The Scholars Podcast - Conversations with Inspiring Leaders

This episode features Stephanie Pow, recipient of the NSW Premier’s John Monash Scholarship. The award enabled Stephanie to pursue dual master’s degrees—an MBA from the Wharton School and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School—broadening her expertise beyond finance into public policy and mission-driven leadership. From her early days as a top-performing investment banker at UBS to becoming the founder of Crayon, Stephanie shares the inspiring journey that led her to create a platform to reduce financial stress during life’s most pivotal moments. Stephanie discusses the challenges of launching Crayon, a startup that supports parents with verified parental leave data and financial preparation programs. She highlights how Crayon partners with over 300 employers in New Zealand to provide transparency on parental leave policies and empower employees navigating parenthood. With plans to expand into Australia, Stephanie reveals her broader vision for addressing financial stress across other significant life events, including aged care and family transitions. Throughout the conversation, Stephanie offers a candid look at balancing startup life with raising young children and the unique insights she brings as a parent and entrepreneur. She reflects on the challenges women face in building businesses post-motherhood and how her lived experiences were instrumental in shaping Crayon’s mission. Stephanie also shares her take on global parental leave trends, calling for Australia and New Zealand to adopt more progressive policies like those in Europe and Asia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each year, thousands of people in Australia are diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis – an incurable condition of the lung that scientists have struggled to understand. The work of Dr Davis McCarthy (2011 John Monash Scholar), a renowned statistician and genomic scientist, is helping to generate the pathway towards an eventual cure. Collaborating with a global community, Davis’s research searches DNA for answers to some of life’s biggest biological mysteries. We speak to Davis about his work leading the bioinformatics and cellular genomics group at St. Vincent's Institute in Melbourne, what he sees as some of the biggest opportunities in preventative health care and some of the barriers faced by medical research globally. He reflects on his Scholarship's impact and explains why his time at Oxford helped shape his career trajectory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CEO of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Paul Ramadge, joins host Justin Kelly to explore the stories and aspirations of the 2025 John Monash Scholars. Named in honour of General Sir John Monash, the prestigious postgraduate scholarships are awarded annually following a highly competitive nationwide selection process. The 2025 John Monash Scholars were selected from a record number of applicants for their academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to public service. They plan to study at highly-ranked institutions in China, Germany, England, Scotland and the US. The John Monash Scholarships are made possible by the support of Australian companies, governments, universities, and individuals who share a commitment to education, leadership, and service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recognised for her pioneering 'spray-on skin' technique and support for victims of the Bali bombings, Professor Fiona Wood AO has been at the forefront of international wound care and research for over 30 years. As one of Australia’s most respected surgeons and researchers and Australia of the Year in 2005, she recounts the experiences that have shaped her as a surgeon and leader in a compelling conversation with Dr Sam Brophy-Williams (2012 John Monash Scholar). Decisive, determined and compassionate, Fiona urges those aspiring to become innovators in their field to cultivate their fellowship as much as their leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientist and educator Dr Matt Baker (2005 John Monash Scholar) sat down with Justin Kelly to discuss his remarkable career, which has taken him from Uzbekistan to Greece and in and out of the worlds of competitive fencing, media and academia. Matt, who is a Scientia Associate Professor in the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of New South Wales, studies the bacterial flagellar motor that makes nearly all bacteria swim. His latest research seeks to expand our understanding of the origins and evolution of this motor to fuel future applications in synthetic biology. In this episode, Matt shares his passion for making science accessible, ambitions for the future and his advice for scientists starting out in the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good artwork is not about answering questions but asking them: What is our relationship with nature? With each other? How can we re-imagine our shared history? The quality of contemporary art emerging from Australia is globally influential, calling upon cultural leaders, institutions, and thinkers to champion one another and elevate collective impact. As the first artist to receive the Australian Cultural John Monash Scholarship, Dr Fernando do Campo has spent much time cultivating his curiosity for untold stories and the questions they reveal about identity, the past, and human nature. As an avid bird watcher, lover of long walks, and Taronga Zoo patriot, Fernando shares some of the experimental ways he generates his creativity and the leadership role he believes the Australian art sector plays on both a national and global level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The typical waitlist for a child to access specialist public health services in rural and remote Australia is roughly four years. There are only two speech pathologists in the whole of Australia who work in Aboriginal medical services. With the NDIS opening the floodgates to more and more families needing allied health support, this unmet demand appears to be growing and is unlikely to diminish soon. Enter Rebecca Keeley, 2022 Tim Fischer John Monash Scholar, speech pathologist, rural health care advocate, and now a tech entrepreneur. Rebecca is the Founder & CEO of Yarn Speech, a startup helping to make basic speech pathology principles more accessible for children and their carers. Yarn Speech has already caused a stir on the cusp of its official launch. The product is hotly anticipated by families increasingly desperate to access support and is backed by local clinicians nationwide. Rebecca was recently awarded the NSW/ACT AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award for her work at Yarn Speech. In this episode, we discuss with Rebecca the experiences that have inspired her to tackle the problem head-on, and the challenges she’s had to navigate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1997, a backpacking trip from Bali to Lombok threw Jacqui Baker, then 19, and her friends straight into