Dr. José Ramos-Horta embodies the essence of hope—hope that is deeply rooted in belief, purpose, and inspiration. As the President of Timor-Leste, his journey is a testament to resilience and leadership.

On 11 October, 70 guests had the incredible privilege of sharing in the hopeful journey of His Excellency José Ramos-Horta. In this special live episode, Dr. José Ramos-Horta shares his experiences growing up in remote Timorese villages, his relentless pursuit of Timorese independence, and his reflections on global peace and the role of the United Nations. He also discusses the profound relationship between Timor-Leste and its international supporters, and the future of education for young Timorese.

Of all the world leaders I have been privileged to meet, Dr. José Ramos-Horta has the highest degree of steely humility —and an absolutely inspiringly wicked sense of humour (in the most humble and insightful sense of those words).

As an appointed Distinguished Visiting Professor and holder of an Honorary Doctorate from VU, and as a deep, deep friend of VU, his contributions are proposed with real respect, admiration, and affection.

I know you will be captivated by his story — as I was. I encourage you to listen to Part 1 now.

The world needs more of so many things right now. Thunu Rathnayaka exemplifies why you can never contribute too much to these issues. She is a VU Law student, VU Student Ambassador, VU Law Society President, VU Student Union Board Member, VU Volunteer, and VU Community Leader. Amazing.

In this episode, Thunu shares her experiences studying law at VU’s iconic City Tower campus, how growing up in Sri Lanka shaped her ambition to work for international civil society — and what it’s like to have your face on a tram!

I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Mevan Fernando is proof that exploring your interests and passions can make for a fulfilling career and life. As the Digital Experience Officer at the Wyndham Tech School, Mevan encourages curiosity, exploration and collaboration.

In this episode, Mevan speaks to embracing his Sri Lankan heritage through music, the joy of witnessing young people unleash their imagination through advanced technologies and growing up in a family of diversely talented individuals — all VU alumni!

I was delighted to connect with Mevan over our shared love of music and the significant role Wyndham Tech School is playing in secondary students’ education.

Vince Lebon sees peoples' feet first and then their face. This is to be expected as the Founder, CEO and Designer of Rollie Nation—one of the world’s most interesting and successful shoe design enterprises.

Today, Vince speaks to studying multimedia design at VU, his “cool-comfort” approach to footwear design and making calm decisions in business and life.

I was delighted to speak with Vince about our shared love of trainers and welcome him as VU's 2024 Executive in Residence.

Karlee McCulloch is a natural leader who isn’t afraid to try something outside her comfort zone. Her inner motivation, determination, and desire to support others has enabled her to change the course of her life – and now do the same for others.

Today, Karlee speaks to the people, roles, and organisations that helped her go from not speaking until age 9 to being one step closer to her ultimate dream of being a social worker.

It was fantastic to hear her journey and we can’t wait to see what she does next!

In the latest People of VU episode, I am delighted to feature Katrina Gubbins – the originator of this podcast.

Katrina has been an invaluable member of our VU community for over eight years. During this time, she brought her expertise in communications to various roles – from her beginnings in the community outreach team to working with us in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.

As Katrina embarks on a new journey in the not-for-profit sector, I wanted the opportunity to sit down with her and delve into her experiences, insights, and memorable moments at VU and beyond. There is no doubt that her care and creativity shines through very brightly all the way through.

Whether on the field as a Western Bulldogs AFLW player or in the classroom, Lizzie is someone who motivates everyone she meets.

I had a wonderful chat with Lizzie on the eve of her graduation – she is the first in her family to graduate from university. Today, Lizzie received her Bachelor of Education degree, and multiple generations of her family cheered from the crowd.

It was fantastic to see and we hope she continues to kick goals in her career!

Despite this immense challenge, and with the (frankly, heartening) support of his family and VU’s Clinical Exercise Rehabilitation clinic, Anesu overcame his health setback and has truly excelled in life.

Anesu's vibrant personality radiates positivity every time we meet. It was such a delight to really get to know him in the latest People of VU episode.

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From Dev's high school council presidency in Punjab and long-standing support for international students to Chandra's impactful work at VU through the food pantry (providing essentials to around 70 people per week) and hidden disability advocacy, their leadership journeys are uniquely VU.

In the first People of VU podcast episode for this year, discover how Dev and Chandra are set to shape VUSU in 2024.

Hailing from Hong Kong, Dr. Chau's architectural journey began with a gift from his grandfather—a book that sparked his passion for shaping how and what we build and construct.

Today, he shares this passion with VU students through immersive, hands-on classes that delve into the future of our homes. Dr. Chau's dedication extends to innovative research — in which he explores sustainable housing options like green roofs and tiny houses. These are timely solutions given the significant impact of climate change on living conditions across Australia.

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