12 December 2014
AWARD OF INAUGURAL ED SMITH MEMORIAL PRIZE
John Kili Olofi receiving the Edward Smith Memorial Prize from Australian High Commissioner Andrew Byrne
The Australian High Commissioner Andrew Byrne today announced that the inaugural winner of the Ed Smith Memorial Prize is John Olofi Kili, who will study a Master of Nursing at Queensland University of Technology.
The Ed Smith Memorial Prize is awarded to one of the highest ranked Solomon Islander recipients of an Australia Award. The prize allows post graduate scholars to participate in the Australia Awards Leadership Program in addition to their academic studies.
“I’m delighted that an outstanding Solomon Islander has been chosen for this special award and I’m confident that on his return from Australia he will contribute to Solomon Islands’ economic and social development”.
This prize honours the memory of Ed Smith, an Australian diplomat who died in a tragic accident in Solomon Islands on 9 August this year.
“Ed loved Solomon Islands and was passionate about opportunities for people to improve their lives through education. This year the prize is special because Ed chaired the scholarship selection committee. He was inspired by the calibre of applicants, especially by John’s commitment to nursing and his leadership work at the National Referral Hospital” High Commissioner Byrne said.
The Ed Smith Memorial Prize will include a leadership development program, through the Australia Awards Leadership Program for emerging leaders.