Postgraduate awards in the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies
The Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies is home to some exceptional postgraduate talent – and these graduates are among the best of the best this year. Whether they're advancing new knowledge or redefining what's possible in their practice, each of the graduates below has demonstrated what it really means to go beyond.
Doctoral Award 2025
School of Art and Design
Emily Parr
Dr Emily Parr’s doctoral research makes an exceptional contribution to museums, Indigenous collections, and moving‑image practice through digitally ‘housing’ taonga and measina from the Kronfeld Collection to imagine decolonial museum ecologies. Responding to a collection assembled by her Jewish and Samoan ancestors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Emily’s work brings together Indigenous thought, moving image, archival research and advanced digital imaging technologies. Her thesis presents six immersive moving‑image “cosmospheres” that render 3D scanned treasures within their waters and lands of origin. Examiners described the work as a “virtuoso thesis”, praising its intellectual rigour, poetic writing and spiritually profound contribution to Moana Futurism and critical museum practice.
School of Communication Studies
Dr Mark Rasquinha
Dr Mark Rasquinha’s doctoral research makes an exceptional contribution to communication studies and the global field of public relations. His thesis is the first video ethnographic study of political public relations practitioners in India, offering rare insight into the multilingual, high‑pressure environments in which political communication takes place. His work examines how organisational culture and power shape everyday practice, ethical decision‑making, and mediation between political elites and the public. Mark’s research is recognised for its methodological innovation, theoretical depth and decolonial perspective, and was acknowledged internationally with the ICA 2025 James E. Grunig and Larissa A. Grunig Outstanding Dissertation Award.
School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences:
Engineering
Dr Hassan Liaqat
Dr Hassan Liaqat’s doctoral research investigates the use of non‑invasive focused ultrasound as a selective therapy for skin cancer. His work synthesises complex biophysical principles with emerging oncological applications, providing new insight into how focused ultrasound can disrupt tumour biology while minimising harm to surrounding tissue. His thesis was recognised for its scientific rigour, depth of understanding and potential clinical impact. Hassan completed an outstanding PhD in a significantly shorter timeframe than typical, has continued his work as a postdoctoral researcher and is a key contributor to ongoing research in non‑invasive skin cancer therapy.
School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences:
Mathematical sciences
Dr Lisa Gossage
Dr Lisa Gossage’s doctoral research applies advanced network analysis methods to better understand the complex relationships between depressive symptoms, suicidality, risk factors and inflammation among Pacific young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Funded through an AUT cross‑faculty Marsden grant, her PhD brought together computational statistics, mental health research and Pacific health data. Her thesis is recognised for its methodological innovation, including the use of mixed graphical models, robust bootstrapping techniques and rigorous parameter estimation. Her findings suggest potential targets for clinical intervention and prevention strategies, contributing valuable insight to a group disproportionately affected by depression.
School of Future Environments:
Built environment
Dr Seyed Ehsan Aghakouchaki Hosseini
Seyed Ehsan Aghakouchaki Hosseini made a significant contribution to research on the seismic control of fluid storage tanks using advanced magnetorheological damping systems. His doctoral work formed part of a major multidisciplinary project funded by the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) Toka Tū Ake, aimed at reducing earthquake‑induced damage to critical infrastructure. His research integrated mathematics, physics, structural engineering, control systems and signal processing, demonstrating outstanding technical breadth and depth. His thesis resulted in an exceptional examination outcome with no required amendments, a strong international publication record, and national recognition for its relevance and impact.
Te Ipukarea
Dr Nogiata Tukimata
Dr Nogiata Tukimata is the first in her family to complete a PhD. Her research examines receptive bilingualism in Vagahau Niue, drawing on lived experiences of first‑generation New Zealand‑born Niue living in Aotearoa. Examiners noted that her study is the first of its kind for receptive bilingualism not only in Vagahau Niue, but across Pacific languages in Aotearoa New Zealand. Described as pioneering, her thesis demonstrates exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge and makes a significant contribution to language maintenance and revitalisation. She is recognised as an emerging researcher and future leader in her field.
Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Study 2025
School of Art and Design
- Gabrielle Siobhan Gavin – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
- Hannah Lee Turner – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
- Jordan Lee Tane – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
- Kexin Shan – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
- Madalena Sonia Leute Refiti – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
- Piraya Ruengsakoon – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
- Reza Mohammad Yari – Master of Philosophy with Honours (First Class)
- Truong Le Thy Nguyen – Master of Design with Honours (First Class)
School of Communication Studies
- Arielle Keil Abrau – Master of Communication Studies with Honours (First Class)
- Joanna Helen Page – Master of Philosophy with Honours (First Class)
- Xin Ee Beh – Master of Communication Studies with Honours (First Class)
School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences
- Appoo Nallooran – Master of Engineering with Honours (First Class)
- Boyuan Qian – Master of Philosophy with Honours (First Class)
- Brinnel Dsouza – Master of Engineering with Honours (First Class)
- Chao Liang – Master of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics with Honours (First Class)
- Jing Wang – Master of Computer and Information Sciences with Honours (First Class)
- Jong Kwan Oh – Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class)
- PeijunTang – Master of Information Technology Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Piyumika Sewwandi Ahangama Vithanage – Master of Information Technology Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Qingxin Li – Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class)
- Serene Chua – Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class)
- Shanaka Dilshan Delgoda Liyanage – Master of Engineering with Honours (First Class)
- Sreya Soman Pillai – Master of Engineering with Honours (First Class)
- Viet Ha Truong – Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class)
- Wenyang Lyu – Master of Engineering with Honours (First Class)
- Xi Chen – Master of Engineering with Honours (First Class)
- Xue Hu – Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class)
- Yuchun Wang – Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class)
School of Future Environments
- Adeoluwa Olorunfemi Komolafe – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Afsaneh Alinasab – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Aiswarya Anjiparambil Sunil – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Anjulakshmi Viswakumar – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Anne Dilshani Perera Goonetileke Mahadurage – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Ganu Vidhu – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Gayathri Das Letha – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Gopika Marottiparambil Muraleedharan – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Hicham Assime – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Iyan Nurdiansyah – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- James Olorunfemi Tope Obamila – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Janani Chandima Jayawardana Warnasuriya Arachchilage – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Jiayi Pei – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Joseph Neil Chaminda Ratnasekera – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Juby Kuriakose – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Kay Thi Maung – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Lathika Sameera Walpola Mudalige Don – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Marwa Saad – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Muhandiramge Pawani Madushika Ranasinghe – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Natalie Victoria Sowerby – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Navya Madathiparambil Ramankutty – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Nisrat Jahan Nishi – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Rajib Kumar Barua – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Rodel Gurnot Casem – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Roshan Thomas – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Sana Iqbal Sarguroh – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Sarabpreet Singh – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Sharon Sunny – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Shayan Akhter – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Swam Paing Htet – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Tushar Sharma – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Willie Theron – Master of Construction Management with Honours (First Class)
- Yonghwan Lee – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
- Zwe Wint Naung – Master of Engineering Project Management with Honours (First Class)
Te Ipukarea
- Joanna Maree Rogers – Master of Philosophy with Honours (First Class)
- Susan Dawn Moselen – Master of Philosophy with Honours (First Class)
About the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies
Home to architecture and built environment, art and design, communication studies, creative technologies, and engineering, computer and mathematical sciences, AUT’s Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies – Te Ara Auaha is where transdisciplinary thinking happens.