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2024 student winners

Meet the student winners from the 2024 Victorian International Education Awards, honoured for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Victorian community.

International Student of the Year – Premier's Award

Lara Salaysay, Monash University
From the Philippines to Australia, Lara has been driving change in climate action, international student welfare, and youth engagement. Her contribution to environmental advocacy shines through her work, giving a voice to youth and international students in climate advocacy.

International Student of the Year – Research

Samuel Widodo, The University of Melbourne
Samuel is an Indonesian PhD student focusing his research on brain cancer immunology. With a dedication to mentoring, he supervises research interns and teaches undergraduate pathology and immunology students in laboratory subjects to investigate diseases and develop their scientific skills. Samuel's work has been cited in over 130 international publications and he has presented at various international conferences. He is a peer mentor for first-year PhD students, guiding them in their academic journey. Outside of academia, Samuel volunteers at the International Christian Church Melbourne and serves as secretary of the Navigators Student Club, helping international students settle in Melbourne.

International Student of the Year – Higher Education

Lara Salaysay, Monash University
Lara, from the Philippines, is studying a Master of Environment and Sustainability degree and has 8 years of professional sustainability experience. Lara advocates for climate action, international student welfare and youth engagement, and as vice president internal for the Filipino-Australian Student Council of Victoria, she increased membership and fostered a sense of community among Filipino students. As an English Connect facilitator at Monash University and a Multicultural Bay Ambassador for the Port Phillip EcoCentre, Lara has empowered international students to integrate into Melbourne’s community. Her contributions to the Victorian Energy Jobs Plan and international climate forums make her a leader in environmental advocacy and youth empowerment.

International Student of the Year – English Language Training

Natalia Bejar, Impact English College
Natalia Bejar studied English IELTS Preparation. Originally from Peru, she has secured valuable grants for small businesses and taught project management to university students. Her passion for mountain climbing led her to reach Everest Base Camp and inspired her to co-found Preservando, an NGO focused on environmental preservation. Preservando has helped donate over 60 kilograms of clothing to families in Peru and Nepal. In Victoria, she engaged with the Project Management Institute Melbourne to foster networking and collaboration. Her blog shares her experiences in Melbourne and promotes sustainable practices.

International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training

Chun (Jimmy) Han, William Angliss Institute of TAFE
Chun (Jimmy) Han, from Taiwan, is studying a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery/Diploma of Hospitality Management and introduced a special Taiwanese menu at a local café, earning praise for promoting cultural fusion. Jimmy's culinary talents have earned him multiple accolades, including the Nestlé Golden Chef Victoria Regional Champion and the 2023 Golden Chef of the Year, Australia’s longest running and highly acclaimed competition for young chefs, where he achieved triple gold medals. He actively participates in international internships, culinary competitions, and community initiatives. Jimmy's achievements inspire fellow international students to pursue excellence in Victoria's vibrant culinary scene. Jimmy was also Highly Commended by the Premier’s Award - International Student of the Year judging panel.

International Student of the Year – Regional

Juliet Bao Ngoc Doling, Deakin University (Geelong)
Juliet is a British student born in Vietnam, studying a Bachelor of Science (Honours). Juliet volunteers at the Queenscliff Freshwater and Marine Discovery Centre, managing marine life and leading educational tours. Juliet conducted research at the renowned Timothy Clark Lab in Queenscliff, gaining hands-on experience in advanced marine research and leads monthly clean-ups through Beach Patrol 3220. Juliet also founded the Deakin Waterwatch group and the Deakin Ecological Collective, fostering environmental awareness among students. Additionally, she serves as a Nature Ambassador for Conservation Volunteers Australia, advocating for sustainability across the region.

International Student/Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year

Preetham Akula, RMIT University
Preetham Akula, from India, is studying a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and is an inspirational entrepreneur and leader. Preetham's entrepreneurial journey began with Dropout Chaiwala, a successful food and beverage startup. Preetham quickly scaled the business to multiple locations in Melbourne, generating significant revenue. Leveraging his engineering background and business acumen, Preetham founded Akula Tech, a pioneering space technology company. Within a short time, he secured $1 million in pre-seed funding and is preparing for the company's first satellite launch. Akula Tech has partnered with Australian telecom company VOCUS to tap into government and enterprise markets and continues to champion mentorship, talent development, and industry collaboration for Victoria's startup ecosystem.

Emerging Leader – International Alumni Award

Fazil Mohammed, Swinburne University of Technology
Fazil Mohammed studied a Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology and is a distinguished leader and community advocate from India. Awarded the Emerging Leader Award at Swinburne University of Technology, Fazil has excelled in both community and industry engagements. As a Project Global Citizen Scholar and Study Melbourne Student Ambassador, he embraced diverse cultural experiences and collaboration. Upon graduating Fazil joined DuluxGroup as a Cloud Support Analyst. He’s now a Cloud Operations Engineer at PwC Australia. An avid content creator, Fazil’s YouTube content promotes the life of international students in Melbourne, and has received more than one million views. His initiatives make him a recognised figure in Victoria's international student community.

2024 student finalists

Category

Finalists

International Student of the Year – Higher Education

Ayushi Daga 
Angela Sojan

International Student of the Year – Research

Ajmal Abdul Azees 
Karishma Don

International Student of the Year – English Language
Training

Amaranta Avilés 
Mohammed Al-Aghbary

International Student of the Year – Vocational Education
and Training

Khanh Ngan (Mei) Ho 
Manal Lashinka Pandita

International Student of the Year – Regional

Karishma Don 
Mai Khanh (Stacy) Doan

International Student / Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year

Muhsin Kizhisseri 
Ruwini Cooray

Emerging Leader - International Alumni Award

Hasan Muttakin
Tarzon Budhathoki

Special commendations

This year, our judging panels highly commended two noteworthy students:

  • Chun (Jimmy) Han was highly commended by the Premier’s Award – International Student of the Year judging panel, in addition to winning the International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training award
  • Nishadeep Kaur was highly commended by the International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training judging panel.

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Students sharing a picnic by the river

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