1

Ancora Imparo Alumni News

2014 Ancorans
compete in the
Amazing Race on
the residential

Welcome to the first edition of Ancora Alumni News

As Ancorans, we have all been through the

of our 10th year event. We are also keen to

same difficult-to-describe, life-changing

get past Ancorans informally mentoring 2015

year that is Ancora Imparo. Through the

Ancorans you can find out more and

up to nowadays:

program, we have the opportunity to meet

register your interest here.

leadership.enquiries@

Please get in touch to let us know what

monash.edu

some incredible people and I think its time

we were able to meet Ancorans from other
year groups too!

youre up to wed love to hear from you.

Let us know what youre

Heres to an awesome 10th year of Ancora

Next year is Ancoras 10th year, and in

preparation for our planned celebrations,
we are reaching out to Ancora Alumni to
make sure we can let you know the details

Imparo!

Mentor a 2015 Ancoran

Eddie Cliff

sign up here.

Ancora Imparo Alumni Coordinator

Professor David Copolov

Thanks to Prof Richard Larkins founding ideas,

your studies or careers and the specific ways in

the Ancora Imparo program has been an

which you are expanding your horizons.

outstanding success, harnessing the ideas of

talented people who exemplify the Monash
spirit of working towards a better life for other
people.

Despite enthusiasm for an Ancora Alumni Network,

The Ancora Team:

Prof David Copolov,
A/Prof Andrew Pirola-Merlo,
& Rachel Whitworth

there hasnt yet been the continuity of effort to

establish and maintain such a network. I hope that
this Newsletter marks the beginning of a new and

As one of only two people - the other being

maintainable connectivity between Ancorans. I

A/Prof Andrew Pirola-Merlo, the Programs

urge you to consider participating in the events

Facilitator who have had the privilege of

and offerings associated with the alumni

getting to know each of you more than 360

components of the Program. All of us in the

people who are now Ancora Alumni, I have

broader Ancora Family have much to learn from

been especially keen to see a linking together

each other.I look forward to seeing you at an

of Ancorans from each of the years cohorts.

alumni event in 2015!

You both have so much in common - in terms

of your idealism, the depth of your talents and

Professor David Copolov

your interest in working with others and also

Pro-Vice Chancellor, Major Campuses and Student

much diversity, in terms of where youre at in

Engagement, and Director of Ancora Imparo

December 2014

Volume 1, Issue 1

Ancora Imparo Alumni News

leadership.enquiries@monash.edu

2
1

Prof Richard Larkins

We sat down with former ViceChancellor, Professor Richard
Larkins, to find out why he started
Ancora:

Above: The inaugural cohort

of Ancorans in 2006. Below:
Prof Richard Larkins

Ancora is an opportunity to get the

most civic-mnded of students from
different disciplines together, so that
they can find other like-minded
people at Monash. I was keen to
provide Monash with something a
bit different and a bit special, and I
didnt want people selected based
on their marks alone, rather select
students who are intelligent but
also motivated to make the
community a better place.
Prof Larkins also shared his advice
for Ancora graduates:
One of the temptations as you
progress in your career is to
become more narrow. Try to take
the breadth and generosity of

intellectual output youve exhibited in

Ancora into your life going forward. Be
interested in the future of humanity
and be prepared to speak out on
behalf of others.
Of course I also had to ask his thoughts
on leadership: The outcome of good
leadership is that the people you are
leading actually like the things you
want them to do. Its a skill, to be able
to motivate people to wish to do what
you want them to do. Sir John Monash
exhibited this by trying to win battles
without losing men and made sure his
men were well looked after so that
they became intensely loyal and this
is true whether it be in business, in the
military, or in sport.
A massive thank you to Professor
Larkins for starting the program when
he was Vice-Chancellor and for his
ongoing support!

