On 23rd October, the Fogarty Foundation hosted its annual InspirED event, bringing together Fogarty Scholars and distinguished guests to celebrate achievements and recognise the diverse leadership journeys that unfolded throughout 2025. The evening served as a bridge between Scholars beginning their university experience and those preparing to embark on the next chapter of their lives.

Mariya Faisal, President of the Fogarty Scholars Association (FSA), opened the night with an uplifting review of the year, highlighting the dedication and drive of Fogarty Scholars in contributing to FSA initiatives, including the Fogarty Futures Conference.

Professor Andrew Williams, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) of the University of Western Australia, spoke about the Fogarty Foundation and its Scholars' commitment to excellence and the vital role of leadership within the university community.

From the Fogarty Foundation team, Annie Fogarty AM and Elizabeth Knight, reflected on the year and shared the Foundation's mission of creating educational and leadership opportunities for Western Australia's young people. The evening also welcomed Harry Kwon who joined the Foundation in 2025 as Program Coordinator for the Next Generation Leaders pillar, who remarked that "the conversations I've had with the team and Fogarty Scholars have reminded me that leadership isn't always about titles and achievements, but about curiosity, courage and community." Harry shared exciting plans for the Fogarty Ripple at UWA leadership initiative, which will expand in 2026.

This year's InspirED introduced a new honour: the Ripple Effect Award, recognising a first-year Scholar who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, initiative and personal growth. The inaugural 2025 recipient, Kele Readhead, spoke about his involvement in the Crisis to Calm (C2C) initiative, which aims to bridge gaps in mental health education following crisis events across Western Australia, particularly in regional and rural communities.

Shihan Tan was this year's recipient of the Jeremy Cheang Award, awarded annually in memory of the late Jeremy Cheang, a former UWA Fogarty Scholar. The $2,000 award supports a Scholar in developing an idea that creates positive impact on the community. Joined by three fellow first-year Scholars, Shihan shared his vision for FHC (Future Health Collective), a student-led body designed to strengthen connection, support and knowledge-sharing amongst health sciences students, ensuring they feel informed and empowered as they navigate their future careers.

The evening concluded with warm recognition of this year's graduating Scholars, acknowledging their contributions, personal growth and lasting impact on the Fogarty Scholars community. Pooja Ramesh shared heartfelt reflections on her university and leadership journey, offering wisdom and encouragement to those following in her footsteps. Joshua Peckover reflected on the "black swan effect," a phenomenon once thought impossible until it happens. He drew parallels to his own university experience, describing how moments and opportunities he never imagined would unfold became defining chapters of his journey.

InspirED 2025 was a reminder of the strength, compassion and ambition that define the Fogarty Scholarship Program. It was an evening celebrating young leaders who continue to create positive ripples of change across Western Australia.