2025 Semester 1 Commencement Dinner

We gathered for our Semester 1 Commencement Formal Dinner on Thursday 27 February. This event celebrated the start to our Formal Dinner program and featured an inspiring address from our guest speaker, Karina Holden (alumna and 1994 Resident Assistant).

From her early days as a UQ science graduate studying snakes and crocodiles to becoming an Emmy® Award-winning producer and Head of Factual at Northern Pictures, Karina’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her career has spanned conservation biology, documentary filmmaking, and commissioning over 100 hours of factual television for the ABC. She has worked on acclaimed series such as Love on the Spectrum, See What You Made Me Do, and The Jury: Death on the Staircase.

Recognised as one of the 100 Women of Influence, a UNESCO Sydney City of Film Filmmaker of the Year, and a 2023 UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Award of Excellence recipient, Karina has shaped global storytelling in science and human narratives.

In her speech, Karina reflected on her time at College, the unexpected twists in her career, and the power of adaptability: “Where we end up in life may be planned, or it may take us by surprise. The key is to stay agile, embrace change, and trust the process.” She encouraged students to embrace uncertainty, take risks, and create meaningful impact in their future careers.