44 Notable alumni of Western Sydney University
Updated: June 22, 2026 EliteDegrees
Western Sydney University is ranked #510 in the world and #22 in Australia by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 44 notable alumni from Western Sydney University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Western Sydney University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Francis Vaiotu
1986-. (aged 40)
rugby league player
Francis Vaiotu is a New Zealand rugby league footballer for Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League. His positions of choice is Winger or Centre. He made is NRL Debut in Round 14 2011 against the Melbourne Storm. Francis has a Diploma in Community Welfare from TAFE and a Bachelor of Health Science PDHPE degree from the University of Western...
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2. Joanne Hadjia
1990-. (aged 36)
singer
Joanne Hadjia, known professionally as Joey Djia (formerly known as Joelle until 2016, NOWIMJOEY until 2017, JOEY until 2018), is an Australian singer. She is first known as a contestant in the fourth season of The X Factor Australia, where she performed as part of the duo Good Question, and later in the show's fifth season as a solo act.
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3. Chua Ek Kay
1947-2008 (aged 61)
painter
Chua Ek Kay was a Singaporean artist hailed as the "bridge between Asian and Western art" with a unique painting style using Chinese ink on paper that demonstrated an ingenious blend of traditional Chinese painting forms with Western art theories and techniques. Most of his works were themed of Chinatown street scenes, lotuses, and abstract works inspired by Australian aboriginal...
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4. Stephen Bali
trade unionist
politician
Stephen Louis Bali is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the Electoral District of Blacktown since a by-election held to replace former Labor leader John Robertson in late 2017. He previously served as the mayor of Blacktown City Council between 2014 and 2019.
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5. Darren Yap
1967-. (aged 59)
actor
television actor
director
Darren Yap is an Australian actor and director based in Sydney, Australia.
6. Jai Rowell
1977-. (aged 49)
politician
Jai Travers Rowell, an Australian former politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Wollondilly for the Liberal Party from 2011 to 2018. In April 2014, Rowell was appointed as Minister for Mental Health and Assistant Minister for Health during the Cabinet reshuffle under Premier Mike Baird. Under Gladys Berejiklian as Premier, Rowell was appointed as...
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7. Rosie Scott
1948-2017 (aged 69)
novelist
Rosie Scott AM was a novelist, poet, playwright, short-story writer, non-fiction writer, editor and lecturer, with dual Australian and New Zealand citizenship.
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8. Ben Peek
1976-. (aged 50)
science fiction writer
Ben Peek is an Australian author. His middle name is Michael.
9. Joseph Tramontana
1997-. (aged 29)
rugby league player
Joseph "Joey" Tramontana is an Italy international rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles for the Intrust Super Premiership.
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10. Hollis Taylor
2005-2009 (aged 4)
researcher
Hollis Taylor is an American-born Australian zoomusicologist and composer and a violinist and fiddler. She has argued that birdsong should be approached as music.
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11. Mireille Astore
1961-. (aged 65)
photographer
writer
Mireille Eid is an artist and a writer. She left Beirut during the Lebanese civil war in 1975 to live in Melbourne, Australia. She studied the Sciences at the University of Melbourne where she graduated before becoming a full-time artist and writer. Influenced by continental philosophy, her art draws on autobiographical notions of representation and the unheimlich; where the conscious...
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12. Nick Kopia Kuman
civil servant
politician
Nick Kopia Kuman is a Papua New Guinea politician. He is a Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, representing the seat of Gumine Open since 2002 as a member of People's National Congress.
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13. Shannon Cole
1984-. (aged 42)
association football player
Shannon Cole is a former professional footballer turned coach, who is currently the head coach of Central Coast United in NSW League Two.
14. Syed Ziaur Rahman
1972-. (aged 54)
translator
pharmacologist
Syed Ziaur Rahman is a permanent member of 'Board of Trustees' and Chair of the Advisory Council, International Association of Medical Colleges (IAOMC). He also serves as Chairman, Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, Elected Secretary of IAOMC and Society of Pharmacovigilance, India (SoPI).
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15. Niall Blair
1977-. (aged 49)
firefighter
politician
Niall Mark Blair is a former Australian politician and served as the Deputy Leader of the New South Wales Nationals from November 2016 until October 2019. Blair was a Nationals member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from March 2011 until October 2019, when he retired from politics. Blair is currently the Chair of the board of Sydney Water...
