Alumni and Supporters

Taza Serenje

Bachelor of Health Science, Occupational Health and Safety, 2012

Winner of the 2025 International Alumni Award

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

From improving institutional systems to shaping how international organisations manage risk in high-stakes environments, Taza has been leading transformative health and safety initiatives since graduating from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in 2012.

Born and raised in Zambia, her broad global perspective was formed while studying at ECU as an international student.

“When I began researching universities, ECU stood out for its practical, industry-aligned approach to learning,” Taza explains. “It was one of the few universities at the time offering a complete bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety - I wanted an education that blended theory with real-world experience and ECU offered exactly that.

“ECU was more than a university, it was a community. I remember spending long hours in the e-lab, laughing with course mates from different countries and learning as much from my peers as I did from the textbooks.”

While it was daunting moving to the other side of the world as a teenager who knew nobody in Perth, Taza says her experience was transformative.

“ECU quickly became my home away from home. I was drawn to its inclusive culture and hands-on teaching style. The environment was nurturing and diverse, and I found a sense of belonging that shaped both my studies and my character,” she says.

“It gave me the confidence not only to learn but to lead and grow and I will always be grateful for that foundation. Choosing ECU was one of the best decisions I have ever made - it offered academic rigor, but more importantly it fostered values of responsibility, leadership and community values that have guided every stage of my career since.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Health Science, Occupational Health and Safety, Taza worked with an Australian disability organisation, before returning to Zambia.

“That first role gave me my first opportunity to see how practical safety systems can transform people’s day-to-day work lives,” she says. “When I returned home to Zambia, I joined the mining industry - an experience that exposed me to high-risk, complex operations.
“I later transitioned into the public sector, where I led workplace inspections, enforced national OHS legislation and supported the development of policies that improved worker protection.”

Taza says her career then moved into a more global dimension, Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Pakistan, Zambia and Kenya.

“Coordinating a system that protects people every day across cultures, languages and work environments has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey,” she says. “In some countries, the challenge was building safety systems from the ground up; in others, it was strengthening already mature safety cultures. I have learned that while resources and technologies may differ, the desire for safe and dignified work is universal.”

Conversely, there have been challenges along the way.

“One of the most significant [challenges] has been driving a health and safety culture in environments where it wasn’t traditionally prioritised or well understood, or in difficult environments already facing other kinds of hazards.

“Implementing systems is one thing, changing mindsets is another. I learned that lasting change requires patience, evidence, and genuine engagement.”

Now based in Washington D.C., it is easy to see why Taza has been named as the winner of ECU’s 2025 International Alumni Award.

“Winning this award is an incredible honour and a deeply humbling moment,” she says. “When I think back to arriving in Perth as a young lady who didn’t know anyone, and now being recognised by the very university that shaped my path - it truly feels like life has come full circle.

“Travelling for work has also been deeply humbling. It has taught me to listen more, to lead with empathy and to appreciate the extraordinary diversity of people and perspectives that make up our world.”

Taza looks back on her time at ECU fondly, and encourages current students to stay curious, courageous and open to learning – both in and out of the classroom.

“Don’t be afraid to take the road less travelled. When I chose to study Occupational Health and Safety, it wasn’t a popular field, but it was the one that aligned with my goals and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions of my life.

“And make the most of your time at university – ECU gives you the tools, but what you build with them is entirely up to you. Learn beyond the books, seek mentors and embrace opportunities that stretch you. The lessons you gain here will carry you much further than you can imagine - and one day, you’ll look back and realise that every late night, every challenge and every small victory was preparing you for something bigger.”