft lip and cleft palate. Collaborating with medical colleagues in the WVU Department of Otolaryngology to facilitate transformative health care was his crown jewel.A highly respected clinician and educator, Dr. Ghalichebaf also held leadership positions, including president of the Monongalia County Dental Society and vice president of the West Virginia Section of the American Association of Dental his immense professional achievements, Dr. Ghalichebaf was well known as a humble, compassionate, courageous, and helpful person. His relentless dedication to humanistic healthcare and education made an enormous difference in the lives of students and Ghalichebaf loved being a U.S. citizen and concurrently celebrating his birthday and the nation's birthday each July 4th. His gratitude for the opportunities he had since coming to the U.S. was frequently expressed through generosity to benefit others. He and Karen established and endowed the Dr. Mohssen and Mrs. Karen Ghalichebaf Scholarship to annually support a deserving WVU dental student. Their membership in the WVU Foundation Irvin Stewart Society solidifies a legacy of generosity to benefit generations to 2019, after an illustrious 30-year career at the WVU School of Dentistry, Dr. Ghalichebaf retired Professor Emeritus. His influential imprint on dental education and oral health care endures in the countless dentists that he trained and addition to his parents, Dr. Ghalichebaf was predeceased by his sister, Zahra; and three older brothers, Ali, Husein and is survived by his dearly loved wife, Karen, of 28 have been entrusted to Hastings Funeral Home & Omega Crematory in Morgantown. There will be no public visitation or honor his endearing commitment to dental education and dental care, please consider a donation to the Dr. Mohssen and Mrs. Karen Ghalichebaf Cleft Lip/Palate Scholarship, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, c/o WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650. Condolences may be made at
