Next Gen Awards 2024 – WA Showcase: Celebrating Inspiring Young Innovators
The Fogarty Foundation has been excited to continue support for the Next Gen Awards 2024 – WA Showcase, an event dedicated to celebrating the remarkable talents and projects of young leaders across Western Australia. With dynamic pitches from our top 10 nominees, an inspiring keynote address by Scott Millar on the future of work and the changing landscape for our young people, and extensive networking opportunities, this event provided a valuable platform for youth and community leaders to connect and find inspiration.
Laura Potts from the Foundation had the opportunity to serve as a judge, experiencing firsthand the incredible talent emerging from our state. One highlight of this year’s showcase was the strong theme of sustainability that ran through many of the pitches, reflecting the growing commitment of young leaders to create a positive impact on both their communities and the planet.
This showcase, made possible by the Meshpoints initiative with support from Lotterywest and Spacecubed, reflects our shared commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in WA.
Congratulations to this year’s top 10 showcased winners:
- Ekaterina Khakimullina (Year 10, Perth Modern School) – A compassionate leader, Ekaterina focuses on creating inclusive spaces for all students, embodying leadership as a collective effort.
- Tawana Mawoko (Year 12, Peter Carnley Anglican Community School) – Advocate for youth empowerment, Tawana champions initiatives like the Kwinana Young Leaders Youth Forum and “Feel Good Fridays.”
- Meenakshisundaram Srinivasan (Year 11, Perth Modern School) – Through her podcast and sustainability projects, Meena raises awareness about consumer impact on the environment.
- Eeishu Mithun (Year 7, All Saints College) – Creator of the “EXTRA automated garage door,” Eeishu uses technology to improve accessibility and safety.
- Tafadzwa Gore (Year 11, North Lake Senior Campus) – An award-winning author and environmentalist, Tafadzwa leads impactful projects like Eco-reusable pads with UNICEF Zimbabwe.
- DeepDive4U (Veer and Mehar Sareen, Years 5 & 7, All Saints College) – A platform by young siblings that inspires career exploration through interviews with professionals across industries.
- Challenge Bandits (Sophia Baxter, Theo Williams, Alexii Doney, Stephanie Baxter, and Katie Williams, Years 6, 7 & 9, Scouts WA) – A team dedicated to addressing global issues, from sustainability initiatives to local community support.
- Anika Arulsingham (Year 8, Willetton Senior High School) – A multi-talented achiever in academics, arts, and leadership, Anika founded “Calmbrace” to raise awareness for mental health and cancer research.
- Anotida Chiyangwa (Year 12, Peter Carnley Anglican Community School) – Innovator in sustainable construction, Anotida designed a rapid-build platform for net-zero buildings.
- Matthew Hall (Head of Arts, Ursula Frayne Catholic College) – Redefining AI in education, Matthew uses AI to enhance critical thinking and creativity in the classroom.
We congratulate each of these incredible young innovators and are honoured to support a platform that celebrates their contributions and fosters a collaborative, sustainable future for WA.
