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Two outstanding graduates from The University of Western Australia were last night recognised for their commitment to effecting change at the 2014 Advance Australian Global Awards in Sydney.

The Advance Global Australian Awards recognise the important contributions of more than one million innovative and inspirational Australians living and working abroad, who are leaders in their respective fields in eight industry categories.

UWA Law alumnus Karyl Nairn, Queens Counsel, won the category of Financial Services.  UK-based Ms Nairn was the first woman to be appointed head of an international arbitration practice in London and is currently global co-head of the international litigation and arbitration practice Skadden Arps, a leading international law firms.

She is regularly cited as a leading international arbitration expert and one of the most innovative and influential women in law.

Ms Nairn affects positive change through her role on the UK Advisory Board of Justice, an all-party law reform and human rights organisation and charity dedicated to strengthening the justice system in the UK.  As part of her international pro bono activities, she works with Walk Free, a charity established in Australia to fight global slavery.  Ms Nairn graduated from UWA with a Bachelor of Juris in 1986, and a Bachelor of Laws in 1987.

Dr Richard Pestell , Director of Kimmel Cancer Centre at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, won the Biotechnology category.  An internationally renowned oncologist and endocrinologist, his work focuses on developing new cancer therapies that specifically target tumours and reduce side effects associated with commonly used cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

He also founded ProstaGene, a prostate cancer diagnostic and therapeutic company, and developed a diagnostic test that distinguishes normal prostate from prostate cancer in men with elevated PSA.

Dr Pestell graduated from UWA with a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery in 1981 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Medicine in 2008 before being made a Raine Visiting Professor in 2010.

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716