Fogarty Alumni Reunite with Annie Fogarty AM at Australia House, London

In May, Annie Fogarty AM travelled to the United Kingdom, taking the opportunity to reconnect with a number of UWA Fogarty Scholars now living, studying and working across the UK and Europe.

The gathering was made possible by Rebecca Tomkinson, WA Agent General for the United Kingdom and Europe, who generously hosted Annie and the Scholars for lunch at Australia House in London. Eight Alumni, drawn from different year groups of the program, came together for the occasion, some travelling from as far afield as Manchester and Portugal to attend. Among those present were Rachel Paterson, Racheline Tantular, David Sherwood, Rebecca Tomkinson, Breanna Dixon, Anish Badgeri, Brooke Loneragan, Emma Bond and James Lucas.

The lunch offered a chance for Alumni from across disciplines to catch up with one another and with Annie, sharing updates on their studies, careers and the paths that had brought them to the UK and Europe. Rebecca extended a standing invitation to the group, encouraging Scholars to make use of Australia House's meeting spaces free of charge whenever needed, and to get involved with the Young Professionals Network as a way of staying connected with fellow Western Australians abroad.

Reflecting on the occasion, Annie noted how the gathering reinforced just how deep and outstanding the talent within the Scholars cohort continues to be, particularly as more and more Scholars step into senior and influential roles across their fields. The lunch shows the value of keeping these connections alive, both for the Foundation and for the Scholars themselves, as opportunities grow for future collaboration between Alumni scattered across the globe.