I grew up next to the beach in Melbourne and developed a deep passion for our ocean. While the city was close by, we spent weekend in nature and as I transitioned from pool swimming to endurance open water swimming, I spent many mornings out in the ocean at dawn. My interest in sustainable agriculture also started to grow from a far during high school; my family has a cattle station in rural Queensland, and witnessing their incredible efforts to upskill farmers in regenerative agriculture through the Lachlan Hughes Foundation made me curious about the future of agriculture in Australia.
After finishing school, I lived in Ghana as a volunteer and gained a glimpse into the necessity for maintaining a productive ocean to support the livelihoods of many vulnerable communities. I returned to Melbourne, where I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Science, Majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Throughout my studies, I have pursued my interest in innovation, and I am particularly looking to explore the nexus between engineering and aquaculture in my future career, with a focus on the sustainability of fisheries. I am also interested in the emerging seaweed industry, and its potential in many areas, such as becoming a nutritious food source for humans and animal feed.
I am extremely honoured to be awarded a Horizon Scholarship and am excited to connect with scholars and industry professionals. To me, the industry work placement is an incredible opportunity to discover the innovation occurring within the fisheries industry and I am really looking forward to taking the next step in my career progression.
I am thrilled to be sponsored by FRDC and look forward to being able to expand my knowledge, skills and experience in the wider fisheries and aquaculture fields.