Episodes
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In this episode of The Scholars Podcast: Conversations with Inspiring Leaders, host Justin Kelly interviews Dr Karen McConalogue, Executive Director of the General Sir John Monash Foundation Leadership Academy. With over 20 years of experience as an academic and executive, Karen shares her journey of transitioning from biomedical research to leading an innovative program designed to empower Australia's brightest postgraduate scholars.
Discover how the Leadership Academy supports over 280 John Monash Scholars throughout their careers, fostering leadership skills and community impact. Karen discusses the Academy's groundbreaking approach to lifelong learning, its focus on inclusivity across diverse disciplines, and innovative programs like mentoring initiatives and the national John Monash Leadership Series.
Karen also reflects on the challenges and triumphs of her first year in the role, the Academy's unique partnerships with corporate sponsors like BHP and Deloitte, and plans for 2025, including a robust impact framework to measure and amplify the scholars' contributions. This episode provides an inspiring glimpse into how education and leadership converge to shape Australia's future.
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This episode features Stephanie Pow, recipient of the NSW Premier’s John Monash Scholarship. The award enabled Stephanie to pursue dual master’s degrees—an MBA from the Wharton School and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School—broadening her expertise beyond finance into public policy and mission-driven leadership. From her early days as a top-performing investment banker at UBS to becoming the founder of Crayon, Stephanie shares the inspiring journey that led her to create a platform to reduce financial stress during life’s most pivotal moments.
Stephanie discusses the challenges of launching Crayon, a startup that supports parents with verified parental leave data and financial preparation programs. She highlights how Crayon partners with over 300 employers in New Zealand to provide transparency on parental leave policies and empower employees navigating parenthood. With plans to expand into Australia, Stephanie reveals her broader vision for addressing financial stress across other significant life events, including aged care and family transitions.
Throughout the conversation, Stephanie offers a candid look at balancing startup life with raising young children and the unique insights she brings as a parent and entrepreneur. She reflects on the challenges women face in building businesses post-motherhood and how her lived experiences were instrumental in shaping Crayon’s mission. Stephanie also shares her take on global parental leave trends, calling for Australia and New Zealand to adopt more progressive policies like those in Europe and Asia.
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Episodes manquant?
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When Dr Dilani Kahawala (2008 John Monash Scholar) headed to Harvard University to complete a PhD in theoretical particle physics, her purpose was to unravel the mysteries of the universe. But living in Boston between Harvard and MIT, she found a burgeoning startup scene and soon embraced the emerging tech sector, bringing with her the logic and systems-level thinking she refined over the course of her PhD.
In this episode of The Scholars Podcast, Dilani shares the twists and turns in her remarkable career, which has taken her around the world and back, and the leadership qualities she practices and cultivates in her role at Atlassian.
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Each year, thousands of people in Australia are diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis – an incurable condition of the lung that scientists have struggled to understand.
The work of Dr Davis McCarthy (2011 John Monash Scholar), a renowned statistician and genomic scientist, is helping to generate the pathway towards an eventual cure. Collaborating with a global community, Davis’s research searches DNA for answers to some of life’s biggest biological mysteries.
We speak to Davis about his work leading the bioinformatics and cellular genomics group at St. Vincent's Institute in Melbourne, what he sees as some of the biggest opportunities in preventative health care and some of the barriers faced by medical research globally. He reflects on his Scholarship's impact and explains why his time at Oxford helped shape his career trajectory.
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Fresh from her appointment as silk by the NSW Bar, barrister Zelie Heger SC sat down with host Justin Kelly to discuss her relationship with the law and the cases that have shaped her career.
A barrister at Eleven Wentworth, Zelie has acted for environmentalists pursued by Santos following a failed campaign to stop its Barossa gas project and represented a landmark case arguing for the protection of transgender women from discrimination on the basis
of their gender identity.
She holds a Master in Law from Cambridge University and a Bachelor of Arts in Law from the University of Sydney, where she was awarded the University Medal in Law. Zelie has served as an Associate to the Hon Chief Justice French at the High Court of Australia and the Hon Chief Justice Black at the Federal Court of Australia, and has extensive experience in Administrative, Constitutional and Title law from her time at the New South Wales Crown Solicitor’s Office,
In September 2024, Zelie was appointed silk by the NSW bar and took on the post-nominal SC – the equivalent to King’s Counsel or KC in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
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The CEO of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Paul Ramadge, joins host Justin Kelly to explore the stories and aspirations of the 2025 John Monash Scholars.
Named in honour of General Sir John Monash, the prestigious postgraduate scholarships are awarded annually following a highly competitive nationwide selection process.
The 2025 John Monash 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.
