Heinz Harant Award

Nominations are open

Submit your nomination!

Nominations are open: Click here

DEADLINE: Nominations may be submitted at any time during the year. Note though, in order to be considered for the 2023 Nominations, please submit your nomination forms by Friday 14 July 2023.

The Heinz Harant Award is awarded annually to an individual who has shown exemplary volunteering within the Arc @ UNSW community.  

Who Should be Nominated?

  • Any current or former member of Arc who has given service to Arc, or any of its legacy organisations, in various volunteer programs or representative departments over a number of years in a volunteer capacity; or
  • any current or former member of Arc who has given service to Arc or any of its legacy organisations, in one volunteer program or representative department for at least 3 years and who, during those years, has increased their level of responsibility within the program or department. The majority of years of involvement must have been spent in a volunteer capacity.

Nominations may be accepted from:

  • a Student Member of Arc; or
  • an Associate Member of Arc; or
  • an Alumni Member of Arc; or
  • a Staff member of Arc; or
  • a Staff member of UNSW.

Volunteers are the life-blood of Arc and we want to recognise their hard work and dedication. If you know anyone who has gone above and beyond with their volunteer activities (through Arc), you should nominate them for this award. 

Who is this Heinz guy?

Heinz Harant was a WW2 refugee, who was in the fourth graduating engineering class of 1955. During his time at UNSW he was a kickass activist, and started many of the committees and councils on campus, focusing on everything that makes UNSW fair today.

The Heinz Harant Award is a way in which the Arc community can recognise and honour the valuable and exemplary volunteer service of an individual, who has made a significant contribution to student life at UNSW in volunteer services within Arc.

The following Heinz Harant Award recipients are recognised for their significant contribution to the UNSW community and have proven their leadership skills through involvement in student organisation activities - well done to all!

RECIPIENTS
1993 Lara Hintze & Stephen Ford
1994 Selena Griffith & Amanda Hutton
1995  Chad Davis, Mark Pulmano
1996 Anne Taylor, Timothy Collins & Holly Gerard
1997 Matt McManus
1998 Seamus Byrne, Christopher Chuck & Karen James
1999 Giles Hardie & Peter Heery
2000 Pauline Wall, Renee Lim & Richard Pang
2001 David Eyers & Samantha Hickey
2002 Lainie Arnold
2003 Andrew Johnston, Mark Johnstone & Kynan Noesjirwan
2004 Benjamin Robinson
2005 James Yau
2006 Michael Richardson & Jeff Forrest
2007 Steven Legg
2008 Miles Portek
2009 Leigh Dunlop
2010 Chris Moore & Rachel Smith
2011 Meganne Christian
2013 Bridget Poon
2014 Matthew Ward
2015 Christopher Antonini, Michelle Dunn & Eytan Rocheta
2016 Eric Souksai
2018 Twoey Jones

2019 Swahnnya De Almeida

2021 Farhana Laffernis
Swahnnya De Almeida

Swahnnya De Almeida

2019 Award Recipient

The Heinz Harant Award is a way in which the Arc community may recognise and honour the valuable and exemplary volunteer service of individuals, who have made a significant contribution to student life at UNSW in volunteer services.

Swahnnya was actively engaged in a plethora of extracurricular voluntary activities:

  • From 2010 to 2013, Swahnnya was involved in Arc’s Yellow Shirts Orientation Week volunteering program. First as a volunteer, then as an Squad Leader, then as the Marketing and Design Organizing Team member.
  • Guest Trainer at Yellow Shirts camp, 2014
  • Walama Muru Team Leader and Volunteer, 2016
  • Writer/Contributor/Interview for Blitz Magazine and TV.
  • Volunteer podcaster for the POD
  • Volunteer Army, 2011
  • CONTACT, 2011
  • Director, coordinator and participant in many revues
Farhana Laffernis

Farhana Laffernis

2021 Award Recipient

Farhana was responsible for building volunteer culture at Arc from 2010-2014 by inspiring the involvement of others and developing the scope of the programs of which was involved with.

Her volunteer work at Arc is as follows:

- Walama Muru volunteer 2010 - 2011

- Global Village Volunteer 2011

- Walama Muru Volunteer and Coordinator 2012

- O-Week Volunteer 2013

- Volunteer Army Volunteer and Coordinator 2013

- O-Week Organising Team 2014

Her extensive involvement in several volunteer programs made her a household name in the volunteer department. She was a trusted role model whose enthusiasm and personality were a force in inspiring the involvement of others, creating an environment that made volunteering look "cool".

Get In Touch

Director of Student Engagement

James Yau

Deputy Director of Student Engagement

Stephanie Baris

Company Secretary

Joelle Barallon