Ma & Morley Scholarship Program Report 2021

2021 has presented us with the opportunity to draw deeply on the shared values of the University of Newcastle - excellence, engagement, equity and sustainability - and the Ma & Morley Scholarship Program to inspire, educate and cultivate the next generation of globally aware and socially conscious Australian leaders.

We started 2021 with a focus on impact, resilience and innovation but have been challenged at each step, as the world continues to adapt to the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic. We understood at the commencement of the year that international travel would not be possible, however, we did not anticipate the long lockdowns many of us faced and their impact on connecting face-to-face.

This Annual Report highlights that, despite these challenges, the Scholars have drawn on the strength of their friendships and shared values to create impact. They have developed their resilience through facing adversity with courage and persistence and applied innovation by connecting each other through virtual offerings. Their leadership journeys continue to navigate unforeseen challenges and unexpected paths towards their goal of making the world a better place.

The University is very grateful to our generous and astute partners. We would like to thank Mr & Mrs Ma, the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Group for enabling this transformative Program to actively contribute to a more innovative and sustainable world. We are honoured to be working in partnership with Jason Pau, Beth Yu and the teams at the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Group to support our Scholars in creating a fairer, safer, more respectful and more sustainable world.

We would also like to acknowledge the feedback, guidance and counsel provided by our Ma & Morley Scholarship Program Advisory Committee across the year, as well as the many University stakeholders from all Colleges and Divisions that give generously and freely of their time to engage with and contribute to the success of the Program.

We will continue to look ahead, embrace opportunities, solve challenges and deliver the future we imagine together.

Professor Kent Anderson
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Global
The University of Newcastle

Activities by date - Stage 1

Stage 1 covers the first year of the Ma & Morley Scholarship Program, when 27 new Scholars joined the Program. The theme of the year was to connect, and the Scholars took part in a range of activities to build connection between themselves, with the Program values and with the wider Ma & Morley family.

Core program activities

Other leadership program activities

The Scholars were also invited to take part across the year in various activities and learning opportunities, which were linked to the values of the Program, including joining Judy Morley at the Newcastle International Women’s Day Dinner, the Ship to Shore Program with the Schmidt Ocean Institute and a United Nations International Day of Yoga session with David Morley.

Activities by date - Stages 2 and 3

Stage 2 refers to the second year of the Program, when the focus of the Program is to cultivate leadership skills and capabilities. In Stage 3, the third year of the Program, Scholars have the opportunity to create meaningful, impactful change.

Core program activities

Other leadership program activities

Scholar and Ambassador Achievements

The Ma & Morley Scholars earn their place in the Program by demonstrating their commitment to the values of the Program. They are dedicated to taking an active role in improving the world around them and consciously progressing their competency as global leaders. Here are just some of the outstanding actions and achievements of the Ma & Morley Scholars outside of the Program in 2021.

• Brent Cassidy (2018 Scholar) was awarded the University of Newcastle’s Faculty Medal for his Bachelor’s degree, when he graduated with Distinction in Semester 1 2021
• Jasmin L’Green (2018 Scholar) commenced a part-time paralegal position and led an Acknowledgement of Country for an online webinar with the NSW Attorney-General
• Jessica Philbrook (2018 Scholar) is the first in family to obtain a higher education qualification; was elected as the first female President of the University of Newcastle Students’ Association for the 2022 academic year; helped establish the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee at the University of Newcastle, which aims to foster better inclusivity and accessibility for staff and students at the University; also received approval to develop the first sensory safe/mental health dedicated space on campus. This is a space designed to calm sensory overloads and provide a private and comfortable room for students
• Renae Lamb (2019 Scholar) started a company called Midnight Dreaming, which specialises in contemporary Indigenous dance, art and fashion. One of her designs has been purchased by the University of Newcastle’s Office of Alumni & Philanthropy
• Tara Tolhurst (2019 Scholar) commenced a Research Assistant role in the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing and the Centre for Women's Health Research at the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute; currently working on national and international projects investigating the impacts of COVID-19, as well as other national and international projects focused on healthcare and long-term care
• Ashley Harrison (2020 Scholar) received the 2021 Employability Excellence Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• Mitch Stanford (2020 Scholar) will be participating in a 12-month Global Internship program for Change Makers with Humanitarian Affairs Asia in Bangkok, commencing in April 2022. Mitch will help organise and run the Peace Summit of Emerging Leaders in January 2023, which brings students and stakeholders together from all over the world, giving delegates the opportunity to learn from world-leading peace activists to network and advance peace building and sustainability in their own communities
• Leroy Reid (2021 Scholar) was chosen for the University of Newcastle’s 2021 Indigenous Nationals team
• Keren Peter (2021 Scholar) received the East Gosford, Lisarow and Kincumber Community Bank Scholarship and the Equity Scholarship Scheme in 2021
• Elise Rourke (2021 Scholar) was awarded a position with the Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative, assisting with the running of their social media
• Jacob Carson (2021 Scholar) placed on the Dean’s Merit List for highest mark in Torts I; wrote an ATAR Notes study guide for Engineering Studies; had a poem published in the University’s Writers’ Club Anthology; received the non-fiction people’s vote in the National Campus Writing Competition; and also reached the quarter finals in the UNSLA Mooting Competition.

Ambassadors

• Olivia Carroll (2018 Scholar) received the University of Newcastle’s Vice-Chancellor’s Training Priority Scholarship 
• Jarrod Sansom (2019 Scholar) won the University Medal; was a Fullbright Scholarship finalist; Common Ground Network’s Emerging Scholar Award; received the University of Newcastle’s Vice-Chancellor’s Training Priority Scholarship; co-founded a business called Platinum Sprint Performance, a Newcastle-based athletics squad specialising in sprints; secured a lead role in a production of Jersey Boys; taught an undergraduate course; and commenced a role with Learning Design and Teaching Innovation at the University of Newcastle
• Elyssia Gasparotto (2019 Scholar) was named Central Coast Youth of the Year at the 2021 Australia Day Awards
• Liam Scanlan (2019 Scholar) was ranked number 13 in Inside Retail’s Top 50 People in E-Commerce 2021 for his retail business Eat Your Water; part of the winning team of the 2021 University of Newcastle Hackathon, with the mobile-based application Everydrop, which gamifies water consumption for households
• Helena Qian (2020 Scholar) 2021 Finalist for 7NEWS Young Achievers: First National Real Estate Leadership Award
• Rodney Coote (2020 Scholar) released a single called Easy to Love, which was played on national Australian radio station, Triple J.