The John Monash Scholarships are made possible by the support of Australian companies, governments, universities, and individuals who share a commitment to education, leadership, and service.
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A highly respected and successful senior leader of large and complex institutions in public service, education, and the media, Professor Mark Scott AO recounts invaluable lessons from his dynamic leadership career in this episode of The Scholar’s Podcast.
Interviewed by Grattan Institute CEO Dr Aruna Sathanapally (2006 John Monash Scholar), Mark draws upon his time as Managing Director of the ABC, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education and an editor at Fairfax Media.
Through humorous and insightful storytelling, Mark recalls with humility the lessons and perspectives one can only come to understand in retrospect.
Now, as Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sydney, Mark is leading an ambitious 10-year strategy, with immediate commitments to more than double scholarship support for under-represented domestic students.
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Recognised for her pioneering 'spray-on skin' technique and support for victims of the Bali bombings, Professor Fiona Wood AO has been at the forefront of international wound care and research for over 30 years. As one of Australia’s most respected surgeons and researchers and Australia of the Year in 2005, she recounts the experiences that have shaped her as a surgeon and leader in a compelling conversation with Dr Sam Brophy-Williams (2012 John Monash Scholar).
Decisive, determined and compassionate, Fiona urges those aspiring to become innovators in their field to cultivate their fellowship as much as their leadership.
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In a timely address, ABC Chair, Kim Williams AM, argues strongly that the role of the media is to preserve and protect democracy. The speech was delivered at the 13th annual John Monash Oration hosted by the General Sir John Monash Foundation and the Commonwealth Bank.
The intimate evening brought together a distinguished assembly of Foundation members, friends, supporters and Scholars to reflect on the vital role of leadership in shaping Australia’s future.
Kim has had a distinguished career in the arts, entertainment, and media industries. He has held executive leadership roles within organisations, including News Corp Australia, FOXTEL, Fox Studios Australia, and the Australian Film Commission. A passionate advocate for the arts, he has served as Chairman of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Opera House Trust and was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his services to the arts.
Zelie Heger (2010 John Monash Scholar) follows with a thoughtful response, underscoring the media’s significant role in the justice system.
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Scientist and educator Dr Matt Baker (2005 John Monash Scholar) sat down with Justin Kelly to discuss his remarkable career, which has taken him from Uzbekistan to Greece and in and out of the worlds of competitive fencing, media and academia.
Matt, who is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of New South Wales, studies the bacterial flagellar motor that makes nearly all bacteria swim. His latest research seeks to expand our understanding of the origins and evolution of this motor to fuel future applications in synthetic biology.
In this episode, Matt shares his passion for making science accessible, ambitions for the future and his advice for scientists starting out in the field.
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Dr Alan Finkel AC wants to be remembered as evidence-based, having integrity, and delivering impact. With a career spanning neuroscience, engineering, entrepreneurship, and policy, Alan has eclectic leadership stories and unique insights into collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving. In the third instalment of the 2024 John Monash Series sponsored by BHP, Alan sits down with May Samali (2014 NSW Premier's John Monash Scholar) at Monash University on August 1 to discuss leadership during technological innovation, uncertainty and conflict.
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Good artwork is not about answering questions but asking them: What is our relationship with nature? With each other? How can we re-imagine our shared history?
The quality of contemporary art emerging from Australia is globally influential, calling upon cultural leaders, institutions, and thinkers to champion one another and elevate collective impact. As the first artist to receive the Australian Cultural John Monash Scholarship, Dr Fernando do Campo has spent much time cultivating his curiosity for untold stories and the questions they reveal about identity, the past, and human nature. As an avid bird watcher, lover of long walks, and Taronga Zoo patriot, Fernando shares some of the experimental ways he generates his creativity and the leadership role he believes the Australian art sector plays on both a national and global level.
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Having worked in Hong Kong during the early years of China’s reform and opening as a government representative in Taipei, Ambassador to China, and Deputy High Commissioner in London, Her Excellency the Hon. Frances Adamson AC is not short of incredible stories and leadership wisdom. Now the 36th Governor of South Australia, she is joined by 2015 Woodside John Monash Scholar Tom Williams at Flinders University in Adelaide to retell some of her experiences and share the lessons she has learned during this time. From channelling her anger, knowing how and when to speak from the heart, and empowering others to be their best, Her Excellency offers an invaluable collection of insights on leadership, family, and life-long impact.
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The typical waitlist for a child to access specialist public health services in rural and remote Australia is roughly four years. There are only two speech pathologists in the whole of Australia who work in Aboriginal medical services. With the NDIS opening the floodgates to more and more families needing allied health support, this unmet demand appears to be growing and is unlikely to diminish soon.
