The Hills Original  Award

2016 | Robert Ovadia

Robert's career in journalism commenced in his early teenage years on the inaugural committee of the Hills Grammar Gallimaufry and Chief Editor of ACCENT. In 1988 he was awarded a high distinction in the Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year Competition. Robert studied Communications and French at Macquarie University before beginning his journalism career in regional television in Wagga Wagga. Robert's career has taken him to London, Melbourne and Sydney where he is currently a senior reporter with Network Seven. Robert is a dual Walkley Award winning journalist with a reputation for toughness, integrity and a strong sense of justice; a fitting recipient of the Hills Original Alumni Award.

2018 | Dr Amelia Hynen

Amelia studied a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Macquarie University where she has completed a research scholarship at the Macquarie University Hospital examining the biochemistry of brain blood vessel abnormalities. It was here that she developed a passion for microbiology and infectious diseases. In 2012, she undertook an Honours research project at the University of Technology, Sydney. Her Honours project in biomedical research characterised the Australian Epidemic Strain 1 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a chronic bacterial lung infection in cystic fibrosis. She was awarded first class Honours and the Dean's Merit Award for Academic Excellence. In 2013, Amelia undertook a Doctorate of Philosophy in bacteriology characterising explosive cell lysis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Her PhD was supported by an Australian Government Postgraduate Award Scholarship and a Research Excellence Scholarship awarded by the University of Technology Sydney. Amelia is a valued speaker at conferences in Australia and abroad with her work published in the scientific journal Nature Communications in 2015. In 2017 Amelia was awarded her PhD and her thesis was nominated for the Chancellor's Award for the best doctoral thesis submitted at UTS in 2017. After completing her PhD, Dr Hynen moved into the field of public health. In 2017 she commenced a dual Masters of Public Health and International Public Health at the University of New South Wales. During this time she worked as a research assistant at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW, examining immunisation coverage in Indigenous populations in Australia. Before graduating from her dual Masters with excellence, Dr Hynen interned at in the epidemiology department of the Global Influenza Programme at the World Health Organisation in Switzerland. For six years Dr Hynen has worked at UTS as a teaching associate for undergraduate microbiology and epidemiology practical classes and has lectured on microscopy techniques. She currently works as a researcher at Policy Cures Research, a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her work involves reviewing the science of grants and funding focusing on product research and development for neglected tropical diseases.

2020 | James Dive

James is an internationally celebrated installation artist, director, and designer. His interdisciplinary practice is known for a strong conceptual bent, fused with a healthy disregard for established creative boundaries. He graduated from Hills Grammar in 1996 and quickly went on to study a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) at the University of Technology, Sydney. After graduating he worked as an art director at Publicis Mojo in Sydney, before he was headhunted as an Art Director for Grey London. Two years later he was offered a job at The Glue Society, a leading creative collective of designers, writers and directors based in Surry Hills, Sydney. He rose to become a creative partner before he left to found his own company, Scoundrel Projects, in 2016. He still works there at his studio in Chippendale. He is a highly regarded and awarded artist who embraces public art, installations, design, film and architecture. The Guardian wrote he was the 'highlight of Miami Basel'. He is a sought after keynote speaker and was chosen for the cover of 'Wild Art', a Phaidon publication celebrating artists who challenge the art establishment. Despite a very busy work life he has embraced philanthropy and gives back to the community and regularly speaks in schools, including Hills Grammar, helping students learn how to craft ideas.