15-12-2023
As this is our final Monash Minds for 2023, we wish all our supporters, friends and Scholars a safe and relaxing end-of-year break. The year has been momentous in many ways, as highlighted in the following selection of updates.
Paul Ramadge
Chief Executive Officer
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Last weekend, Michael Grebla (2016 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar) hosted a live preview performance of his four string quartets, ‘Music for Transitions.’ Michael composed these works between 2018 and 2023, and those years have, in his own words, ‘been underscored by a necessity to adapt and accept change as a part of reality and a part of what makes us, us!’ At their core, then, each quartet is a work that speaks to moments of change. For Michael, the process of bringing these pieces to fruition has been a musical way to navigate through the big transitions of the past five years.
The works were performed by the Penny Quartet (Amy Brockman Violin I, Madeline Jevons Violin II, Anthony Chattaway Viola, Jack Ward Cello) whose lush sounds and fine musicianship made for a beautiful evening of music; the performance was a timely reminder of the importance of live music as a means to soothe and enrich our community. This quartet has also just recorded Michael’s first full album which will be available for streaming from next year.
Sincere thanks go to Ryan Carters (2018 Roth/Segal John Monash Harvard Scholar) for his generous support of this event.
A small group of guests, including Anna Bailey and Paul Ramadge from the Foundation, were invited to enjoy a special preview of Michael Grebla’s latest work.
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Doctoral student Darcy Dunn-Lawless (2022 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar) has led groundbreaking research within the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering. Darcy and the team of researchers are exploring the potential of a vaccine delivery system that uses ultrasound waves to deliver vaccines more effectively through the skin.
‘Our method relies on an acoustic effect called ‘cavitation,’ which is the formation and popping of bubbles in response to a sound wave,’ Darcy said. ‘We aim to harness the concentrated bursts of mechanical energy produced by these bubble collapses in three main ways. First, to clear passages through the outer layer of dead skin cells and allow vaccine molecules to pass through. Second, to act as a pump that drives the drug molecules into these passages. Lastly, to open up the membranes surrounding the cells themselves, since some types of vaccine must get inside a cell to function.’
Darcy Dunn-Lawless at the Flinders University Medical Device Research Institute.
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The cover design for Alies Sluiter’s award-winning short film, Myth.
Alies Sluiter (2015 Australian Cultural (Tim Fairfax AC and Australia Council of the Arts) John Monash Scholar) won the award for Best Direction in a Short Film’ with her work Myth at the latest Australian Directors’ Guild award night. The event was held at the Grand Electric in Sydney on December 5.
A total of 329 entries across 20 categories were scrutinised by 74 judges, among them some of Australia’s most celebrated directors.
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Global Symposium
The John Monash Foundation held its fifth Global Symposium in Sydney on December 11 and 12. The event attracted more than 100 Scholars, representing 40% of the entire Scholar population and featuring at least two members from each annual cohort.
Guests gathered at St John’s College in the University of Sydney, sharing an array of interactive and powerful content to both motivate and inspire their peers. The program featured three panels that included a reflection on the experiences of First Nations people in Australia, the latest innovations in healthcare, and the opportunities and challenges within entrepreneurship. In addition, there were 12 Scholar stand-up presentations which ranged across a variety of compelling topics, including the fight against malaria, the latest developments in controlling the Vagus Nerve, and Australia’s role in geo-politics.
Prominent guests from the Sydney leadership community delivered insightful keynote speeches. An opening address from Jillian Broadbent AC, Allegra Spender MP and Jillian Segal AO explored the topic of leadership with an intergenerational lens. Later in the day, the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beasley AC KC, and Mr Wilson welcomed guests as they arrived at NSW Government House, reflecting on the legacy of General Sir John Monash and the continuous influence he provides today. University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mark Scott AO, delivered the closing speech, emphasising the importance of non-siloed problem solving as a means of overcoming today’s most complex challenges.
The symposium was an outstanding success, strengthening the Scholar and Foundation community, spurring collaborations, and laying the foundations for an impactful Leadership Academy network.
Scholars who are University of Sydney alumni gather with keynote speaker Professor Mark Scott AO, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney.
Scholars attending a tour of the Sydney Opera House on Sunday the 10th of December, led by Dr Matthew Lennon (2020 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar).
Scholars collaborate during one of the symposium’s interactive workshops, led by Dr. Isabel Hanson (2022 BHP John Monash Scholar) and Maja Arsic (2017 BHP John Monash Scholar).
Brisbane Dinner
Friends, supporters, Scholar alumni and members of the Queensland Department of Education came together on the 29th of November to celebrate the Foundation’s 20th year of awarding scholarships, plus the inaugural Queensland Government John Monash Scholarship. The event was generously hosted by KPMG and held in their beautiful Brisbane headquarters.
Famin Ahmed (2024 Queensland Government John Monash Scholar) provided an address for the evening, sharing the highlights and challenges of her career journey to date. Famin is a lawyer dedicated to fighting against domestic violence in Australia, both through her pro bono work with MinterEllison, and in her fundraising efforts for Women's Legal Service Queensland.
Paul Ramadge, Famin Ahmed and Michael Hiller from KPMG Australia at the Brisbane dinner.
Oration
The General Sir John Monash Foundation held its 12th Annual John Monash Oration, hosted by the Commonwealth Bank in Sydney on the 23rd of November. This year, the topic of the evening was: ‘Transparency and accountability - the essential elements of good leadership’.
Speakers for the evening were the Hon. Mark Dreyfus KC, Australian Attorney-General, followed by a response from Dr Danielle Roosa (2004 John Monash Scholar), Senior Legal Counsel at the World Bank.
As the Foundation celebrates twenty years of awarding scholarships, we also celebrate twenty years of a partnership with the Commonwealth Bank, which has shared our mission to support Australia's future leaders.
Andrew Hinchliff, Group Executive of Institutional Banking and Markets Commonwealth Bank, Dr Danielle Roosa and the Hon. Mark Dreyfus KC speaking at the 2023 John Monash Oration.
Goodbye and thank you to Alex!
The John Monash Foundation’s Executive Director, John Monash Foundation Leadership Academy, Alexandra Adams (Coelli), has moved on from the Foundation after a terrific six years of support.
Alex began her journey at the Foundation in 2018, moving into the role of Scholarships Manager, Director, Scholarships and Alumni, and finally heading the Foundation’s newly created Leadership Academy.
Her role has seen her work closely with a large number of Scholars and supporters, co-ordinating several large-scale events, supporting extensive Scholarship selection processes, and playing a pivotal role in fostering community networks. Her diligence, hard work, compassion, and attentiveness have meant she has been an invaluable team member and a trusted point of contact.
Her presence within the team will be enormously missed by many, and the Foundation wishes her all the best in her future endeavours!
Alex joins Scholars at our Government House Reception last week, as part of the 2023 Global Scholars’ Symposium. From left: Hugh Utting (2019 Ian Potter Foundation John Monash Scholar), Alex Adams, Dr. Isabel Hanson (2022 BHP John Monash Scholar), Dr. Brett Shannon (2021 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar), Ahmad Shah Idil (2018 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar), Dan Yore (2021 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar) and Dr. Prashanti Manchikanti (2020 Helen and Michael Gannon John Monash Scholar).
PODCAST: Solving the Energy Equation
In this episode, we spoke to mathematical modelling visionary Alexander Makarowsky (2019 Commonwealth Bank John Monash Scholar) about solving the energy equation. Currently working at Energy Exemplar and tackling power system challenges, Alexander is driven to use mathematics as a tool for addressing the complex challenges in Australia’s sustainable energy transition.