Since 1972, The George Alexander Foundation (GAF) has been committed to giving young Australians the chance to learn, grow, and lead. In 2024–25, the Foundation distributed over $2 million in scholarships and fellowships across 14 Australian institutions, opening doors for outstanding young people nationwide.

This impact translates to 75 scholarships supporting academic excellence and leadership, 16 Earthwatch Student Challenge Fellowships inspiring the younger generation to research environmental science, and 6 International Specialised Skills Institute (ISSI) Fellowships driving cross-cultural knowledge exchange and innovation.

We are proud to fund programs that empower talented and dedicated young people to pursue their passions and deepen their knowledge at key stages in their lives.

For some of our youngest fellowship recipients, that journey has begun in the field. This year, Earthwatch Fellows, aged 15–17, spent a week at Calperum Station in South Australia, where they gained hands-on experience in land management and ecological research methods. An immersive program, the Earthwatch Student Challenge helps develop participants' environmental awareness, scientific curiosity, and teamwork skills that will serve them well in the future.

At the other end of the spectrum, our ISSI Fellows have been busy travelling the world this year. Already established in their careers and driven by a desire to innovate, they use the ISSI Fellowship to collaborate with the world's leading experts and apply their learnings to various sectors, including science, design and conservation. If you're interested in reading what our past Fellows have done, you can read more in their reports.

For our undergraduate scholarship recipients, who form the bulk of the Foundation's programming, it has been the beginning, continuation or end of their higher education journey. To see the impact of these scholarships, watch the recording of this year’s Finishing Scholar event where four GAF Alumni shared their stories, advice and future plans with those about to embark on their professional lives.

It is apparent that GAF scholars deeply connect to George Alexander's own story as a young man living in rural Victoria in the 1920s, knowing that education was the key to reaching his potential. Having faced barriers, he wanted to remove obstacles for future generations. Today we see the incredible impact of his philanthropy through the stories of our scholars.

Looking back over this year, we are delighted to have supported our scholars by hosting more focused online events to provide inspiration, encourage resilience, and improve career readiness for our GAF Scholars. We plan to continue providing more opportunities for engagement for the GAF Community in 2026. To guide these efforts, plans are already underway to establish a GAF Scholar Advisory Panel with representatives from multiple institutions.

The past year also saw significant changes to our Board of Governors. We bid farewell to Professor Richard Larkins AC, the Hon Susan Crennan AC KC, Professor Brian Schmidt AC, Leon A Davis AO and the Hon Alex Chernov AC KC.

Their wisdom and knowledge helped sharpen the Foundation’s strategic direction, to better realise its vision and mission. On behalf of the Board and staff, we extend our deepest gratitude for their years of dedication and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

On this note, we are delighted to introduce Patrick Houlihan, Professor Kathryn North AC, Professor Sir Jonathan Mills AC, and Alison Watkins AM as the newest members of our Board. With decades of experience spanning the corporate, health, and arts sectors, we are confident they will provide valuable contributions to the Foundation.

We are proud that George Alexander's generosity continues to open doors for young people across Australia. His enduring legacy is one we are committed to upholding, and we look forward to welcoming more future leaders into the GAF Community in the years to come.

Craig Drummond
Chair

Paul Conroy
Chief Executive Officer