UNE Alumni

After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies at UNE, Thom Blake recently starred in his biggest stage role yet - as Pinocchio in a children's theatre adaptation of the story with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Thom's education has been a little different. Homeschooled until the end of Year 12, he “never set foot in a school at all” – and much of the education that mattered most to him occurred on the stage, having acted in a range of productions since the age of six.

With his strong passion for theatre, there was little doubt as to what Thom would pursue in his university studies, but the Sydneysider had to look a little further afield to find a course that would fit around his acting career.

“You never know when you’re going to land an audition, sometimes you might be waiting for a long time with no work, and sometimes you can suddenly be overwhelmed when you do book a gig.

“UNE's flexible study really helped with setting my own pace, and being able to study remotely let me study after rehearsals, which I couldn’t have done with a standard university schedule.

He's already been able to put his learning into practice, in the role of Pinocchio.

“It was a new work, so I was able to contribute a lot more to the developmental process than I otherwise would have. The critical thinking and dramaturgical skills I developed in my courses really helped me feel confident pitching in.

“I’d love to shoutout my brilliant theatre lecturers, Richard Jordan and Julie Shearer, if I didn’t have such wonderful teachers, I wouldn’t have gotten nearly as much out of this degree as I did. Huge thanks to them, take all their classes if you’re a student reading this!”

UNE Alumni Shelley Burr free webinar on writing and agriculture

Tune in for a conversation with award-winning author Shelley Burr alongside Lili Pâquet (Senior Lecturer in Writing) and Natalia Tobin (Lecturer in English).
In this FREE webinar, they will discuss the road to becoming a published author, the writing process and how Shelley manages her career commitments with study.

Register for the Zoom webinar via the link in comments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Burr grew up on Newcastle's beaches and her grandparents' property in Glenrowan, and on the road between the two. When not writing, Shelley is working to establish a small permaculture farm and is studying sustainable agriculture at the University of New England.
Her debut novel, WAKE, was a Top Five bestseller, won the prestigious UK Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger Award in 2019, and the Australian Book Industry's Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year and the Australian Crime Writers Association's Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction in 2023. WAKE was also shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards Debut Fiction Award.
Her second novel, RIPPER, went straight to Number One on the Australian Fiction Bestseller list and was shortlisted for both the Sydney Crime Writers Festival's Danger Award for Fiction and the Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction in 2024.
VANISH is Shelley's third book in the Lane Holland series and can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

MEET AWARD-WINNING AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION AUTHOR SHELLEY BURR!

🎤 Tune in for a conversation with award-winning author Shelley Burr alongside Lili Pâquet (Senior Lecturer in Writing) and Natalia Tobin (Lecturer in English).

In this FREE webinar, they will discuss the road to becoming a published author, the writing process and how Shelley manages her career commitments with study (she's a UNE Agriculture student).

🔗 Register for the Zoom webinar at the l8nk in comments.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. ALL WELCOME!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Burr grew up on Newcastle's beaches and her grandparents' property in Glenrowan, and on the road between the two. When not writing, Shelley is working to establish a small permaculture farm and is studying sustainable agriculture at the University of New England.

Her debut novel, WAKE, was a Top Five bestseller, won the prestigious UK Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger Award in 2019, and the Australian Book Industry's Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year and the Australian Crime Writers Association's Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction in 2023. WAKE was also shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards Debut Fiction Award.

Her second novel, RIPPER, went straight to Number One on the Australian Fiction Bestseller list and was shortlisted for both the Sydney Crime Writers Festival's Danger Award for Fiction and the Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction in 2024.

VANISH is Shelley's third book in the Lane Holland series and can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

Staying curious and on trend 🌏

UNE Bachelor of Economics graduate Nik Mohan didn’t have it all figured out at uni — but he knew a strong foundation would open doors. From Far North Queensland to Armidale, then on to Melbourne, Singapore and Seattle, Nik built a global tech career and is now Global Alliance Lead with Google.

In his alumni story, Nik shares how:
🧠 Economics sharpened his big-picture view of markets and geopolitics
💻 IT built the systems mindset to execute with tech teams
🤝 Curiosity (especially as AI reshapes work) is a career advantage

👉 Read the full story: https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/news-and-events/news/2026/08/staying-curious-and-on-trend2

Staying curious and on trend Nik Mohan took a Bachelor of Economics from UNE, added studies in IT and multiplied his career prospects. Moving from Armidale to Melbourne, then Singapore and Seattle, the global tech executive has worked for several of the world’s most influential tech companies and is now Global Alliance Lead w...

💚🖤 Keys to the City for Ron Vickress 🗝

Join us at the Armidale Town Hall tomorrow when Armidale Regional Council will formally confer the Keys to the City upon Mr Ron Vickress at a special public ceremony to be held on Tuesday 11 August 2026, recognising a remarkable lifetime of service to the community, the nation and future generations.

⏰ 12:30pm - 1pm, Tuesday 11 August
📍 Armidale Town Hall

Keys to the City for Ron Vickress 🗝

Join us at Town Hall tomorrow when Armidale Regional Council will formally confer the Keys to the City upon Mr Ron Vickress at a special public ceremony to be held on Tuesday 11 August 2026, recognising a remarkable lifetime of service to the community, the nation and future generations.

⏰ 12:30pm - 1pm, Tuesday 11 August
📍 Armidale Town Hall

Wright College & Village
✨70th Reunion ✨
2nd - 4th October 2026

Dust off your college photos and clear your calendar! We look forward to welcoming you back to Armidale.

Full program and to RSVP follow the link in comments below

One week until nominations close for the 2026 UNE Alumni Awards!

Do you know a graduate who has gone above and beyond? Now is the time to ensure their impact is recognised. Nominations must be submitted by 31 July.

To finalise your nomination, please ensure you:
✅ Complete the online nomination form
✅ Attach a current professional bio or resume for your nominee
✅ Include two written references (as the nominator, you can be one)

Whether it’s a distinguished alumnus, a community leader, or a rising star, help us celebrate the alumni who embody our values of being bold, kind, accountable, and connected.

Don't let this chance pass by - let's celebrate our high achievers together!

Nominate now - link in comments/bio.

🌟 Only 2 weeks to go! 🌟

Do you know an outstanding graduate?

Our annual Alumni Awards are a reminder of the enduring power of education and an opportunity to say “we see you”.

Nominations close on 31 July 2026.

More information via the link in comments 👇