As The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust approaches its 60th anniversary next year, 103 of Australia’s most passionate and determined individuals were awarded a 2024 Churchill Fellowship – an honour announced earlier this year.
The list of recipients celebrates an impressively diverse group of everyday Australians committed to making a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
“The beauty of a Churchill Fellowship is that they are for people from all walks of life. They are not reserved just for academics or those already in the spotlight,” Acting CEO of the Churchill Trust Sally Campbell said when the national recipients were announced.
“In fact, recipients are often quietly achieving extraordinary things behind the scenes. They’re everyday Australians who have the drive to create real change, often without seeking recognition.”
The Churchill Fellowship is a unique opportunity that enables recipients up to eight weeks of travel to immerse themselves in international best practices, gathering firsthand experiences and knowledge from around the globe. This year’s Fellows will explore a vast array of fields and topics, each driven by the desire to bring innovative solutions back to Australia.
“Fellows return home ready to challenge the status quo and work in their field of endeavour to implement what they’ve learnt – they’re determined to make a difference,” Campbell said.
Since its inception in 1965, the Churchill Trust has awarded over 4,800 Fellowships, each one a testament to Sir Winston Churchill’s belief that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Impact of these Fellowships can be seen in countless areas of Australian life, from the creation of the ACT’s science museum Questacon to the introduction of Unit Pricing in supermarkets.
As the Trust prepares to celebrate 60 years of fostering innovation and leadership, this year’s cohort of Churchill Fellows are continuing that legacy by drawing on curiosity and passion to bring about transformative change.
“The Churchill Fellowship is more than just recognition—it’s a celebration of people trying to make a difference,” Campbell said.
“Our Fellows are extraordinary not just in their achievements, but in their drive to make Australia a better place.”
In 2024, topics include:
Land, Commerce and Logistics
Agriculture, veterinary services, horticulture, ecology and environmental management, natural
resources, transport and infrastructure, manufacturing and business.
Professions
Legal and judicial, financial services, engineering, architecture and design, sciences and
humanities, media and marketing, tourism and hospitality.
The arts
Visual arts, performing arts, literature, artistic support, textiles and jewellery design.
Health and medicine
Health and medical professionals, alternative medicines, training of health and medical workers,
health administration, fitness and lifestyle, sport and sports management.
Public service
Federal and state government services, politics and advocacy, Australian Defence Forces, police
and fire services, prisons and public institutions.
Education
Schooling at all levels, universities and TAFEs, vocational education and training, teaching and
teacher training, special needs education.
Community service
Charities and non-for-profit initiatives, social welfare, support programs, disabled and aged care
services.
What will the future change-makers do next?
Churchill Fellowships in 2024 were awarded to 24 people from VIC, 23 from NSW, 15 from QLD, 14 from WA, 10 from SA, seven from TAS, five from the ACT, and five from the NT.
Australian Capital Territory
- Ava Carter – (ACT) To explore the implementation and design of dedicated dental care units
for psychiatric patients
- David Barbalet – (ACT) University of Canberra Churchill Fellowship to shadow world-leading
bespoke carbon fibre product producers to inform my practice
- Hannah Evans – (ACT) To investigate community engagement and decision making in wildlife
control programs - Romy Listo – (ACT) To investigate models to support and destigmatise reproductive health in
the workplace - Tamara Riley – (ACT) To learn from Canadian First Nations researchers to inform my
Indigenous One Health research.
New South Wales
- Alix Pearce – (NSW) To explore how Australian insurers can de-risk and scale new climate
and resilience solutions - Asriana Rio – (NSW) To study police community engagement strategies that strengthen
relationships with CALD communities - Avalon Bourne – (NSW) To investigate initiatives effectively supporting young people to
manage climate anxiety
- Colin Fardon – (NSW) To learn traditional furniture restoration and conservation techniques
- Dani Villafaña – (NSW) Peter Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to investigate legal and community
responses to sexual violence within secondary school communities - Dean Gilligan – (NSW) To apply world’s best practice to conservation of Australia’s unique
freshwater springs ecosystems - Dev Singh – (NSW) To pioneer bacteriophage therapy, safeguarding Australia against
superbugs’ deadly grip - Emily Scott – (NSW) To investigate innovative global philanthropy strategies to improve
outcomes for LGBTIQ+ Australians - Gail Hilton – (NSW) To investigate comprehensive models of care for children with dementia
and their families - Gavin Brennan – (NSW) Northern Districts Education Centre (NSW) Churchill Fellowship to
investigate international best practice teaching and curriculum design for high school
economics - Indigo Willing – (NSW) To research gender-equity programs and safe spaces for women and
non-traditional skateboarders - Jon Swain – (NSW) To investigate strategies to support people experiencing homelessness
during extreme heat events - Jonathan Brand – (NSW) Gilbert Spottiswood Churchill Fellowship to study how interactive
and accessible theatre is created in non-traditional performance spaces
- Kellie Charles – (NSW) To explore best practices in AI-informed curricula design to reimagine
higher education - Kelly Lees – (NSW) Saskia Beer Churchill Fellowship to investigate ways of managing
parasitic mites of honey bees, including Varroa and Tropilaelaps - Mike Hammond – (NSW) Auto Skills Australia Churchill Fellowship to investigate how marine
rescue services in Australia must adapt to new boating technologies - Rachel Hocking – (NSW) To investigate journalists’ mental health support appropriate for
Australian Indigenous reporters - Robyn Monro Miller – (NSW) To explore international approaches to national play strategies
for children’s health and wellbeing - Sally Gainsbury – (NSW) To advance our understanding of how technology-based strategies
can prevent and treat gambling harms - Sarah Penicka-Smith – (NSW) To research socially-engaged orchestral and operatic models
in order to run projects in Australia - Tanya Mason – (NSW) Caroline Welsh Churchill Fellowship to research innovative methods of
estuary resilience to sea level rise - Wade Stedman – (NSW) Paul Tys Churchill Fellowship to learn best practice for organ
donation after voluntary assisted dying
- Warren Lysaght – (NSW) Donald Mackay Churchill Fellowship to learn how Australia as a
community can collaborate to reduce the threat of synthetic opioids.
