Sydney, Wednesday 29 July 2026: The Centre is proud to introduce 27 exceptional young Australians as our 2026 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars.

The scholars are all emerging leaders in their fields. Reflecting a truly multidisciplinary cohort, they seek to make a difference in areas ranging from nuclear non-proliferation, artificial intelligence and machine learning to mental health equity, obesity, critical care delivery, democratic governance, online safety, sustainable industry, and strengthening the Franco-Australian relationship.

Their interests also extend to preserving artistic and cultural traditions through jazz and opera, as well as advancing ethical museum practice, cultural heritage and community engagement.

They will attend some of the world’s leading universities and specialist institutions, including Oxford, Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, Sciences Po Paris, Harvard, King’s College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, and the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Now in its sixth year, the Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship offers an outstanding multidisciplinary and multi-institutional pathway for future leaders, innovators and changemakers to reach their potential and create a lasting impact in Australia and beyond. Scholars are empowered to undertake postgraduate study at the world’s best overseas universities, supported by funding of up to AUD$100,000 p.a. for one, two, and in select cases three years of coursework and/or research.

Applicants are judged by a panel of eminent Australians on their character, leadership, service; academic achievement; future goals; and commitment to advancing a deeper understanding of our civilisation. This year’s panel was chaired by distinguished businessman and former Centre Board member Dr Michael Easson AM.

In just six years, thanks to our benefactor, the late Paul Ramsay AO, the Centre has offered this transformative educational experience to 168 young Australians; now a community of motivated leaders committed to driving meaningful change and shaping a stronger future. Our 2026 recipients will share in $4.9 million for a cumulative 52 years of study.

Joining the cohort this year are two researchers working at the forefront of artificial intelligence and computational science.

Jordan Klein from Melbourne will study a PhD in atomic and laser physics at Oxford, researching optical neural networks and the development of physically grounded computational systems, hoping to one day establish a sovereign AI laboratory in Australia. Bethany Conroy, from Brisbane, will undertake a PhD in engineering at Cambridge, researching how machine learning approaches can accelerate chemical simulation, to help drive scientific discovery and innovation.

Another engineer, Pragash Murugesan, will study an MBA at Harvard to prepare for strategic leadership roles focused on making heavy industry safer, smarter and more sustainable. Early-career clinician scientist and critical care trainee Dr Wai Chung Tse will undertake a PhD in Engineering at Cambridge, researching how systems engineering can improve the delivery of critical care across the Indo-Pacific.

The cohort also includes a historian exploring the survival and renewal of the Order of Malta in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, an intellectual historian examining the relationship between anatomy and political thought in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Britain, and an economist investigating the historical foundations of income distribution and distributive justice. Other scholars will explore the evolution of political leadership in Westminster democracies, the role of monetary sovereignty in shaping international society, and the ways innovative public policy can build more inclusive institutions.

Several scholars are focused on addressing contemporary policy challenges. Among them are a researcher designing market incentives to accelerate innovation in areas such as neglected diseases and climate technologies, a law scholar developing expertise in industrial relations and public law, a national security adviser examining the implications of artificial intelligence for national security, and a political scientist researching nuclear politics and non-proliferation. Another scholar will investigate how civic participation, reasoned debate and the exchange of ideas are being reshaped in digital environments, with the goal of contributing to online safety policy in Australia.

Four outstanding performers are among the 2026 scholars: Aimee Ryan, an award-winning soprano advancing her studies at the Royal College of Music in London; Jeremy Tsuei, a jazz musician, researcher and former elite para-athlete undertaking graduate study in New York; Will Ellerton, a prize-winning jazz pianist and composer who will study at the Royal Academy of Music in London; and Ezra Uxó Williams, a distinguished violinist completing master’s studies in Düsseldorf as he pursues a career at the highest levels of orchestral performance.

Elena Winstanley and Sanju Vairav will both undertake master’s studies in archaeology at University College London, bringing together interests in cultural heritage, museum ethics, archaeological research and public engagement. Elena’s experience includes the highly competitive Athenian Agora excavation in Greece, while Sanju combines archaeological fieldwork with teaching and museum exhibition experience. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to preserving, interpreting and communicating the ancient world for contemporary audiences.

