The Robert Gordon Menzies Scholarship to Harvard is one of Australia's most prestigious national awards for postgraduate study in the United States. Inaugurated in 1967 by prominent Australian alumni of Harvard to honour the Australian statesman and longest-serving Prime Minister, the Menzies Scholarship grants have assisted over ninety talented Australians to undertake post graduate study in a wide range of disciplines. Our winners this year, are no exception. Smart and driven, Zoe Brown and Harrison Schipke, are extremely talented and driven individuals, who will no doubt contribute positively to Australian society in the years to come.
We look forward to hearing them talk at the upcoming AGM on Tuesday 17th June. Find out a little about both of these outstanding individuals below.
ZOE BROWN
Zoe will undertake a Master of Laws (LLM) at Harvard Law School, with a particular focus on comparative constitutional law.
Zoe worked as an intern in the United States Senate, where she saw firsthand the importance of understanding the legal foundations of our society to advocate for progress and change. While at Harvard, she will examine how Australian constitutional law can develop to strengthen and maintain Australian democratic institutions and respond to modern democratic challenges.
After completing her LLM, Zoe hopes to work for a public interest organisation to gain experience in running significant test case litigation. In the long term, Zoe hopes to become a barrister specialising in constitutional law while maintaining a significant pro bono practice. She also hopes to mentor the next generation of young lawyers.
Zoe graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts, both with First Class Honours. She previously worked as a solicitor for Herbert Smith Freehills in Melbourne and London and is currently an associate to the Justice Michelle Gordon AC at the High Court of Australia. She is passionate about using her position as a lawyer to advocate for disadvantaged communities and has extensive experience in pro bono work and strategic advocacy for refugees, asylum seekers and women at risk of homelessness.
HARRISON SCHIPKE
With the support of the R. G. Menzies Scholarship, Harrison Schipke will pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Harvard Business School. He is passionate about creating more accessible, sustainable, and inclusive mobility solutions for Australians. Harrison currently works as a Senior Product Planning Specialist at Toyota Motor Corporation, where he leads advanced product strategy for future electrified vehicles in the Australian market.
Harrison holds a Bachelor of Automotive Engineering (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University. During his studies, he spent nearly two years interning in Germany at BMW’s R & D headquarters in Munich. Upon returning to Australia, Harrison founded the RMIT Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Association to help students connect with industry and improve equity in career access. For his academic achievements and community contribution, he received RMIT’s J. N. McNicol Prize upon graduation.
After Harvard, he hopes to return to Australia and champion the adoption of accessible and sustainable mobility technologies. Through the MBA, Harrison aims to build the commercial acumen, policy insight, and leadership skills needed to guide innovation that benefits all Australians. His long-term ambition is to help shape national transport strategy by leading major initiatives across private industry or government.
Harrison grew up in Cairns, Far North Queensland, and outside of work enjoys fishing, attempting to fix his golf swing, and maintaining a 10-year streak on Duolingo.