Northern Territory
- Beau Cubillo – (NT) To investigate how Indigenous Peoples can self-determine their food
systems for health - Edith Waugh – (NT) Dr Lena Elizabeth McEwan and Dame Joyce Daws Churchill Fellowship
to explore culturally safe and sustainable perioperative care models for NT’s First Nations
peoples - Jack Dowden – (NT) To explore innovative ways of integrating social and education outcomes
into skateboard programs
- Luke Steller – (NT) To explore how strengths-based community development practices can
enhance Australian STEM education - Nikki Jefferies – (NT) To investigate the potential of circus as an educational mechanism for
Indigenous youth.
Queensland
- Andrew Hill – (QLD) To investigate methods of high-caseload management for the treatment
of native wildlife - Annabelle Johnstone – (QLD) To investigate human and social impacts of disasters on aged
care facilities and their residents - Bec Mac – (QLD) To research nighttime economy governance of cities and its impact on
safety and accessibility for women - Cameron Appleton-Seymour – (QLD) To research bagpipe education in overseas institutions
to re-build and sustain youth bagpiping locally
- Dan Pollock – (QLD) To investigate global models of disability justice that can be effectively
replicated in Australia - Eliza Munro – (QLD) Churchill Fellows Association of QLD Churchill Fellowship to explore
death and dying in First Nations communities to support culturally safe end of life care - Gemma Galbraith – (QLD) Dr Dorothea Sandars and Irene Lee Churchill Fellowship to
investigate new methods in marine robotics to further knowledge of Australia’s deep coral
reefs - Jo Wills – (QLD) To explore innovations in museum practice that can inspire and sustain
museums in regional Australia - Julie Westaway – (QLD) To investigate and enable the advanced practice of urogynaecology
continence nurses - Kim Dyball – (QLD) Frank and Helen Zobec Churchill Fellowship to investigate how young
Indigenous women are being empowered to thrive in various STEM fields
- Leah Shelton – (QLD) To investigate cutting edge practices of activism within art and live
performance - Neal Finch – (QLD) To explore, review and document wild game harvesting in Europe
- Neil Wilson – (QLD) To research emerging sustainable manufacturing techniques in the vinyl
record pressing industry - Nev Jones – (QLD) To investigate the mental health benefits of green woodworking in
therapeutic settings for veterans - Richard Brooking – (QLD) To research crime and justice system lived experience programs
for at-risk-youth and to inform policy.
South Australia
- Alle Drew – (SA) To investigate diabetes-specific wellbeing supports available to individuals
with type 1 diabetes - Andrew Dickson – (SA) Richard Rischbieth Churchill Fellowship to research global best
practice zero-carbon shipping technologies and business models - Eamon Raith – (SA) Dr Dorothea Sandars Churchill Fellowship to investigate bio-optical
methods of cerebral monitoring and applications in critical brain injury - Gigi Pinwill – (SA) To explore multi-disciplinary innovative practices of organizations who
promote endangered wildlife
- Jon Anderson – (SA) To study modular home builders and the factories, collaborations and
technology that makes them efficient
- Jonathan Newchurch – (SA) To study methodologies of re-establishing intergenerational
Indigenous language transmission - Luke Schneider – (SA) To investigate autism awareness training in school children to promote
inclusion and reduce stigma - Natasha Martin – (SA) To study methodologies of re-establishing intergenerational Indigenous
language transmission - Sam Whiting – (SA) To investigate and learn from the work of the UK Music Venue Trust and
their support for live venues - Simone Deegan – (SA) To reform joint enterprise laws that convict innocent people,
particularly minority youth.