Ramsay Centre CEO Dr Martin Fahy praised the calibre of the 2026 scholarship recipients and acknowledged the extraordinary generosity of the Centre’s founder and benefactor, Paul Ramsay – founder of Ramsay Health Care, regional television pioneer, and philanthropist.

“Known as a ‘man for others’, Paul Ramsay always wanted to give back to his country and his fellow Australians. He had a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunities Australia had afforded him and for the institutions and traditions that helped make those opportunities possible.”

“I congratulate our outstanding 2026 scholars and look forward to following their contributions in fields ranging from science, medicine and public policy to the arts, culture and heritage. They exemplify the talent, curiosity and sense of purpose that will help shape Australia’s future and contribute to the common good.”

A full list of names of the 27 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars and their bios can be found on the following pages of this release.

For more information on our Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarships and how to apply visit: www.ramsaypostgradscholarship.com/

Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098/ sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org

For more information on the centre please visit our website: www.ramsaycentre.org

2026 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars

LIAM CAIN

Doctor of Philosophy in History – University of Oxford

Liam Cain is an historian and linguist from rural Victoria. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Diploma in Languages from the University of Melbourne, for which he was awarded First Class Honours, the Dwight and A.R. Chisholm prizes, and was included on the Dean’s List. He also holds a Master’s in French History from Oxford, winning the prize for best dissertation in Modern European History. Passionate about languages, he is fluent in French and Spanish. A Knight of the Order of Malta, Liam volunteers with the poor in Melbourne, as well as working remotely as a strategic advisor and tutor. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Liam will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in History at Oxford, exploring post-Napoleonic diplomatic history, with a focus on the Order of Malta’s institutional survival and renewal as a flexible, non-state actor across the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the future, Liam aspires to a career in academia and consulting.

HADRIAN CAIRNS

Doctor of Philosophy in History – University of Oxford

Hadrian Cairns is an early career historian from Springbrook Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland, Queensland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Queensland, a Master of Letters in Philosophy from the University of St Andrews, Scotland and a Master of Science in Intellectual History from the University of Edinburgh. His research spans the intellectual history of early modern British political thought, but he also retains interest in Enlightenment thinkers’ solutions to ongoing debates within moral and political philosophy. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Hadrian will study for a Doctor of Philosophy in History at Oxford, examining the exchange of ideas between anatomy and civil science in Britain during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries – a once ubiquitous intellectual relationship facilitated by the traditional concept of the body politic. Hadrian ultimately aims to pursue a career in academia, through which he hopes to shed light on the interdisciplinary origins of modern-day political, social, economic and biological assumptions.

JOSEPH CHRISTENSEN

Master of Philosophy in Political Thought and Intellectual History – University of Cambridge

Joseph Christensen is a researcher and public servant who grew up on the Gold Coast and is currently employed as an economist and policy analyst at the federal Productivity Commission. He achieved First Class Honours in the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics at The University of Queensland and was awarded the Richard W. Staveley and Margaret Cribb memorial prizes for highest overall performance in his degree and in political science courses. Supported by his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, he will undertake an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History at the University of Cambridge. During his study overseas, he will seek to illuminate the relationship between economics and distributive justice by researching the historical and theoretical foundations of influential theories of income distribution. In the future, he hopes to advance well-reasoned, principled public policies to meaningfully improve people’s socio-economic outcomes and opportunities. Outside of work Joseph enjoys singing as a member of the reigning men’s national silver medallist barbershop chorus.

BETHANY CONROY

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering – University of Cambridge

Bethany Conroy is a process engineer and machine learning researcher from Brisbane. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Process Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology, graduating with First Class Honours and multiple Dean’s List awards, and a Master of Philosophy in Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence from Cambridge. Her research has focused on developing scalable generative machine learning methods for molecular simulation and predictive analytics for materials synthesis. Bethany currently works in Australia’s energy sector, applying these techniques to optimise industrial processes, and has received international recognition for her machine learning solutions in process engineering. An advocate for equitable participation in STEM, she is passionate about supporting Australia’s next generation of scientists and engineers. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, she will undertake a PhD in Engineering at Cambridge, investigating machine learning approaches to accelerate chemical simulation. In the future, Bethany hopes to advance the role of machine learning in engineering, helping to drive scientific discovery and industrial innovation.

MAX DOUGLASS

Master of Law – University of Cambridge

Max Douglass is a policy analyst and law graduate originally from Port Adelaide. He graduated as valedictorian from his Bachelor of Economics (Advanced) at the University of Adelaide, and with First Class Honours and several prizes and scholarships in his Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne. He is currently an associate at the Federal Court of Australia. Before that, he was an economic analyst at the McKell Institute, a researcher at the Centre for Public Integrity, and an associate with the Solomon Islands National Judiciary. Max’s research has appeared in The Age, The Guardian, and The Australian, and been cited by State and Commonwealth parliaments and superior courts. In 2024, he addressed the Sydney Institute on national energy policy. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Max will study a Master of Law at Cambridge to develop deeper multidisciplinary expertise in industrial relations and public law. In the future, Max hopes to work as a barrister and in the union movement.

WILL ELLERTON

Master of Arts (Performance) in Jazz – Royal Academy of Music, London

Will Ellerton is a jazz pianist and composer from Brisbane, whose work is grounded in jazz performance while seeking to expand its expressive and harmonic possibilities. He holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the Queensland Conservatorium, receiving the Griffith Award for Academic Excellence. His Honours explored new harmonic possibilities in jazz through microtonal tuning systems, extending the tonal palette available to improvisers. Developed in response to performance questions rather than purely theoretical inquiry, this work reflects his broader artistic interest in cultivating subtle gradations of colour that enhance expressive nuance in live music-making. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, he will study a Master of Arts (Performance) in Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music, London, where he will refine his artistic voice through collaboration with leading performers and composers. Will’s long-term goal is to sustain an international performing career while contributing to the development of future musicians through mentorship in a conservatorium context, ensuring jazz remains both artistically rigorous and widely accessible.

DR JASMINE ELLIOTT

Master of Science in Health Service Improvement and Evaluation – University of Oxford

Dr Jasmine Elliott is a psychiatry registrar based in Bendigo, Victoria. Growing up in regional and remote Australia, she witnessed how geography can limit access to care, inspiring her to address inequity through system reform. Her lived experience of mental illness has further shaped her belief in compassionate, community-led approaches to wellbeing. Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Medical Science, Doctor of Medicine and Diploma of Liberal Arts from Monash University. Outside of clinical work, she serves as President of the Victorian Association of Psychiatry Trainees, Board Director at Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and has supported reform through the Loddon Mallee Mental Health and Wellbeing Interim Regional Body. She also plays trumpet with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra and the City of Greater Bendigo Brass Band. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Jasmine will study a Master of Science at Oxford, strengthening her capacity to design, evaluate and improve services that reduce mental health inequity across Australia.

ZAN FAIRWEATHER

Master of Science in Economics for Development – University of Oxford

Zan Fairweather is a public policy researcher from Brisbane. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, as the Economics Honours Medallist. He works as a researcher at the University of Chicago Market Shaping Accelerator, designing incentives that channel private innovation toward problems that markets tend to neglect, such as novel treatments for neglected diseases and technologies to mitigate climate change. He was previously at the Reserve Bank of Australia, where he worked on policy research and regulatory reforms to address market failures in Australia’s financial system. Away from economics, Zan volunteers with the NSW SES as a Team Leader in the Alpine Search and Rescue Unit. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Zan will read for an MSc in Economics for Development at Oxford, continuing work on shaping markets towards addressing pressing social challenges in global health and development, demographic change and automation. In the future, Zan hopes to progress to a PhD in Economics.

