Author: Richard Morgan

His Excellency Miles Armitage, a distinguished alumnus of St Paul’s College (1982–85) and Senior Student in 1985, has been appointed Australia’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as announced by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs. His posting also covers Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen, reflecting Australia’s strategic engagement across the Gulf region.

Miles holds a BA (Hons) and Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from the University of Sydney, as well as a Diploma of Foreign Affairs and Trade from ANU. A senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he has served as Ambassador to Türkiye (current posting since 2021), Jordan, and Timor-Leste, and as Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. He has held other diplomatic roles representing Australia in the Philippines, Pakistan, and the United Nations in New York.

Australia’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is anchored in trade, education, and people-to-people links, including support for Australian Muslims undertaking Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The country is a G20 partner and a key player in regional diplomacy.

Australia maintains strong ties with Bahrain, particularly in resources, agriculture, and security cooperation. With Oman, collaboration spans Indian Ocean affairs, data connectivity, agribusiness, and education. Since 2015, Australia has also provided over $40 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen, supporting communities affected by conflict.

Minister Wong noted: “Saudi Arabia’s hospitality towards Australian Muslims undertaking Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages and our strong education cooperation demonstrates the ongoing strength of our people-to-people links.”

The St Paul’s College community congratulates Miles and his family as they begin this new chapter in their life of service to Australia.

On 4 July 2025, Bryson Constable (in College 2022–24) concluded his term as President of the University of Sydney Union (USU), marking the end of a remarkable chapter in student leadership.

The St Paul’s College community extends its warmest congratulations to Bryson for his outstanding service and dedication to the University of Sydney student body. His leadership on the USU Board—and most recently as President—has been defined by vision, integrity, and impact.

The USU, Australia’s premier student union, delivers over $35 million in services annually to more than 50,000 members. Under Bryson’s leadership, the organisation achieved several historic milestones. Together with his executive team of Ben Hines, Julia Lim, and James Dwyer, Bryson championed a vision of long-term sustainability and reform. Key achievements during his presidency include:

• Incorporation of the USU — completing a project 35 years in the making
• Launch of the 2025–28 Strategic Plan
• Organisational restructuring to align with strategic goals
• Introduction of the USU’s first-ever:
  • Reconciliation Action Plan
  • Disability Inclusion Action Plan
  • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Strategy
• Campus-wide infrastructure investments to enhance the student experience

Reflecting on his term, Bryson shared:

“It has been an honour to serve and learn in this role alongside some truly remarkable staff ably led by Janina Jancu. I know the organisation is in good stead to move from strength to strength over the coming years, and I wish incoming President Phan Vu well.”

Bryson continues a proud tradition of Paulines contributing to student leadership at the University. We thank him for his service and look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.

Paulines Warwick Holmes, Sam Richards and Gigi O’Rourke have contributed to the University’s success.

Main image: The USYD Rocketry Team celebrates their victory in Texas. Pauline Gigi O’Rourke (front centre) holds the 10k Hybrid Launch trophy.
Image credit: The University of Sydney

The University of Sydney Rocketry Team has soared to global success, defeating more than 150 international teams to win the world’s largest student rocketry competition—with key contributions from members of St Paul’s College.

Their rocket, Pardalote, claimed first place in the 10k Hybrid Launch Vehicle category at the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) in Midland, Texas. The event, held over six days in June in extreme heat and windstorms, drew 156 student teams from 19 countries. Of the launches attempted, 136 were successful.

Pardalote reached an altitude of 10,342 feet (3.15 km)—just 3.42% off the target—setting a new record for apogee accuracy in the competition’s nearly 20-year history.

A Legacy of Mentorship and Innovation

The IREC, run by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), has been held annually since 2006 and gained international status in 2011. Sydney’s success is no accident—it is built on years of leadership and mentorship, particularly from Pauline Warwick Holmes (St Paul’s College 1981–82).

