The General Sir John Monash Scholars: Recent Episodes
Mojo Media
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts.
The John Monash Scholarships are postgraduate scholarships awarded to outstanding Australians with leadership potential who wish to study overseas. The John Monash Scholarships are amongst the most important postgraduate scholarships currently available.
A/Prof Gemma Sharp is a 2007 General Sir John Monash Scholar. Her scholarship allowed her to complete a MSc in the Department of Oncology at Cambridge University. her field of expertise is body image, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, cosmetic procedures, mental health, psychology, therapy, treatment, and social media. Gemma leads the Body Image & Eating Disorders Research Group in the Department of Neuroscience at Monash University. She is currently an NHMRC Emerging Leadership 2 Fellow (2023-2027) and a former NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow (2018-2022). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology (University of Adelaide), Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Microbiology and Immunology (University of Adelaide), a Masters degree in Oncology (University of Cambridge), a Diploma in Languages in Japanese (University of Adelaide), a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (University of Adelaide), a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences Honours degree in Psychology (Flinders University) and a PhD in Clinical Psychology (Flinders University). Her research career in both Medical Science and Mental Health has seen her study and work in Australia, Japan and the UK. Gemma was awarded a PhD from Flinders University in Adelaide in 2017 which investigated the psychological predictors and outcomes of female genital body image concerns and cosmetic genital surgery. She worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and Academic at Curtin University in Perth and extended this genital self-image research to other genders. She continues this genital self-image research program across the gender spectrum.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Physics from ANU. He used his John Monash Scholarship to study for a DPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics in Oxford, before working as a postdoctoral fellow in the USA. Tom specialised in the theory of ultracold atomic and molecular collisions and successfully collaborated with experimental groups around the world. Transitioning to industry in 2011, Tom worked first as a technical consultant and then as head of Supply Chain Analysis at Fortescue Metals Group. He was a key part of Fortescue's journey of cost reduction, efficiency enhancement, and expansion. After a brief stint in finance, Tom founded Hypercube Scientific Consulting in 2018 to be able to best and most widely use advanced analysis and scientific rigour to achieve real-world benefits and shape a data-driven culture within organisations. Tom enjoys building academic/industry links, getting outdoors, and chasing his three young children. He has served as a first reviewer and on the WA Selection Panel for the John Monash Scholarships.
Nicholas is a graduate physicist and engineer, receiving first-class honours and a University Medal for his studies at the University of Queensland. He is passionate about energy and education and aspires to make a difference in both fields. His research focuses on future decarbonised energy systems and he has published an award-winning paper on this topic. Nicholas worked in offshore wind for K2 Management and behind-the-meter energy for Fredon. As a senior UQ Outreach Ambassador, he inspired high school students to pursue tertiary education, with an emphasis on STEM disciplines and founded Lambda Learning to further engage students, particularly in mathematics. With the John Monash Scholarship, Nicholas intends to study a PhD in Engineering at Princeton University. He loves to read, spend time outdoors and play sport of any kind. He is a father and husband and strives to live up to both titles.
Sally completed her PhD in Environmental Science at Duke University (North Carolina, USA) in 2010, studying the how changes in the pattern of vegetation growth on landscapes predicts changes to ecosystems. She worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University, and as a Visiting Scholar at Princeton University and Teaching Scholar at Purdue University. Sally was an Assistant Professor in Surface Water Hydrology in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley from 2012-2017, before being tenured and becoming an Associate Professor and the Claire and Hseih-Wen Shen Distinguished Research Chair. In 2019, she started work at the University of Western Australia as an Associate Professor of Hydrology. Her research focuses on vegetation as a major driver of the water balance. In this episode, Sally also talks about the current challenges she's facing outside of work.
Chris is a mental health and addiction social entrepreneur. He was the Founder and CEO of Hello Sunday Morning, a non-profit that supports one of the largest communities in the world of people looking to change their relationship with alcohol. Hello Sunday Morning provides free access to peer and/or clinical support for any Australian looking to change their relationship with alcohol, in the moment they need it. Chris currently has a portfolio of roles in the mental health/addiction sectors including, CEO of Australians for Mental Health an advocacy organisation focused on mental health reform and Director of Clean Slate Clinic, a GP-led home detox service. Chris is a Young Australian of the Year (QLD), a Westpac Social Change Fellow and received a Skoll Scholarship to complete an MBA at Oxford University. As a John Monash Scholar, Chris will complete a Master of Public Administration at Harvard University, focusing on outlining an investment thesis to build an impact investment fund focused exclusively on addiction and mental health.
In this episode, Justin talks with three 2023 John Monash Foundation scholars. Abi Rajkumar is a Crown Prosecutor in the Northern Territory who believes the law should be used to change lives for the better. She has worked as an Adviser to federal and state politicians in communications and policy and has travelled across the country exploring communities and identifying opportunities for change. She will study for a Mid-career Master in Public Administration at Harvard University. Bridget Dunne is a lawyer and human rights advocate with a strong interest in criminal law and social justice and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws and a University Medal from the University of Tasmania. Bridget has worked in a wide range of roles developing her understanding of local and global justice systems, as a criminal defence lawyer for Legal Aid in Canberra, as an associate to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania and to Justice Bell on the High Court of Australia, and as a war crimes researcher at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. She will study for a MSc in Criminal Justice Policy at the London School of Economics. Karri Walker is a proud Nyiyaparli woman whose family is from the East Pilbara region of Western Australia and has grown up living on Wurundjeri Country. She is the Senior Lawyer at the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria working on securing ground-breaking reform through the nation's first Treaty process. Prior to joining the Assembly, Karri worked as a commercial lawyer at Arnold Bloch Leibler. She will study a Master of Laws at Harvard University.
