Postgraduate Prize Celebrates Monash Law’s Brightest Legal Minds
Monash University’s Law Faculty honoured its top-performing postgraduate students at the 2024 Postgraduate Prize Ceremony, held on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at the Monash University Law Chambers in Melbourne.
The evening brought together students, faculty, alumni, and distinguished guests to celebrate academic excellence and the future of the legal profession. The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Chief Justice Marilyn Warren Prize for Best Juris Doctor Student, awarded to Ellen Searle. The Emeritus Professor HP Lee Student’s Publication Prize for Best Research Publication was awarded to Eliza Venville.
Associate Professor Jacqui Horan led proceedings as master of ceremonies and invited each prize winner to the stage to accept their award.
“ We’re proud to show you off tonight to showcase the best of the best, because you are really extraordinary in a sea of really incredible students at Monash Law,” said Associate Professor Horan.
Dean of Law celebrates excellence from the start
In his first prize ceremony as Dean, Professor Steven Vaughan welcomed attendees with warmth and humour, reflecting on the significance of the occasion.
“You are some of the best and brightest in this state and beyond, and we have taken you and tried to support you and encourage you and develop you to be better than when you came to us originally.”
Professor Vaughan, who joined Monash Law from University College London in January 2025, also reminded students of the broader impact of their legal education.
“Almost all of my research on lawyers’ ethics has one central argument, and the central argument is that lawyers forget that they have some agency - they have some agency in the work that they do, and in how they do it. They forget that they can exercise that agency in the work that they do for their clients.”
He encouraged students to embrace diverse career paths.
“Law is too important to be left to the lawyers. Law is such an important part of the social fabric of our society that those of you who go on to become lawyers will do a wonderful job. And those of you who do other things are doing equally important work, drawing on your legal expertise.”
Occasional Address: A global perspective
His Excellency Dr Siswo Pramono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia and Monash Law alumnus, was disappointed that he couldn’t be in the room to address the students directly.
“ Days after his reelection victory, the Prime Minister of Australia announced his plan to embark on diplomatic visits to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Canada. So duty calls for Dr. Pramono,” explained Professor Vaughan.
His Excellency Dr Siswo Pramono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia delivered his occasional address via video.
So, the occasional address was delivered via video. Speaking from his desk, Dr Pramono offered a compelling reflection on the evolving global legal and economic landscape.
“In the reflection of my career as a diplomat… the world is changing,” he said, highlighting the shift in global economic power toward Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Dr Pramono emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge and cultural understanding for legal professionals in a globalised world.
“For us as a professional diplomat and for you as a professional lawyer, we need to know more than the one discipline. Number one, multidisciplinarity will be important. Number two, understanding cultures will be very important to us.”
He also encouraged students to embrace language learning and regional engagement.
“Understanding language is important for lawyers and the legal profession because from culture you understand the business culture, political culture, and legal culture as well”.
Best Juris Doctor Student awarded to Ellen Searle
The evening’s most prestigious award, the Chief Justice Marilyn Warren Prize for Best Juris Doctor Student, was awarded to Ellen Searle, who also received the Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Best Juris Doctor Student.
Introducing Ellen, Professor Vaughan praised her curiosity, resilience, and fierce intellect.
Ellen began her JD in August 2021 after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, and has since joined the Commonwealth Government’s graduate program, working at the Australian Government Solicitor.
In her acceptance speech, Ellen reflected on her unexpected journey into law.
“I started the JD on somewhat of a whim after completing a Bachelor of Science. I had every intention of pursuing medicine, but ultimately decided that that wasn’t the career path for me.”
She credited her passion for law to her experience in criminal law.
“I had the privilege of being taught by Jennifer Paneth… and I can say with confidence that it was that subject and your teaching that ignited my love for the law.”
Ellen also shared memories from Monash’s Prato campus in Italy.
“It was by far the highlight of my entire time at Monash. I found myself reminiscing about that time a lot lately and wishing I was back in Italy eating a pizza under a volcano.”
Sharing the feelings of many in the room, Ellen finished her speech with heartfelt thanks to her support network.
“Without you, there is no way I would’ve survived this degree, let alone made it to this stage. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Watch Ellen Searle’s acceptance speech for Best Juris Doctor Student.
Best Research Publication awarded to Eliza Venville
In the research category, Eliza Venville received the Emeritus Professor HP Lee Student’s Publication Prize for Best Research Publication. The prize, supported by alumni including Robyn Campbell, Mark Hayes, Jane Hodder, and Kathie Sampson, honours outstanding scholarly contributions by higher degree research students.
Dr Leavides Cabarrubias was named runner-up for Best Research Publication.
2024 Postgraduate Prize Recipients
The following prizes are proudly supported by the legal community and industry:
Ashurst Prize for Negotiation: Essential Skills for Dispute Resolution
- Fraser Smith
- Alexander Stiller
Fraser Smith accepts his prize from Giselle McLeod of Ashurst.
