2023: UVic alumni in the news

December 20, 2023

This year, our alumni were moving, shaking and generally making a difference in the world, whether through art, public service or innovation in business. Here are just seven of our grads who were in the news.

Nathan Fielder

UVic Business grad Nathan Fielder makes us all uncomfortable with his ground-breaking new drama series, The Curse, starring Fielder, Emma Stone and Benny Safdie.

Fielder was also named one of TIME Magazine's most influential people of 2023. 

Stewart Butterfield

Superstar entrepreneur and UVic Philosophy alumnus Stewart Butterfield, who founded Slack, talked with Inc. Magazine at the beginning of the year. Learn how the Slack team-messaging system and Flickr photo-sharing platform were lifted from the cooling embers of multiplayer online game ventures. Butterfield also muses on his formative time at UVic. 

Jody Wilson-Raybould

UVic Political Science graduate, lawyer and former politician Jody Wilson-Raybould (Puglaas) stayed in the public eye this year speaking about her latest book, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change. Hear her on CBC radio.

Mark Chao

Leading man Mark Chao, BCom '07, starred as a cardiologist in the new Mandarin-language drama The Heart, which earned him a nomination at the Macau International TV Festival.

Patty Hajdu

Federal politician The Honourable Patty Hajdu, who holds a Master of Public Administration from UVic, continued in her high-profile role as Minister of Indigenous Services. 

Esi Edugyan

Writing alum and literary superstar Esi Edugyan published her first children's book and also chaired the judging of the 2023 Booker Prize. 

Andrew Petter

UVic law grad and former Simon Fraser University president Andrew Petter published several articles of commentary over the year, including on the Supreme Court and the resource industry.

Petter also received a UVic honorary degree at fall convocation.