The Charles Darwin University (CDU) graduations this week will not just be a new experience for hundreds of graduates; it will also be a new experience for the person handing them their degrees.
This is the first graduation for newly minted CDU Chancellor the Honourable Trevor Riley AO.
He will be sharing the stage with graduates, such as Joan Liwanag-Tran, who is finding a new path after graduating with a Master of Professional Accounting and opening her own business.
"I am delighted to share my first graduation ceremony as CDU Chancellor with those who are about to start out in fresh careers and people like Joan who will be continuing forging their own pathways but with fresh, career-enhancing qualifications," Mr Riley said.
"This is a big moment in students' lives and I hope they each take some time to draw breath and reflect upon what they have achieved, culminating in their presence at this week's celebrations.
"It is wonderful to be here to recognise the significance of the moment with them, to share in the excitement of their achievements and to wish them all the best for the future."
Turning the page on her own new chapter, Mrs Liwanag-Tran said opening her own accounting firm wasn't just a dream come true – it was the pay-off for taking a leap of faith.
She celebrated the opening of her first firm – JLT & Associates Pty Ltd – in August, just one month before she was due to cross the stage in cap and gown to receive her degree alongside her peers.
Mrs Liwanag-Tran is one of 1401 graduates receiving their awards from September 16-17, including 100 First Nations students, 563 TAFE students, and 21 PhD recipients.
"I started taking ownership of my accounting career when I started looking at the books and became a director for my husband's business – Darwin Detailing and Tinting – but I knew I wanted to go a step further," she said.
"I began volunteering with CDU's free tax clinic which gave me the confidence and space to work on the skills I would need when running my own company, and from there I opened my own firm and I hope to provide ethical and professional services to the Darwin community."
Darwin Detailing and Tinting was named a finalist at the 2025 NT Local Business Awards for the Automotive Services and Outstanding Business Person of the Year categories.
Having moved from the Philippines to pursue her degree, Mrs Liwanag-Tran's message to her fellow international students was simple.
"Embrace every challenge, celebrate every achievement, and remember that you're not just building a career, but resilience, friendships, and a home away from home," she said.
