Old Boy Graham Jones (1955) began his career as a high school mathematics teacher at Cavendish Road State High, holding the roles of Head of Mathematics, and Deputy-Principal. He was awarded a Fulbright Teacher Exchange Fellowship to the United States in 1966-67 and was later Dean of Education and Campus Principal at the Brisbane College of Advanced Education (BCAE). He was Founding Director and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Gold Coast CAE and Griffith University, where the Information Centre is named in his honour.

From 1991, Graham devoted the next 10 years of his life to the pursuit of mathematics education research as a Full Professor at Illinois State University. He received its Outstanding Researcher Award for the College of Arts and Sciences in 2001 and has published over 120 articles in research journals and authored 15 books.

After returning to Australia in 2002, Graham devoted himself to significant community service through Rotary. He became President of the Southport Club (2007-2008), District Governor (2011-12), and later a National Trainer for other District Governors. He has been recognised at the highest levels by Rotary International and is one of only a few Australians to receive the Distinguished Service Award. Graham also helped deliver funding for the Queensland Brain Institute (University of Queensland) to provide Rotary Foundation Scholarships for international students to undertake research into Parkinson’s Disease.

In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Graham was recognised for significant service to the mathematics education as an academic and leader in the profession, and to the community.

In 2016, Graham formed the Malaria Vaccine Project Committee at Griffith University, serving as its Chair for six years. This partnership between Rotary and the University provided financial support for a novel malaria vaccine being developed at the Institute for Glycomics. To date more than $2M has been raised and clinical trials have commenced.

For his remarkable contribution to the history and development of Queensland and Griffith University as an academic, an internationally acclaimed mathematics educator, and a community champion, in December 2023 at the Griffith University graduation for Science and Engineering, Graham was conferred Doctor of the University (Honoris Causa) by Deputy Chancellor Rebecca Frizelle.

Congratulations Graham on your distinguished career!