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16. Stephanie Dowrick
1947-. (aged 79)
writer
Christian minister
Stephanie Dowrick is an Australian writer, Interfaith Minister and social activist. She is the author of more than 20 books of fiction and non-fiction, five of them best-sellers. She was a publisher in Australia and the UK, where she co-founded The Women's Press, London.
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17. Jonathan Boulet
Jonathan Boulet is an Australian musician from Sydney. Best known for his work as a solo artist, he wrote, recorded, produced and played almost every instrument in his small garage studio for his debut self-titled album. He played at the Splendour in the Grass music festival in July 2010. He has also toured and performed with acts such as Kate...
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18. Alfred Nganga Mutua
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Alfred Nganga Mutua is a Kenyan journalist and politician who is serving as the Kenyan Minister (Cabinet Secretary) for Labour and Social Protection, an appointment he received as part of the July/August 2024 cabinet reshuffle. He previously served as the Minister for Tourism and Wildlife. Before that he served as the Cabinet Secretary (Minister) for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs under...
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19. Melissa Perrine
1988-. (aged 38)
alpine skier
Melissa Perrine is a B2 classified visually impaired para-alpine skier from Australia. She has competed at the four Winter Paralympics from 2010 to 2022. At the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, she won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals. At the 2018 Winter Paralympics, she won two bronze medals.
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20. Ben Quilty
1973-. (aged 53)
painter
Ben Quilty is an Australian artist and social commentator, who has won a series of painting prizes: the 2014 Prudential Eye Award, 2011 Archibald Prize, and 2009 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. He has been described as one of Australia's most famous living artists.
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21. Benny Elias
1963-. (aged 63)
rugby league player
Ben Elias is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played primarily as a hooker for Balmain in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. He was one of the leading hookers from the mid-1980s until his retirement at the end of the 1994 season. Along with Wayne Pearce, Paul Sironen and Steve...
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22. Yaw Shin Leong
1976-2023 (aged 47)
businessperson
politician
Yaw Shin Leong was a Singaporean businessman and politician. A former member of the Workers' Party (WP), he was the Member of Parliament for Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 2011 and 2012.
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23. Cathy McGowan
1953-. (aged 73)
politician
Catherine McGowan AO is an Australian former politician who was the independent MP for the rural Victorian seat of Indi from the 2013 federal election, when she defeated Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella, until her retirement before the 2019 federal election.
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24. Richard Teng
director
chief executive officer
senior vice president
Richard Teng is a Singaporean business executive who is the co-chief executive officer of Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange. Previously, he worked for the Monetary Authority of Singapore and was chief regulatory officer of the Singapore Exchange and CEO of the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
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25. Anne Deveson
1930-2016 (aged 86)
broadcaster
Anne Barbara Deveson AO was an Australian writer, broadcaster and filmmaker who also worked in England.
26. Anita Heiss
1968-. (aged 58)
novelist
Anita Marianne Heiss AM is an Aboriginal Australian author, poet, cultural activist and social commentator. She is an advocate for Indigenous Australian literature and literacy, through her writing for adults and children and her membership of boards and committees.
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27. Melissa McIntosh
1977-. (aged 49)
manager
politician
Melissa Iris McIntosh is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Liberal Party and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2019 federal election, running in the New South Wales seat of Lindsay.
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28. Dani Stevens
1988-. (aged 38)
athletics competitor
Dani Stevens is an Australian retired discus thrower who in 2009 became the youngest ever female world champion in the event. She is the current national and Oceanian record holder.
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29. Geoff Lee
1967-. (aged 59)
politician
member of legislative assembly
Geoffrey Lee is a former Australian politician. He was the Minister for Corrections in the second Perrottet ministry between December 2021 and March 2023. He has previously served as the Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education in the second Berejiklian and Perrottet ministries between April 2019 and December 2021. Lee was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative...
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30. Monika Radulovic
1989-. (aged 37)
beauty pageant contestant
model
reality television participant
Monika Radulovic; Serbian: Моника Радуловић, romanized: Monika Radulović is an Australian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2015 and represented Australia at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, ultimately placing in the Top 5 finalist.
