St Catherine’s College celebrates academic excellence at 2026 Scholars’ Dinner
Eight St Catherine’s College residents from The University of Western Australia and Curtin University have been recognised for outstanding academic achievement at the College’s 2026 Scholars’ Dinner, held at St Catherine’s Curtin in Bentley.
2026 Academic Excellence Award recipients from St Catherine’s UWA and Curtin campuses with College leaders and guests at the 2026 Scholars’ Dinner.
The Scholars’ Dinner is St Catherine’s premier annual academic event, recognising some of the College’s highest-achieving residents and creating opportunities for them to engage with leaders from across Western Australia’s academic, business, philanthropic and public life communities.
The evening celebrates academic achievement while giving residents the opportunity to encounter new ideas, hear different perspectives and build connections that may influence where their studies and careers take them.
2026 Academic Excellence Award recipients
Academic Excellence Awards were presented to eight residents across different stages and disciplines at St Catherine’s UWA and Curtin campuses.
Colin Ferreira, First Year
B.Phil (Hons), Commerce
Colin is also a UWA Fogarty Scholar.
Kai Xin Cheong, Second Year
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science), Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
Elena Latchem, Third Year
Bachelor of Biomedical Science, assured pathway to Medicine
Elena is also the 2023 Beazley Medallist.
Josh Snow, Fourth Year
Combined Bachelor-Masters in Frontier Physics
Katherine Jarman, First Year
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
Kisah Daniel Chin, Second Year
Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Project Management and Event Management
Zhi Wei (Beverly) Wong, Third Year
Bachelor of Computing Engineering (Honours), Software Engineering
Megan Widjaja, Fourth Year and Above
Master of Professional Accounting, Digital Technologies and Data Management
Together, their studies span medicine, biomedical science, frontier physics, engineering, software, business and accounting, reflecting the breadth of academic ambition across St Catherine’s College.
Academic achievement beyond St Catherine’s College
Several of this year’s award recipients have also earned significant recognition beyond the College.
John Monash Scholar Josh Snow will shortly leave Western Australia for Cambridge to pursue postgraduate study in quantum computing.
Among them is Josh Snow, a former Busselton Senior High School student and one of just 18 recipients nationally of a 2026 John Monash Scholarship.
Josh will shortly leave Western Australia for Cambridge to pursue postgraduate study in quantum computing.
“Ultimately, I’d love to leverage the skills and network I develop to help position Australia as a global leader in quantum computing and infrastructure,” Josh said.
UWA Fogarty Scholar Colin Ferreira with Annie Fogarty AM, Chair of the Fogarty Foundation, at the 2026 Scholars’ Dinner.
Colin Ferreira is a UWA Fogarty Scholar, while Elena Latchem was recognised as the 2023 Beazley Medallist.
St Catherine’s resident Cohen Beveridge, the 2025 Beazley Medallist and a UWA Fogarty Scholar, was also among the scholars attending.
2023 Beazley Medallist Elena Latchem with St Catherine’s College Chair of the Board Margie Tannock at the 2026 Scholars’ Dinner.
Their achievements sit within a broader academic culture at St Catherine’s that encourages residents not only to perform strongly in their studies, but to consider how their knowledge and opportunities might contribute beyond university.
An optimistic outlook for Western Australia’s next generation
Guest speaker Simon Kuestenmacher, Co-Founder and Director of The Demographics Group, brought a wider perspective to the evening, exploring demographic, workforce and social trends shaping Australia’s future.
Demographer Simon Kuestenmacher speaking at the 2026 St Catherine's College Scholars' Dinner
His message to residents was distinctly optimistic.
“There is so much to be optimistic about in Australia, particularly in WA.”
Simon pointed to skills shortages and continued strength in areas including mining, education and agriculture as factors likely to create significant opportunities for young people entering professional life.
For residents preparing for careers across medicine, science, technology, engineering, business and other fields, it was a timely perspective on the opportunities that may lie ahead.
Connecting academic achievement with opportunity
The Scholars’ Dinner is designed to take academic life beyond formal study.
Residents have the opportunity to meet people with diverse experience, hear different perspectives and make connections that may influence where their studies and careers take them.
This year’s guests included Annie Fogarty AM, Chair of the Fogarty Foundation, Professor Samar Aoun AM, Perron Institute Research Chair in Palliative Care at UWA and 2023 WA Australian of the Year, Professor Jingbo Wang, Director of UWA’s Centre for Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms, Senator Fatima Payman and Hon Dr Parwinder Kaur MLC.
They joined leaders and specialists from across academia, medicine, research, technology, law, business, government, education, philanthropy and community life.
St Catherine’s College CEO Fiona Crowe said the opportunity to engage with people and ideas beyond formal study was an important part of the College’s academic culture.
“At St Catherine’s, academic excellence is matched by opportunities for students to engage with people and ideas beyond their studies,” she said.
“The Scholars’ Dinner connects our residents with leaders across academia, government and industry, broadening their perspectives and the networks they take with them following university.”
Supporting academic potential
Scholarships are another important part of supporting academic potential and widening access to the opportunities available through College life.
At St Catherine’s, scholarship support recognises achievement and helps residents from a range of backgrounds pursue their studies within an academically ambitious community.
The 2026 Scholars’ Dinner celebrated not only what residents have already achieved, but the ideas, connections and opportunities that may shape what they do next.
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