Earlier this week, the American Australian Association honored the achievements of two distinguished American and Australian leaders – Jeanne Johns, Managing Director and CEO of Incitec Pivot Ltd (IPL) and The Hon. Joe Hockey, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States.
Both were well supported by business leaders and friends from both countries, including United States Secretary of the Navy, Richard V. Spencer, former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, Ambassadors Mitch Fifield and Katrina Cooper, DoS Deputy Assistant Secretary Sandra Oudkirk and the Australian Consul Generals from across the United States.
Jeanne Johns used the opportunity to announce the creation of a new Veteran’s Scholarship Program for Advancement in Postgraduate Education, supported by Dyno Nobel, a business of IPL. Speaking at the dinner, Jeanne said “We are very excited to partner with the American Australian Association and create opportunities for hard-working veterans who have honorably served their country.” Petty Officer John O’Hara, a veteran of the United States Navy, is the inaugural scholar recipient supported by this unique program, which also includes an internship and pathway to employment with the company, immediately following their study.
Ambassador Hockey was recognized by the Association for a lifetime of public service and most especially for his enthusiastic and unwavering championship of the US-Australia alliance and for advancing freedom, security and economic progress between our countries. The evening concluded with a stellar performance by Australian group Human Nature – an internationally acclaimed and multi-talented pop-vocal group comprising Toby Allen, Phil Burton, and brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney – and a firm band favorite of Ambassador Hockey.
The Association would like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to Jeanne Johns, Ambassador Hockey and each of our corporate sponsors and donors for their time and generosity in support of this event. Thanks to this generous support, the Association will continue to deliver Graduate Education scholarship opportunities to the next generation of American and Australian researchers in STEM, medicine, sustainability and journalism, as well as provide a wide range of business and event programming to benefit our constituency.
