Georgie Burgess
5 December 2025: From swimming success to rugby union glory – the University of Canberra has acknowledged the success of five alumni in the most recent round of inductions to the Sport Walk of Fame.
Launched in 2022 the Sport Walk of Fame recognised 22 alumni for their sporting achievements, a further four more were inducted in 2023. The 2025 cohort brings the total number of inductees to 31.
UC Director of Sport Ms Carrie Graf AM reflected on the strength, diversity and abilities of the University’s alumni when welcoming the new additions to the Sport Walk of Fame.
“It’s always challenging for us to select the inductees for each cohort because we have such a massive depth of talent to choose from.
“This year we’ve got a sport scientist, a Paralympian, an umpire, a former Wallaby and ACT Brumby, as well as a sports lawyer. So, it just really highlights the breadth of who makes up our UC community.”
Included in 2025’s inductees is former Brumby and Wallaby star, Ben Alexander (Bachelor of Sports Media) for whom the journey to becoming an alumni was a long but worthwhile one and has now been recognised for his contributions both to rugby union, as well as co-founding Running 4 Resilience, which operates three times a week on campus.
Paralympian swimmer Peter Leek OAM (Bachelor of Applied Economics) who once said to UC News that receiving his University of Canberra degree was among his greatest achievements, has also been acknowledged for his sport achievements, which include winning three gold medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games.
The Sport Walk of Fame can be found on one of the main campus corridors – the pedestrian bridge connecting the centre of the University to the Sport Hub.
The plaques mounted on the pillars across the walkway serve to inspire all those making use of the walkway every day.
“It allows people the chance to see not just the critical impact our alumni have had on the sporting industry, but also the degrees they have studied,” Ms Graf said.
“To have a Paralympian with an economics degree I think just speaks to the vast variety of what you can study here at UC, as well as the areas of sport you can work or compete in.”
Off the sporting field inductee, Bronwyn Fagan (Bachelor of Laws), a dedicated sports administrator and lawyer who has served as an ACT Olympic Council Delegate and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Lawyer, has been recognised.
She joins Stacey Campton OAM (Bachelor of Arts in Sports Studies and Bachelor of Education), a celebrated netball umpire whose achievements include umpiring the 2006 Commonwealth Games and receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to netball, and to the Indigenous community.
Senior lecturer in biomechanics, Associate Professor Dr Mark Sayers (Bachelor of Applied Science in Sports Studies and Master of Applied Science in Sport Studies) was recognised for his work with the New Zealand All Blacks and in advancing the science of biomechanics.
Ms Graf said it was important for the University to highlight the alumni who have achieved greatness in the sporting world.
“We didn’t want to create a typical Sport Walk of Fame, which would traditionally focus on athletes – we want to recognise our alumni who have also had an impact on sport science, research, journalism, coaching and umpiring.
“Because that’s the beauty of the degrees at UC: you can study something that sets you up for a working life in sport, even if you’re not an athlete,” she said.
The Sport Walk of Fame was established to align with the University’s Sport Strategy.
