Crowther student Victoria Bragg with Kim Jackson after the announcement of the scholarship funding boost. Photo: ANU.
A driven and passionate young woman from the NSW Hilltops region is on the brink of turning her dream of becoming a leader in renewable energy into a reality.
Victoria Bragg, who hails from the small rural community of Crowther, was already celebrating the fact that late last year, she was announced the winner of a prestigious university scholarship.
But last week that news got a whole lot better.
Victoria is now one step closer to her dream of becoming an engineer, thanks to a significant increase in funding for the Kim Jackson Scholarship, which will now provide her with $25,000 annually throughout her studies at the Australian National University (ANU).
The scholarship program is designed to support women from regional areas pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
For Victoria, a former Young High School student, the scholarship means she can fully focus on her studies – bringing her closer to making a lasting impact in the field of sustainable energy.
As the first in her family to pursue a career in engineering, she says growing up on a farming property played a key role in sparking her commitment to environmental sustainability.
“My rural background and love of natural environments inspired my passion for STEM and were the driving forces behind my choice of engineering,” Victoria said.
These ambitions were clearly reflected in her participation in prestigious programs such as the Cochlear Autumn School of Engineering and the National Youth Science Forum during her school years.
Victoria’s strong sense of community was equally evident. Through her involvement with the Koorawatha Show Society and volunteer work at local institutions, she continued to make a meaningful contribution to her community beyond the classroom.
Now in her first year at ANU, she has her sights firmly set on renewable energy, determined to harness clean, sustainable power to help protect the environment for future generations.
“This scholarship not only supports me financially, but also provides invaluable mentoring and career guidance that will help me grow into a skilled professional,” Victoria said.
The scholarship comes under the banner of the SKIP Foundation – a registered Australian charity that focuses on supporting various causes including financially disadvantaged individuals, the general community, those with chronic illnesses, disaster victims and other charities.
Co-founder Kim Jackson, a Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award winner, is a long-time advocate of equality in education.
She also harbours a passion for supporting young women from regional areas to pursue a career in STEM.
Kim herself was from regional Australia and received a scholarship to study engineering and commerce at the ANU in the early 2000s before working in male-dominated fields throughout her career, including investment banking and funds management.
Having personally experienced the challenges of being underrepresented in a field lacking diversity, she was inspired to establish her namesake scholarship to help pave the way for future female engineers and innovators.
“I know how difficult it can be to break into an industry where you’re the minority,” Kim said.
“In Australia, women represent just 15 per cent of all people working in STEM jobs.
”This under-representation begins in school, where girls consistently select fewer STEM subjects, and continues in university.”
By breaking down the barriers, Kim said, the foundation sought to empower the next generation of female engineers and innovators.
“By offering this scholarship, we hope to show young women everywhere that there is a place for them in STEM,” she said.
“We want them to know that their dreams are valid, and with the right support, they can achieve anything.”
