Monash trio win prized AustCham scholarships
Three Monash University students have been awarded the highly competitive AustCham China Scholarships, allowing them to complete a traineeship in China and ultimately achieve success in the changing global marketplace.
Samanatha Cook, Amy Hallam and Georgina O’Loughlin are among eight students from across the nation awarded the scholarships by the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham Beijing).
The awards, developed to acknowledge Australia’s growing economic, cultural and political relationship with China, are designed to foster the next generation of Sino-Australian business leaders.
Each scholarship winner will complete a comprehensive nine-month traineeship in China as well as have access to AustCham Beijing’s professional business network and mentors, and the opportunity to attend business and industry seminars.
Samanatha Cook, currently completing her Juris Doctor (JD), will take up her traineeship at Mallesons Stephen Jaques’ Beijing office. She is looking forward to gaining practical experience in commercial law, as well as practising her Mandarin.
“The traineeship will allow me to gain valuable experience in cross-border transactions [which is] an emerging legal issue as China looks to develop more trading partners around the world,” Ms Cook said.
“It has been my ambition to return to China in a professional role. After graduating from high school I worked as a trainee teacher in Nanjing, and during my undergraduate degree studied as an exchange student in Shanghai, before returning to Monash to complete my JD.
“As well as my time with Mallesons Stephen Jaques, the scholarship offers mentoring and networking opportunities, which I hope will enable me to gain an insight into Chinese business culture.”
Bachelor of Business Finance graduate Georgina O’Loughlin will be working for the Westpac Corporation while Environment Science graduate Amy Hallam will complete her internship at Environmental Resource Management.
For more information on AustCham Beijing and the AustCham China Scholarships, visit their website.