Young Alumni
Charles Sturt University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year – Young Alumni
This award recognises extraordinary achievements of our new graduates. Nominees must be under the age of 35.
Winner
Winner: Aimee Snowden
Career: 2023 Nuffield Scholar / Agriculture Educator / Creator
Course: Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management
Ms Aimee Snowden is widely known as ‘The LEGO Farmer’ for her work as creator of her Agricultural business Little Brick Pastoral. Aimee grew up in Southern Riverina of NSW on her family’s farm and has worked in the Agricultural space professionally since 2011.
Aimee has been nominated and awarded many accolades in her young career and recognised professionally for her passionate and innovative approach to agricultural education on a global scale. She was selected to represent Australia at the Global 2015 Youth Ag-Summit, was a Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Rural Achiever at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and a finalist in the NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards. Aimee has been recognised as a ‘2030 Emerging Leader’ by the NFF, named an ABC Heywire Trailblazer, and in 2023, she was awarded the Nuffield Scholarship which will allow her to continue to contribute to research and global travel in the agriculture sector. She will be attending the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) World Food Forum in late this year.
Highly Commended
Winner: Dr Tristan Robinson
Career: Director, Senior Veterinarian, Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital
Course: Bachelor of Veterinary Biology / Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Dr Robinson is a senior veterinarian and director of the Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital. He has dedicated his career to the well-being of animals and has made significant contributions to the veterinary community. As a director at Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital, he has played a crucial role in its success, managing rural practice, teaching final year students, and overseeing business operations.
His passion for animal welfare was nurtured during his time at Charles Sturt. Dr Robinson's experiences include participating in an equine externship in Dubai, which provided him with a global perspective on veterinary challenges and instilled in him a deep appreciation for diversity and adaptability in animal care. He maintains a strong connection with Charles Sturt as a donor to the Charles Sturt Foundation Trust and Life Member of the CSU Bushpigs AFL Club.
Winner: Evangeline (Evie) Jay
Career: Southern NSW Territory Manager, Hygain Feeds
Course: Bachelor of Equine Science (with specialisation)
Ms Evie Jay is the Southern NSW Territory Manager for Hygain Feeds. This was a highly competitive position which she secured after proving herself in the equine industry.
After graduating Evie started work as a full-time stud hand at Twin Hills Thoroughbred stud. In 2021 Evie started her role as program facilitator for the Wagga Riding for the Disabled Centre (RDA). Whilst working full time at the RDA Evie gained the necessary requirements to become coach before becoming the coach coordinator in 2023. Whilst working at RDA Evie completed a Certificate IV in Business. As her working career encompassed many different types of horses, Evie’s passion for tailoring equine nutrition expanded. Evie started stocking and marketing nutritional feeds and supplements, expanding her equine nutrition knowledge base. In 2023 Evie was appointed the position of Hygain Territory Manager for Southern NSW.
Evie has demonstrated how small scientifically informed, evidence-based changes in practice can result in meaningful, sustained improvements.