the heady world of Indonesian politics, setting her on a career-long journey toward understanding more about this incredible archipelago. Jacqui's countless experiences across the country have been nothing short of extraordinary - from hanging with jihadists to hearing songs of revolution - and the country’s kaleidoscope of perspectives makes this nation so incredible. We speak with Dr Jacqui Baker, a 2004 John Monash Scholar, about what makes Indonesia special and how Australia should support its social and political stability. Jacqui is a lecturer in Southeast Asian Studies at Murdoch University, where she is President of the Indonesia Council. She is also an editor at the Journal for Southeast Asian Studies and host of the podcast Talking Indonesia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the School of Cybernetics, and why has it become an engine for innovation? What does history tell us about how robotics will affect society in the future? How can we generate more conversation between policymakers, engineers, and businesses? Professor Katherine Daniell (2005 John Monash Scholar) joins us to explain how and why she established the Australian National University's School of Cybernetics Masters Program, the first and only program of its kind it's in the world and the first new School at ANU in nearly half a century, in only five weeks. Katherine's expertise spans engineering, computing, French, and policy. As an academic, she believes in teaching students to think about cultures, perspectives, and values beyond the scope conventionally provided for them within our sectored economy. For Katherine, changing the world will require us to improve how we work with people different from ourselves and embrace an emerging movement that recognizes the urgency for cross-sector expertise that dips into unique ideas and solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is sustainable finance and how is it changing the investment landscape? Who are some of the biggest hidden players of carbon emissions, and why aren’t we talking about them? Join Dr Arjuna Dibley (2016 Woodside John Monash Scholar) and host Justin Kelly as they explore what it means to put a price on climate change and the creative ways policymakers are shifting incentives. Arjuna is the Head of the Sustainable Finance Hub at Melbourne Climate Futures and leads a new initiative leveraging research and partnerships to mobilize public and private finance for addressing the climate crisis. He reflects on some of the greatest social challenges faced in curbing global emissions, including the need for enlivened climate optimism to enact cultural change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Moore earned his B.Med.Sci and Medical degrees at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, supported by a faculty scholarship, achieving top-tier honors in both disciplines. Additionally, he pursued a legal degree with a specific focus on medical law. During his early career, he completed his internship and foundational surgical training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne while concurrently earning a post-graduate diploma in surgical anatomy from Melbourne University. Justin's academic journey took an international turn when he received the prestigious John Monash Scholarship, which led him to Oxford University in the UK. There, he successfully completed a PhD in neuro-genomics, centering on the identification of novel genes implicated in neurodevelopment and tumor formation. Upon returning to Australia, he embarked on residency training in Neurosurgery, gaining experience at various hospitals including The Alfred, Monash, and Royal Melbourne Hospitals, culminating in his recognition as a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. His pursuit of expertise in the field extended to the United States, where he completed a cerebrovascular fellowship at BIDMC, Harvard Medical School, specializing in both open and endovascular procedures. He further honed his skills through a skull base Neuro-oncology fellowship and radiosurgery (Cyberknife) training at Stanford. Notably, Justin served as an Associate Professor in neurosurgery at Harvard in the USA and has authored a substantial body of over 100 peer-reviewed papers. His research focus encompasses cerebrovascular neurosurgery, with an emphasis on the genomic factors influencing cerebral aneurysms, as well as neuro-oncology, particularly in the realms of brain tumor diagnosis and treatment. Beyond his clinical and academic pursuits, he displays a keen interest in fostering innovation and facilitating the translation of ideas into action, often through involvement with startup companies. Presently, Justin holds the esteemed position of Professor of Neurosurgery at Monash University and serves as the Chairman for Neurosurgery at Monash Health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessie Hughes is an internationally-recognised Australian new media artist, technologist and screenwriter, her works having exhibited most notably at Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Cannes and the Tate Modern. Hughes has been named one of Australia’s Future Changers for her commitment to using digital innovation for positive social impact, and was awarded Australia's prestigious 2020 Lee Liberman John Monash Scholarship to support her Masters in Screenwriting. Hughes has designed and implemented solutions for tech-giants such as Oculus, Facebook, and Adobe, and has been featured in over 120+ media articles across radio, newspaper and TV. She is an American Australian Association Arts Scholar, Winston Churchill Fellow, Lord Mayor’s Young and Emerging Artist Fellow and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador. Professionally, Jessie works as a Creative Technologist, toying at the intersection of design, technology, art, research and strategy for social innovation. Identified as one of Australia's emerging screenwriters of 2021, Hughes was mentored under Ron Howard's Impact Australia accelerator to advance her adult-animated comedy TV series 'Head Above Water'. She has received ongoing support from Screen Queensland and Arts Queensland to bring her series to screen, and attached with awarded Brisbane-studio Hoodlum Entertainment as her production partners. Hughes’ whip-smart, provocative, millennial perspective sparks humour with chaos, and her distinctive edgy voice places her among the fresh voices of 2022. Hughes is an interdisciplinary, tool-agnostic creative who has continued to push boundaries technologically, thematically and internationally. She actively shares her learnings with the wider community and lectures in design at universities across Australia and globally. Hughes presented at SXSW in 2022 educating industry leaders on the 'Future of Story' speaking to the contemporary intersection of technology and entertainment, and how this merge is inviting new storytelling opportunities. Moreover, Jessie was named Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art's Digital Resident for 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices