Inaugural Katrina Dawson John Monash Foundation Scholarship

Adele Burke (centre), with Nikki and Angus Dawson. Image credit: Sam Mooy.

After almost 11 years of operating, we had the opportunity to enhance our impact by partnering with the General Sir John Monash Foundation, an organisation empowering outstanding Australians to pursue postgraduate studies at the world’s best universities and create meaningful impact for Australia. We are thrilled to announce Adele Burke as the inaugural recipient of the 2026 Katrina Dawson John Monash Scholarship. Adele has a passion for trying to help Australia solve “the issue of getting the right amount of capital invested in the right infrastructure, in the right places, at the right time, to ensure a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future”.

As noted on the General Sir John Monash Foundation website: “Inspired by the enduring leadership of General Sir John Monash GCMG KCB VD, who believed in the power of education and nation-building, [a group of business leaders and investors] established a postgraduate scholarship program that would connect talented Australians with the world’s best universities”. As Sir John Monash himself said: “The privilege of education carries great responsibilities – it is given not for individual benefit alone, but to befit persons for the higher duties of citizenship and for roles of leadership in all fields”.

General Sir John Monash Foundation CEO, Ross Youngman, said partnering with the Katrina Dawson Foundation is a profound honour.  “Katrina’s legacy of curiosity, compassion and possibility continues to inspire so many, and this scholarship ensures that spirit lives on in future leaders. We are delighted to welcome Adele as the inaugural Katrina Dawson John Monash Scholar.”

See below for a recent interview in The Sydney Morning Herald with Angus and Nikki Dawson alongside Adele.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-decade-after-katrina-dawson-s-death-adele-hopes-to-do-justice-to-her-name-20251126-p5nilz.html