UQ Business School alumni, Mark Sowerby and Michael Boyd, have been named as recipients of 2015 UQ Alumni Awards.
These awards highlight the achievements of alumni who have accomplished outstanding success in their fields and made exemplary contributions to their communities.
Mark Sowerby, recipient of the UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award, completed his MBA at UQ Business School in 2003, and is the Founder and Managing Director of Blue Sky Alternative Investments Limited. As Australia’s first diversified alternative asset manager, Blue Sky has changed the investment landscape by opening up a wider range of options for investors. The company, which began in New Farm with just $200,000 in capital, now manages over $1 billion worth of assets, with a team of 70 staff and is listed on the ASX with a market capitalisation of more than $230 million.
Michael Boyd, who received the UQ Distinguished Young Alumni Award, completed a Bachelor of Business Management at UQ Business School in 2010, and since founded and co-founded seven businesses before the age of 25. Michael is credited with transforming the company VroomVroomVroom into a multi-million dollar business. In 2012, Michael was hired as the CEO of an international car rental comparison business with just 18 staff. Today, with over 50 staff and a global market, the company turns over $70 million annually and the value of the business has increased four-fold.
Mark and Michael were nominated by their peers and UQ Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter Høj, and will be celebrated at this year’s ‘Courting the Greats’ ceremony in October.
UQ Business School Dean Professor Andrew Griffiths, who also contributed to the nomination process, said that it is wonderful to see two of our high-achieving alumni notably recognised at a University level.
“These awards not only celebrate the success of Mark and Michael in their respective fields, but acknowledge the role that UQ Business School has played in their career. On behalf of UQ Business School, I would like to congratulate them both on receiving these awards and on their continued success,” he said.
