Reconnecting and celebrating MBS heritage

Nov, 2009

MBS Annual Alumni Dinner 2009

Generously sponsored by:

Russell Reynolds Associates

 

If you would like some keepsakes of the evening or if you simply wish to put a name to a face for networking purposes, download free high resolution photographs . There is no limit to the number of photographs you may download.

 

The clothes were glamorous, the mood was upbeat and the guests representing Australia's most influential and prominent business community, clearly enjoyed themselves.

It was Melbourne Business School's Annual Alumni Dinner, attended by more than 450 alumni and guests, and hosted by Frank Zipfinger, president of the Alumni Council.

MBS Dean, Jenny George, spoke about the merger that didn't happen, saying it may have looked like the School was wrapped up in negotiating an agreement that bore no fruit to outsiders, but work on the merger was actually very valuable in itself.

"Through that process we have re-engaged and listened to our donor members," she said. "We have engaged and listened to the University, our students, alumni, faculty and staff, and identified synergies with the University that can still be harnessed."

Merger or no merger, Jenny says MBS will continue to pursue the same goals and work very closely and effectively with the University. Towards this end, during the past year MBS has invested in five new faculty, career services and executive education at Mt Eliza.

Christopher Freeland (MBA 1996), vice president of the Alumni Council, acknowledged the huge impact that the Rupert Murdoch Fellowship made on each of the 52 recipient's lives. News Limited established these fully-funded MBA scholarships in 1989, as a means of "encouraging Australian students with outstanding business potential to flourish in the exceptional educational environment at MBS."

Keynote speaker, Sir Rod Eddington, chairman of JP Morgan and director of News Corporation, spoke to the question of Australia being the lucky country, referring to Gary Player's statement about "the harder I work, the luckier I become."

A new annual award, The Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award, recognises "a rising star of the MBS alumni community who has typically graduated in the past 10 years and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, service to society and service to the school." The inaugural winner was Adam Garone, Master of Marketing 1999, co-founder and CEO of Movember.

The Movember Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which runs the men's health initiative, Movember. Now six years old, Movember has raised $A62 million globally in the fight against prostrate cancer and depression in men.

Adam's acceptance speech by video from the US was a tongue-in-cheek reminder to his fellow alumni of a few pertinent marketing maxims he learnt during his MBS studies which he still uses today. Product-the moustache. Place-on and in your face. And Price-your wife hates you, albeit temporarily and for a good cause.

This year's Distinguished Alumnus award was presented to Catherine Walter AM. Cathy, as she's known around the School, is chairman of Australian Synchrotron and Equipsuper, a director of The Payment Systems Board, Orca, Australian Foundation Investment Company, James Hardie, Melbourne Business School, Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Melbourne International Arts Festival and a member of the Federal Government's Financial Reporting Council.

Frank concluded the night with an invitation to guests to "feel free to linger over coffee" and linger they did, well past the official conclusion, as patient Crown Casino staff cleared the room around them.

Watch Adam Garone's acceptance speech.

 

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