An advocate for social mobility through education and an internationally recognised youth leader in Asia-Australia relations have been named 2025 John Monash Scholars.
Anish Badgeri and Racheline Tantular, both Fogarty Scholars and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) graduates from UWA, as well as New Colombo Plan Scholars and alumni of Perth Modern School, are among 18 Australians selected as recipients of the prestigious postgraduate scholarships to pursue studies at international institutions.
Born in Abu Dhabi, Mr Badgeri moved to Australia with his parents and older brother when he was 10, with the family setting up home in Willetton.
Currently the Head of Learning Community at Shenton College in Perth, he was this week named the inaugural Geoff Gallop John Monash Scholar, awarded to recipients whose fields of study will benefit Western Australia's goals for resilience, equity, and sustainability.
Having also earned a Master of Teaching (Secondary) from the Australian Catholic University through the Teach for Australia program, the 29-year-old now plans to pursue a Master of Education Leadership at University College London.
He said he was passionate about improving educational outcomes in Australia, through helping to create systems to retain and support teachers in schools around Australia.
“I’m really excited at the thought of learning from a world-leading educational institution,” Mr Badgeri said.
“The UK has similar challenges to Australia in terms of recruiting and retaining high achieving and diverse teachers, so I hope to import some of their innovative solutions and adapt them for the WA context.
“My philosophy on education is embedded in the belief that all students, regardless of their postcode, should be empowered to achieve their full potential.”
Last year Mr Badgeri was recognised as an educational leader in the Out for Australia 30 Under 30 awards, owing to his decade-long track record of championing LGBTQIA+ youth advocacy and access to educational opportunities.
Image: 2025 John Monash Scholars Anish Badgeri and Racheline Tantular.
Ms Tantular, the CEO of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership, was awarded the 2025 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholarship.
The 24-year-old, who was born in Indonesia and grew up in Murdoch, will pursue a double master’s degree in International Affairs, a program jointly organised by the London School of Economics and Peking University.
The Beijing component will enhance her expertise in Australia-China relations, which she hopes will contribute to Australia’s security and stability in the decades to come.
In London, Ms Tantular plans to research the role of third parties in peace processes to understand how Australia can play an effective mediation role to prevent and minimise conflict in our region when it matters most.
“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to study international affairs in two very different cosmopolitan capitals that are key partners for Australia,” Ms Tantular said.
“My time in Beijing and London will complement the perspectives I have gained from living in Jakarta, Singapore and Tokyo, to make well-informed, globally aware policy decisions upon my return to Australia.”
Ms Tantular's educational background includes studies in Southeast Asia and classical clarinet performance at UWA and she has worked at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as a project manager at Lydekker on technology and transnational crime, and as a policy advisor at Reset.Tech Australia on online safety and accountability.
Her journey at UWA began with a focus on medical sciences, but her leadership roles in the Australia-China Youth Association and ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership steered her toward a career in diplomacy and policy.
She went on to win the Dr Vincent Harry Cooper Memorial Prize for the most outstanding Honours dissertation and graduated as valedictorian from UWA. Fluent in Indonesian, Mandarin and Japanese, she is currently pursuing a Masters of China Studies at Zhejiang University.