Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw graduated from the Ballarat College of Advanced Education in 1975 as a master brewer with a graduate diploma in malting in brewing. 

She is now chairman and managing director of India’s largest biopharmaceutical enterprise Biocon, was listed in Times Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world and was listed as the 92nd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes in 2014. 

Mazumdar Drive will be the inaugural name for the new road on the southern side of the university’s new science and engineering building at Mt Helen. 

Ms Mazumdar-Shaw arrived to an applause as she drove up Mazumdar Drive with the university chancellor, before a town crier sounded his bell and invited her to cut the ribbon and open the road. 

“This is wonderful. It almost feels like I’m getting an Oscar. It’s wonderful to be back here, especially as I have so many wonderful memories of my time in Ballarat,” she said.

“I owe a lot to this university. It was a great starting point for my life, and gave me great self-assurance and purpose in what I was doing.” 

She took the oppor-

tunity to offer two scholar-

ships to help fund Indian international students like herself to study biomedical science and biotechnology at the university.

This came as the university council approved the renaming of a group of roads and walkways to honour students who had made a significant contribution to the university. 

Ms Mazumdar-Shaw was the only woman in her Ballarat course and graduated top of her class. 

“I had a lot of confidence when I left, but the brewing world was gender-biased and didn’t want to let women in – a lot of doors were slammed on me,” she said. 

“I then started with Biotech – which I’ve never regretted – so those doors closing gave me other possibilities.” 

Federation University vice-chancellor David Battersby said the university was humbled by Ms Mazumdar-Shaw’s  scholarship offering.

“Our motto here is dare to be different – your experience and story pays great homage to our motto,” he said.

nicole.cairns@fairfaxmedia.com.au