John Monash Scholar (Alumi)
John Monash Scholars are selected on the basis of their demonstrated and potential leadership contribution to their fields of endeavour and to the Australian and global community. Over the last 10 years, 83 John Monash Scholars have benefited from the John Monash Scholarships, and this growing network, who have shared Australia’s heritage and values, is likely to play an important role in Australia’s future. The Foundation maintains contact with past and present John Monash Scholars, and works to support their careers after completion of their postgraduate study.
Facts on the Scholars
For a factsheet on current information on the origin, disciplinary distribution, and location of John Monash Scholars please click here.
John Monash Scholars 2013
Mr Alexander Barbaro
Alex is a Flight Lieutenant in the RAAF who commanded a communications unit in Afghanistan. He has a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with First Class Honours and the University Medal from UNSW and ADFA. He is the Fundraising Officer for SOLDIER ON, a charity supporting veterans wounded on operations. He will research ultrawideband technologies to improve communication capacity and provide non-invasive detection capability.
Ms Alexandra Phelan
Alexandra has degrees in law and biomedical science at Monash University, and is completing a Masters of Law at ANU. She was a Director on the Council of Monash University and on the Academic Board. She has worked as an intern for WHO, and until recently worked as a lawyer for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation in Geneva. She currently works as a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons.
Mr Cavin Wilson
Cavin is a Flight Lieutenant in the Air Force with a Bachelor of Business from UNSW and ADFA, and a Graduate Diploma of Economics from ANU. He is an all-round sportsman, and has served in Afghanistan and the Middle East. In 2011 he co-founded SOLDIER ON, a charity supporting veterans wounded on operations. His interest in economics includes public economics and labour economics.
Mr Huw Pohlner
Huw has a Bachelor of Philosophy with First Class Honours in Asian Studies, and is completing a Master of Law, Governance and Development, both from the ANU. He has over 10 years’ involvement with Asia and China, and recently managed the development of Asialink’s national strategy for an Asia-capable workforce. He has held leadership positions in the Oaktree Foundation and was co-founder of the Australia-China Youth Association. He will study the human implications of water governance and transfers in China, focusing on the South-North Water Transfer Project.
Ms Jessica Mathie
Jessica has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in Linguistics, and has worked as a Linguist then Senior Linguist in Port Hedland for the last four years. During this time she worked with the Yinhawangka people to record and document their critically endangered language, spoken today by only a handful of people. She has played a leadership role in her region and her discipline, and her work addresses the loss of indigenous linguistic diversity in Australia (only 20 of 250 languages are still being passed on to children).
Ms Jillian Kilby
Jillian has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with First Class Honours, who was the Australian National Young Engineer of the Year and Sydney University’s Young Alumni of the Year. She established a project management and civil engineering firm in 2009, of which she is Managing Director, in regional NSW. She will use the scholarship to study business management at an international university, in order to play a role in Australia's national infrastructure planning and implementation.
Ms Kate Smith
Kate has a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts (Environmental Studies) from the University of Melbourne. She speaks five languages, and is currently studying Chinese in Taiwan. She has considerable experience volunteering for environmental and social causes, including in China and Chile. Kate was Victorian and National winner of the Pride of Australia Young Leader Medal in 2009. She will study recycling and reuse of water at Tsinghua, a world-ranked engineering university in Beijing.
Ms Kate Mitchell
Kate has a Bachelor of Arts with the University Medal and a Bachelor of Law with First Class Honours and the University Medal from Bond University. She has completed a BCL with Distinction from Oxford. She worked in 2012 at the Attorney-General's Department as part of the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet's Internship Scheme, where she worked developing legal structures for Pacific Island nations. Her study will address how governments can balance the promotion of international investment with human rights protection.
Ms Sarah Bourke
Sarah was National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year for 2012. She has a BSc and BA with First Class Honours from the ANU. She is active in indigenous youth and women’s leadership at a national level, and is an accomplished rower. Her Honours study addressed the repatriation and study of indigenous ancestral remains. Her proposed study would encompass the broader issue of a framework for communication and understanding of the value of science between Western and indigenous cultures.
Ms Stephanie Pow
Stephanie has a Bachelor of Commerce, with First Class Honours and the University Medal in Finance from the University of New South Wales. She was an Associate Director in the Derivatives team at UBS. Six years ago she founded Capital W to provide leadership training for talented female business students. Stephanie will undertake a Masters of Public Policy at the Kennedy School at Harvard University and a Masters of Business Administration at Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She will study impact investing to further socio-economic development in underdeveloped countries and disadvantaged communities in Australia.