TOM FRICK

Doctor of Philosophy in Politics and International Studies – University of Cambridge

Tom Frick is a public policy professional from Melbourne, with a strong interest in the development, structure, and future of democratic institutions within Western political systems. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, for which he won the Accounting Honours Medal, and a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy from the University of Cambridge. Currently he is working in the Australian Public Service in a policy implementation role across economic and climate change policy. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Tom will pursue a PhD in Politics and International Studies at Cambridge, in which he will explore the changing role of prime ministers and political leadership in Westminster political systems, and implications for the development and implementation of public policy. While working within the public service has been rewarding, Tom is ultimately interested in exploring broader and more complex questions about how democratic systems and political institutions are structured and continue to evolve.

SYBILLA GEORGE

Master in Political Science – Sciences Po, France

Sybilla George is a researcher from Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in French Studies from the University of Melbourne. In 2025, Sybilla received the Nicholas and Elizabeth Slezak Scholarship to undertake research in French Polynesia for her Honours thesis, in which she studied socio-political mobilisations during the first decade of French underground nuclear testing in the Pacific (1975-1985). Fluent in French, Sybilla currently works as a bilingual French/English legal assistant and has volunteered in various positions with Melbourne French Theatre. Her freelance writing on defence and foreign affairs has been published by Crikey, Arena and the Young Diplomats Society. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Sybilla will undertake a Master in Political Science at Sciences Po’s School of Research in Paris, for which she will employ open-source methodologies to study contemporary nuclear politics. In the future, Sybilla intends to pursue a career in nuclear non-proliferation analysis and communications.

ISABELLA GULLIFER-LAURIE

Doctor of Philosophy in English – King’s College London

Isabella Gullifer-Laurie is a researcher, writer and educator from rural NSW. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of Arts (Research) in English from the University of Melbourne. Her Master’s thesis examined the journalism, criticism and fiction of American writers Joan Didion, Renata Adler and Elizabeth Hardwick. She has taught Australian literary history, presented her research at seminars and conferences, and has a strong interest in broadening public discussion of literary culture. Isabella regularly publishes essays and criticism with a focus on women’s artistic and writing practices. Her work has appeared in publications including the Sydney Review of Books, LA Review of Books, ArtReview, The Saturday Paper, The Monthly, The Guardian and Meanjin. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, she will commence a PhD in English at King’s College London, researching women artists and life writing from 1900 to the present. After her studies, Isabella hopes to teach and research while continuing to write and publish.

JORDAN KLEIN

Doctor of Philosophy in Atomic and Laser Physics – University of Oxford

Jordan Klein is a physics and machine learning researcher from Melbourne. He holds a Bachelor of Science Advanced Research (Honours) with First Class Honours in physics from Monash University, earning multiple academic prizes, including awards for best thesis and the top rank across physics and astronomy. His research focuses on machine learning and nanophotonics, and he is particularly interested in how emerging technologies can be developed to remain effective and responsible. He has served as Project Manager of the Artificial Intelligence branch at Monash Deep Neuron and has presented at international defence exhibitions. He is also the co-founder of Dahlia’s Hope for PNH, a not-for-profit organisation supporting awareness and research into a rare blood disorder. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Jordan will undertake a DPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics at Oxford, focusing on optical neural networks and the development of physically grounded computational systems. Post-study, Jordan hopes to apply his expertise in Australia and establish a sovereign AI laboratory.

PANTEA KONN

Master of Philosophy in Population Health Sciences – University of Cambridge

Pantea Konn is a population health data analyst from Brisbane. She holds a Bachelor of Mathematics with First Class Honours from The University of Queensland, specialising in geometry and probability models. Alongside her studies, Pantea has led novel analyses into the performance of several cancer screening programs in the Queensland population. Her background in data engineering and statistics has enabled the delivery and evaluation of several large-scale quality improvement initiatives for these programs. Pantea has represented Queensland Health at national population health conferences, which deepened her interest in epidemiological research and health economics. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, she will be supported to pursue an MPhil in Population Health Sciences at Cambridge, to advance her training in health data science. In her research, she hopes to apply geometric techniques to biostatical methods to better understand causal effects in population health challenges. Post-study, Pantea aims to lead epidemiological and economic evaluations of evolving population health programs and policies.

