Investing in Australia’s Future: $3.45m in Scholarships Awarded

Eighteen of Australia’s brightest minds have been awarded $3.45 million* from Westpac Scholars Trust to advance bold new research across sustainability, technology, health and social change.

 

Together, the 2026 Westpac Research Fellows and Future Leaders Scholars are driving breakthroughs in medical innovation, accelerating climate and environmental solutions, strengthening community resilience, and pushing the boundaries of transformative technology — helping to build a more sustainable, equitable and future‑ready Australia.

 

Backing Innovative Research

 

Two emerging research leaders from The University of Sydney and The University of Melbourne have been awarded Westpac Research Fellowships, receiving more than $1.5 million in combined support to advance their work. Over five years, the program provides tailored funding, leadership development opportunities, and access to the influential W100 Scholars Network.

 

Dr Xanthe Croot (The University of Sydney) is pioneering new ways to build more reliable quantum computers by developing quantum bits that make errors easier to detect and correct — one of the central challenges in quantum computing. Her work could help unlock the next generation of quantum technology with real‑world applications in areas including medicine, business, security and defence.

 

Dr Claire Leppold (The University of Melbourne) is addressing how Australia can better support people recovering from compound climate disasters — events that overlap, repeat or strike in quick succession. Working directly with survivors and policymakers, Claire is creating new, realistic ways for Australia to plan and respond to emergencies in a warming climate to improve long-term mental health, housing and wellbeing outcomes for affected communities.

 

“Australia’s future depends on work like this,” said Amy Lyden, CEO of Westpac Scholars Trust. “These researchers are pushing boundaries, building our resilience, strengthening our capabilities, and opening doors to solutions we haven’t yet imagined.”

 

Supporting Future Leaders

 

Sixteen outstanding postgraduate students have been awarded Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships, valued at $1.91 million, to pursue studies spanning renewable materials, computational health, climate modelling, Australia–Asia partnerships, biotechnology, mental health, education, agriculture and more.

 

Working at the intersection of neuroscience and data driven health innovation is Chantelle Jackson, a PhD candidate at The University of Queensland, who is pioneering a new brain stimulation therapy to improve blood flow and clear toxic waste from the brain after stroke — innovation that could significantly improve recovery outcomes, particularly for Australians in rural and underserved communities.

 

UNSW’s Dr Abidev Kuhasri, a Neurology Advanced Trainee, and Masters by coursework student, is also tackling stroke inequity. He says he feels privileged to care for our diverse community, but also sees first-hand the complexities of providing equitable stroke care across different regional and tertiary centres. 

 

“My goal is to use machine learning to assist the interpretation of stroke imaging, democratising access to life-saving diagnosis and action for all Australians, regardless of location,” says Abi. 

 

AI remains a defining theme across this year’s cohort, with scholars like Max Coten, a PhD candidate, and John Yaxley, a Masters by research student, both from the University of Western Australia, using machine learning models to understand how climate change affects land and sea. John focuses on crop‑nutrition modelling to support smallholder farmers in the Asia–Pacific, while Max develops methods to better predict marine heatwaves and shifting coastal conditions.

 

Improving the way we predict marine heatwaves and shifting coastlines gives communities the clarity they need to prepare for a changing ocean. "The ocean is the world’s largest carbon sink and accounts for 50% of global photosynthesis. Understanding the ocean is essential for a sustainable future," explains Max.

 

Building Australia’s Future

 

Westpac Scholars Trust is committed to awarding 100 scholarships every year, forever. Since 2015, the Trust and its university partners have invested more than $50 million into developing next generation leaders, celebrating a decade of backing bold thinkers and momentum-makers who move our country forward.

 

“These scholarships do far more than provide funding — they open doors. Scholars gain leadership development, global experiences and a powerful lifelong network that accelerates their ideas and amplifies their impact on Australia’s future,” Lyden said.

 

*Includes university co-funding

 

Congratulations to the 2026 Westpac Research Fellows and Future Leaders Scholars:

 

Westpac Research Fellows

Dr Xanthe Croot, The University of Sydney

Dr Claire Leppold, The University of Melbourne

 

Westpac Future Leaders Scholars

Jacob Braid, The University of Melbourne

Neve Clippingdale, University of Tasmania

Max Coten, University of Western Australia

Katja Curtin, The Australian National University

Vivien Dao, Monash University

Zoe Dowling, The University of Melbourne

Sajit Gopal Gurubacharya, The University of Sydney

Chantelle Jackson, The University of Queensland

Abidev Kuhasri, UNSW

Elyna Lin, The University of Sydney

Emmet Maher, UNSW

Zara Mammone, Monash University

Jera Peters, Monash University

Hayley Tobin, The Australian National University

Jessica Woolman, Adelaide University

John Yaxley, University of Western Australia