International flavour at graduation ceremony

A Thai Airways pilot, former Queensland Business Woman of the Year and a UK-based senior executive are among the six graduates who will personally receive their Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) awards at Southern Cross University tomorrow (April 28).

And the subjects of their theses are just as diverse as their backgrounds – from wind energy development and innovation in the Australian red meat industry to aviation safety, Singaporean childcare and hedge funds on the Chinese stock market.

Students will fly in from as far afield as the UK, Vanuatu, and Thailand for the graduation ceremony at the Lismore campus, bringing to 185 the number of students who have successfully completed their doctorate with Southern Cross University.

“Ours is one of the largest DBA programs in Australia and this year’s graduating class demonstrates that we draw candidates from all over Australia and overseas,” said DBA program director Peter Miller, who is based at the Tweed Gold Coast campus.

“Australian candidates living overseas and working in senior executive roles are able to complete their studies with us through distance education. We can also accommodate international candidates enrolled through our partnerships with other educational institutions in South-East Asia and Europe.”

Among those graduating is senior Thai Airways International pilot and pilot trainer Supachoke Suthichoti, whose thesis looked at ways that the airline could enhance its aviation safety, and former Sea World Nara Resort manager Robyn Redknap, who explored the employability skills of school-based trainees.

Another of the successful DBA graduates is New Zealander Martin Orr, who studied at Southern Cross University courtesy of a partnership with the Manukau Institute of Technology. Also graduating is PhD student William Haig, who is the first (and, to date, the oldest at 73 years) student to graduate through a partnership with the Hawai’i Pacific University.

The graduation ceremonies being held on Saturday are:

9am: Faculty of Health and Applied Science – School of Environmental Science and Management; Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian People. Faculty of Business – Graduate College of Management.

11.30am: Faculty of Health and Applied Science – School of Health and Human Sciences.