In this episode, Justin speaks with 2011 John Monash Harvard Scholar and chess Grandmaster, Dr David Smerdon about his work in economics, love of chess and how he became Australia's 4th grandmaster.
Dr David Smerdon is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Economics at the University of Queensland. He specialises in behavioural and development economics where his research investigates topics such as social norms, the impact of refugee integration and the relationship between inequality and trust. Outside of work - David is also a chess Grandmaster having won the 2009 Oceania Chess Champion and Australian Chess Player of the Year.
In this episode, Justin speaks with 2022 Roth/Segal John Monash Harvard Scholar and medical doctor, Dr Jesse Schnall about his work in health, interest in philosophy and his research into using novel therapeutics for mental illness.
Jesse is a medical doctor from Melbourne with interests in bioethics, health policy and the overlap of mental health and public health. He has authored over 20 articles across peer-reviewed academic journals, think-tanks and mainstream media. More recently, he has advocated for greater research into novel therapeutics for mental illness, and worked in healthcare strategy consulting with McKinsey & Company.
In this episode, Justin speaks with 2009 John Monash Scholar, Dr Mark Schembri about his work as practitioner in both human and animal medicine and as the Chairman of the National Selection Panel for the Sir John Monash Scholarship.
Dr Mark Schembri is a leading multidisciplinary educator, academic and practitioner in both human and animal medicine. A practising Doctor in Women’s Health at Royal North Shore Hospital and Veterinarian with the Australian Turf Club, his career highlights include a Master in Public Health degree (Infectious Disease Epidemiology) at Harvard and selection as Veterinarian to the Australian Equine Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science, Jonathan Kummerfeld - 2010 John Monash Scholar.
Jonathan is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at The University of Sydney and was previously a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, working at the University of Michigan, in Computer Science. He develops systems that use machine learning to enable computers to understand language and has written over 20 papers in leading publications on the subject. Jonathan has also advised three startups working on AI-based products, including one that was acquired in 2018.
In this episode, Justin speaks with Jonathan about his academic journey, work in Human-AI Collaborative Systems and thoughts on the future of AI.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Policy Adviser, Freya Jansens - 2019 Scholar Roden Cutler NSW John Monash Scholar. Freya Jansens is a policy adviser working for the Australian Government on areas including sustainability, labour exploitation, and women's policy in Australia. She has a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney, with her now-published thesis winning the Australian Political Studies Association Women and Politics award.In this episode, Justin speaks with Freya about her academic journey and life studying and working in London, as well as work in economics and policy advisement for the Australian Government.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Cognitive Neurology Specialist, Dr Xin Zhang - 2022 Scholar Susan and Isaac Wakil John Monash Scholar. Dr Xin Zhang is a doctor and researcher specialising in Cognitive Neurology. She completed a Physics Degree at the University of Sydney and continued onto a Medical Degree at the same University for which she was awarded first-class honours. During her studies, she was an active advocate for the health impacts of environmental issues and taught astronomy extensively at Sydney Observatory. Xin is now about to undertake a PhD in Neurology in the UK.In this episode, Justin speaks with Xin about her academic journey and study at University College London, as well as her work in dementia treatment and neurology.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Art Curator, Sophie Rose - 2022 Dame Quentin Bryce John Monash Scholar. Sophie Rose is Assistant Curator of International Art at the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art and the Foundations first Quentin Bryce Scholar. Graduating from University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts (1st Class Honours) in Art History, Sophie has gone on to help realise several exhibitions of contemporary and historical art at the Queensland Art Gallery.In this episode, Justin speaks with Sophie about her academic journey and study at Bard College, as well as what goes into realising an international art exhibit.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Lawyer, Hannah Gandy - 2022 Scholar Victorian Government John Monash Scholar. Hannah Gandy is a Senior Liaison Officer for the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program at the Centre for Multicultural Youth and has completed a Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Arts in (Politics) with a high distinction in both degrees at La Trobe University. She has been mentored by former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and is heavily involved in youth services having been awarded the Order of Australia Association Foundation Scholarship in recognition of her work in that area. In this episode, Justin speaks with Hannah about her academic journey and studying law, her passion for youth justice and her disadvantaged upbringing.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Technology Artist, Jess Coldrey - 2021 Scholar Victorian Government John Monash Scholar. Graduating from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts (Human Geography) and Bachelor of Visual Arts, Jess has done innovative research on sustainability in engineering and infrastructure. She is also a Technology Artist who's work sparks futuristic conversations by combining engineering and philosophy in 3D prints, photographs and electronic sculptures. She is currently studying a Masters of Humanitarian Engineering with Management at Warwick University.In this episode, Justin speaks with Jess about her academic journey and study in Humanitarian Engineering, her artwork and advocacy for diversity and inclusion in STEM.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Meteorologist, Lieutenant Hannah Phelps - 2021 Chairman's Circle John Monash Scholar. Hannah graduated from UNSW ADFA with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and the University Medal in mathematics and statistics. Since then, she has served onboard HMAS Childers and Success as a Maritime Warfare Officer and been deployed to Antarctica providing forecasting support for the Australian Antarctic Division.In this episode, Justin speaks with Hannah about her academic journey and study in glaciology, her work in the Navy and recent scientific expedition to Antarctica.