NYC 2026

Degree: Bachelor of Architecture Design
Country: Australia

I'm Julia, a Bachelor of Architecture student at Monash University. I have the privilege of working across Australia and Brazil (my home country) at the intersection of sustainability, design, and community-led impact. My work focuses on climate-positive design initiatives, international education collaborations, and expanding access to sustainability through student-led and interdisciplinary projects. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to bring all of this together by attending the United Nations Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, with Monash. I applied to the Global Discovery Program to deepen my global perspective, learn from industry leaders, and engage with diverse approaches to cities, leadership, and innovation. I am particularly interested in connecting local initiatives to international networks to amplify their impact and accessibility. Through the program, I hope to build meaningful connections, support and learn from my peers, and act as a bridge between communities, bringing insights back to the networks I am part of while expanding access, opportunity, and impact through shared knowledge and collaboration.

Degree: Bachelor of Medical Sciences and Doctor of Medicine
Country: Australia

My name is Kunal and I am currently in my third year of studying Medicine, with a passion for global health and advocacy. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing football and spending time with my dog! The Global Discovery Program is a brilliant opportunity to explore how meaningful change can be enacted through my career. In a rapidly evolving world facing complex challenges, I hope this program and Monash alumni will equip me with the insight needed to better understand and address them. In line with this year’s theme, remaining grounded in what makes us human is not only central in medicine, but fundamental to driving positive social change broadly. Ultimately, I hope the program will challenge the way I think, deepen my understanding of global issues, and inspire me to approach my future career with greater purpose and impact.

Degree: Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts
Country: Australia

Kirsten is a second year Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Arts student who is honoured to travel to New York to further her advocacy for access to justice and legal education. Alongside her studies in law and politics, Kirsten volunteers as a legal assistant in community law and in advocacy with her local Youth Council, working to increase opportunities for young people. These experiences have deepened her understanding of the barriers to legal support and have bolstered her passion for youth justice and community engagement. This inspired her to apply so she can further explore how public policy can alleviate legal disadvantage in Australia and internationally. She is excited to learn from inspiring Monash alumni about the skills they have developed to pursue their ambitions following their studies. She hopes to gain global perspectives on social justice issues and cannot wait to build meaningful connections with international changemakers and like-minded Monash students.

Degree: Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts
Country: Australia

Mervin is a Law (Honours) and Arts (Politics) student in his penultimate year of study. He is deeply passionate about youth agency and empowering people to recognise and take up opportunities that allow them to shape their communities and futures. The Global Discovery Program represents an exciting opportunity for Mervin to further develop his leadership skills while learning from global figures and institutions. At a time of increasing political tension and division, he strongly believes in the value of open discourse and the importance of cooperation in achieving meaningful and lasting change. Aspiring for a bright career in law, Mervin is eager to observe how leaders navigate disagreement and build consensus in complex environments. Finally, a trip to the Big Apple also taps into Mervin’s love of sport, food, and photography, offering the chance to experience one of the world’s most dynamic cities while learning alongside driven peers!

Degree: Bachelor of Medical Sciences and Doctor of Medicine
Country: Australia

Izabella is a medical student at Monash University, AI researcher at the Cao Lab for Medical AGI/ASI, and founder and President of Nexus - a collective making medtech and AI accessible to students, innovators, and clinicians across Australia. Alongside her research and clinical training, she serves as an Investments Associate at NextGen Ventures, backing Australia's most ambitious student founders, and as a Berkeley AI Safety Policy Fellow focused on AI governance in healthcare. Izabella believes the future of healthcare AI must be shaped by leaders who move fluently across medicine, technology, and policy - and that the most consequential innovations come from those who refuse to sit in one lane. Through the Global Discovery Program, she aims to connect with those shaping this world, understand how the best navigate building in the age of AI, and return equipped to train the next generation of clinician-innovators.

Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce
Country: Australia

Angelina Mantelos is a final-year Engineering and Commerce undergraduate at Monash University, majoring in Mechatronics Engineering (AI specialisation) and Marketing Science. With experience in project management, innovative problem solving, and stakeholder communication through engineering student-led teams – Monash Motorsport and Monash UAS – she is passionate about bridging technical innovation with human-centered strategy. She applied to the 2026 NYC Global Discovery Program to immerse in a city of relentless adaptation, observing how organisations proactively navigate rapid technological advancements and global challenges while maintaining ethical judgement and values. Her co-development of Monash’s Engineering Ethics Pledge underscores her commitment to intentional innovation that prioritises people and the planet. Angelina hopes to return with frameworks for adaptive leadership at scale – methods that guide teams to develop their own solutions for intentional adaptation. This will equip her to lead collaborative project teams where humanity intentionally shapes adaptation for a better future.

Degree: Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
Country: Australia

My name is Michael and I am a third-year Bachelor of Biomedical Science student. I am particularly interested in human disease, physiology, and global healthcare. I am motivated to work towards a career in humanitarian aid to help address global health inequalities in developing countries. Outside of university, I work as a swim coach and as an assistant in a boarding house. I also enjoy running, swimming, and playing social water polo. I applied for this program because I aspire to strengthen the skills that I believe are essential for success in our world today. More specifically, I am committed to challenging myself and developing the cultural humility required to respond to real-world challenges. I aim to understand what effective leadership looks like in today’s world while understanding the factors behind success in global organisations, so that I grow as a capable, empathetic, and globally minded professional.

Degree: Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts
Country: Australia

My name’s Dhivi, and I am a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Science student. There is a saying that what we know is only a handful of sand compared to the vastness of the world. Growing up as the daughter of immigrants, this has been a constant reminder that while the law can feel like a collection of technical rules and procedures, these systems shape a person’s opportunities and sense of belonging. This perspective led me to work in immigration law at a private firm and now as a volunteer paralegal at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Alongside this, I have developed a keen interest in intellectual property law and financial technology through my elective studies. I am excited by the opportunity to meet Monash alumni in New York, learn alongside peers with diverse perspectives, and explore the global landscape of law, technology, and the values that underpin them.

Degree: Bachelor of Information Technology
Country: Australia

Aanchal Sharma is a final-year Bachelor of Information Technology student specialising in Cybersecurity and Business Information Systems. She is driven by a passion for leveraging technology to create inclusive and meaningful change. With a strong focus on digital equity, she is committed to empowering underrepresented communities and expanding access to opportunity through technology. Through her work mentoring young girls in programming, Aanchal has witnessed firsthand how building technical confidence can unlock pathways into the digital world. This experience has shaped her broader vision of using innovative and scalable technological solutions to bridge the digital divide. The Global Discovery Program offers Aanchal the opportunity to refine this vision by engaging with global leaders and industry pioneers in New York. She seeks to gain insights into how technology is applied at scale across industries, and how it can be harnessed to drive both innovation and social impact in an increasingly interconnected world.

Degree: Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Computer Science
Country: Australia

I am a 3rd year Commerce and Computer Science student at Monash University, currently serving as a part-time Associate Consultant at Scyne Advisory. My background in investment analysis and semi-professional soccer has cultivated a high-performance mindset and a rigorous approach to financial due diligence. I applied for the Global Discovery Program to bridge the gap between my academic foundation in Melbourne and the global financial epicentre of New York. My primary objective is to cultivate a high-level global network within the finance and related industries by engaging with Monash’s elite alumni. I aim to "reverse-engineer the hidden curriculum" of global power, gaining the international perspective and professional capital necessary to scale my ventures and democratise high-level opportunities for others. By immersing myself in the NYC ecosystem, I hope to acquire the strategic insights required to navigate and influence the most sophisticated layers of the global financial landscape.