Four alumni of Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast have been honoured at the inaugural Old Flinderians’ Excellence in Life Awards—selected from eleven shortlisted nominees—for their professional achievements and contributions to the community, presented at a ceremony on Thursday, 11 September.
More than 50 Flinders alumni, staff, parents and friends attended the ceremony in the College’s new world-class Infinity Centre.
The four award recipients traverse diverse disciplines—an accelerator physicist-engineer; an economist and assistant professor holding two PhDs; an oncology nurse practitioner turned researcher; and a digital health strategist dedicated to advancing equity in rural and remote communities (see award recipients’ biographies below).
The College’s alumni organisation, known as the Old Flinderians’ Association, launched the awards in 2025 to commemorate the school’s 35 years of foundation.
College Principal Michelle Carroll said the awards recognised Old Flinderians striving for excellence in learning and life beyond Flinders.
“I sincerely congratulate our 2025 Excellence in Life Award recipients and shortlisted nominees for their professional success and meaningful contributions,” Ms Carroll said.
“As a College community, we take pride in their growth and impact, whether they are driving research and innovation, strengthening communities, producing creative works or making their mark across the globe.
“Importantly, our graduates help to inspire our students from Prep to Year 12 to also make a positive impact in the wider world, contributing their knowledge, skills, character and talents.”
Selena McKay, President of the OFA and a graduate in the Flinders Class of 2002, said the Excellence in Life Awards was an opportunity to recognise alumni who embody a lifelong love of learning, nurtured during their schooling journey at Flinders.
OLD FLINDERIANS’ 2025 EXCELLENCE IN LIFE AWARD WINNERS
Highly Commended Award - Corey Lehmann (Class of 2015)
This award commends an Old Flinderian who has demonstrated long-term excellence and leadership in their profession, academic field, research or community life.
Corey is an accelerator physicist and electrical engineer, currently studying a PhD in Particle Physics at Oxford University in partnership with Diamond Light Source – the UK’s flagship particle accelerator. His research focus is on beam diagnostics and instrumentation for particle accelerators, and applied machine learning, exploring how Machine Learning and AI can be used to identify anomalies and improve up-time at particle accelerator facilities.
Old Flinderian Rising Star Award – Dr Ellen Muir (Flinders Class of 2008)
This award recognises an Old Flinderian under the age of 35 who has shown early career achievement, growth and the potential for continued impact.
Since graduating from Flinders in 2008, Ellen has dedicated her career to economics research and teaching, exploring how to design better markets and fairer rules for the economy. Ellen holds two PhDs: in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Melbourne and in Economics at Stanford University, supervised by Nobel Laureate Paul Milgrom. Ellen is an Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she holds the Class of 1958 Career Development Professorship. Prior, Ellen was a Prize Fellow in Economics, History and Politics at Harvard University, a highly selective two-year fellowship awarded to exceptional early-career scholars.
Old Flinderian of the Year Award – Cassandra Mazza (Flinders Class of 2004)
This award celebrates the alumna of the year who has demonstrated long-term excellence and leadership in their profession, academic field, research or community life.
Cassandra, also known as Cassie, is the Oncology Nurse Practitioner at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with an array of experience across cancer care, having worked within the specialty for almost 20 years. Her industry awards include Cancer Council Queensland Oncology Nurse of the Year 2022 and the Australian College of Nursing Emerging Research Leader Program Scholarship Recipient in 2024.
Cassie is passionate about improving patient care, experiences and clinical outcomes, and has been an active participant in the development of national reform documents and position statements within cancer care, including for Lung Foundation Australia on the Lung Cancer Blueprint Expert Advisory Group for “The Next Breath: Accelerating Lung Cancer Reform in Australia 2022-2025”. Cassie was also a key link in the research of Queensland University of Technology and Research Fellow in Lung Cancer, Dr Vanessa Brunelli. Dr Brunelli's research centred on improving the disease experience for people living with lung cancer.
Old Flinderians’ Fellowship – Katherine Mossman (Flinders Class of 2003)
This $5,000 fellowship supports the professional development – through a project, course or initiative – of an Old Flinderian whose work has the potential to positively influence their community or industry and aligns with the College’s values of excellence and service.
Katherine is the Digital Health Systems and Resources Manager for the Royal Flying Doctors Service, Queensland section. She was also appointed the business lead to guide the Royal Flying Doctors Service through a major digital transformation program of its clinical applications ecosystem. This fellowship will enable her to accept the invitation to complete a short-course certification designed for emerging executives in Digital Health, providing her with a niche set of tools to support the RFDS in this pivotal time of digital maturation.
Katherine is passionate about the potential for digital health solutions to support greater health equity for people living in rural and remote areas of Queensland, and contribute to decreasing the digital divide.
Katherine shared her purpose through this Fellowship: "The digital divide, as well as social and economic barriers experienced by vulnerable and underserved populations, can exacerbate health inequality problems. Research confirms that digital health solutions will help to facilitate access, reduce costs, improve care quality and empower patients."
2025 SHORTLISTED NOMINEES include:
Tate Cassells (Flinders Class of 2020) | Musician, Producer, Teacher, Student
Emily Chester (Flinders Class of 2014) | Teacher, Exercise Physiologist, Surf Lifesaver
Charlie Hall (Flinders Class of 2012) | Consultant Medical Sonographer, Student – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
Leah Hobbs (Flinders Class of 1998) | Oral Health Therapist, Board Director, Educational Consultant, Researcher
Kurtis Laing (Flinders Class of 2013) | Creative Director, Performing Artist, Producer
Charlie Mortimer-Short (Flinders Class of 2022) | Student at Melbourne University, Chancellor’s Scholar
Zachary Southern (Flinders Class of 2012) | Physiotherapist, Lecturer, Researcher, Student
To learn more about the Old Flinderians’ Association, visit www.mfac.edu.au/ofa