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Assistant Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Alexandra Phelan - 2013 Pratt Foundation John Monash Scholar. Alex attended Monash University in Melbourne, Australia where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2006 and her Bachelor of Laws degree in 2009, focusing on human rights and health security. She was involved with the public health response to the Ebola virus epidemic and has been strongly involved in policy measures in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Justin speaks with Alex about her current work in policy and law relating to infectious diseases, her academic journey to Georgetown University and her work in the COVID and Ebola health responses.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Electrical Engineer, Thomas Jenkins - 2020 Wesfarmers John Monash Scholar. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Business Management and a Master of Professional Engineering with Distinction (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) from The University of Western Australia. He was awarded the Valedictorian of his Masters cohort having been ranked the number one student across all Engineering disciplines at The University of Western Australia.In this episode, Justin speaks with Tom about his work in reducing green house gases as well as his sudden cardiac arrest and how it has inspired his current work and study.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Master of Biomedical Informatics, Dr Martin Seneviratne - 2017 Roden Cutler NSW John Monash Scholar. Dr Martin Seneviratne has a Masters of Biomedical informatics at the University of Stanford where he worked on the development and implementation of machine learning tools using electronic health record data. Elected as the youngest board director of the Health Informatics Society of Australia, Martin has worked extensively at the intersection of technology and health. He has served as a Clinical Reference Lead to the Australian Digital Health Agency, and was a representative at the World Economic Forum in Davos.In this episode, Justin speaks with Martin about his academic journey, his work with Google and his passion for incorporating new technology into healthcare.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Master of Neuroscience, Dr Matthew Lennon - 2020 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar. Dr Matthew Lennon is a 2020 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar and the first to receive the prestigious scholarship. He graduated from medicine at UNSW with the University Medal and Honours in Neuroscience and has gone on to study at Oxford where he hopes to use the knowledge and skills acquired to bring better dementia research, therapeutics and care back to Australia.In this episode, Justin speaks with Matt about his academic journey, life at Oxford during the pandemic and work alzheimer's research.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Master of Mathematical Modelling , Alex Makarowsky - 2019 Commonwealth Bank John Monash Scholar. Alex Makarowsky is an analysts and software engineer who aims to solve some of the worlds most pressing problems through mathematical modelling. With an MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing at the University of Oxford Alex has worked for the AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator) where his equations have been crucial to finding sustainable power sources to combat climate change in Australia. In this episode, Justin speaks with Alex about his academic journey, life at Oxford during the pandemic and work in sustainable energy modelling.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to professor of neurosurgery at the Harvard Medical, Dr. Justin Moore - 2006 John Monash Scholar. Dr Justin Moore is a renowned professor of neurosurgery having completed a PhD in neuro-genomics at Oxford University. He is currently an A/Professor in neurosurgery at Harvard in the USA and has authored over 100 peer review papers. He has active research interests in cerebrovascular neurosurgery (genomic influence on cerebral aneurysms) and neuro-oncology (brain tumor diagnosis and treatment).In this episode, Justin speaks with Justin (host) about his career in neurosurgery and the pressures involved in it, his academic journey and life as a professor as well as his pursuits in medical law.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Fellow in Health Systems at the Australian National University, and Advisor / Action Researcher at the Australian Department of Health, Dr. Garang Dut - 2017 Roth/Segal John Monash Scholar. Dr. Garang Dut is a 2017 Roth/Segal John Monash Harvard Scholar. Having resettled in Australia from South Sudan as a refugee in 2005, he has studied at the University of Melbourne, Harvard University and the University of Oxford.His recent article, published by the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (Wiley), draws on past experiences from living in a refugee camp, with a view to informing health and economic policies. Particularly during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, new migrants such as the South Sudanese community in Victoria have been at a unique disadvantage through the rapid crisis response measures.In this episode, Garang speaks with Justin about his journey as a refugee to academic, his passion for medicine, shared experiences with other members within Melbourne’s South Sudanese migrant community and how his recent research aims to help similar community through the current COVID pandemic.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by Head of Media & Capital Partners, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Research Fellow with the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University, Dr. Sarah Bourke - 2013 BHP John Monash Scholar. Dr. Sarah Bourke is an Aboriginal woman born and raised in Canberra, Australia, and is descended from the Gidja people of Western Australia and the Gamilaroi people on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. She was awarded a John Monash Scholarship and a Roberta Sykes Scholarship to study for an MPhil in Medical Anthropology with Keble College at Oxford. She was then awarded a Roberta Sykes Scholarship and a Chevening Scholarship to continue on at Oxford for a DPhil in Anthropology at St. John's College, under the supervision of Professor Stanley Ulijaszek.In this episode, Sarah speaks with Justin about her academic journey from Canberra to Oxford, as well as her passion for Indigenous health and wellbeing and medical anthropology.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to Chair of the General Sir John Monash Foundation Leadership Academy, Professor Sir Edward Byrne AC. Professor Sir Edward Byrne AC is a leading neuroscientist and clinician and former Monash University vice chancellor. He’s also the former President and Principal of King’s College London. He is now chairing the new Sir General John Monash leadership Academy that is designed to maximise the impact of John Monash Foundation scholars and harness their incredible skills for the benefit of Australia.In this episode, Ed speaks with Justin about his life as a neurosurgeon and tertiary educator, his role in the new academy, and the importance of leadership in Australian academia.