Enter Rebecca Keeley, 2022 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar, speech pathologist, rural health care advocate, and now a tech entrepreneur. Rebecca is the Founder & CEO of Yarn Speech, a startup helping to make basic speech pathology principles more accessible for children and their carers.
Yarn Speech has already caused a stir on the cusp of its official launch. The product is hotly anticipated by families increasingly desperate to access support and is backed by local clinicians nationwide. Rebecca was recently awarded the NSW/ACT AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award for her work at Yarn Speech.
In this episode, we discuss with Rebecca the experiences that have inspired her to tackle the problem head-on, and the challenges she’s had to navigate.
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How can leadership keep up during a radical era of environmental, technological, and social change? What does revolutionary leadership mean, and why does Australia fall behind it?
In our first of five conversations with eminent Australian leaders, 2013 BHP John Monash Scholar Jillian Kilby speaks to Andrew N. Liveris AO on some of his career's most pivotal challenges and the decisions that helped him to overcome them. Andrew is an expert on leadership through times of disruption and unafraid of opposition. As the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dow Chemical Company and current President of the Board of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he sheds light on how he has weathered backlash and embraced crisis to enact powerful economic and organizational and political change.
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In 1997, a backpacking trip from Bali to Lombok threw Jacqui Baker, then 19, and her friends straight into the heady world of Indonesian politics, setting her on a career-long journey toward understanding more about this incredible archipelago.
Jacqui's countless experiences across the country have been nothing short of extraordinary - from hanging with jihadists to hearing songs of revolution - and the country’s kaleidoscope of perspectives makes this nation so incredible.
We speak with Dr Jacqui Baker, a 2004 John Monash Scholar, about what makes Indonesia special and how Australia should support its social and political stability. Jacqui is a lecturer in Southeast Asian Studies at Murdoch University, where she is President of the Indonesia Council. She is also an editor at the Journal for Southeast Asian Studies and host of the podcast Talking Indonesia.
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Synthetic biology has changed how we live, from genetically modified food to insulin production and engineered mosquitos. This science shrinks traditional engineering to the nanometre, tailoring life from inside a cell.
Can we engineer bacteria to remove waste products from our environment and reverse the effects of climate change? Will the future of meat be from within a lab? Can we create new kinds of cells that live within the human body, changing their colour to notify us of disease?
We join Professor Harrison Steel (2016 Roden Cutler NSW John Monash Scholar) from the University of Oxford to discuss how he combines robotic technologies with biological engineering to tackle the world's challenges. At the forefront of scientific possibility, Harrison reflects on which hurdles may prevent a billion-dollar investment and the necessary ethical questions arising when we try to re-design life.
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What is the School of Cybernetics, and why has it become an engine for innovation? What does history tell us about how robotics will affect society in the future? How can we generate more conversation between policymakers, engineers, and businesses?
Professor Katherine Daniell (2005 John Monash Scholar) joins us to explain how and why she established the Australian National University's School of Cybernetics Masters Program, the first and only program of its kind it's in the world and the first new School at ANU in nearly half a century, in only five weeks.
Katherine's expertise spans engineering, computing, French, and policy. As an academic, she believes in teaching students to think about cultures, perspectives, and values beyond the scope conventionally provided for them within our sectored economy. For Katherine, changing the world will require us to improve how we work with people different from ourselves and embrace an emerging movement that recognizes the urgency for cross-sector expertise that dips into unique ideas and solutions.
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Why do men seem to dominate the math lecture hall at a tertiary level? Why are Australian classrooms continuing to lose math students? What is mathematical communication and how might it boost math skills among Australia’s marginalised populations?
Georgina Ryan (2024 Commonwealth Bank John Monash Scholar) joins Justin Kelly to discuss the reasons behind Australia’s dropping math capabilities, and what solutions may be available at a system level. Georgina shares why she believes mathematical skills are critical for our future, and her vision for advancing the country's capacity to harness and translate our knowledge.
Georgina will undertake her D.Phil in mathematics at the University of Oxford this year and is passionate about pursuing the field of continuum mechanics - an area studied by only a handful of researchers in Melbourne.
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What is sustainable finance and how is it changing the investment landscape? Who are some of the biggest hidden players of carbon emissions, and why aren’t we talking about them?
Join Dr Arjuna Dibley (2016 Woodside John Monash Scholar) and host Justin Kelly as they explore what it means to put a price on climate change and the creative ways policymakers are shifting incentives.
Arjuna is the Head of the Sustainable Finance Hub at Melbourne Climate Futures and leads a new initiative leveraging research and partnerships to mobilize public and private finance for addressing the climate crisis. He reflects on some of the greatest social challenges faced in curbing global emissions, including the need for enlivened climate optimism to enact cultural change.
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