Welcome to SUIHAA
Welcome to the Sydney University International House Alumni Association (SUIHAA) website, where you can reconnect with invaluable old friends and associates and relive the vibrancy of the International House community through our alumni programs and activities.
International House has been home to over 5000 students, faculty and families at the University of Sydney since 1967. SUIHAA exists to maintain and foster the understanding and friendships shared by those residents.
My name is Alex Houseman and I am the President of SUIHAA for 2010. I spent two and a half years as a resident of the House while studying a Bachelor of International Studies (Hons). I am from England where my parents, both of whom resided in International House in the late 70s, are currently living.
I put my name forward for the position for two reasons; firstly, I am addicted to the vibrancy of the House’s community. My time spent in the House as a resident provided me opportunities for personal enrichment that I continually cherish and fondly look back upon. By holding this positive impression of the International House community, I can confidently represent the thousands of alumni who I believe also share such fond sentiments. I can uphold and preserve such sentiments and opportunities as President of SUIHAA, giving a little back, for the benefit of current and past residents alike.
Secondly, I believe that alumni, like all other people, are social animals in need and want of the support of a social and professional network. As President of SUIHAA I believe such things can be provided by the International House community in its entirety; International House, IHMA and SUIHAA. As President of SUIHAA I thus seek to mobilise and coordinate the resources available to enact and protect these ideas during my tenure.
These two reasons are indeed broad and generic and yet they have become the SUIHAA committee’s guiding light for 2010, forming the driving force behind the our goals for this year. With these ideas in place I am eager to lead SUIHAA towards being relevant and dynamic to its members in perpetuity.
So far the committee we have been very busy in pursuit of several specific goals we seek to achieve by the end of this year:
Building a Sydney multi-generational Sydney chapter
Look forward to the scheduled launch of the “LiveSYDNEY” program in September. It will indeed seek to be the social and professional network that many young professionals, recent leavers and young alumni who remain in the Sydney ‘metro’ area can gain rich dividends from.
Firstly, many recent leavers of IH will be leaving many friends behind who remain living in IH. The LIVESydney program will endeavour to maintain these connections by allowing LIVESydney members to attend IHMA and International House events on an unprecedented scale.
Furthermore, the LIVESydney program will empower SUIHAA to hold dedicated SUIHAA social events. Economies of scale can be beautiful in allowing SUIHAA to hold events in great venues in a central location.
As we all know Sydney’s job market today can be mercilessly competitive; especially for International Students. Later this year we aim to hold professional networking events for all LiveSYDNEY members.
AMPlify! The Alumni Mentoring Program
AMPlify! will have it’s inaugural Meet n’ Greet event on May the 2nd. Amplify! offers mutual enrichment for alumni mentors and the resident mentees alike. I would like to thank (in advance) Jessica Carroll, Luke Madigan and Josh Lee and the SUIHAA committee for sharing both the enthusiasm and workload required in making this important program come to life. For more information on this event click here.
As it stands, the Bo Children's Hospital Rotary Project in Sierrasupported by SUIHAA has a target of AUD$100,000. The target is very close and we will reach this target this year. Watch this space and look out for our fundraising event held later this year aimed at breaking the $100,000 mark. This is a huge milestone and everyone involved must be congratulated. Primarily Gwen Ng as the Bo Convenor must be honoured for her tireless work in carrying the project forward. Read her report and information on how to donate or volunteer to help make sure you follow the link here.
Finally, and crucially, I am seeking to press forward in advancing the communication and technology of SUIHAA. We launched this SUIHAA’s brand new website recently. On this website you will soon be able to update your details online through the portal.
On a final note, I hope the rest of the year is as productive for you all as it will be for SUIHAA. We look forward to hearing from all of you from all over the world and those who still remain in Sydney.