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Monash Life 2023

We look at Monash’s pioneering Indigenous business leadership course, we also ask alumna and Channel 7 meteorologist Jane Bunn about forecasting and climate change, and discover why Pacific regions are feeling the pressure. And finally, we asked you whether Regurgitator or Powderfinger rocked out harder.

Monash Life 2022

From combating modern slavery to revolutionising how we use energy and making advances in cardiovascular health, Monash Life dives deep into how Monash alumni, researchers and students are transforming our future, for good.

2021

Life behind the canvas

It was 8.05am in outer Melbourne, when Peter Wegner took the call that capped his career. It was the caller’s second try.

It takes two: A beauty empire built from laughter and friendship

Starting a business can be a lonely journey. Fortunately for Monash alumni Estefania Tchung and Elizabeth Le, a passion for science, a shared workplace and a memorable sleepover party inspired a splendr.ous partnership.

Turning architecture into art

Monash alumni Gregory Bonasera and Anthony Raymond put a revolutionary spin on an ancient artform to capture Monash's history and reinvigorate our campus.

Engineering for the next generation

Young Monash graduate and engineering mentor Fahad Mubashshir uses his leadership skills to help students build bridges to rewarding industry careers.

Generating the whole education picture

Through never being afraid to ask questions, entrepreneur Chris Hoang created Edapt Education – a data solution that could transform the cultural fabric of our education system.

What makes and effective leader?

For Whitelion CEO and Victorian Pride Centre chair Hang Vo, great leadership is about toiling at the social work coalface, learning from others – and a stroke of inspiration.

Local knowledge at the heart of sustainable development

Whether it’s sitting at global tables of influence or walking the streets of his home town in Pakistan, Monash alumnus Sikander Bizenjo is working to bridge gaps between rich and poor.

Inside Annika Smethurst's eventful year

Political journalist and Monash alumna Annika Smethurst reflects on women in Canberra, the role of the Fourth Estate and her biography of Scott Morrison – penned during her short-lived attempt at downtime.

Meet Dr Grazie Gunn: Visionary for the avant-garde arts

“New ideas, if nurtured, can open up new vistas,” says Dr Grazia Gunn, gazing across the Yarra River from her home in Southbank, central Melbourne. “I went around the world looking at current art for possible acquisition.”

A gift to advance science and for Joie De Vivre

Molecular chemist turned winemaker Karen Coulston has long shared her knowledge in labs, lecture halls and cellar doors. Now, with a donation to Monash, she’s helping a new generation of researchers advance scientific discovery.

Refugee spirit fires a future of hope

Afghan asylum seeker Mariam Mohammad Rahim raises thousands of dollars for other students experiencing disadvantage while also pursuing a future in medicine.

Mitigating the impact of natural disasters

Physicist Dr Ray Canterford PSM turned a passion for investigating the earth’s processes into a career at the forefront of the emergency response to tsunami and extreme weather events.

How to fuel a carbon-neutral future

Shanghai-based Saw Choon Seong sees engineering as the creative path to opportunity. It is no surprise to find him delivering clean fuel technology critical to the world’s response to climate change.

Grassroots solutions for indigenous communities

Associate Professor Kyllie Cripps has overcome socio-economic disadvantage to become a leading adviser on policies and programs to address family violence and empower Indigenous communities.

Digital technologies transforming business

Tracey Kennair is inspired by the possibilities for business and the community enabled by technology – especially in a pandemic.

Charting Indonesia's low carbon future

A renewable energy hub is advising government on carbon markets, harnessing natural resources and crowd-funding start-ups on Indonesia’s path to net zero emissions.

On the pandemic frontline

Professor Rhonda Stuart became the face of the fight against COVID-19 when she was filmed as the first Victorian to receive a vaccine. But it’s her tireless work behind the scenes that has been making a difference.

Genevieve Overell AM

A pathfinder for professional women in law, Genevieve Overell AM shares the building blocks to her success.

Meet the Kempers

As Monash turns 60, the number of parents and their children graduating from the University is on the rise.

Business walking the talk on corporate social responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is more than a buzzword for UK-based Jessie Macneil-Brown.

Sports stars back anti-racism initiative

Jamal Elsheikh knew he was on the right track once the emails started rolling in.

Keeping up with technology disruption by putting people first

No matter how advanced the technology, good people management is always at the heart of a thriving business, says Hong Kong-based SEEK executive Shen Tham.

Turning tech innovation from big dream to Silicon Valley success

Co-founder of multimillion-dollar software company Cyara, Alok Kulkarni employed grit, adaptability and a willingness to learn to reach his dream of becoming a technological entrepreneur.

Romancing the stone

Dr Rick and Mel Squire

A marriage of medical minds

Dr Jarrel Seah and Dr Jennifer Tang

From friendship, to love, to a global consultancy

Tara Wilkinson and John Garnaut

How technology can be a force for good

The digital revolution provides an enormous opportunity to improve lives. New York-based Monash alum Greg Baxter is determined to make a difference, working on bridging the digital divide.

New glaucoma treatment in sight

It took imagination and technical expertise, but Russell Tait is now commercialising a novel drug delivery system that is garnering international attention and changing the lives of glaucoma patients who are losing their eyesight.

Fresh lessons from a fruit nerd

Thanh Truong reveals how his personal passion blossomed into a fruitful career.

Using the law for a more humane world

Monash alumna Geraldine Johns-Putra on empowering corporations and other entities to progress human rights.

Reimaging our future with cli-fi

Adeline Johns-Putra explores how climate fiction is imagining a brighter world.

Putting humanity in focus

From asylum seekers to bushfire survivors, documentary maker Eva Orner shines light on human stories.

The doctor and social media star

With social media audience of 2.5 million, Monash alumna Dr Sarah Rav knows what it takes to share a message.

Tackling mental health head-on

When David Pearce, founder and CEO of On The Low Down, heard that the Victorian Government had pledged $3.8 billion to reform the state’s mental health system, he felt a surge of hope.

A healthy marriage

Two Monash Medicine alumni reflect on their lifelong partnership.

2020

Critical decision making and your own sense of ethics

Ethics underpin some of our most important societal and personal decisions, and, as Vanessa Pigrum explains, an understanding of them is invaluable for our times.

'Jumping in' to the field of pharmacy informatics

A young pharmacist with a keen sense of legacy is working at the forefront of medicine management.

HoMie co-founder’s ‘breaking ground’ approach to philanthropy

Bringing dignity to people affected by homelessness is just one of the many ways Dr Robert Gillies OAM is changing lives.

Daughter of a nation delivers the world

Journalist Yalda Hakim started life as a refugee. Today, she uses her global platform to expose the plight of the world’s most at-risk people.

Multi tracks: a natural pairing of music and public transport

One of the leaders of Melbourne’s city-shaping Suburban Rail Loop project, McCarthy is also an accomplished saxophonist and composer, and has juggled her two interests since her days at Monash University studying engineering and music.

Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality – a first among equals

It’s a long way from Cooktown to Canberra – around 30 hours’ drive on the Mitchell Highway as it snakes its way south – but it reflects the magnitude of the journey undertaken by Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, Julie-Ann Guivarra.

Rome2rio co-founder on mentoring the next generation

This pandemic-grounded global trip-planner and software developer is using ‘downtime’ to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Placing microscopic life into people's hands

Dr Erica Tandori, a legally blind artist, is working with biomedical researchers to scale up microscopic life and place it, literally, into people’s hands.

An unexpected champion for press freedom

Award-winning Monash graduate and News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst, became an unexpected champion for press freedom after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) raided her Canberra flat in June 2019.

Medicine's guiding hand: Mary Hemming's Therapeutic Guidelines

Doctors rely on independent guidelines when prescribing medication – and Mary Hemming AO is a key figure behind these.

From campus smarts to Luxury Escapes startup king

Ecommerce entrepreneur Adam Schwab, who has spun gold from tapping into what people want, says there are always lessons in new challenges.

A time for boldness

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to Monash, but it has strengthened our resolve to innovate and advance to provide our communities with a better, brighter future.

Bringing the cosmos to life through 3D printing and soundscapes

Dr Nicolas Bonne, a vision-impaired astronomer, is translating scientific information into forms that can be experienced by the blind and vision-impaired through experimenting with 3D printing and soundscapes.

Learning a language takes you beyond your backyard

Language teacher Rosa Sfameni wants to unlock a world of opportunities for her students.

Taking AFL to JAVA: Bridging cultures and empowering women

Ana Surjanto is exploring links to culture through language and sport to inspire her students with new confidence.

Protecting our waterways from drugs and microplastics

Traces of drugs are increasingly being detected in waterways, and Dr Erinn Richmond is studying the potential harm posed to ecological environments and whether microplastics aid the transportation of drugs into the diets of aquatic creatures.

Bridging the divide of transnational marriages in Malaysia

COVID-19 has brought the work of young social campaigner Melinda Anne Sharlini into sharp focus.

Working for Blizzard: A childhood passion turned reality

Video game artist at Blizzard Entertainment, Luke Mancini, realised that illustration and game design were where his passion lay after completing a trip to Prato as part of his Bachelor of Visual Design course.

Moneytree app a game-changer for Japan’s siloed fintech sector

With a long track record as a disruptor, Paul Chapman is ruffling the formerly straitlaced Japanese financial system with a personal finance app.

Spurring change in a broken mental-health system

Speaking from her own experience, Julie Dempsey has become an authoritative voice in improving mental health care.

Justice Kevin Zervos reflects on a remarkable law career

Justice Kevin Zervos reflects on a remarkable law career, forged by early experience as a student in a community legal service, and inspired by his alma mater to equip himself for life.

G17Eco Platform: creating a global movement for the public good

Manjula Lee has developed a breakthrough monitoring tool that helps governments and corporations support sustainable development programs.

Connecting First Peoples communities with objects from their past

Contemporary life is being breathed into First Peoples stories across generations, under the watch of Yorta Yorta woman Kimberley Moulton.

A passion for maths and tropical cyclones

A passion for real-world maths has put Professor Jenni Evans inside the world’s most destructive cyclones – and at the top of her field.

Reinventing the wheel with rideshare app Shebah

The rideshare industry has been a public transport phenomenon. George McEncroe has disrupted the industry and taken it to a new level of service with Shebah – Australia's leading all-women rideshare service.

A gift that continues education's transformative power

Julie Ligeti leaves a lasting legacy on behalf of her late brother, Peter, an ongoing gift that continues to support promising students from low socioeconomic and refugee backgrounds who deserve an outstanding education.

Ties that bind: Supporting the community and medical research

Saul Ryan’s family enterprise prides itself on supporting the community and cutting-edge medical research – and it’s both vital and personal.

Met at Monash

Relationships from friendships, business partnerships and even marriages continue to be forged at Monash. Read stories from fellow Monash alumni on how they 'met at Monash'.

Piecing together the Down Syndrome brain puzzle

Ana's research looks at understanding Down Syndrome and uses MRI to scan pregnant women and their newborn babies to gather detailed data about growth, structure and function of the brain.

The culture challenge that changed a life

As the coronavirus crisis plays out, some see a chance to connect a divided world.