New UWA Fogarty Scholars for 2018
Ten of the State’s highest-achieving students have accepted UWA Fogarty Scholarships to study at The University of Western Australia.
This year’s scholarship winners are Amber Anderson, of Bramley (Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School); Katherine Dumas, of Mt Pleasant (Perth Modern School); Elodie Hayward, of Nedlands (St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls); Lydia Hill Almeida, of Wembley (Perth Modern School); Leyton Hilmer, of South Perth (Wesley College); Emily Roberts, of Balcatta (Mercedes College); Michaela Savage, of Trigg (St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School); Caitlin Staer, of West Beach (Esperance Senior High School); Luke Thomas, of Huntingdale (St George’s Anglican Grammar School); and Nicholas Ellison, of Claremont (Trinity College).
Fogarty Foundation Executive Chair Annie Fogarty, UWA Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater and UWA Fogarty Scholars past and present welcomed the 2018 scholarship winners at a breakfast this morning.
The UWA Fogarty Scholarships offer the State’s brightest and most committed students a generous scholarship for the entirety of their undergraduate degree, including honours, and a further contribution towards postgraduate studies.
Recipients are selected based on academic excellence and outstanding achievements in at least three of four categories (leadership, community involvement, the arts and sport).
Professor Freshwater said the UWA Fogarty Scholarships were some of the most significant scholarships offered in Australia.
“The winners are academic high achievers with the desire, motivation and ability to make a positive difference in our community,” she said.
“As well as financial assistance, the scholarship program includes leadership development opportunities and academic mentoring.”
Successful initiatives by past Fogarty Scholars include Bloom Lab, founded by Mark Shelton and Bharath Iyer to encourage, mentor and help budding young entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground; WASTV, founded by Michael Taran and Binu Jayawardena to empower social change through a volunteer-run media network; and Ignite, founded by Sasha Quahe and her sister Ilona in 2011 to provide tutoring and mentoring to students from low socio-economic areas to help them reach their potential.
Dr Fogarty said the UWA Fogarty Scholarship program aimed to build a stronger community by investing in exceptional young people.
“We need leaders who will positively transform our community,” Dr Fogarty said. “By creating these opportunities, they are gaining knowledge and experience and the belief that they have the ability and skills to take the lead and make change happen.”
In August 2017, we hosted the Leader Series Breakfast. Over 150 people came together at the University Club, UWA. This represented UWA Fogarty Scholars, Business and community leaders and UWA leaders. An expert panel explored…how we can create a growing community in WA. Check out what happened…
As part of the Leader Series Program, our annual breakfast sparked some thoughtful debate on what the future of WA will look like and how we can each take a part in creating a growing community in WA. Esteemed guests took part in the event including the Honourable Sue Ellery MLC, Minister for Education and Training; Professor Dawn Freshwater, Vice Chancellor, UWA, the incoming UWA Chancellor, the Honourable Robert French, US Consul General, Rachel Cooke; and Janet Holmes á Court – UWA Fogarty Scholar Patron.
The discussion was led by an expert panel:
- Professor Peter Klinken – WA Chief Scientist
- Mr Naveen Unni – Partner, McKinsey, Perth
- Mr Mark Shelton – UWA Fogarty Scholar, John Monash Scholarship recipient, co-founder Bloom Labs
The moderator for the event was Elena Douglas, CEO Knowledge Society.
Upskilling our workforce and creating a pipeline of technology savvy workers, ready to take on the changing world of work was a common theme expressed on the day, as well as acknowledging the importance of keeping our best and brightest in WA. They all identified the changing workplace as an opportunity for growth.
Professor Peter Klinken said “data is the gold of the future.” It is how we use it, that will become crucial. Naveen Unni stated the “technology is no longer a choice” and that organisations and individuals will have to demonstrate agility to make the most of these new opportunities. Mark Shelton concurred and saw that WA had an “opportunity to be the creators of tech, not the victim.”
Creating a pipeline of educated passionate workers, well prepared to take on new ways of working, retaining talent in WA, and creating tech opportunities to move WA forward were strong messages from the forum. Harnessing new skills and an entrepreneurial spirit was considered essential to create a growing community in WA. An entrepreneurial mindset can move our state forward, and as Mark Shelton described this: “To be an entrepreneur is to be thrown in the deep end and to learn as you go.”