As the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Dow Chemical Company, UQ alumnus Mr Andrew N. Liveris AO is well aware of the challenges that come with leadership and responsibility.

Paula Liveris and students When he and his wife Paula gave a historic $13.5 million to UQ in 2018 to establish the Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, their vision was to nurture the next generation of emerging leaders here in Queensland, equipping them with the confidence and capabilities to deliver innovative solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

Andrew’s foresight on the need for strong leadership was confirmed by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the world – thrust unexpectedly into disruption and uncertainty – turned to its leaders seeking courage and reliability.

Through Andrew and Paula’s gift, UQ is positioned to be at the forefront of producing these leaders.

Occupying the 9th floor of the Andrew N. Liveris Building – set to be completed later in 2021 as a hub for teaching, learning and research in sustainability – the Academy will continue to deliver and grow the bespoke and highly selective Liveris Scholars Program.

The program sets Scholars on a journey that takes them beyond the usual engineering curriculum, embedding training in entrepreneurism through UQ Ventures, providing structured leadership training and mentoring, as well as supporting a gap year or semester to put the skills they learn at the Academy into practice.

It is designed to reflect the complexities of effective leadership, producing graduates well-versed in the critical skillsets beyond their technical knowledge, from emotional intelligence to entrepreneurialism and creativity.

One of the 2020 cohort of Scholars is Esandi Kalugalage, a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) student majoring in Electrical Engineering with a passion for renewable energy.

Liveris building She says that along with the opportunity to speak with world leaders, one of the drawcards of the program is its holistic approach to learning.

“One of the things I enjoy about the Liveris Academy is getting the opportunity to learn about many fields other than just engineering and science: for example, we recently had a workshop that was all about critical thinking and philosophy,” Esandi said.

“The biggest thing I’ve taken away from the Academy is the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, like being the host of a podcast and thinking of my own business idea, then actually watching it come to life.

“I would never have thought of doing those things if I hadn’t come to the Liveris Academy.”

As these successive cohorts of Scholars like Esandi complete their programs, they will become part of a global network of highly-trained, interdisciplinary Liveris Academy alumni creating change in Australia and across the world.

During the campaign, endowed gifts like Andrew and Paula’s established 136 new endowed scholarships to support students in need at UQ. With your help, we’ve created more opportunities for the young people who need them most.

Because of you, the good doesn’t stop.

Trevor and Judith St Baker are true patrons of the ‘living giving’ movement, devoting their recent years to supporting the causes they care about most.

Alongside almost ten years of generous support of medical research at UQ, the couple made a landmark commitment to sustainability in 2018 when they gave $1.5 million to establish the Tritium Fellow in E-Mobility at UQ – an endowed research position dedicated to advancing electric-mobility locally and abroad.

For Mr St Baker, the independent fellowships were not only an opportunity to invest in technology to improve air quality and public health, but also to bolster employment in Australia’s emerging electric vehicle industry.

“E-mobility research and innovation is developing exponentially, and research innovations often lead to increased employment opportunities in the industry,” Mr St Baker said.

“Brisbane company Tritium – a leader in fast charging technology – is a perfect example of how university innovation can lead to job creation: it has grown from an idea developed by three UQ students into a company that now employs 232 people in Australia.”

The inaugural and current Tritium E-Mobility Fellow – Dr Jake Whitehead – says the fellowship has created a unique opportunity for the University to secure a position as a global leader in e-mobility technology and research.

“The St Baker’s generous gift came at a critical juncture where the world is becoming more aware of the significant environmental, health and economic benefits e-mobility technologies can deliver,” Dr Whitehead said.

“While e-mobility is growing exponentially overseas, we still have some catching up to do locally.

“With the enormous local talent we have in the Australian e-mobility industry, it is important we remain on the front foot, continue to innovate, and fully capitalise on the substantial benefits these technologies can deliver.

“As the Tritium E-Mobility Fellow, I’ve been working to drive research that will improve the uptake, performance and economics of e-mobility not only in Australia, but across the world.”

After 18 months in the role, Dr Whitehead has already made significant progress in his research, heading several key projects.

He has received a competitive Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship for research in consumer preferences and smart-charging infrastructure, and is currently leading two projects investigating the feasibility of Zero Emission Buses and Trucks in Queensland through the Transport Academic Partnership.

Dr Whitehead will also soon launch a world-leading Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) trial with the aim of understanding how transport pricing bundles can influence travel behaviour, and in particular, encourage the use of e-mobility modes, such as electric bikes and scooters, for sustainable commuting.

Ultimately, Dr Whitehead hopes his research can help inform more strategic policy and incentives that will increase both the local and international uptake of electric vehicles, with better outcomes not only for our planet, but also for our health and our economy.

During the campaign, gifts like the St Bakers’ made an incredible difference in fast-tracking the pioneering research we need to tackle the big environmental issues like air pollution and climate change. Every gift – no matter what size – has a part to play in creating the solutions.

Because of you, the good doesn’t stop.

There are many ways we can choose to remember the people we love, but for the family of Roger Trundle, his legacy was best celebrated by supporting the next generation of civil engineers at UQ.

