Future leaders in aerospace, quantum physics and cancer research among eighteen Australians named as 2025 John Monash Scholars

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: An aerospace engineer passionate about addressing skills gaps in Australia’s space industry, a photonics and nanotechnology researcher committed to understanding Alzheimer’s disease and an emerging leader in quantum physics are among eighteen exceptional Australians awarded John Monash Scholarships for 2025. 

The prestigious postgraduate scholarships, named in honour of revered Australian leader General Sir John Monash, are awarded annually following a highly competitive nationwide selection process. The 2025 scholars were selected from a record number of applicants for their academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to public service. They plan to study at highly ranked institutions in China, Germany, England, Scotland and the US.

This year’s cohort includes the 2025 Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholar, awarded for the first time after the Western Australian Government joined the New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian governments in providing a perpetual scholarship to support graduates from WA universities.

The 2025 scholars will study in a range of fields of critical importance to Australia’s future, including engineering, physics, artificial intelligence, photonics, defence, public policy, medicine, law, sign language and linguistics, education, conservation and sustainability.

Apart from the collective knowledge within the group, the 2025 cohort of John Monash Scholars is noteworthy because of:

The success of women in STEM.

The number of scholars who have benefited from the New Colombo Plan.

The emergence of dual master’s degrees, allowing study across different cultures.

Pathway support at an undergraduate level from foundations such as Fogarty, Andrew N. Liveris and Tuckwell.

Professor Paul Wellings CBE, Chairman of the National Selection Panel, said: “The 2025 scholars are an outstanding group of Australians. They stood out as leaders in their fields, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve during and after their studies. It was especially rewarding to see the emergence of so many exceptional women in STEM.”

Jillian Segal AO, Chairman of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, said: “The scholars join a thriving community of John Monash Scholars contributing to critical issues in Australia and globally. Thank you to all our funding partners for making these scholarships possible. We are delighted that the Western Australian Government has joined us as a perpetual funder.” 

Paul Ramadge, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, said: “We are confident that the 2025 John Monash Scholars will be key influencers and changemakers for the nation, in their chosen fields and more broadly. This announcement brings the number of Australians who have been awarded a John Monash Scholarship to 282, all of whom will benefit from being part of the John Monash Leadership Academy, our initiative to support scholars throughout their careers.”

The John Monash Scholarships are supported by Australian governments, companies, universities, trusts, foundations and individuals, including the Australian Universities’ Consortium,  the John and Anna Belfer Trust, BHP, the Commonwealth Bank, the Commonwealth Government, Tim Fairfax AC, Helen and Michael Gannon, Lee Liberman Charitable Foundation, the New South Wales Government, John Roth and Jillian Segal AO, the Queensland Government, Rio Tinto, the Victorian Government, the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation, Wesfarmers and the Western Australian Government.

The 2025 John Monash Scholars

 

Dr Allen Gu (2025 Victorian Government John Monash Scholar)

A researcher and doctor at Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Allen plans to complete a one-year Master of Science in Biostatistics at the Harvard School of Public Health. A future oncologist, Allen hopes to enhance his ability to contribute to biomedical research through rigorous theoretical and applied training in quantitative methodology.

Previous study: Doctor of Medicine, University of Melbourne; Bachelor of Science (Hons), University of Melbourne; Graduate Diploma in Science (Applied Mathematics), University of Melbourne.

Anish Badgeri (Inaugural 2025 Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholar)

An advocate for social mobility through education, Anish will pursue a one-year Master of Education Leadership (In-Service) at University College London, with the goal of establishing a not-for-profit organisation to support and promote mentorship for young and early career teachers.

Previous study: Master of Teaching (Secondary), Australian Catholic University; Bachelor of Philosophy (Hons), University of Western Australia.

Bernadette Dillon (2025 Queensland Government John Monash Scholar)

A passionate linguist, disability advocate and certified sign language interpreter, Bernadette will pursue a one-year Master of Science in Language Sciences (Sign Language and Deaf Studies) at University College London. She hopes to improve the lives of deaf individuals across Australia through changes in educational curricula, government policy and societal perceptions of deafness.

Previous study: Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics), University of Queensland.

Cara Faulkner (2025 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar)

An aspiring world-leading quantum researcher, Cara envisions herself stewarding Australia’s future in quantum technologies and championing initiatives for diversity in STEM. She plans to study a Doctor of Philosophy in Atomic and Laser Physics at the University of Oxford, where she will conduct sector-leading research and build collaborative networks with other early career scientists.
Previous study: Master in Sciences (Physics), University of Melbourne; Bachelor of Sciences (Physics), University of Melbourne.

Charles O’Neill (2025 Commonwealth Bank John Monash Scholar)

The cofounder of an AI-powered, community-sourced news platform, Charles hopes to see Australia at the forefront of responsible AI advancement. He will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science at the University of Oxford to deepen his knowledge of how to control and interpret AI models, with the goal of fueling AI innovation and application in Australia.

Previous study: Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Bachelor of Economics, Australian National University.

Georgia Dallimore (2025 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar)

An aeronautics engineer and space communicator, Georgia plans to pursue a two-year Master of Science (Space Systems) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Georgia is passionate about addressing skills gap in Australia’s space sector through technical contributions and STEM advocacy. She believes MIT’s emphasis on collaboration and innovation will equip her with the leadership and expertise to drive change in Australia’s space industry.