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31. Ed Husic
1970-. (aged 56)
trade unionist
politician
Edham Nurredin "Ed" Husic is an Australian politician. Husic is a member of the Australian House of Representatives, elected to represent the seat of Chifley in western Sydney for the Australian Labor Party at the 2010 federal election. He served as Minister for Industry and Science in the first Albanese ministry between 2022 and 2025.
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32. Paul Murray
1978-. (aged 48)
radio personality
television presenter
Paul Murray is an Australian conservative political commentator based in Sydney. He was the former regular mornings presenter on 2UE show A Sydney Morning. He also hosts Paul Murray Live on Sky News Australia, which airs Sunday to Thursday at 9 pm AEST, as well as a Saturday Edition.
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33. Durga Shanker Mishra
1961-. (aged 65)
civil servant
Durga Shanker Mishra is a 1984 batch retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. He served as Chief Secretary to Government of Uttar Pradesh from 30 December 2021 till 30 June 2024. Previously, he served as Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary and Chairman of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
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34. Aziz Syamsuddin
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Azis Syamsuddin is an Indonesian politician who served as First Deputy Speaker of the People's Representative Council from 2019 to 2021.
35. Yvonne Strahovski
1982-. (aged 44)
voice actor
television actor
actor
film actor
Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski, known professionally as Yvonne Strahovski, is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles as Sarah Walker in the spy comedy drama series Chuck (2007–2012), Hannah McKay in the drama series Dexter (2012–2013) and Kate Morgan in the event series 24: Live Another Day (2014). Strahovski starred as Serena Joy Waterford in the drama series The...
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36. Joel Edgerton
1974-. (aged 52)
film producer
film actor
film director
television actor
actor
Joel Edgerton is an Australian actor and filmmaker. He is known for his portrayal of Will McGill on the first two seasons of the Australian drama series The Secret Life of Us (2001–02), and for playing Owen Lars in the Star Wars films Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005), a role he reprised in the...
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37. David Wenham
1965-. (aged 61)
film producer
film actor
stage actor
film director
television actor
David Wenham AM is an Australian actor who has appeared in film, television and theatre. He is known for his roles as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Friar Carl in Van Helsing and Van Helsing: The London Assignment, Dilios in 300 and its sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, Al Parker in Top of the Lake,...
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38. Aziz Shavershian
1989-2011 (aged 22)
personal trainer
model
YouTuber
Internet celebrity
television producer
Aziz Sergeyevich Shavershian, better known as Zyzz, was an Australian bodybuilder and model. He established a cult following after posting videos of himself on YouTube, starting in 2007.
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39. Nathaniel Buzolic
1983-. (aged 43)
film actor
actor
television actor
Nathaniel Buzolic is an Australian actor. He was the host of Nine Network's late-night television quiz show The Mint, and had a regular role on the BBC soap opera Out of the Blue (2008). He was also a co-host of the educational show Weather Ed on Sky News Weather Channel. He is also known for his role as Kol Mikaelson...
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40. Nicole da Silva
1981-. (aged 45)
actor
Nicole da Silva is an Australian stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Stella Dagostino in the series Rush, and as Franky Doyle in the show Wentworth (2013–2018, 2019). She has made appearances in series such as Carla Cametti PD (2009) and Doctor Doctor (2016–2021).
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41. Negar Khan
1984-. (aged 42)
model
actor
Negar Khan is an Iranian-born Norwegian actress. She is best known for her Bollywood item songs and film work.
42. Jana Pittman
1982-. (aged 44)
athletics competitor
sprinter
bobsledder
Jana Pittman is an Australian former athlete. During her athletic career Pittman specialised in the 400 metres run and 400-metre hurdles events. She is a two-time world champion in the 400 m hurdles, from 2003 and 2007. She also won the gold medal in this event at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and was part of Australia's winning 4...
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43. Don Hany
1975-. (aged 51)
film actor
actor
television actor
Don Hany is an Australian film, television, and stage actor. He is best known in Australia for his role as Zane Malik in East West 101 and in the US for starring in the NBC medical comedy-drama series Heartbeat.
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44. David Elliott
1949-. (aged 77)
art historian
author
curator
David Andrew Elliott is an Australian former politician. Elliott served as the New South Wales Minister for Transport and the Minister for Veterans in the Perrottet ministry between 21 December 2021 and 25 March 2023. Elliott was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Baulkham Hills for the Liberal Party between 2011 and 2023.
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