MDHS PhD student wins Student Leadership Award

Department of Paediatrics PhD student Fiona Lynch has been celebrated as a leader amongst her university peers.

Fiona was awarded Student Leader of the Year by the Graduate Student Association at the Annual Graduate Ball and Awards Night in September 2019.

Fiona is a genetic counsellor and PhD student based at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI).

She is the president of the Melbourne Children's Campus Research Students Association, a volunteer, student-run group which represents and advocates for all honours, masters and PhD students across The Royal Children's Hospital, MCRI, and the Department of Paediatrics.

"I just want to say a huge thank you to the GSA for this award – I think it's so important that we recognise and encourage student communities on campuses other than Parkville," Fiona said.

Fiona also acts as the student representative on committees including the Melbourne Children's Graduate Research Committee and the Department of Paediatrics Executive Committee, whilst also engaging with the MCRI executive to help better student life on campus.

"I can't take all the credit, I have an incredible team of 19 honours, masters and PhD students standing behind me that make up our committee," Fiona said.

"These students are passionate, enthusiastic, driven members of our student community, and they are the ones doing all the hard work behind the scenes," she said

The award recognises student leaders from across the University of Melbourne for their extensive positive impact on the graduate student community.