A member of the Noongar community, Professor Scott is internationally recognised as one of Australia’s most awarded authors with poetry and short stories published in a number of anthologies. His writing helped to propel Noongar culture into the present in a dynamic way. Professor Scott used writing and researching to help return oral histories and archival language material to communities. He won many influential literary awards including the Western Australian Premiers Prize for Fiction (2011), the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book – South East Asia and Pacific (2011), ALS Gold Medal (2011) Victorian Premiers Prize for Literature (2011) and the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book – South East Asia and Pacific (2011). Professor Scott was Professor of Writing in the School of Media, Culture and the Creative Arts at Curtin University and worked in Curtin’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies and the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute.

One of Australia’s most prominent neurologists, Professor Carroll dedicated more than 15 years to raising the profile of Multiple Sclerosis research – locally and nationally - through initiatives created under his leadership as Chair of the MS Research Australia’s (MSRA) scientific committees. These initiatives include the Australian MS Longitudinal Study, MRSA Brain Bank, Clinical Trials Network and the concept of Platform projects, all of which contributed significantly to MS research in Australia. Professor Carroll was part of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA Board for 16 years and headed the scientific committees for 12 years. Professor Carroll played a critical role in establishing the Pan-Asian Committee, raising awareness of the disease throughout Asia. In 2011, he was awarded the prominent John Studdy Award, in recognition of outstanding, consistent and selfless provision of meritorious service to those with MS.

An artist and social commentator, Dean Alston was a cartoonist at The West Australian for 25 years. During this time he won every major journalism award for cartoonists in Australia, including the coveted national Walkley Award for Australia’s Best Cartoon. His satirical cartoons were followed by readers of The West Australian as a key source of artistic commentary on the news of the day. Dean has acted as mentor to two generations of artists at The West Australian, has several books featuring his cartoons published, and his work is proudly displayed on walls around the State from Terrace boardrooms to worksite kitchens in the Pilbara.

Judge Reynolds, President of the Children’s Court of Western Australia since 2004, was pivotal in the restoration and advancement of the court. He acted as a strong campaigner for greater resources in the juvenile justice system as a way to reduce the number of children in detention. Judge Reynolds introduced a practice where he refused to hear a matter until the child’s parent or guardian were present. He is an unrelenting advocate for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and passionate about the need to ensure a portion of Western Australia’s economic dividend is invested into programs that help prevent the passage of disadvantaged youth into formal detention. Prior to his appointment as the President of the Children’s Court, he was President of the Magistrates Society (1990-1997) and Chairman of the West Australian Football League Tribunal.

A highly commended cricketer, Adam Gilchrist has won a variety of awards as a sportsman. Adam was one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year (2002) and Australia’s One-Day International Player of the Year (2003, 2004). He was awarded the Allan Border Medal in 2003 and was the only Australian Cricketer named in “Richie Benaud’s Greatest XI” (2004) to be playing at the time. He was selected in the International Cricket Council World XI for the charity series against the Asian Cricket Council Asian XI (2004, 2005) and was named as wicketkeeper and opening batsman in Australia’s “greatest ever” One-Day International team. In addition to his cricketing career, Adam was the Patron for Ronald McDonald House, WA for a decade, actively involved in fundraising initiatives. He was Ambassador for World Vision and Canteen, and Patron for Learning for a Better World Trust, which raises funds for education and cricket playing expenses of young cricketers in developing countries. Adam was appointed a member of the order of Australia in 2004.

At just 22 years of age, Holly held a number of leadership roles within a variety of not-for-profit organisations that saw her work in the Indigenous communities of Jigalong to the slums of Kenya. Holly worked in areas of community need, ranging from homelessness and mental health to women’s rights and educational disadvantage and runs a consultancy specialising in marketing to millennials. She studied Law and Economics at The University of Western Australia, was President of the Rotary of Crawley and an opinion piece contributor to The West Australian. In 2011, Holly was invited to be a guest speaker at the Governor Generals’ International Women’s Day 100th Anniversary Celebrations.