Tasmania
- Bernadette Black – (TAS) To learn how other governments and philanthropy fund long term
primary preventative programs
- Christine Padgett – (TAS) To explore the effect of brain injury in victim-survivors of family
violence - Jemina Stuart-Smith – (TAS) To investigate rewilding strategies for species facing extinction
- Julie Gough – (TAS) Wendy Dodd Churchill Fellowship to locate/research colonial
correspondence about Tasmanian Aboriginal people in UK and Irish archives - Madeleine Figg – (TAS) To invest best practices for vulnerable witnesses to participate in the
criminal justice system - Meg Tait – (TAS) Gallaugher Bequest Churchill Fellowship to investigate community support
models preventing the care criminalisation of children - Nicole Zehntner – (TAS) To learn animal skeletal articulation, degreasing of osteology and
repair of historic articulations.
Victoria
- Adrianne Fleming – (VIC) Park Family Churchill Fellowship to study the system, techniques,
technologies and methods of instruction employed in pilot training - Alicia Kennedy – (VIC) To investigate organisations operating at the intersection of veterinary
and social services - Anna Murphy – (VIC) To investigate innovative conservation techniques to save Australia’s
plants from extinction - Brendan Quinn – (VIC) To learn about novel initiatives for effectively combating syphilis in
other developed countries - Cait McMahon – (VIC) To investigate journalists’ mental health support appropriate for
Australian Indigenous reporters - Chris Bush – (VIC) To investigate how AI can revolutionise education and address the equity
gap in Australian schools - Corey Joseph – (VIC) To learn best practices in measuring & assessing upper limb function in
children with disabilities - Erin Dolan – (VIC) To investigate international housing funds to increase affordable housing in
Australia - Jacob Miller – (VIC) Elvie Munday Churchill Fellowship to reimagine op-shop best practice,
engaging Australia in celebrating the sector’s 100th year - Jessie Adams – (VIC) To investigate the approaches adopted internationally to address the
safety of children on farms
- Kate Cavanough – (VIC) To examine best practice approaches to master planning and
renewal of social housing estates. - Loren L Tuck – (VIC) To investigate international examples of regional hydrogen, clean
energy and STEM education centres - Madeleine Buchner – (VIC) To understand best practice research, policy and practice for
young carers - Mairead Doyle – (VIC) To investigate the impact of AI technology in the spread of
misinformation and disinformation during elections - Marcus Crook – (VIC) To investigate global best practice in circular economy solutions for
textile waste in fashion
- Michele Clark – (VIC) To investigate the application of counter terrorism measures to address
violence against women - Sandie Czarka – (VIC) To investigate collaborative ungulate (deer) control models and identify
success factors - Sarah Jefford – (VIC) To research best practice surrogacy law frameworks to inform law
reform in Australia - Sherrie Beaver – (VIC) To investigate accessible fundraising approaches for deaf and hard of
hearing people - Shwathy Ramesan – (VIC) Bob and June Prickett Churchill Fellowship to learn to fabricate
customised electrodes to measure electrical activity in multiple sclerosis models - Simone Cassidy – (VIC) Dorothy and Brian Wilson Churchill Fellowship to explore impactful
and equitable processes to support the learning of refugee-background students - Tal Karp – (VIC) To identify practical steps to enhance the retention of women CEOs in
national sports organisations - Trent Delaney – (VIC) To research and implement proven youth crime prevention strategies
from leading police jurisdictions - Wenzel Carter – (VIC) Sir William Kilpatrick Churchill Fellowship to learn how to decrease the
incarceration rate of Indigenous men and women prisoners in Victoria.
Western Australia
- Anna Thetford – (WA) WA Department of Health Churchill Fellowship to explore family
support programs (FSP) for children and families living with a rare disease - Anthony Galante – (WA) To examine global redress models by resource companies for
impacts against First Nations peoples - Antonia Clissa – (WA) To research the psycho-social needs of transgender people requiring
fertility preservation
- Elise Fenn – (WA) To research strengths-based, therapeutic arts programs for children with
experiences of trauma - Henry Tan – (WA) To investigate Campylobacter risk controls and surveillance in chicken
meat production and processing - Holly Thompson – (WA) Bob and June Prickett Churchill Fellowship to learn from zoo and
conservation agencies on climate change emergency response and preparation plan - Juli Coffin – (WA) To investigate and validate an Aboriginal designed culturally secure equine
assisted learning program - Kate Ben-Tovim – (WA) To investigate international best practise in cultural diplomacy and
soft power - Kendall Ferraro – (WA) Churchill Fellows Association (CFA) of WA Churchill Fellowship to
explore the viability of transforming biogas to biomethane for Australia’s renewable energy
goals - Leanne Barron – (WA) WA Department of Communities Churchill Fellowship to improve
services for children who are victim survivors of family and domestic violence (FDV) - Luke Kerridge – (WA) Dame Roma Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to learn how to create
extraordinary immersive and interactive theatre for children
- Sarah Booth – (WA) To find five creative solutions to commercial vacancy – and thereby re-
imagine life in our CBD - Sheree Ford – (WA) Bob and June Prickett Churchill Fellowship to learn the process of
woodblock printing on textiles to teach in remote Indigenous communities.
