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2025 Alumni Award Winners

Emeritus Professor Colleen Hayward AM

Emeritus Professor Colleen Hayward AM

Winner of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award

Diploma of Teaching (Primary), 1974

Some 50 years since graduating from Edith Cowan University (ECU) with a Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Professor Colleen Hayward AM has been named the winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award 2025.

Pivoting from teaching after a cancer diagnosis in her 30s, the highly respected senior Noongar woman has been a trailblazer throughout her illustrious career, reflecting the needs of minority groups at community, state and national levels.

Colleen has provided significant input to policies and programs on a wide range of issues across the fields of health, education, training, employment, housing, child protection, and law and justice.

Catrina-Luz Aniere OAM

Catrina-Luz Aniere OAM

Winner of the 2025 Community and Impact Alumni Award

Diploma of Teaching (Primary), 1981

Teacher turned environmental education trailblazer Catrina-Luz Aniere always wanted to work with children, but figured out early on in her career that she wanted to do it differently.

Inspired by young people who wanted to change their world, Catrina gave up her secure teaching job to co-create youth environmental organisation Millennium Kids.

Twenty-five years on, Catrina has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to children and youth, and to environmental education.

Scott Elstermann

Scott Elstermann

Winner of the 2025 Young Alumni Award

Bachelor of Arts (Dance), 2014

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2014, Scott Elstermann has been a powerhouse in the industry, working as a successful dancer and choreographer.

As an independent artist, dance has taken Scott around the globe, working with contemporary dance luminaries to perform and create shows.

With his commitment to the local dance industry gaining him a nomination for the 2024 Western Australian of the Year Youth Award, and now the 2025 Young Alumni Award, there is no place like home.

Derek Gerrard

Derek Gerrard

Winner of the 2025 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alumni Award

Bachelor of Business, 2000

Investor and entrepreneur Derek Gerrard has built a career defined by visionary leadership, high achievement and a deep commitment to social and economic impact.

As Co-Founder and Director of WA's largest venture capital fund, Purpose Ventures, Derek’s success and unwavering dedication to the local entrepreneurial community has led to being named the winner of the 2025 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alumni Award.

A standout example of his entrepreneurial success was the founding of a sustainability-focused technology company that he led to a successful acquisition. This achievement became a launchpad for Derek to further support Western Australian startups, bringing new energy and structure to the local innovation landscape.

Taza Serenje

Taza Serenje

Winner of the 2025 International Alumni Award

Bachelor of Health Science, Occupational Health and Safety, 2012

Working across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Americas, Taza Serenje has had a truly global career.

Born and raised in Zambia, her broad international perspective was shaped while studying at Edith Cowan University as an international student.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety in 2012, Taza has shown high-level achievement in her profession, leading transformative health and safety initiatives across governments, United Nations systems and international development, impacting more than 100 countries.

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