Isabel Guterres and ACU's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Greg Craven.

ACU graduate awarded University's highest honour

Fifty-five students recently graduated from the Catholic Teachers College in Baucau, East Timor, completing education degrees in collaboration with Australian Catholic University.

At the ceremony, former ACU graduate Isabel Guterres was awarded the University's highest honour, Doctor of the University, in recognition of her lifetime commitment to justice and service.

Born and raised in East Timor, Isabel was forced to seek refuge in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in the mid 1980s, where she began assisting others who were similarly displaced.

She later qualified and practiced as a nurse in Australia, where she continued to support refugees.

After returning to East Timor in November 1999, Isabel collaborated with local teams to assist in the development of East Timorese nationhood.

In 2002, she was appointed as a National Commissioner to the Commission for Reception Truth and Reconciliation, and in 2006 she was appointed the Secretary General of the Red Cross of Timor-Leste.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said Isabel's presence as an alumnus of ACU was an honour for the University.

"The cause of the poor and the suffering became a life-changing mission for Isabel as she dedicated her energies to assist others," he said. "She has never wavered from this commitment and has given hope to those with whom she has come into contact."