Australian Italian Lawyers Association Prize for Advanced Property Law
- Iris Shuttleworth
Iris Shuttleworth accepts her prize from Professor Marilyn Pittard.
Clayton Utz Prize for Principles of Contract Law B
- Nathanael Mancev
Nathanael Mancev accepts his prize from Clayton Utz.
Davies Collison Cave Prize for Intellectual Property
- Abbey Crawley
Abbey Crawley accepts her prize from Chris Jordan of Davies Collison Cave.
DLA Piper Prize for Principles of Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Elishia Brown
Elishia Brown accepts her prize from Gowri Kangeson of DLA Piper.
Forte Family Lawyers Prize for Mediation A: Foundations of Mediation
- Suzana Grivicic
- Augustus Law
Augustus Law accepts his prize from Jemma Mackenzie of Forte Family Lawyers.
iappANZ Prize for Privacy and Surveillance: Law, Policy and Governance
Supported by the International Association of Privacy Professionals
- Jared Roake
- Gabriel Rogowsky-Wilson
Maddocks Prize for Principles of Administrative Law
- Elishia Brown
Mahlab Recruitment Prize for Ethics in Legal Practice
- Simon Judd-Mole
Simon Judd-Mole accepts his prize from Katherine Sampson of Mahlab Recruitment.
Taussig Cherrie Fildes Prize for Principles of Trusts
- Modi Deng
- Elizabeth Pearce
Thomson Reuters Prize for Principles of Constitutional Law
- Joshua Bruni
- Catherine Wicks
- Sheena Zhu Yanshan
Joshua Bruni accepts her prize from Julie Petinella of Thomson Reuters.
Catherine Wicks accepts her prize from Julie Petinella of Thomson Reuters.
Sheena Zhu Yanshan accepts her prize from Julie Petinella of Thomson Reuters.
The following prizes are proudly supported by the Faculty of Law at Monash University:
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Advocacy
- Emma Kong
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Australian Legal Process and Research
- Leon Martin
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Australian Legal Reasoning and Methods
- Brendan Litan
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Competition Law
- Junwei Liu
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Corporate and White Collar Crime
- Sean Whipp
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for International Entertainment Law
- Kevin Huynh
- Olivia Prato
Kevin Huynh accepts his prize from Professor Marilyn Pittard.
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Law of Employee Relations
- Hugo Mitchell
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Company Law
- Juliet Garro
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Contract Law A
- Matthew Harris
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure
- Nicholas Smith
Nicholas Smith accepts his prize from Professor Marilyn Pittard.
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Equity
- Hamish Cameron
Hamish Cameron accepts his prize from Associate Professor Emmanuel Laryea.
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Evidence
- Juliet Garro
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Taxation
- William Ho
William Ho accepts his prize from Associate Professor Emmanuel Laryea.
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Principles of Torts
- Ian Chi Cheung
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Professional Project
- Sam Darmann
The following prizes are named in honour of individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Faculty of Law and supporting organisations:
Annie Moylan JD Professional Practice Prize
Supported by Marshalls+Dent+Wilmoth Lawyers
- Max Castle
Lachlan Brown Memorial Prize for Principles of Property Law
Supported by the Brown Family
- Ian Chi Cheung
- Eric Lu
Eric Lu accepts his prize from Associate Professor Emmanuel Laryea.
The Honourable Chief Justice William Alstergren AO KC Prize for Principles of Family Law
- Simone Cohen
The Honourable Pamela Tate AM KC Prize for Principles of Public Law and Statutory Interpretation
- Declan Fitzgerald
Declan Fitzgerald accepts his prize from the Honourable Pamela Tate AM KC.
BEST RESEARCH PUBLICATION
Emeritus Professor HP Lee Student’s Publication Prize
Supported by Robyn Campbell, Mark Hayes, Jane Hodder and Kathie Sampson
Prize Winner: Eliza Venville
Runner-up: Leavides Cabarrubias
Leavides Cabarrubias accepts her prize from Jane Hodder.
RUNNER-UP BEST JURIS DOCTOR STUDENT
Monash Law Alumni Excellence Prize for Runner-up Best Juris Doctor Student
Supported by Robyn Campbell, Phoebe Dunn, Robyn Griffin, James Hawkins, Andrew Kroger, Tony Pane and John Steven
Prize Winner: Hugo Mitchell
BEST JURIS DOCTOR STUDENT
Chief Justice Marilyn Warren Prize for Best Juris Doctor Student
Supported by Professor the Honourable Marilyn Warren AC KC and a prominent group of generous alumni from the Monash Faculty of Law
Monash Faculty of Law Prize for Best Juris Doctor Student
Prize Winner: Ellen Searle