Burgmann College and indigo foundation are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025 Equality Prizes, celebrating two remarkable alumni whose work continues to expand the horizons of justice, dignity and human possibility in Australia and the world.
This year’s honourees—Dr Graham Thom (1987–1989), recipient of the Equality Prize, and Clara Conheady (2019–2021), recipient of the Emerging Leader Equality Prize—represent two generations of Burgmann alumni whose leadership is reshaping conversations about human rights and gender equality.
Burgmann College and indigo foundation congratulate Dr Graham Thom and Clara Conheady on their outstanding contributions and their selection as the 2025 Equality Prize recipients.
Dr Graham Thom, 2025 Equality Prize recipient
By Dr Graham Thom (1987–1989)
I am currently working for the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) as the Advocacy Coordinator. This enables me to support the expert policy team here at RCOA, highlighting specific issues of concern with government, UN agencies and the media. My role includes both policy analysis, advocacy and research. I am fortunate to be able to work directly with, and support, individuals and communities facing persecution, bringing their plight to those who can resolve their situation, ultimately aiming to bring about positive outcomes.
My role has enabled me to visit refugee populations, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region, most recently the Rohingya refugee camp of over a million refugees in Bangladesh. Engaging advocates such as former Socceroo Craig Foster and community leader Noor Azizah, we were then able to take the plight of those in the camp directly to the UN in Geneva and to relevant Ministers and departments in Australia.
Ultimately my role is to work towards human rights outcomes for refugees and those seeking asylum in Australia.
It is a fantastic honour to receive the Equality Prize, not just in recognition of my work but more importantly on behalf of those who are in need of protection and are increasingly demonised simply for seeking safety. This prize signals that not only are these issues important but the people I work with, who are impacted by often harsh government policies, genuinely matter.
Even if only a handful of people learn a little bit more about refugees, or reach out to organisations who support them, then receiving this prize has helped make a real difference in people’s lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Burgmann and found there a vibrant community in which those interested in social justice issues could engage in an environment that was respectful, but where ideas could also be challenged. I truly valued the ability to interact with people not just from around Australia but around the world. The range of activities on offer, alongside highly motivated and interesting people, was genuinely inspiring.
Clara Conheady, 2025 Emerging Leader Equality Prize recipient
This year’s Emerging Leader Equality Prize recognises Clara Conheady (2019–2021), a young advocate whose energy, clarity of purpose and commitment to equity are already shaping conversations in Australia about gender, bodily autonomy and inclusion.
During her time at ANU, Clara’s academic work examined the structural inequalities that shape women’s and gender-diverse people’s experiences in elite sport. Her essay, Unearthing the Complexities of Sex Testing Elite Female Athletes, published in the 2020 Burgmann Journal, explored the ways in which policies around sex verification can reinforce sexism, cis-sexism and racism, calling for a more humane, evidence-based approach to supporting athletes whose bodies do not fit narrow regulatory assumptions.
In 2025, Clara launched Blood Rule, a menstrual-equity initiative for women and gender-diverse Australian Rules Football players. Supported by a Global Impact micro-grant, Blood Rule partners with community clubs to build understanding, resources and inclusive practices around menstrual health—an area long overlooked in mainstream sporting environments. Her work positions menstrual equity as a core component of athlete safety, participation and dignity.
Her leadership extends into governance and global engagement: she is a Board Trainee with YWCA Australia, a member of the Global Shapers Melbourne Hub, and a 2024 delegate of the Australian-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program. Across all these roles, Clara brings a thoughtful, intersectional lens shaped by her early advocacy as a Gender and Sexuality Education Advocate at Burgmann College.
