Meet the 2026 Young Technologists shaping Australia’s digital future

Australia’s next generation of technologists is looking beyond code and devices to tackle real challenges, from cybersecurity and digital safety to healthcare access, sustainability and inclusion. The 2026 Westpac Young Technologists are already applying their skills to help shape Australia’s digital future.

Westpac Scholars awards 35 Young Technologists scholarships each year, with a combined value of $700,000, to high school graduates eager to explore technology’s potential for good at one of five partner universities.

 

Protecting Australians in a more complex digital world

 

Cybersecurity, scams and digital safety are recurring themes across the cohort, reflecting how online threats increasingly affect everyday Australians.

 

At Queensland University of Technology, Kate Musgrave is focused on protecting personal data in an era where the bounds of privacy are increasingly challenged. Kate hopes to apply her skills in cybersecurity and secure development to help Australians stay safer and keep their information private in an increasingly interconnected world.

 

At RMIT University, Hamza Nadeem is tackling the same challenge from another angle. After building computers from a young age, he now wants to found a company that demystifies the “digital footprint,” translating complex threats into practical tools that help Australians stay safe before problems occur.

 

Technology shaped by regional and lived experience

 

For many scholars, their motivation is deeply tied to place, particularly regional and rural Australia.

 

Mostafa Ahmed, who grew up in Western Sydney, is studying pre-medicine with the goal of becoming a doctor who integrates technology into diagnosis and treatment. He is focused on reducing stigma around healthcare, particularly for Indigenous and rural communities, and ensuring innovation reaches those who need it most.

 

Studying veterinary science, Aarav Jagasia is exploring how emerging technologies can improve animal health and agricultural outcomes. He hopes to help bridge the gap between rapid technological advances and rural industries that don’t always have easy access to them.

 

A cohort driven by impact

 

Alongside financial support, the program includes a weeklong leadership residential in Singapore, where scholars explore how technology is shaping the world, and how they can help solve big global problems.

 

Valued up to $4.5million, Westpac Scholars Trust awards 100 scholarships every year to university students, early-career researchers and social entrepreneurs to help transform the future of Australia. 

 

The 2026 Young Technologist scholars are already asking the right questions about safety, fairness and impact. The work they go on to do will help shape how Australia navigates its digital future.

 

Congratulating the 2026 Westpac Young Technologist Scholars:

• Aarav Jagasia (RMIT University)
• Abbey Johnson (Queensland University of Technology)
• Abdo Alkhouri (Western Sydney University)
• Amy Sellers (Murdoch University)
• Ash Tayler (Queensland University of Technology)
• Bronte Halden (Murdoch University)
• Cadan Elijah Meers (The University of Wollongong)
• Casey Ashton (RMIT University)
• Claire Hume (Murdoch University)
• Dominic Crompton (Queensland University of Technology)
• Elhannah Laird (The University of Wollongong)
• Farus Khalid (RMIT University)
• Flynn Hassett (RMIT University)
• Fynn Witkowski (Queensland University of Technology)
• Hamza Nadeem (Western Sydney University)
• Janice Judge (Queensland University of Technology)
• Jaskaran Singh (RMIT University)
• Jono Swift (Murdoch University)
• Joshua Plug (Murdoch University)
• Kaleb Holmes (Western Sydney University)
• Kate Musgrave (Queensland University of Technology)
• Kira Raymonde (The University of Wollongong)
• Kyson Hill (The University of Wollongong)
• Lilian Yang (RMIT University)
• Luke Balliana (The University of Wollongong)
• Marcelle Davis-Cook (The University of Wollongong)
• Mostafa Ahmed (Queensland University of Technology)
• Ryan Ashton Wheeler (Murdoch University)
• Sean Lloyd Gamba (Queensland University of Technology)
• Sebastian Harris (Western Sydney University)
• Sol Hennessy (Queensland University of Technology)
• Summer Elkin (Murdoch University)
• Tom Love (The University of Wollongong)
• Toorda Lovett (The University of Wollongong)
• William Herring (RMIT University)