General Sir John Monash Foundation partners with Rio Tinto in-perpetuity
Left to right: Adam Lees, Chief Advisor Indigenous Affairs, Rio Tinto; Annemarie Rolls, CEO General Sir John Monash Foundation; Kellie Parker, Australian CEO Rio Tinto; Dr Arjuna Dibley, 2016 Woodside John Monash Scholar
The General Sir John Monash Foundation and Rio Tinto have formed a new partnership to fund scholarships for outstanding individuals with leadership capabilities.
The Foundation awards postgraduate scholarships to Australians who demonstrate outstanding leadership, are committed to contributing to the broader community and wish to study overseas. John Monash Scholars are experts in a broad range of disciplines and these scholarships assist with growing their academic and industry networks to help build Australia’s capabilities for the future.
Under the in-perpetuity partnership, which is the first corporate perpetual scholarship, Rio Tinto's donation will be invested by the Foundation to fund Rio Tinto John Monash Scholarship each year for generations to come.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said “We are extremely proud to start this enduring partnership with the General Sir John Monash Foundation and contribute to furthering the academic excellence of our nation’s future leaders.
“Society is changing. Collaboration between industry and academia is crucial in building Australia’s future leadership capabilities.
“Indigenous leadership and advancement is an area of focus for us, and I look forward to the day when Indigenous Australians are leading and running the biggest companies in Australia. I encourage Indigenous scholars to apply for the scholarship.
“We look forward to the announcement of the Rio Tinto John Monash scholar in coming months and to following their journey.”
General Sir John Monash Foundation Chief Executive, Annemarie Rolls said “We highly value our corporate partnerships because apart from the vital funds they bring to enable us to award our scholarships, they are also very important dynamic relationships which create access for businesses to incredible talented, innovative and forward-thinking Australians who can contribute to problem solving and deliver value across multiple disciplines.
“A perpetual scholarship from Rio Tinto is a great investment in Australia’s future and the sustainability of the Foundation to continue its work identifying and nurturing leaders who will shape our future.”
Yesterday evening, the two organisations celebrated the in-perpetuity partnership surrounded by a broad range of supporters from across both organisations. At the event, Ms Rolls and Ms Parker gave speeches which amplified their support and excitement for the partnership, followed by 2016 Woodside John Monash Scholar, Dr Arjuna Dibley, who shared his reflections on what he has learned about the future and preparing for falling into the 'unknowns'.
"People with the intellectual fortitude, curiosity, diversity and humility to understand the problem from different perspectives, adapt and respond to the circumstances which face them, regardless of whether they have seen those circumstances before, or not," Dr Dibley said.
"For this reason, we are thrilled and grateful for Rio’s perpetual investment in the Foundation, and more to the point, its investment in the future of this country.”
The first Rio Tinto John Monash Scholarship is expected to be awarded in November 2022 after the completion of a rigorous selection process that is already underway.