Warwick, former Executive Director of Space Engineering in the School of Aeronautical Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, led Sydney University to world championship wins in 2019 and 2022. He mentored lead engineer Mitch Galletly, a PhD student, and introduced the team to European spacecraft engineering standards—a move that made Sydney University the first Australian university accepted into the competition.

Two of Warwick’s top students from the 2019 team have since secured roles at DLR, the German National Space Agency, thanks to his guidance and international connections.

Warwick taught the team how to use the most advanced Engineering standards (called ECSS) which he used when working with the European Space Agency (ESA) for building the big rockets and satellites. He showed the team how to use these very advanced standards and processes, but scaled down (“tailoring” is the word used) to make the first USyd World Champion Rocket called SilverEye.  “How did all this work so well, because USyd have the most exceptional Engineering students!  Just like Gigi and Austin at St. Paul’s!”, said Warwick last week.

Warwick is also assisting another current Pauline, Austin Marwick, fourth year Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)/Bachelor of Science, who is hoping for an internship with DLR in 2026.

2025 Team: New Faces, Same Spirit

This year, Warwick is taking part in the undergraduate mentoring program at St Paul’s being a mentor to Gigi O’Rourke, a third-year student in Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic)(Space). Gigi is also in her third year at Paul’s and is one of the growing number of interstate residents. Her home is in Leith a small semi-rural locality on the central north coast of Tasmania. Gigi is a member of the 2025 winning rocketry team and she is its project manager. Having a leadership role as a member of the three-person executive she has many responsibilities for the development and operations of the rocketry program.

“Paul’s has given me empowerment to chase after my dreams. Being within the College community has helped shape my pathway with the strong surrounding of engineering students who share so many of their capabilities.”

Gigi O’Rourke

The student-led rocketry team designed, built, tested, and launched Pardalote—including developing the propulsion system and ground infrastructure. Their success was underpinned by a strong team culture and rigorous engineering discipline.

From Tasmania to Texas: Gigi’s Journey of Precision

In 2024 the team conducted extensive testing near Goulburn, followed by a full-scale test flight at Tolarno Station in Menindee, western NSW in April 2025. These trials were critical in validating the hybrid propulsion system and ensuring mission success in Texas.

This testing tradition began in 2017 when Warwick Holmes transformed the USYD Rocketry Team by introducing spacecraft engineering standards and emphasizing the importance of full-scale ground testing. He led early teams to Trangie, where they conducted critical flight component tests, laying the groundwork for the team’s current success.

Warwick praised the 2025 team’s precision: “Knowing exactly when to shut down the engines within milliseconds to coast to 10,000 feet is an extraordinary engineering feat, especially given the variability in air pressure, temperature, humidity, and thrust.”

Gigi told USYD News: “Launching far from the comfort of our own Australian backyard, Pardalote’s performance on American soil not only broke records of accuracy but established a new standard for what an undergraduate team can accomplish.”

Living and Learning at St Paul’s

Gigi credits her time at St Paul’s College for supporting her academic and professional growth:

“Living so close to my faculty, with wholesome meals, a Blacket-designed room charged with history, and a community of high-achieving peers, has made all the difference.”

Sam Richards, in College 2022-24, has been part of the Sydney University Rocketry team since the start of 2024 and is an engineer in the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) subsystem. Sam is completing his honours year in Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic). Sam’s father, Tony is also a Pauline (1981-84) and studied Economics at Sydney, Masters of Public Administration at Harvard and PhD at George Washington University and today works in policy at the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Pictured below: Gigi O’Rourke and Sam Richards stand next to Pardalote during its testing in early 2024 at Menindee.

Learn more about the technical side of the project in the full article on University of Sydney News CLICK HERE

Pictured Chief Justice Andrew Bell, the Warden with the University Mace, and Justice Mark Leeming.