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to 2021 Scholar and Solicitor Holli Sargeant.Holli Sargeant is a solicitor committed to the lawful design and deployment of emergent technologies, such as artificial intelligence in corporate and government decision-making. She holds a Bachelor of Laws with first class Honours and a Bachelor of International Relations from Bond University. Holli has worked at Herbert Smith Freehills as a founding member of its Digital Law Group and undertaken a secondment to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights and Technology project.In this episode, Holli speaks with Justin about passion for ensuring that artificial intelligence does not entrench discrimination or bias and her journey from the sugarcane fields of Bundaberg QLD to discover the world through her work in law.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to 2021 Scholar and Health Delegate at International Committee of the Red Cross, Emily Ragus.Emily Ragus has dedicated her career to work towards a more equitable future. She has a Bachelor of Nursing from Queensland University of Technology. Her professional background includes 15 years emergency nursing, as well as previously working as a remote area nurse, a helicopter trauma retrieval nurse and the coordinator for the Queensland Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT). Currently based in South East Asia with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Emily teaches first aid and pandemic control measures to vulnerable groups as a Pre-Hospital Health Delegate.In this episode, Emily speaks with Justin about her work in disaster management, the diverse countries and cultures her work has allowed her to experience, and her passion for female empowerment and gender equality.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to 2016 Scholar and International Lawyer, Abigael Mawby.Abigael graduated from the University of Queensland with a combined Bachelor of Laws/Arts (First Class Honours). While at university, she completed a contract for the European Court of Human Rights, delivered international presentations on targeted financial sanctions, and was part of the Australian team to win the World Championship of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot. Abigael also volunteered as a tutor for high school students from refugee backgrounds. Following graduation, Abigael completed a contract for the anti-corruption division of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Tehran, Iran, during the time that economic sanctions were lifted from the country. She formerly worked seasons as a ski instructor, and plays piano. With her John Monash Scholarship Abigael completed her LLM at Columbia Law School (named a James Kent Scholar), focusing in the areas of anti-corruption and international investment law. She practised as an Associate at White & Case in the area of investment treaty arbitration.In this episode, Abigael speaks with Justin about her upbringing in the Snowy Mountains, her accomplished career as an international lawyer, and her new found passion for environmental law.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to 2004 John Monash Scholar and international lawyer, Dr Danielle Malek Roosa.Danielle completed an LLM at Harvard in July 2005, focused on international law. She then took up a position as a legal counsel with the World Bank in Washington DC, where she worked first as a lawyer in the international law and environmental law practice group. In June 2006, Danielle published an important analysis for the Global HIV/AIDS Program: Australia's Successful Response to AIDS and the Role of Law Reform. In 2010, Danielle was promoted to Senior Counsel. From 2007-2016, Danielle worked as an operational lawyer across five of the Bank's six regions (Europe/Central Asia, Middle East/North Africa, East Asia/Pacific, South Asia and Africa). In this role, Danielle was solely responsible for drafting and negotiating international legal agreements on behalf of the Bank with the Ministries of Finance of the countries in her portfolio and handling the Bank's legal portfolios in those countries. This included work in Egypt, Libya and Yemen during the Arab Spring, and a $2.125 billion loan to Kazakhstan (the largest ever Bank loan at the time) where she worked with three governments on a highly sensitive international stolen public assets case. In 2016, Danielle became the Bank's lawyer on institutional governance matters. She now advises the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, Board of Governors and the Corporate Secretariat on disparate governance issues from ranging from Bank membership and shareholding to internationally disputed areas. She also provides advice, on behalf of the General Counsel, on institutional matters affecting the President of the Bank. Danielle has a PhD from the University of Sydney and has lectured on global financial institutions at Melbourne University Law School. She currently telecommutes from Sydney, where she resides with her husband and five children.In this episode, Dr Malek Roosa speaks with Justin about her journey to becoming an international lawyer, what it was like studying at Harvard, her career highlights at the world bank, and how she balances work as a mum of five.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin speaks to 2018 John Monash Scholar and Military Officer, Major Nathan Johnson.
Nathan is a military officer with a Bachelor of Science from the University of New South Wales and Master of Science in Military Electrical Systems Engineering from Cranfield University, UK. Nathan served in Special Operations Command in Afghanistan, led multinational United Nations forces in South Sudan and provided technical support to the Australian Defence Force’s counter terrorism unit in Sydney. He was a project manager for Army Headquarters in Canberra, leading a project to procure new Electronic Warfare technology for the Army. With his Scholarship, Nathan is completing his PhD, researching cyber security and electronic technology that will lead the future development of Australian defence.
In this episode, Major Johnson speaks with Justin about his experience studying in the USA, why he chose a career in the army, and the impact of social media warfare.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts.
In this episode, Justin interviews Jack Muir about his PhD studies in the field of tomography at Caltech University in the US. Studies in the field help scientists understand more about the Earth's mantel and core, including seismic activity.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts.
