Alumni & Reunions

When Lucas Lu boarded a flight from Sarawak to Melbourne at just 15 years old, he carried more nerves than luggage. Shy, far from home, and unsure of what lay ahead, he arrived at Luther College as a boarder in 1983. What he didn’t know then was the friendships he formed, the teachers who taught him, and the confidence he built, would stay with him for the rest of his life.

In 2025, forty years after his graduation, Lucas returned to Luther for his reunion. Walking through the grounds, he recalled the memories and realisations of just how much his time at the College had shaped him.

“Arriving at Luther as a boarder was daunting. I was shy, too shy to even take the bus, let alone speak publicly and here I was about to live in a foreign
country,” said Lucas.

Lucas was quick to make friends, getting involved in all that was on offer, but it was three educators in particular he recalls as having the greatest impact.

“Belinda Morgan opened her home to Malaysian boarders on long weekends and became a lifelong friend. Her warmth and care made being away from
home a little less daunting. I’ve been in contact with her regularly over the years and even make a point to touch base when I am in Melbourne,” he said.

House Master Lawrie Frost also a steady presence throughout his boarding journey, together with PE teacher Eric Zadow who introduced Lucas to athletics, swimming, table tennis, and volleyball.

“I became volleyball and table tennis captain, guiding the school to inter-school competition wins, not bad for the shy kid from Malaysia!

“I also had the great pleasure of reconnecting with Eric recently, it was wonderful to see him after 38 years,” he said.

It’s clear that Lucas’s journey to success is not just about passion, determination and resilience but the connections he makes and sustains along the way.

After completing his tertiary studies, Lucas embarked on a career that has taken him around the world and across multiple industries.

He joined Shell in 1991, in its centenary year, working in oil and gas, a prestigious path for a young professional. But while the work mattered, Lucas sensed change ahead pursuing an MBA and conducting a personal SWOT analysis. It was there he made the realisation that technology was on the rise, while oil and gas was facing environmental and economic headwinds.

A call from IBM shifted his trajectory entirely. With no technology background, he was thrown in at the deep end and within six months had closed several major deals and named ASEAN Rookie of the Year. Over ten years at IBM, he became the youngest team leader, the youngest country manager, and the youngest ASEAN General Manager, earning two Global Golden Circle Awards along the way, one of IBM’s highest internal honours.

His formula for success? “There’s no secret, just determination. I don’t let things block me. And I plan. Every day, every week, every year,” he said.

Lucas went on to hold senior roles at Astro, Oracle, and Microsoft, working across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Today he is Head of Zoom Asia, leading the team as the company continues evolving far beyond video conferencing.

Outside the office, Lucas is not someone who does things halfway. Over the years he has summited four of the Seven Summits (Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Elbrus, and Kosciuszko), completed eight full marathons, travelled to nearly 100 countries, and runs four kilometres every day, no matter where in the world he finds himself. He has also attempted two further major peaks, including an Antarctica expedition, embracing both the successes and the setbacks equally.

“You can’t eliminate all risk, but you can prepare, plan, and build resilience. That’s true in mountains and in business,” he laughed.

Lucas met his wife while they were both studying in Melbourne. Their three children have followed their own global paths, with the family’s ties to Melbourne
and the University of Melbourne remaining strong. His twin daughters starting as Senior Doctors this year at the Royal Melbourne Hospital while his son studied in the UK, worked in Melbourne and now Singapore.

Lucas offers this advice to our students:

• Dream big but do the work.
• Plan your path, then keep adjusting.
• Stretch yourself, because you are capable of more than you think.
• Value the people around you. They might be in your life forever.
• Optimise your time and make the most of every 24 hours.

And above all. Try. Fail. Try again. A successful life isn’t about titles, it’s about the people who think you made a difference.