News Archive

The University of Western Australia congratulates the 11 alumni named in this year's 40under40 Awards.

Every year the Awards program , established by Business News in 2002, identifies and celebrates WA's leading business entrepreneurs under the age of 40.  The awards recognise participants' personal determination, commercial drive and philanthropic pursuits.

Chief Executive Officer of the WA Council of Social Service Irina Cattalini , who graduated from UWA with an Honours Degree in Political Science in 2002, was awarded the silver UWA Strategic Alliance Award.  Irina was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in WA in 2008.  She has spent years volunteering in the community and working to improve community services for socially disadvantaged Western Australians.

Other UWA alumni winners:

Bernard Chia , managing director of innovative online marketing and web development company Alyka Pty Ltd (Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology 2004).  Bernard is a self-confessed ‘geek with ambition' who started Alyka - Finnish for ‘smart' - at the age of 27.  The company, which started in a shared office, is now preparing for global expansion.  Alyka provides pro bono work to charities including the YMCA, the Samaritans Crisis Line and CHILD Australia.

Clay Cook (Bachelor of Economics, Economics, Marketing 1997) CEO of fast-growing digital marketing agency Bonfire and a 2004 40under40 winner.  Clay, who has had a life-long interest in technology and became interested in business at a young age, used his Bachelor of Economics to build his skills in the area.  He supports charities including the IF Foundation, The Amanda Young Foundation and World Vision.

Daniel Heredia (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, 2006), director of medical services at Hollywood Private Hospital.  Daniel, who overcame serious health setbacks during young adulthood, was the youngest medical advisor (at 26) to Medicare and is now the youngest medical director in the Ramsay Health Care group's 117 hospitals.  After completing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Honours at UWA, he completed an MBA with distinction at Curtin University and a Diploma of Public Health at Edith Cowan University.

Darren Kam , managing director at Constructive Media Pty Ltd (Graduated from the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences 2001).  Constructive Media is a leading provider of cost effective, high-quality 3D animations and visuals to the oil & gas, mining, property, and visual effects industries.  Darren likes to support the local market by hiring WA staff and using local suppliers, and has established an internship program to identify and develop emerging local talent.  He helped set up Cupcakes for Cancer in 2012 and supports a number of other charities.

Darren Lomman , CEO of not-for-profit organisation the Dreamfit Foundation (Faculty of Engineering, computing and Mathematics 2007).  Dreamfit specialises in designing dreams for people with disabilities through innovative engineering solutions.  When a 19-year-old engineering student at UWA, Darren met a paraplegic whose one wish was to ride again.  Darren designed a hand controlled motorcycle and was soon in high demand from people with disabilities hoping to reach their dreams.  The charity now has an eye on national expansion and has begun manufacturing its custom solutions for global export.  Darren has previously been named Australian Biomedical Engineer of the Year, WA Young Australian of the Year, WA Young Person of the Year, WA Citizen of the Year (youth), and received many other awards.

Jarrad Mahon , director of Perth property specialist Investors Edge Real Estate (Engineering, Computing, Mathematics 2005).  Jarrad built the agency from the ground up with Denise Thompson after becoming fed up with poor property management services.  The agency has gone on to win REIWA awards.  Jarrad blogs for property investment magazines and features on radio and other media.  He is involved in mentoring with the Smith Family and has previously worked with non-profit at-risk teen support organisation StepUP.  He and his colleagues cook meals for sick children and their families at Ronald McDonald House several times a year.

Mark Borrello (Bachelor of Law, 2006), managing director of property law specialist Borrello Legal Pty Ltd.  Mark started Borrello Legal at age 26 after spotting a gap in the market created by poor service delivery and communication skills. He regularly presents law updates to local and national real estate agencies and speaks at seminars on property and leasing matters.  The company makes annual donations to charities and carries out pro bono work for organisations such as Ronald McDonald House.

Mark Wallace (MBA, 2013; Bachelor of Computer Science & Mathematics, Information Management, Mathematics, 2003; Bachelor of Architecture, 2000), executive director of management advisory practice Blue Zoo.  Mark co-founded Blue Zoo at just 26.  Today, the company is a multi-million dollar firm providing governance, strategy and risk advisory services to high profile clients in the public and private sectors.  It provides pro bono advisory services to organisations including the National Disability Services, the Learn Foundation and Volunteering WA.

Morgan O'Connell (Bsc Zoology, Botany, 2005), founder and director of Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd.  Morgan, an ecologist with extensive knowledge of fauna ecology and state and federal approvals processes, started Biologic in 2007 at the age of 25.  He has since undertaken more than 200 environmental field surveys throughout WA.  Biologic plans to expand into vegetation rehabilitation and, later, soil and landform rehabilitation.  It donates to the Wilderness Society and Australian Paralympic Committee and contributes to the scientific community by making information gained through research publicly available.

Rueben Taylor (Bachelor of Engineering, Environmental Engineering 1996; MBA 2001), business coach and director of Business Wealth Educators.  Rueben started out as an engineer but switched to business after realising his heart wasn't in it.  He started his own business as a business coach, later following his own advice and expanding by buying 12 franchises and building a team of 14 coaches.  In 2005 he set up the Meridian Global Foundation, a charity and support group for young professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to develop their leadership and philanthropic spirit.

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716