In May, three distinguished Paulines participated in a memorable Graduation Ceremony held in the University of Sydney’s Great Hall, where the Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Bell (St Paul’s College 1985–89, Fellow 2004–11) was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.

Chief Justice Bell, who also serves as Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales, was recognised for his exceptional contributions to the legal profession and public service. Honorary degrees are awarded by the University to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the community or achieved excellence in academic or creative fields.

“His Honour’s career reflects a rare combination of intellectual distinction, professional excellence, and deep commitment to public service,” said Professor Fleur Johns, Dean of Sydney Law School.

Also in attendance were the Warden, Rev’d Dr Ed Loane, who had the honour of serving as University Mace Bearer for the ceremony, and the Honourable Justice Mark Leeming, a Supreme Court Judge and Challis Lecturer in Equity at Sydney Law School.

The presence of these three Paulines at such a significant academic event highlights the enduring impact of the College community on the legal and academic landscape of Australia.

For the Sydney Uni media post CLICK HERE

The College community congratulates Professor Richard Kingsford on becoming an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List. Richard completed his studies at The University of Sydney: BSc in 1980, DipEd in 1980 and a PhD in 1987, and was at St Paul’s 1977-79. He is the Founding Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science (formerly Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscapes Centre), School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, since 2009 at UNSW where since 2005 he has been a professor.

He has worked extensively across the wetlands and rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin and Lake Eyre Basin as a river ecologist and conservation biologist. Previously he worked for the NSW Environment Department from 1986 to 2004. His research has influenced the policy and management of rivers in Australia.

Professor Richard Kingsford AO [picture credit: UNSW]

His AO is awarded for distinguished service to conservation biology, to environmental sustainability research, and to freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems governance. He is a current or former member or chair of three global environmental organisations and over 20 Australian-based organisations, societies and government panels. He has been awarded several national prizes including three Australian Museum Eureka Prizes 2001, 2008, 2023, the Frederick White Prize, Australian Academy of Science, 1994, amongst others. He has edited/co-authored five books and 95 government scientific reports, is a regular commentator in the media and Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society of NSW and the Royal Society of NSW.

---

The College also acknowledges the posthumous appointment of the late Matt Peacock as a Member of the Order of Australia. Matt was in College in 1971. Matt began his career as a cadet journalist at the ABC in 1973. He is most well-known as one of the ABC’s foreign correspondents being a familiar face and voice on national TV and radio news, AM and The World Today. From 2013 to 2018 he was a staff-elected member of the ABC Board.

The late Matt Peacock AM [picture credit: ABC]

His AM is awarded for significant service to the broadcast media as a journalist. He was a Senior Reporter for ABC Current Affairs, London Correspondent, 1999-2003, Chief Political Correspondent (Current Affairs Radio), 1995-1999, New York Correspondent, 1990-1993, Director, Remote Area Media, 1983-1988 and Journalist, 1973-2018. Matt was a Founding Member of ABC Alumni and an Adjunct Professor of Journalism at the University of Technology Sydney. His writing includes Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed, 2009 and Author/Interviewer, The Forgotten People – a History of Australia’s South Sea Islanders, 1979 and Asbestos – work as a health hazard, 1978.

---

The College community congratulates Richard Turner who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to conservation and the environment. Richard was at College 1950-51 and studied BSc on a Commonwealth Forestry Scholarship to the University and a Dip Forestry from ANU in 1955. His career included the Land Use Survey of the Northern Tablelands 1954-56, Management and Administration of the Coffs Harbour Forest 1956-64 and Forester–in-Charge of the Forbes Sub-District of the NSW Forestry Commission 1964-67.  Richard, now 93, has been honoured for his recent work in conservation as volunteer board member since 1992 and president currently of the Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve; four periods as president and held other offices in the Australian Plants Society New South Wales; Founding member of the Capertee Valley Regent Honeyeater Recovery Project, 1993-2023 at Birdlife Australia, and his contribution to the Crown Lands Trust and Apex Macksville.