In this episode, Justin interviews Dr Brett Shannon about his PhD studies in the field of occupational injuries and prevention strategies in Indigenous and vulnerable populations at the University of Illinois. Brett has recently finished a term as chairperson of the Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin interviews international peacekeeper and human rights lawyer Andrew Hudson, who returned home to Melbourne from New York just prior to recording.
Andrew’s work has included securing a UN peacekeeping force that saved thousands of lives in Central African Republic and securing an agreement for the UN to send cross-border aid convoys to reach three million starving Syrians.
In this episode, Justin chats with Andrew about his influential work, at the helm of Crisis Action in New York, an organisation that works to protect civilians from armed conflict.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin interviews microbiologist Marianne Haines.Marianne has a Bachelor of Biological Science majoring in Microbiology and Biochemistry from La Trobe University with Honours in Microbiology, in which she was awarded the Top Undergraduate Microbiology Student award. At the University of Calgary, she specialises in energy bioengineering and photobioreactor technology. Her particular focus is on developing systems which harness the versatility of microorganisms to create sustainable closed loop processes. Currently, she works as part of a team scaling up algal cultivation to produce a new source of sustainable energy. In this episode, Marianne, who is in her fourth year of her PhD, chats with Justin about her research into turning photosynthetic microorganisms, like algae and bacteria, into fuel like methane through a more efficient process.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin interviews 2018 Roth/Segal John Monash Harvard Scholar, Ryan Carters.
Ryan is a former professional cricket player and founder of the charity Batting for Change, which focuses on alleviating poverty and gender discrimination in developing, cricket-playing nations by supporting access to higher education. He has worked as a consultant to state and federal governments on education and innovation policy in Australia. At Harvard, Ryan’s study focused on policy responses to confront rising economic inequality and address climate change. Through a career in policy and public service, he hopes to contribute to improved social and economic policy for a more inclusive and productive society. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and politics from the University of Sydney and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University.
In this episode, Ryan chats with Justin about his experience transitioning from professional cricket to public policy, the success of Batting for Change, and what areas of public policy he is most passionate about.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin interviews climate litigator and 2019 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar, Zoe Bush.
Zoe has a Master of Laws from Columbia University, where she worked for Professors Kimberlé Crenshaw and Susan Sturm, and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA). She is a climate litigator at the Environmental Defenders' Office, lecturer and tutor at UWA Law School, and former Fellow at Law for Black Lives in the US. In 2016, she was Associate to the Hon. Justice Barker at the Federal Court of Australia. Zoe's criminal justice reforms in relation to Indigenous peoples with FASD have been adopted by a Senate Standing Committee, published in peer reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.
In this episode, Zoe chats with Justin about her journey from working in criminal justice to climate litigation, how attitudes to climate change have changed throughout her career, and how boards are now tackling this issue.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. In this episode, Justin interviews chemical engineer and 2017 Woodside John Monash Scholar, Dr Brett Parkinson.Brett has a Bachelors and Masters of Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Queensland, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London. He was actively involved in the University of Queensland Clubs and Societies as President of the Chemical and Environmental Student Society and coordinated the Student Unions Mental Health week. Brett has worked at Incitec Pivot, Momentive Specialty Chemicals and at the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovations. His research efforts have focused on an integrated process for the economic production of zero CO2 iron and petrochemicals, and his PhD addressed sustainable energy generation from natural gas through catalytic cracking to hydrogen in non-oxidative molten salt environments. Brett ultimately hopes to help develop sustainable manufacturing industries and energy policy in Australia. He is passionate about sustainable manufacturing, low-carbon energy systems and the energy sector as a whole. Brett is pursuing an international career in the energy field, highlighting disruptive energy technologies. He is currently a senior engineer at C-Zero, an organisation commercializing a proprietary process for transforming natural gas into clean hydrogen and a solid carbon co-product. C-Zero just completed a $11.5M series A funding round co-led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Eni Next, with participation from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and AP Ventures. The funding will accelerate the first commercial-scale deployment of C-Zero’s drop-in decarbonization technology, which will allow industrial natural gas consumers to avoid producing CO2 in applications like electrical generation, process heating and the production of commodity chemicals like hydrogen and ammonia.In this episode, Brett chats with Justin about his passion for sustainability and innovation in engineering, the incredible work of C-Zero, and the most rewarding part of working in the sustainable energy sector.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. For the first episode of 2021, Justin interviews Amy Burton, Managing Lawyer at Everyday Justice. Amy is the 2018 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar.Amy has a Master of Laws from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Monash University. She worked at Salvos Legal Humanitarian and was awarded the 2017 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year at the Women in Law Awards. At Georgetown University she researched the growing use of social enterprise law firms to improve access to justice for individuals who are not eligible for legal aid but cannot afford a private lawyer. Amy has just launched her own firm in Australia called Everyday Justice, which is a national free legal service to help people with ‘everyday’ civil legal issues who aren’t eligible for government funded legal service. Amy hopes Everyday Justice will also increase employment opportunities for graduate lawyers who aspire to work in humanitarian law.In this episode, Amy chats with Justin about how she came to launch Everyday Justice, the cases that have shaped her career, what it was like studying at Georgetown University, and the most rewarding and challenging parts of being a lawyer.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. For the last episode of 2020, Justin interviews Chief Executive Officer of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Annemarie Rolls.Annemarie has been CEO of the Foundation since the start of 2017, and is an experienced not-for-profit executive with a passion for the world of education. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was CEO of Schools Connect Australia, a NFP which brought businesses in partnership with disadvantaged schools. She led this organisation for 4 years, strengthening its marketing and economics and ultimately guiding its merger with the Australian Business Community Network (ABCN).Annemarie previously worked with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) initially in Sales and Marketing followed by three years as General Manager and publisher of ACER Press. In support of her passion about the role of arts in the community she has produced a documentary, Dare To Be Different, which showcases the impact of an arts based curriculum on the learning of children with a range of disabilities at the Port Phillip Specialist School.She is Deputy Chair and non-executive board director of Creative Art Therapy Australia (CATA). Annemarie has a diverse global perspective and has lived, worked and studied in Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand and the USA. She has a BA English Lit. (Hons, cum laude) CofC, USA; MA Monash University; Grad. Dip. Education and Training, Victoria University and has completed the AICD Company Directors Course.In this special episode, Annemarie chats with Justin about what it's like leading one of Australia's most prestigious foundations, a deep dive into the judging process for the scholarships, and how education can change peoples' lives.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews professional coach, venture partner and lawyer, May Samali.May Samali is a 2014 NSW Premier’s John Monash Scholar and is passionate about investing in people and ideas that can change the world. As a trained leadership and personal coach, May works with executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals to unlock their purpose, power and potential, and to unleash the career and life of their dreams. She has extensive experience advising startups and CEOs across the US and Australia. May was formerly the CEO, Ventures at High Resolves, where she built a portfolio of technology ventures in the education sector. In addition, she was a founding investor at the Urban Innovation Fund, a venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs shaping the future of cities. Prior to that, she was a Director at Tumml, an urban ventures accelerator in San Francisco. She has also worked as a strategy consultant at an advisory firm and as an attorney in Sydney. May is an Australian American Young Leadership Dialogue Fellow, a Member of the Board of Advisors for Persian Women in Tech, and a facilitator at Nalukai Academy's summer startup camps in Hawaii.With her John Monash scholarship, May studied a Master in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School focused on entrepreneurship, impact investing and technology policy. She was also a Gleitsman Leadership Fellow at Harvard’s Centre for Public Leadership. May holds a Bachelor of Economic and Social Sciences (1st Class Hons, University Medal), and LLB (1st Class Hons) from the University of Sydney.In this episode, May chats with Justin about how she decided on a career path, the journey from lawyer to CEO to professional coach, her passion for leadership and entrepreneurship, and what's next for her now that she's arrived back in Australia.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews origami engineer, Dr Joe Gattas.Joe is a 2010 John Monash Scholar and Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. He leads the ‘Folded Structures Lab' research group, founded in 2014 at the University of Queensland, after completion of his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford in 2013. The group comprises six PhD candidates and 15 Undergraduate/Master’s thesis students, with $1.2 million in research and industry grants. Their research involves using origami design techniques to invent and improve thin-walled structures and devices. By utilising folded patterns, origami engineers can transform many sheet materials into efficient and easily-manufactured applications, with current applications already seen in deployable and modular housing; energy-absorbing packaging and barriers; and lightweight automobile and aircraft components. Joe is also a member of the Australian Research Council Future Timber Hub. The Hub is Australia’s leading timber research collaboration, bringing together experts from industry, government, and academia who are committed to the future development of tall timber buildings in the Pacific region.In this episode, Joe chats with Justin about how he became fascinated with building, what he does as an origami engineer, what it was like studying at Oxford University, and his work at the Folded Structures Lab, including the lab's pivot to creating origami inspired face masks during the pandemic.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews 2020 Chairman Circle’s John Monash Scholar, Eva Mackinley.Eva has worked in campaigning for social change across her professional career so far, starting initiatives in areas like international development, environment and waste. She is the Founder of The Last Straw, a campaign whose mission is to reduce the use of plastic straws and single-use plastics around Australia. Since its foundation in 2015, The Last Straw has brought on over 500 venues in Australia and seen the establishment of Last Straw groups in Peru, Indonesia and Kenya. In 2018 alone they helped stop over 13 million plastic straws from entering the waste system. For her work, Eva has been recognised as one of the 2018 100 Women of Influence and as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia fellow for 2019. Eva graduated Deakin University with a Bachelor of International Studies and First-Class Honours in Middle East Studies. With her John Monash scholarship, Eva plans to study a Masters of International Relations in Security at the University of Bradford, hoping to understand the dynamics of peace and security on Australia’s future in a rapidly changing world, and their implications on shared global challenges.In this episode, Eva chats with Justin about the story behind why she founded The Last Straw, her biggest learnings from starting a global campaign, what it was like speaking at TedX, and her future career plans.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews paediatric cardiology fellow, Dr Ida Whiteman.Ida holds an MBBS with honours from Monash University, a Diploma in Child Health from the University of Sydney with High Distinction and an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine from Oxford, with a research thesis on paediatric rheumatic heart disease. She is currently a paediatric cardiology fellow at Monash Children's Hospital in Melbourne. Ida has volunteered in Papua New Guinea, Nepal after the earthquake crisis of 2015, in Malawi and Zimbabwe with Pangea Health Education and assists with research and clinical work in East Timor and the Northern Territory, visiting Wadeye in 2020 for rheumatic heart disease research. In 2014, Ida worked for a year in the Northern Territory, where her passion for Indigenous Health began. Outside of work, Ida speaks French, has taught flying trapeze to children in New York State, and enjoys singing in choirs. Ida hopes to become the second paediatric cardiologist working full-time in Darwin, specialising in the management and prevention of rheumatic heart disease.In this episode, Ida chats with Justin about how she got into medicine, her experience travelling all over the world, her time living in Darwin, why she chose to transition to paediatric medicine, and how she became a runner over lockdown.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews public policy expert Zulpha Styer.