Alumnus Profile: Andrew Asten

2007 Ancoran Mr Andrew Asten joined us to share his
journey since graduating from Ancora Imparo:

2007 Ancoran
Andrew Asten

I spent three more years at Monash, followed by 15

months at Freehills doing commercial law, but decided
that wasnt for me. I spent about half my time working on
public infrastructure desalination plants, hospitals, etc.
but realised I was more interested in the subject matter
(i.e. why each project was being instigated), than the
actual legal work. I wanted to get at the very essence of
the issues being considered.

Management
Consultant at
Boston
Consulting
Group & Chair
of the Board,
Oaktree
Foundation

So I applied to the Boston Consulting Group and for

postgraduate studies at the same time, and ended up
having one marvellous week: I got call from BCG on
Wednesday offering me a job and then from Cambridge
on the Friday offering me a Gates Scholarship to do a
Masters in International Relations.
His advice to Ancorans? If youre thinking about
postgraduate study, understand what you want to get out
of it. Lots of the academic programs dont differ that
much, but look for the expertise or cohort of student which
suits you and ask yourself what are the sorts of friends I
want to make and where would I find them?
What has stuck with him from Ancora?
The moral compass of leadership I have been given a
certain set of skills, capabilities & resources, so I try to say
yes to helping others whenever I can.
2014 Ancorans Jason Ha and Michael Azarnikov with Rachel Whitworth
Page 2

December 2014

Volume 1, Issue 1

Ancora Imparo Alumni News

leadership.enquiries@monash.edu

2
1

Ancora Alumni we want

your stories!
Send us a summary of
what youre up to
nowadays in 50-100
words, along with a
photo of yourself.
Email:

Leadership.enquiries@
monash.edu
Interested in mentoring
an Ancoran in 2015?
https://docs.google.com
/forms/d/1quMXRVJ6R9U
pozFp1faLtb8ICrp0jnqm1
6zNF5tqsZc/viewform
Alumni Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.c
om/groups/906828346008
382/
Alumni LinkedIn Group
http://www.linkedin.com/
groups?home=&gid=5187
168

Ishara Fernando

I have brought together inspired students

from a host of different backgrounds to
develop workshops on the essential basics of
financial knowledge for both the adults and
children of Thnal Dach. With this material, in
2015 we hope to lay a foundation to
gradually help the families of Thnal Dach to
save money and unshackle themselves from
debt. The villagers currently display significant
knowledge deficiencies with regard to
borrowed funds, which has left them heavily
in debt. This means that children often must
help to contribute to household income,
meaning they cannot attend school, heavily
affecting secondary and even primary
school completion rates in Cambodia.

We asked 2012 Ancoran, Ishara Fernando,

a BCom/BA student, about the incredible
work she is leading in Cambodia:
After volunteering in 2012 & 2013 in a rural
Cambodian village, Thnal Dach, 35km from
Siem Reap, I brought my passion for
sustainable development to Monash SEED
(socio-economic engagement &
development), a Monash student club.
SEEDs first financial literacy program is a
grassroots project aimed at fostering
financial literacy in the village, alongside
health and hygiene training and funding
the construction of a water pond for dry
season agricultural and cooking purposes.
Local financial literacy organisations elude
the village due to its remoteness. To fill this
gap, we seek to build the capacity of local
leadership figure Hak Hort, so that he and
his organisation can pave the way for a life
of stability, comfort and hope. After
consulting with various NGOs and
academics, we hope to train Hak and to
continue this long-term relationship so that
Thnal Dachs development does not end
after just one visit.

Read more: http://monashseed.org/initiative

2012 Ancoran Ishara Fernando with locals in Cambodia

Ancorans in the news

Chris Wallace (10) appointed Oaktree CEO:
http://vimeo.com/104277408
Jennifer Tang (11) mentored by Bill Gates after
winning Microsoft Imagine Cup:
http://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/
An-Eye-for-Innovation-Imagine-Cup-2014

Below: 2012 Arts Ancorans with Dean of Arts, Prof Rae Frances & Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Prof David Copolov. Right: 2006 Ancorans enjoying the beach