DR MEGAN LANDGRAF

Master of Philosophy in Obesity, Endocrinology and Metabolism – University of Cambridge

Dr Megan Landgraf is a medical registrar and aspiring endocrinologist who grew up in rural Queensland and Donegal, Ireland. She holds a Bachelor of Science from The University of Queensland with First Class Honours, as well as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Wollongong. After graduating, her work experience has spanned rural and remote hospitals from Alice Springs to Wagga Wagga, NSW, as well as major teaching hospitals in metropolitan Sydney. A keen volunteer, Megan’s contribution to community service was recognised by an Australia Day ‘Cultural Youth of the Year’ award. More recently, for the past six years she has volunteered with Street Side Medics, a mobile primary care clinic for vulnerable communities. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Megan will study an MPhil at Cambridge. Her goal is to become a clinician-researcher advancing the understanding and treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome, with the aim of improving health outcomes equitably across disadvantaged communities in Australia.

LAURA MAHER

PhD in Digital Humanities – University of Cambridge

Laura Maher is an interdisciplinary Internet studies scholar from Brisbane. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Queensland with First Class Honours in Ancient History, as well as a Master of Philosophy (Distinction) in Digital Humanities from the University of Cambridge. Currently, she works at the London School of Economics and Political Science to support the organisation and running of Europe’s largest Summer School. She has also contributed to academic life at both Cambridge and UQ, through executive positions on student societies, graduate conferences, and convening interdisciplinary reading groups. Academically, Laura is interested in the intersection of digital culture, identity, and critical theory, with a focus on online subcultures and conspiracy theory groups. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Laura will pursue her PhD in Digital Humanities, examining how core values of Western Civilisation, such as reasoned debate, civic participation, and the exchange of ideas, are being reshaped in digital environments. Post-study, Laura aims to lead in policymaking for online safety in Australia.

RACHAEL MCDONALD

Master of Philosophy in Politics (Comparative Government) – University of Oxford

Rachael McDonald is a researcher and advocate from the Northern Rivers, NSW. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and International Studies from the University of Melbourne, where she was awarded the School of Social and Political Sciences’ Honours Thesis Prize and First Class Honours. Her research comparing Indigenous economic policy in Australia, the United States and New Zealand, has been published in Pursuit and accepted as a paper by the Australian Journal of Political Science. During her studies, Rachael chaired the Arts Student Forum and contributed to research at the Grattan Institute and the Victorian Parliament. She also studied languages and is fluent in French and Spanish. After graduating, she led communications at First Nations Not-for-profit organisation Children’s Ground. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Rachael will study the MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) at Oxford, exploring how innovative policy across advanced democracies can build more inclusive institutions. In the future, Rachael aspires to be a practitioner-academic who strengthens Australia’s democratic foundations through public advocacy and evidence-based policy.

ROSALIND MORAN

Doctor of Philosophy in Medieval and Modern Languages – University of Oxford

Rosalind Moran is a writer, researcher, linguist, and communications specialist from the Canberra region. She holds a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) and a Diploma of Languages in Mandarin from the Australian National University and a Master of Philosophy in European, Latin American and Comparative Literatures and Cultures from the University of Cambridge. Rosalind began her career working as a government speechwriter, producing content primarily on behalf of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister. She is an established public intellectual, with articles in various academic journals, and is also a published fiction writer, essayist, poet, and playwright. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Rosalind will pursue a DPhil at Oxford. Her primary research project is an interdisciplinary one concerned with modernist literatures and their connections to physics and Western philosophy. The project brings together her expertise across literature and languages (especially Romance languages) in combination with her interests in metaphysics and various theoretical concepts from the physical sciences. In the future, Rosalind aims to develop a career that combines academic research, university teaching, and public-facing writing.