The Roger Trundle Memorial Scholarship was established in 2015 by Roger’s wife, Marjorie, and his two children, Matthew and Jennifer. Each year, it is awarded to a driven civil engineering student whose academic progress is threatened by financial, educational, geographic or cultural disadvantage.

Roger’s son, Matthew, says the scholarship is a fitting reflection of Roger’s life and the family’s belief in education and opportunity.

“The Trundle family are very proud to sponsor this scholarship in memory of our father and husband, Roger, who was once a Civil Engineering student at UQ,” Matthew said.

“The education he received opened opportunities for employment as an engineer and led to a successful career in the construction industry, and through this scholarship, we hope to make a difference in the lives of students who display great potential, enthusiasm and drive to succeed.”

The 2020 Roger Trundle Memorial Scholar was Youssef Eskifeh, who left his home in Syria three years ago to pursue Civil Engineering at UQ. The journey has not been easy for Youssef, who has had to worked tirelessly and through many hurdles towards his dream career.

“I will never forget moment when I knew that I was awarded the scholarship, because it is the highest achievement I have and the thing that I am most proud of,” Youssef said.

“I chose to study Civil Engineering because it has been my long-term goal since I was a child, as I was always interested in knowing how the buildings were constructed and when I grew up I wanted participate in shaping and developing the world in a sustainable way.

“As a student who came from Syria and has been living in Australia for only 3 years, I have faced many challenges to get to university, including doing a TAFE course to get an OP and improve my English. I chose to study at UQ as I found it the best university which can help me to study my dream program.”

For Youssef, it is an honour to carry Roger’s legacy through his studies and is an opportunity he hopes he can pay forward for other students experiencing hardship in the future.

“The scholarship means a lot for me as it helps me to overcome the financial hardships that I am facing and focus more on my study,” Youssef said.

“I am inspired by the scholarship to always help others, and I hope in the future I will be able to help young students to achieve their dreams as the Trundle family has done.”

During the campaign, endowed gifts like the Trundle Family’s established 136 new endowed scholarships to support students in need at UQ. With your help, we’ve created more opportunities for the young people who need them most.

Because of you, the good doesn’t stop.

Dr Alan van Tran and Minh Ha Tran Indigenous Health Education Bursary

It’s been ten years since UQ alumnus Dr Alan van Tran (Doctor of Medicine, ’83) and his wife, Minh Ha Tran, established a scholarship supporting Indigenous medical students at UQ – a decision forged during Dr Tran’s three decades as a GP in Inala, where he witnessed the severe health inequalities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

After arriving in Australia in the 1980s as Vietnamese refugees, Dr Tran studied at UQ to be able to practice as a doctor in Australia and opened his own clinic in Inala. Through his work, Dr Tran was confronted with the visible gap in health outcomes experienced by local Indigenous communities.

For him and Minh Ha, creating the Dr Alan Van Tran and Minh Ha Tran Indigenous Health Education Bursary to support the next generation of Indigenous medical practitioners at UQ was their way to be a part of the solution. As an endowed fund, this is a gift – and an impact – that only continues to grow, with a total of 34 scholarships awarded since establishment.

“My family has faced our own struggles in the past, but we have always managed a way through. We are humbled to now be in a place where we can support those who need assistance,” Dr Tran said.

“My work as a GP in Inala opened my eyes to the situation faced by Indigenous Australians; I believe it is all of our responsibilities to ‘Close the Gap’ and actively seek to redress inequalities and disadvantage.

“I see this bursary as our way to ensure Indigenous students have the opportunities they deserve, but which society may not have always afforded them.”

In 2020, one of these students was Ella Ceolin, a proud Aboriginal and Italian woman and UQ Doctor of Medicine student.

“No one in my family came from a medical background and, throughout high school, I’d never heard of Indigenous western medicine doctors – it was through a UQ Indigenous outreach program (InspireU) that I was put on the path towards medicine,” Ella said.

“Through this program, I learnt about the equity pathways into medicine and about what having more Indigenous doctors would mean for our people.

“As I’m sure Dr Tran would know, pursuing medicine is not an easy task; however, my pathway has been made easier because of their generosity and support.”

For Ella, her scholarship meant she could move closer to campus for her postgraduate studies, avoiding the three-hour commute she endured from her family home during her undergraduate degree. Although being separated from her family was a difficult sacrifice, it has afforded more time for her studies and towards her dream of becoming an Indigenous doctor for Indigenous peoples.

“Throughout my life, I have witnessed so many of the inequities that exist between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people in Australia, especially in the health field,” Ella said.

“I believe that building a strong Indigenous health workforce is key to providing more culturally appropriate and sensitive health care.

“I want to become an Indigenous doctor to make a personal contribution to closing the health gap.”

The Trans were avid supporters of Not if, When – the Campaign to Create Change, supporting not only their own bursary, but also providing a campaign gift to the Medicine Scholarship Endowment Fund. As these endowments grow, more and more students will feel the positive impact of their support.

During the campaign, students like Ella benefited from the 136 new endowed scholarships created for students in need at UQ. With your help, we’ve created more opportunities for the people who need them most.

Because of you, the good doesn’t stop.