Curtin Engineering Student Named AFR Top100 Future Leader
St Catherine’s College resident and 2025 College Co-President recognised among Australia’s top emerging leaders.
St Catherine’s College resident Phumulo Mpofu has been recognised nationally as a 2026 AFR Top100 Future Leader, an honour awarded to university students across Australia who demonstrate strong leadership, academic achievement and community impact.
“Being in a room with brilliant minds striving to advance their industries in different ways was incredibly inspiring.”
Phumulo, a Civil and Construction Engineering student at Curtin University, also served as 2025 College Co-President at St Catherine’s College, contributing to student leadership and community engagement within the College community.
He was also selected as a finalist for the Lendlease Engineering and Construction Future Leader Award, one of eleven finalists nationwide. As part of the program, Phumulo travelled to Sydney to participate in the national assessment centre and awards evening alongside industry leaders and fellow student finalists.
The AFR Top100 Future Leaders program, led by The Australian Financial Review and SEEK Grad, recognises students across Australia who show strong potential to shape their industries through leadership, collaboration and innovation.
Phumulo was proud to represent Curtin University and the Curtin Civil and Mechanical Engineering School during the program. He was one of only two students from Western Australia recognised in the Engineering category.
Reflecting on the experience, Phumulo said connecting with other emerging leaders from across Australia was particularly inspiring.
He shared three key lessons from the experience:
• Leadership thrives through collaboration
• Strong leaders are also strong team players
• Growth comes from learning alongside diverse perspectives
At St Catherine’s College we are proud to see residents develop the skills, confidence and connections that support their future careers.
We congratulate Phumulo on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing his continued impact within the engineering and construction industry.
Student Profile
Name: Phumulo Mpofu
Course: Civil and Construction Engineering
University: Curtin University
College Role: 2025 College Co-President, St Catherine’s College
Achievement: 2026 AFR Top100 Future Leader
Learn more about Academic Excellence at St Catherine’s College.