UQ graduates named as John Monash Scholars

Three University of Queensland graduates will head to England to further their studies at the distinguished Cambridge and Oxford universities after winning postgraduate scholarships.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering graduate Heather Muir, Law and Commerce graduate Jordan English, and Civil Engineering graduate Steven Ettema have been named John Monash scholars.  

They are among 18 Australians to receive 2018 John Monash Scholarships which are awarded to outstanding Australians with leadership potential who wish to study overseas.

UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Joanne Wright said the scholarships were among the most important postgraduate scholarships in Australia.

“The awards target young Australians who have potential to be leaders in their fields and to make significant contributions in the community,” Professor Wright said.

“Heather, Jordan and Steven have already been creating change in their fields since graduating from UQ and now they can add a John Monash Scholarship to their list of career accomplishments.”

Heather Muir graduated from UQ with a Bachelor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with Honours and was the Valedictorian of her class in 2016. 

She’s currently doing a Masters of Philosophy degree at the University of Cambridge, and will now undertake her PhD at the Cambridge Centre for Scientific Computing.

Jordan English has a Bachelor of Laws (with first class Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce from UQ.  The University Medal in Law winner is currently an Associate to Justice Edelman of the High Court of Australia.

As an Indigenous Australian, he’s committed to increasing Indigenous representation in the law and being a role model. He’ll move to the University of Oxford to study a Bachelor of Civil Law.

Civil engineering graduate (with first class Honours) Steven Ettema will conduct research through a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science at Oxford focusing on improvements to tidal and wind turbines by applying principles used in the aerospace industry. 

He’s currently a numerical modeller and coastal engineer at BMT Group, and aims to inform energy policy and further develop renewable energy technologies in Australia.

Ms Muir is the 2018 Anzac Centenary John Monash Scholar, Mr English is the 2018 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar and Mr Ettema is the 2018 Woodside John Monash Scholar.

Media: Belinda McDougall, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 7890