02-02-2024
It seems like only yesterday that we gathered in Canberra at Government House to present the 2024 John Monash Scholars to the Governor-General. What an exciting day it was, as anyone who has taken part in previous events would well remember – so much joy, so many formal and impromptu photographs, so much fun.
The 2024 Scholars, Scholar representatives, Foundation Chairman Jillian Segal AO and CEO Paul Ramadge with the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Hon. David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), and Her Excellency Linda Hurley at Government House.
Now, one month on, it’s full steam ahead towards the 2025 selection process, with a series of outreach presentations, the launch of an exciting national program of leadership events, and refinement of the John Monash Leadership Academy to follow.
It’s an honour to be part of such a great organisation.
Paul Ramadge
Chief Executive Officer
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Danielle Malek Roosa (2004 John Monash Scholar) has been selected by the World Bank Group to oversee the bank’s legal portfolios in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Somalia. Danielle will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 2024. As a development specialist, Danielle is excited to live and work in Africa, and to assist the bank in providing innovative products and services that respond to the diverse development challenges in the four East African nations, which contribute significantly to achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Danielle will continue to serve on the General Sir John Monash Board of Directors and to act as Chair of the Scholars Advisory Committee. We wish Danielle and her family all the best in this new phase of her exciting career.
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Dr Johnathon Ehsani (2008 John Monash Scholar), Danielle Malek Roosa and Michael Grebla (2016 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar).
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Stay tuned for announcements soon about the inaugural John Monash Leadership Series, which will feature five leading Australians being interviewed by John Monash Scholars across five cities – Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne – between May and August. Each interview will focus on What I’ve Learnt About Leadership.
“This initiative will elevate the national debate about leadership and give John Monash Scholars an opportunity to help lead high-profile events,” says John Monash Foundation CEO Paul Ramadge. “We are so grateful that five of our leading partner universities are providing venues and that BHP is joining us as a national sponsor.”
Scholars have been invited to submit an expression of interest to be an interviewer.
Dr Brendan Jones assisting with international stem cell conference |
The International Society for Stem Cell Research, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, is hosting the Copenhagen International Symposium aimed at delving into the latest pluripotent stem cell (PSC) derived therapies. Entitled PSC-derived Cell Therapies: Clinical Advances, Nextgen Technologies and the Path to Success, the event will bring together world-renowned scientists and innovators to share updates on ongoing clinical trials.
Dr Brendan Jones (2019 Chairman's Circle John Monash Scholar) is on the organising committee for the event. Brendan is the Global Medical Director in Cell Therapy at Novo Nordisk and is passionate about developing safe regenerative therapies to tackle disease.
The symposium is scheduled to be held in October at The Black Diamond Royal Danish Library in Denmark
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Andrew Hudson (2005 John Monash Scholar).
Indonesian President Joko Widodo was welcomed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on March 5, which included the announcement of a $2billion promise by the Australian Government to establish a finance facility that will help fund green energy infrastructure in South-East Asia.
Andrew Hudson (2005 John Monash Scholar) has been quoted in an article in the Financial Review regarding the funding announcement. Andrew leads the Melbourne-based Centre for Policy Development, which has a presence in Jakarta.
“We’ve seen investment in South-East Asia drop off drastically over the last decade and the big question is how do we encourage the private sector,” says Andrew.
“I think this new facility will help derisk and provide higher return rates – and it really should be focused on Indonesia, the giant of South-East Asia.”
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After the global health inequalities exacerbated by COVID-19, an international draft treaty aimed at bolstering readiness for the next pandemic has entered a final round of negotiations, led by the World Health Organisation’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body.
Dr Alexandra Phelan (2013 Pratt Foundation John Monash Scholar), a global health lawyer and Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has been in Geneva assisting negotiations.
“Negotiations for the Pandemic Agreement continue here in Geneva,” says Alexandra. “Countries are deep in discussions on a mechanism for the sharing of pathogens and sequence data, and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use, such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
"There's a need for a new international legal instrument to capture political momentum to prevent this from happening again and to recognize and rectify gaps that existed even before COVID.”
Alexandra has served on several advisory bodies, including for the World Health Organisation and the US National Academies.
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Dr Ashray Gunjur (2021 Helen and Michael Gannon John Monash Scholar) has been published in the highly prestigious journal Nature Medicine. The work is from Ashray’s PhD, exploring tumour, host and gut microbiome determinants that predict response and side-effects from cancer immunotherapy.
“Definitely the biggest scientific publication of my career (maybe will never top it!),” says Ashray.
“Could not have done it without the support of the John Monash Scholarship!”
Ashray shares some of the insights from his research on the latest episode of The Oncology Podcast.
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During the month of March, Dr Praneel Kumar (2024 John and Anna Belfer Trust John Monash Scholar) has been settling into the Port Moresby General Hospital as an obstetrics doctor.
“This is a very interesting and busy place to work, with over 15,000 deliveries a year,” says Praneel. “We have patients with TB, malaria and HIV regularly in labour and the gynaecology service is also providing services to a significant number of patients.”
As a 2024 Scholar, Praneel has received a formal offer to study the Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, which will commence in July this year. The Master program runs over 12 months in Baltimore.
In the meantime, Praneel will continue working in Port Moresby. His role is part of a volunteering program under the Australian Volunteers International Program.
“All of these activities are a reflection of all the generous support I have received from family, friends, colleagues and mentors over many years.”
Praneel and his family at the 2024 Presentation Ceremony.
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Synthetic biology has changed the way we live: from genetically modified food to insulin production and engineered mosquitos. This is the science that shrinks traditional engineering to the nanometre, tailoring life from inside a cell. |
Zana Greer, a talented mainstay of the Foundation’s management team in Melbourne, is moving on after a successful stint as Executive Assistant and Office Administrator. Staff are ensuring that Zana gets a warm send-off.
Felicity Lewis has joined the Foundation in the new role of Office Assistant. She comes with extensive experience in administration in the private and not-for-profit sectors.
Vanessa Lee joins the Foundation in the new role of Executive Officer on 18 April. Vanessa who will pick up key responsibilities in governance, project management and event management.