Previous study: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Aerospace, Hons) and Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, University of Adelaide.

Hamish Stewart (2025 Bob Hawke John Monash Scholar)

A dedicated conservationist, Hamish will pursue a one-year Master of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management at the University of Oxford with the goal of gaining further technical knowledge and experience to contribute meaningfully to Australia’s efforts to prevent biodiversity loss.

Previous study: Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science and Biodiversity Conservation) and Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Australian National University.

Dr Hannah Kempton (2025 Helen and Michael Gannon John Monash Scholar)

An interventional cardiologist, Hannah aspires to collaborate with biomedical engineers, research and industry to improve cardiac therapies and ensure equitable access to treatment for all Australians. She will pursue a two-year Executive Master of Business Administration in Innovation and Business Creation at Technical University of Munich with the goal of maximising her impact as a clinician, researcher and patient advocate.

Previous study: Doctor of Medicine, University of New South Wales; Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology), University of Sydney; Master of Science (Medicine), University of Notre Dame.

Isabella Notarpietro (2025 Chairman’s Circle John Monash Scholar)

Building on her current role at the International Energy Agency in Paris, Isabella will pursue a two-year dual Master of Public Administration at the London School of Economics and Columbia University to equip her with the skills and expertise to contribute to realising Australia's clean energy potential. She has represented Australia as an Environmental Delegate to the Youth G20 Summit in 2022 and has received numerous awards for her academic studies.

Previous study: Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Environmental Humanities), University of New South Wales.

Max Foreman (2025 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar)

Max plans to pursue a PhD at Ulm University in Germany, which is renowned for its impact and world-leading research. Max will focus on the application of quantum mechanics to biological science. He hopes to return to Australia with the skills to contribute to Australia’s quantum economy and advance impactful research in biophysics at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology to improve the lives of all Australians.

Previous study: Bachelor of Advanced Science (Hons), University of Queensland.

Maxwell Yong (2025 John Monash Business Scholar)

An economist with a passion for public policy, Maxwell will complete a two-year Master of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. His research on income-contingent loans for university students has already informed Australian legislation and he hopes that his study overseas will further equip him to contribute to Australia’s education policy.

Previous study: Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), University of Melbourne.

Mikayla Hyland-Wood (2025 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar)

An emerging development researcher and youth activist, Mikayla will pursue a one-year Master of Science in Water Science, Policy and Management at the University of Oxford. A passionate advocate for water and food security, she has contributed to national and global dialogues through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s World Food Forum Youth Policy Board and the Researchers in Agriculture for International Development Network.

Previous study: Bachelor of Science Advanced (Hons), Australian National University. 

Racheline Tantular (2025 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar)

The CEO of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership, Racheline is an internationally recognised youth leader in Asia-Australia relations. She will pursue a two-year double master’s degree in International Affairs jointly organised by the London School of Economics and Peking University, with the ambition to deepen her expertise in Australia-China relations for Australia’s security and stability.  

Previous study: Bachelor of Philosophy (Music General Studies, Asian Studies), University of Western Australia.

Rhona Hamilton (2025 BHP John Monash Scholar)
Rhona will pursue a PhD at the University of St Andrews with the goal of learning techniques from photonics and nanotechnology to further explain the biology of the brain, with important implications for understanding Alzheimer’s disease.

Previous study: Master of Engineering, University of Tokyo (in progress); Bachelor of Science (Hons), University of Adelaide.

Samuel Cass (2025 John and Anna Belfer Trust John Monash Scholar)

An early career lawyer living in Darwin, Samuel will pursue a PhD focused on public interest legal practice and reform at the University of Oxford, with a strategic focus on government accountability and corporate influence, First Nations self-determination and democratic freedoms. 

Previous study: Bachelor of Civil Law, University of Oxford (in progress); Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, Australian National University.

Sophie Mayo (2025 ANZAC Centenary John Monash Scholar)

A former professional ballerina turned foreign policy and defence researcher, Sophie will pursue a three-year combined Master in Public Administration and Master of Business Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the MIT Sloan School of Management. Through her studies, she hopes to contribute to Australia’s defence capabilities and national resilience. 

Previous study: Master of International Relations (American Foreign Policy), University of Sydney; Graduate Certificate in Commerce, University of Sydney; Bachelor of Global Studies (Communication), University of Technology Sydney. 

Thenu Herath (2025 Rio Tinto John Monash Scholar)

A diplomat in training, Thenu will pursue a one-year Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford to further her understanding of how Australia can better engage diaspora and Indigenous communities, women, people with disabilities and the LGBTIQA+ community in foreign policy and beyond.

Previous study: Juris Doctor, University of Melbourne; Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne.  

Dr William Choy (Roden Cutler NSW John Monash Scholar)

A doctor in the Northern Territory, William will pursue a two-year Master of Science in Global Health Science and Epidemiology at the University of Oxford to gain technical expertise in epidemiology and policy formulation to lead a renewed and informed dialogue on First Nations health in Australia.

Previous study: Doctor of Medicine, University of New South Wales; Bachelor of Medical Studies and Bachelor of Science (Medicine), University of New South Wales.

Pic Anish Badgeri (Inaugural 2025 Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholar)