Dean’s Student Excellence Awards 2026: Honours for impact beyond the classroom
5 June 2026
L-R, Mrudula Karigowda and Nakul Prakash Goyal.
A Monash Business School student and graduate inspired by experiences beyond the classroom have been recognised at the faculty’s top student excellence awards.
Nakul Prakash Goyal used his background as an international student to help smooth the transition for those who followed.
Mrudula Karigowda was inspired by an international study tour to focus on sustainable finance solutions to drive long-term environmental and social outcomes.
Both have earned a 2026 Monash University Faculty of Business and Economics Dean’s Student Excellence Award for their efforts.
Belonging beyond borders
Finding your footing in a new country can be challenging at the best of times.
For Nakul Prakash Goyal, it was also the backdrop to balancing a full-time degree, part-time work, and roles as a Peer Mentor, Student Ambassador, College Advisor and volunteer across numerous student associations, clubs and societies.
“Arriving in Australia was exciting and overwhelming at the same time - everything from navigating the university system to settling into daily life felt unfamiliar,” Mr Goyal said.
Drawing on his own experience, he used those leadership positions to help first-year and international students to build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging.
“Mentoring and student support gave me an opportunity to share what I had learned, connect with others, and contribute to a more welcoming environment,” he said.
As an International Student Ambassador, he contributed to student campaigns and shared content with a global audience, highlighting the realities of international student life.
Last year, he was awarded the University’s Ethical Volunteering Award and was named among Australia’s Top 100 Student Leaders.
This year, he has been recognised with the Dean’s Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion Student Award.
“It’s something I feel deeply proud of, not just as a personal achievement, but as recognition of the impact that student-led support and community building can have,” he said.
Capital with consequence
Can capital help solve the climate crisis?
Mrudula Karigowda is working to ensure it does, focusing her efforts on the critical role capital allocation plays in accelerating transition and strengthening long-term resilience.
“Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue, it has real financial consequences,” Ms Karigowda said.
“Finance has the ability to guide companies and individuals towards more responsible choices, simply through where money is invested and spent.”
That conviction took shape during a study tour to Belgium and Germany.
“The exposure to high-level policy discussions and everyday practices really sparked my interest in sustainable finance,” she said.
As Sustainability Reporting Lead and later Sustainability Manager at the Monash Student Managed Fund, Ms Karigowda developed training materials to equip students with industry-aligned ESG knowledge.
She went on to found Beyond.NetZero - an online community that aims to make responsible investing concepts accessible to a wider audience.
“The money we invest, the companies we support through our everyday spending, all of that has an impact,” she said.
“Beyond.NetZero is about helping people see that connection more clearly and encouraging more conscious decisions.”
She also contributed to the British Council-funded Sustainability Careers: Gender Equality project, receiving the Best Engagement Award.
Ms Karigowda has been named the 2026 Future Global Leader Award (Postgraduate) recipient in recognition of her contribution.
“Along with the recognition, it's also the motivation to keep learning, keep contributing, and continue building in this space,” she said.
Excellence in the spotlight
The 2026 Monash University Faculty of Business and Economics Dean’s Student Excellence Awards recognise academic achievement across all levels.
More than 1100 students were recognised at this year’s awards, including top performers in Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses, students who excel in individual units, the Dean’s Honours and Dean’s Commendations and the Mollie Holman Medal for outstanding doctoral research.