Zulpha has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Master of Laws from the Australian National University. She sits on the Multicultural NSW Regional Advisory Council for South West Sydney and has worked in the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, and NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. Zulpha has more than five years of experience working as a policy advisor to Australian governments and was awarded an Australia Day Achievement Medallion in 2015. Zulpha just completed a Masters of Public Administration, with a focus on government relations with minority communities and social cohesion. She completed the last few units in Sydney after leaving the US in March because of COVID-19.
In this episode, Zulpha chats with Justin about what drew her to a career in public policy, what it was like studying a Masters of Public Administration at Columbia University, how she abruptly had to leave the US earlier this year because of COVID-19, and more.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews childhood development specialist, Hannah Barber.Hannah holds a BA in Politics and International Studies, a Master of Teaching from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. As an early childhood development specialist, she has international experience in developing and implementing innovative strategies to achieve breakthrough outcomes for children and families. Hannah has expertise in applying cutting edge insights from the science of early childhood development, framing, adult learning, social enterprise and scaling research to rethink and redesign programs and policies. She is currently working with the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, a world renowned R&D platform that uses the latest scientific insights to improve the life outcomes of children facing adversity. In this role, Hannah works with a range of national and international innovators, including policy makers, system leaders, practitioners and social entrepreneurs to design, test and scale their work. Upon returning to Australia, Hannah hopes to be able to use these insights to drive systemic change across the early childhood policy and practice landscape to ultimately improve learning, health and behavioural outcomes for the next generation.In this episode, Hannah chats with Justin about how she got into childhood development, what it's like working at Harvard University, how Australia's public health measures in this space compare globally, and the potential impacts COVID-19 is having on young kids.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews New York based filmmaker and composer, Alies Sluiter.Alies has recently received her Master of Fine Arts in Film from Columbia University in New York, which she attended on full scholarship from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. She also has a Bachelor of Music Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Master of Arts from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. She is a composer for feature films, documentaries, television (CNN, ABC, BBC, Foxtel, SBS), music, theatre and dance productions and has guest lectured at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide and Central Saint Martins University of the Arts London. As a violinist and musical director she has performed in over 50 countries performing with leading artists including Nitin Sawhney, Akram Khan, Sylvie Guillem and the Shaolin Monks of China. In 2011 she founded The Picture Box Orchestra who have performed at festivals such as WOMADelaide. Most recently, her short film Ayaan premiered at the 2020 Sydney Film Festival as a finalist for the Dendy Awards.In this episode, Alies chats with Justin about how she got into filmmaking and composing, what it was like studying at Columbia University, and her advice for other aspiring filmmakers.
The Scholars podcast is a show featuring scholars from the General Sir John Monash Foundation. Hosted by CEO of Mojo Media, Justin Kelly, he interviews the best, brightest, boldest and bravest across all fields of academia, business, science, humanities, and the arts. On today’s episode, Justin interviews Dr Gemma Sharp.Dr Gemma Sharp completed her MSc in the Department of Oncology at Cambridge University in 2010. Her research focused on identifying the cellular origin of the various types of breast cancers, and the tumour-initiating mechanisms employed by these cells. Since returning to Australia, Gemma has studied psychology and completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Flinders University.Gemma started an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship at Monash University in 2018 at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre (MAPrc). She is a Senior Research Fellow and leads the Body Image Research Group at MAPrc. Her research group focuses on the development of novel treatments for body image related disorders such as eating disorders using digital technology. Gemma also runs her own private clinical psychology practice in Melbourne where she specialises in the treatment of body image concerns, eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder.Gemma transitioned from medical science to psychological science after she found herself becoming more interested in the behaviours of people around her instead of their cells. It was her time working in the field of cancer prevention, in particular, discouraging people from seeking tanned skin through sun exposure, which led her to start focusing on body image. Following this, she found an interest in the cosmetic surgery and body modification space. Gemma enjoys that psychology allows her to have more of a direct impact on patients as well as conducting innovative mental health research.Gemma is currently teaming up with The Butterfly Foundation and Instagram to develop a world-first body image focused chatbot using artificial intelligence technology. The chatbot will provide therapeutic skills to people struggling with body image concerns and offer support and advice to their loved ones. The project has been funded by the AMP Foundation and Bupa Health Foundation.If body image concerns or eating issues affect you or someone you care about, The Butterfly Foundation Helpline can be contacted on 1800 33 4673.
Originally from Brisbane, Tim Trudgian obtained a DPhil in mathematics from Oxford in 2010. He returned to Canberra in 2012, after a two-year post-doc in Canada, as an ARC Early Career Research Fellow. He is currently an ARC Future Fellow at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy. His research is in analytic number theory. His two sons are named after former Australian test cricketers and have both developed the full Trudgian-esque armoury of offside shots.
