Sitting beside the newly named Katrina Dawson John Monash Scholar, Angus Dawson is certain his late sister would be proud.
“She would love you, Adele, and be very excited that you’re going to head off to Oxford and have the scholarship in her name,” he says.
Almost 11 years have passed since the Lindt Café siege, in which Sydney lawyer Katrina Dawson tragically lost her life. In the years since, her family has worked to honour her legacy through the Katrina Dawson Foundation, supporting young women of exceptional potential through scholarships, mentoring and educational opportunities.
This commitment continues with the announcement of Adele Burke as the inaugural Katrina Dawson John Monash Scholar — a new $100,000 a year scholarship established in partnership with the General Sir John Monash Foundation.
A University of Sydney graduate, Adele intends to undertake a Master of Science in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, focusing on shaping Australia’s transition toward a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy future.
Reflecting on receiving a scholarship that carries Katrina’s name, Adele says the honour is deeply personal.
“The more I’ve learnt about Katrina, it is very special,” she says. “She sounds like she was an absolutely amazing, amazing young woman.”
General Sir John Monash Foundation CEO, Ross Youngman, said partnering with the Katrina Dawson Foundation is a profound honour.
“Katrina’s legacy of curiosity, compassion and possibility continues to inspire so many, and this scholarship ensures that spirit lives on in future leaders. We are delighted to welcome Adele as the inaugural Katrina Dawson John Monash Scholar.”
Our sincere thanks to the Katrina Dawson Foundation — and to Angus and Nikki Dawson — for their leadership and partnership in the creation of this new scholarship.
