Issue 18, October 2025
CEO Update
Welcome to the latest edition of Campus
The second half of this year has been busy for The George Alexander Foundation. Over the past few months, the GAF team has travelled across Australia to visit our partner institutions and engage with our scholars in person. These gatherings are more than just an opportunity for us to meet our remarkable scholars – they serve as a platform for fostering a real sense of community
We’ve already seen inspiring outcomes from our Scholar Network Events, with attendees forming friendships, joining clubs and societies together, and even choosing to be housemates Whether it leads to a lifelong friendship or simply a familiar face in the lecture hall, we hope our GAF scholars have left these events with a stronger sense of connection than
In September, we held our Next Chapters event for second, third and fourth year scholars. Moderated by leadership expert May Samali, the session featured four recent GAF alumni who spoke candidly about the challenges, insights and personal growth they experienced during the big transition period out of university. Their reflections offered valuable guidance for those preparing to navigate similar paths I encourage you to view the recording below and extend a sincere thanks to Caitlyn, Justise, Tara, Murphy and May for their generous contributions.
At our home base in Melbourne, GAF Programs & Partnerships Manager Brad Shrimpton (who many scholars met this year) held a Community of Practice event with representatives from other scholarship-focused philanthropic bodies. This gathering brought together the dedicated individuals behind some of Australia’s most prestigious scholarship programs to exchange ideas, share their expertise and strengthen sectorwide collaboration.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are developing new programming to further support our GAF scholars’ academic journeys and career readiness. If you have suggestions or ideas that could enhance the GAF scholarship experience, I invite you to contact the GAF team directly
Paul Conroy CEO
Watch: Next Chapters 2025
This virtual event celebrated our finishing scholars by providing them with plenty of food for thought about what their life might look like after university
From establishing your values and building confidence to nailing interviews and handling rejection, our panel provided honest and practical reflections.
We suggest changing up your usual podcast and tuning in to the recording below during your morning commute.
Learn more
We recently caught up with Sasha Sri Deenathayalan through our GAF Scholar Network Event at Deakin Docklands. Sasha gave a short, candid talk about how the scholarship experience has impacted her.
Before she sets off to study abroad in the UK, Sasha offers some practical words of wisdom for those just starting their scholarship journey.
Our 2025 GAF Fellow Marlo Lyda's sculptural lighting work, KIN, is on exhibit at the NGV as a part of the Rigg Design Prize.
You can check it out for free at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia until 1 February 2026.
Find out more
L-R: Bethany, Brad from the GAF team, and fellow GAF scholar Adil, May 2025. Image: RMIT.
Feature | Bethany Greenwood, RMIT
Bethany is proof that your scholarship is unique to you!
She's using her GAF funds to set her own path and realise her dream of going on an exchange to the Netherlands in late 2025
Read more
Get the latest updates from us on Instagram.
Plus, join the GAF Scholars & Alumni Group on LinkedIn.
Join
Fellowship Report | Beatrice Jeavons, ISSI
One of our 2024 GAF Fellows, Beatrice, went across the UK, the Netherlands and Australia to learn more about how our arts and cultural sectors can lead the way in conservation and biodiversity.
If you're passionate about protecting the environment and returning it to its natural state, this is for you
Learn more
11:05AM
Issue 18, October 2025
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work We pay our respects to their Elders past and present
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