Tim believes the human side of Mathematics is underrated. Tim believes Maths has more association with the Arts, than it does with science. Some math problems are thousands of years old and because it has such a rich history, it requires you to be well read and think broadly - you have to be creative. Tim also really enjoys talking to the younger scholars as a “non poster child” and sharing advice. He’s also a big advocate for work life balance and has his own take on the term “STEM”. He also loves his family, the Opera, Shakespeare and the intricacies of Test cricket.
Jillian has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with First Class Honours, who was the Australian Young Professional Engineer of the Year and Sydney University's Young Alumni of the Year. She established a project management and civil engineering firm in 2009, that continues to serve regional NSW. Jillian used her scholarship to study a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy at Stanford University. Upon graduation, Jillian founded The Infrastructure Collaborative, a US-based Public Benefit Corporation where she is a strategic adviser to public agencies and private sector clients. Jillian's mission is to move horizon infrastructure projects from planning shelves to be shovel ready. She splits her time between San Francisco and regional NSW.Jillian is the Founder and CEO of Infrastructure Collaborative, a civil engineering and project management firm focused on improving infrastructure in rural Australia. The firm consults to the NSW Government, municipal councils, private consultants and indigenous clients across 70% of NSW. She is proud to have called over 70 Councils her clients. The firm also advises clients in California, focusing on getting projects shovel ready.Jillian is also the Founder of The Exchange Dubbo, a co-working space that nurtures the potential of those in regional Australia with big dreams for a small business. When Jillian moved home from Silicon Valley, she bought/renovated a 133-year-old Post Office and founded The Exchange innovation hub to ensure small business owners and startups across the region have an ecosystem of support and inspiration.Active in both Regional NSW (Dubbo / Sydney) and California (San Francisco / LA), Jillian enjoys design thinking, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and cross-pollinating ideas between diverse projects, teams and countries.
Phoebe has an MBBS (Hons) from the University of Sydney, a BCom and BSci from the ANU, and Masters in Global Health Science with Distinction from Oxford. She was the founder of the 'Hands of Help' student organization, building 5 primary schools, establishing a community health project (run by Ugandans, for Ugandans) and creating a trust fund to allow socially disadvantaged children in Kenya and Uganda to study at a tertiary level. In 2013 Phoebe was cited as one of Australia's '100 women of Influence'. She is a marathon runner, and plays in the Australian Doctors' Orchestra. She was a Clinical Paediatric Registrar at the Sydney Children's Hospital lectures and tutor at The University of Sydney (Masters Programme); and is an appointee to the Guardianship Division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Phoebe has six publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, including a recent article on outcomes in multifocal neuroblastoma, and a view on interferon-gamma assays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis among migrant children to NSW. Phoebe is studying for a DPhil at Oxford focusing on the treatment of infections in paediatric hospital admissions. Her research work will be done at the University of Oxford field unit in Kilifi, Kenya.As a Paediatric and Infectious Diseases Doctor, Phoebe has a strong interest in public health issues, global health inequality and the social determinants of health. She works in clinical medicine at Sydney Children's Hospital with consulting roles within The World Health Organization and Sydney Child Health Programme. She is experienced in running clinical trials, with a research focus on antibiotic resistance in children. Phoebe is a mother to four children (including triplets).
Arlie’s doctoral research addresses the potential risks posed by marine invasive species currently establishing in Antarctica. Warming oceans and reductions in sea ice caused by climate change, combined with increasing human activity within the Southern Ocean, will likely increase the chance of non-native species establishing in the Antarctic region. Arlie’s research investigates factors that affect both the transport of non-indigenous species to Antarctic coastlines and the capacity of such species to establish populations, both now and in the future.In her home town of Melbourne, Australia, Arlie completed a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and a Diploma in Languages (German) at the University of Melbourne and by final year was taking as many marine biology courses as possible. She then moved to Hobart to complete a Masters in Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania. Arlie’s work has resulted in several academic papers and advice to governments in Australia and the UK. Arlie’s research has taken her around the world, including Costa Rica, Mexico and several remote islands around Australia. As part of her masters, she completed two courses at the University Centre in Svalbard, where she discovered that benthic ecology, marine invertebrates and polar regions are especially interesting.
Sam is a research associate in the School of Economics at the University of Sydney; the Oxford Centre for the Analysis of Resource Rich Economies (OxCarre) at the University of Oxford; and the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA) at ANU. From 2016-17 Sam was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Sydney, and from 2013-16 he was the principal investigator of an ESRC Future Research Leaders grant at the University of Oxford, where he held positions in the Department of Economics and Pembroke College. From 2017 he has also been an Economist at Rokos Capital Management, London. Sam has advised the World Bank on natural resource policy in Iraq, Libya and Uganda and has also worked with the IMF, the Bank of England, the International Growth Centre, the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. In the private sector he has worked with Taylor Fry Actuaries, Westpac Bank and McKinsey and Co. Sam completed a D.Phil (Ph.D) in Economics (Oxford) in 2014 as a John Monash Scholar, and was awarded the David Walton award for the top candidate in macroeconomics or finance. He also completed an M.Phil in Economics (Oxford) as a Commonwealth Scholar, and a B.Com in Actuarial Studies and Finance (UNSW) as a Co-Op Scholar, graduating with a High Distinction average, the University Medal and the Investec Prize for the top all-round student.
On today's episode, host Justin Kelly interviews Michael Grebla, composer extraordinaire and current resident of New York. He talks about what life in New York lockdown is like, his academic background in engineering and music, his passion for composing and how he stays creative during a global pandemic.