October 2026

Guiding the next generation

Congratulations to Lakshmi Wijeyewickrema from our Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, who was recognised with the Guiding Star Mentorship Award at the 2026 Women of Colour in STEM Awards. It was also wonderful to see four other La Trobe researchers and PhD candidates acknowledged among this year's finalists, highlighting the depth of talent and leadership across our STEM community.

The University was pleased to sponsor the Data Science/AI Pioneer Award for a second consecutive year, reflecting La Trobe’s commitment to both diversity and excellence in emerging technologies.

Leading the way

I was delighted to see La Trobe’s Leadership Academy receive a High Commendation in the People and Culture category of the 2026 Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) Excellence Awards. The judges recognised our approach to embedding leadership development in the way we work and highlighted the Academy’s impact and contribution to exceptional leadership and service across the University.

Well done to Regan Sterry, Josie Taylor, Adam Yacono, Laura Bogar and colleagues from People and Culture on this terrific recognition. It is an especially impressive achievement for an initiative established only recently.

The La Trobe difference: You’ll Change

Our Marketing team has developed a brilliant new student recruitment TV campaign, which launched last week. You’ll Change builds on our brand platform, The Impact is Real, by showing the personal transformation that comes with a La Trobe education. The campaign comes to life in two terrific commercials you can watch here and here.

Fellowship success

It was fantastic to see La Trobe achieve our best ever result in the latest round of the ARC Future Fellowship scheme, with six researchers awarded grants totalling almost $7 million. This outstanding result is a testament to the calibre of our researchers and the contribution they make to addressing real-world challenges. Congratulations to Adrian Farrugia, Ruth Gamble, Lauren Gawne, Andrea Carson, Katherine Harrisson and Wenyi Li.

A fitting honour

I congratulate La Trobe historian and Professor of Public Engagement Clare Wright on her induction into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. This prestigious honour recognises Clare’s exceptional scholarship and storytelling, as well as her advocacy and leadership through programs such as the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

Going global

I was very pleased to write an introductory message for the inaugural issue of The La Trobe Global Brief, a new policy analysis publication produced by the Centre for Global Security led by Bec Strating. The first issue, Five Ideas in Foreign Policy, reflects the Centre’s commitment to creating a shared forum for interdisciplinary exchange and the breadth of La Trobe’s expertise in contemporary debates on foreign policy and security.

Next stop: Brazil

Our students are also set to shine on the global stage. The Enactus La Trobe team has been invited to participate in the Enactus World Cup in Brazil in November after showcasing their social enterprise initiatives at the Enactus Australia National Championships in July. As part of the competition, students pitch project ideas designed to address social, environmental, and economic challenges. The La Trobe team won $6,000 to expand its Melbourne Companions program into regional areas, helping older Australians build their cybersecurity and AI awareness.

Giving together

I attended a wonderful event in Bendigo last week, where we celebrated what philanthropy makes possible for our students. The evening featured an inspiring panel discussion with three students supported by philanthropic bursaries or scholarships. Hearing them describe what this support means to them was especially timely, as October is Staff Giving Month at La Trobe – an opportunity to celebrate what we can achieve together through the Golden Lanyard Staff Giving Program, which I am proud to personally support.

Staff can make tax-deductible donations to support equity scholarships and other initiatives, with 100 per cent of donations going directly to programs. The strength of the Golden Lanyard program lies in what we achieve together: in 2026, staff funded 37 Hardship Bursaries for students in urgent need and 10 Golden Lanyard Scholarships. Contributions of any size combine to make a real difference for students facing financial or educational disadvantage.