IT was a night of reconnecting with old friends and refreshing new networks for the alumni of the University of Auckland at the New Zealand High Commissioners Residence in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

With support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Education New Zealand, the University of Auckland hosted an evening reception for about 90 of its Malaysian alumni.

The alumni were honoured to be joined by His Excellency David Pine as well as key staff from the university Faculty of Business dean Professor Greg Whittred and Alumni Relations and Development director Mark Bentley.

More importantly, the alumni and guests at the reception also had the opportunity to meet one of the universitys Distinguished Alumni Award recipients Dr William Tan, who was the nights key guest speaker.

A neuroscientist and accomplished sportsman, who has competed in many international games including the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, the 2007 World Games and the 1990 Commonwealth Games, Dr Tan gained three degrees from the University of Auckland a Master of Philosophy (Medical Science), a Master of Health Science, and a PhD in Paediatrics.

Dr Tan was a Harvard University Fulbright Scholar and an Oxford University Raffles Scholar.

He then became the first person outside of the United States to be offered the prestigious opportunity to train at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.

He is now a resident physician at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore.

During the reception, Dr Tan spoke highly of the Auckland University, commending it for hospitality and providing him with the opportunity to pursue his interest in science and medicine with the best people in the field including Distinguished Professor Sir Peter Gluckman and Professor Bob Elliot.

The desire to know more and to delve into the brain system brought me to the University of Auckland. In my research, I had found that the best place where the best research was happening was at the University of Auckland Medical School. I then won a scholarship from Singapore and was privileged to be accepted in to the university, Dr Tan explained.

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Auckland University alumni meet inspirational Paralympian