PRAGASH MURUGESAN

Master of Business Administration – Harvard University

Pragash Murugesan is an engineer from Perth, working at the intersection of technology and mining operations. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Professional Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) from the University of Western Australia, where he studied with the support of multiple scholarships. He currently works at Rio Tinto, where he leads projects focused on improving safety, reliability, and operational performance through the application of digital technologies. Over five years in the industry, he has contributed to high-impact initiatives, including renewable energy developments, autonomous systems, and processing plant optimisation. Alongside his professional work, Pragash has volunteered with Engineers Without Borders Australia, holding leadership roles and contributing to initiatives in humanitarian engineering and sustainable development. With the support of the Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Pragash will undertake a Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He aspires to move into strategic leadership roles and build a global career dedicated to making heavy industry safer, smarter, and more sustainable.

SERAPHINA NICHOLLS

Master in Political Science – Sciences Po, Paris

Seraphina Nicholls is an early-career political scientist and Australian-Francophone scholar. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and French Studies from the University of Melbourne with First Class Honours. Her bilingual dissertation examined the evolution of sovereignty within international society, focusing on France’s contemporary assertions of sovereignty over its overseas territories. It was recognised with three academic awards: the Dwight Prize in both Political Science and Combined Honours, and the Percival Serle Prize. She has also been awarded several scholarships, including the Elizabeth and Nicholas Slezak Scholarship, the Taines Scholarship in Arts & Humanities, and a New Colombo Plan Grant (French Polynesia). She was the inaugural intern at the French-Australian Cultural Exchange Foundation under the auspices of the Embassy of France to Australia. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Seraphina will pursue a Master in Political Science at Sciences Po, Paris. She aspires to publish interdisciplinary political science scholarship on sovereignty and contribute to strengthening the Franco-Australian relationship in the Indo-Pacific.

DANIEL QUILL

Master of Philosophy in International Relations – University of Oxford

Daniel Quill is a scholar of political and economic thought from Brisbane. He holds a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (First Class Honours) from The University of Queensland (UQ), for which he received the University Medal. His thesis explored the history of monetary policy, and how it has shaped the contemporary European political landscape. He also served as Vice-President of the UQ Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Society, and reviewed for Exordium, UQ’s Student Philosophy e-Journal. A language enthusiast, he has studied German and Classical Greek. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Daniel will study an MPhil in International Relations at Oxford. His research focus will be the making of modern international society and the role of monetary sovereignty in shaping relationships between nation-states. His long-term career ambition is to work as an academic, examining how historical ideas inform present political challenges. Post-study, Daniel further hopes to communicate his learnings through the promotion of civic engagement and public dialogue in Australia and internationally.

AIMEE RYAN

Master of Music in Performance (Vocal) – Royal College of Music, London

Aimee Ryan is a classically trained soprano from Perth, passionate about ensuring the future of Opera in an ever-changing world. She holds a Bachelor of Philosophy in Music with First Class Honours from the University of Western Australia. During her studies, she received the university’s top performance award, the Vose Memorial Prize for Music. Aimee has performed with the West Australian Opera, Western Australian Youth Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Freeze Frame Opera. She has completed a semester abroad at the University of Bristol and summer schools at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and in Italy. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Aimee will study a Master of Music in Performance (Vocal) at the Royal College of Music, London, advancing her technical abilities and musicological research to the highest international standard. Post-study, Aimee hopes to pursue a performance career in Australia and abroad, leading the preservation and development of the Western artistic tradition of Opera.

JACK RYAN

Master of Public Policy – London School of Economics and Political Science

Jack Ryan is a national security adviser from Canberra, and a Distinguished Graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and History) with distinction from the University of NSW and a Master of Arts (Political Philosophy) from Pompeu Fabra University, Spain. A former military officer and current reservist, Jack has worked at the Office of National Intelligence and most recently the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, on emerging security issues. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Jack will pursue a Master of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research will focus on the growing impact that Artificial Intelligence will have on the national security environment and how its development increasingly threatens economic and industrial paradigms. In the future, Jack hopes to work at the forefront of Australia’s AI strategies from both public and private sector perspectives.

DR WAI CHUNG TSE

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering – University of Cambridge

Dr Wai Chung Tse is an early-career clinician-scientist and critical care trainee from Melbourne. He holds a Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine from Monash University, where he was awarded the Robert Mohr Humanitarian Award. His interests lie in critical care, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and global health resilience. He has led POCUS research and education across the Asia-Pacific, including Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific Island nations. His work at the Monash Addiction Research Centre and Burnet Institute has informed clinical guidelines for the World Health Organisation and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Wai Chung will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering at Cambridge. His doctoral research will apply systems engineering to how critical care is delivered across the Indo-Pacific, addressing the structural gap in critical care infrastructure. Post-study, he plans to return to Australia and lead research on critical care systems in the region.

JEREMY TSUEI

Master of Music in Jazz Studies – Queens College, City University of New York

Jeremy Tsuei is a jazz musician, researcher, public servant, lawyer and former elite para-athlete from Canberra who has performed his music across Australia and internationally. He holds a BA (Honours) and LLB (Honours) with First Class Honours in both, from the Australian National University. His 2024 Honours thesis, ‘Theorising the Dingo Howl: Jazz in Australian Film in the ‘90s and Early 2000s’ received the Grahame Johnston Prize in Australian Literature, and in 2025 he published the first peer-reviewed article worldwide on the breakdancer Raygun. Jeremy lives with cerebral palsy and is motivated by disability excellence and creating inclusive communities, drawing from his lived experience as a para-athlete and working in remote Aboriginal communities. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Jeremy will undertake a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Queens College, City University of New York, with research interests in Australian narratives and intersections with American cultures including jazz and hip-hop. Post-study, Jeremy hopes to pursue a career in practice-based research across the arts and academia.

SANJU VAIRAV

Master of Arts in the Archaeology of the Mediterranean, Egypt and Middle East – University College London

Sanju Vairav is a Sydney-based teacher, museum worker and emerging archaeologist committed to advancing equitable education, community engagement and public scholarship. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney, majoring in Ancient History, where she graduated first in both Greek and Roman Archaeology. Sanju is passionate about the Classics and educating young people to be global citizens. Alongside teaching, she has worked on major international exhibitions at the Australian Museum and archaeology fieldwork in Italy and Greece. She also volunteers with sustainability hubs and charities and has demonstrated leadership as a captain and president within the quidditch community, representing Australia internationally. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Sanju will pursue an MA in the Archaeology of the Mediterranean, Egypt and Middle East at University College London. She aspires to lead in the Australian arts and culture sector through exhibition development, curation, ethical museum practices, provenance research, repatriation initiatives and community engagement. Her work will foster informed public discussion of the ancient world and Western civilisation.

EZRA UXÓ WILLIAMS

Master of Orchestral Instruments – Robert Schumann Hochschule, Germany

Ezra Uxó Williams is a violinist from Melbourne undertaking his Master’s degree at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Ezra served as the Concertmaster of both the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the String Ensemble, touring Singapore and Malaysia in 2023. He was also Principal Second Violin of the Australian Youth Orchestra in 2024. He has received numerous awards and grants in recognition of his artistic excellence, notably the Dr Alexandra Cameron Scholarship and the Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship. Beyond his violin studies, Ezra has pursued conducting, historically informed performance, and contemporary avant-garde repertoire. With his Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Ezra will complete the second year of his Master’s, under the tutelage of Yamei Yu, the ex-concertmaster of the Komische Oper and the Bavarian Opera. Post-study, Ezra aspires to work as a performing musician, with the long-term vision of appointment as concertmaster or artistic director.

ELENA WINSTANLEY

Master of Arts in Archaeology of the Mediterranean, Egypt and the Middle East – University College London

Elena Winstanley is an archaeology scholar from Sydney. She holds a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her Law Honours dissertation analysed a recent human rights law decision from a constitutional perspective and was submitted by her university for a national writing award. Her academic interests focus on archaeology, cultural heritage protection, and museum ethics, with particular attention to the ethical stewardship of artefacts and the frameworks governing their ownership, interpretation and display. Elena has volunteered on an archaeological excavation in New Zealand and is currently working on the Athenian Agora excavation run by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. This is a highly competitive opportunity, with only 15-25 people selected globally each field season. With her Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship, Elena will study the MA in Archaeology of the Mediterranean, Egypt and Middle East at UCL. In the future, Elena aspires to a career working in museums and heritage policy.