Kathleen Lumley Foundation

02/06/2026

Each of our 2026 Lumley Scholars received a beautiful handmade glass bowl crafted in the Kathleen Lumley Foundation colours by local Adelaide artist Nicole Ayliffe - aren't they beautiful!

📸 Naomi Jellicoe photography

27/05/2026

At our recent Scholarship Awards event we were pleased to launch a very special film project produced by Alison Rogers of Living Stories that shares a series of stories of Kathleen Lumley and her legacy from the Kathleen Lumley College and the transition to Kathleen Lumley Foundation, told through the lens and experiences of her relatives, alumni and former college residents, and the Foundation's council members.

We thank all who took part in this special project - Wendy Wills, Professor Deb Turnbull, Julia McKay, Associate Professor Sanjaya Kuruppu, Emmanuel Alexander Ekirikubinza-Tibatemwa, Distinguished Professor Susan Scott, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM, Kath McEvoy, Kala McLean, Fatimah Iqbal, Burkard and Anu Polster, Loretta Frances Meagher, Alan and Lesley Bretag, Professor Geoffrey Heithersay AO, Anna Platten, Marilyn Ryan, Alison Sandham, Harry Wardana, Wai-Fung Cheong, and Amit Ajmani.

You can view the short films on our YouTube channel:

Kathleen Lumley Foundation is a South Australian philanthropic foundation supporting research that contributes to shared social, cultural, economic and environmental prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

25/05/2026

Introducing our 2026 Lumley Scholar: Olivia Zacchigna

Olivia grew up creating fond memories by the ocean with her family and friends. This built upon her growing passion for marine science into her tertiary studies. Olivia now holds a Bachelor of Marine Biology and First-Class Science Honours from Flinders University. Olivia aspires to apply the knowledge and skills I have developed to marine environments around the world.

Olivia’s PhD research is investigating the microbe and viral dynamics in South Australian seaweeds, with a focus on the production and fate of carbon from seaweeds under stress during marine heatwaves.

22/05/2026

Introducing our 2026 Lumley Scholar: Alex Taylor

Alex is deeply motivated by understanding and protecting ecosystem health, grounded in the recognition that environmental integrity underpins human well-being, food security, and climate resilience. This perspective led him to study Animal Behaviour and Biodiversity and Conservation at Flinders University, where he developed strong foundations in ecological theory, environmental monitoring, and conservation practice.

Alex’s PhD research investigates the emerging field of soil eco-acoustics to support the monitoring and management of soil health that can support sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration and evidence-based environmental policy.

21/05/2026

Introducing our 2026 Lumley Scholar: Austin Zschech

Born and raised in Adelaide’s South, Austin developed a love of chemistry in high school, leading to higher studies in chemical science at Flinders University. Austin possesses a passion for processing efficiency and material recycling, which has fed his ambitions to advance industrial chemical and material processing to develop cheaper, cleaner and more profitable material production systems.

Austin’s PhD research aims to synthetically develop passive, selective chemo-luminescent molecular sensor complexes designed for the rapid targeted detection, quantification and extraction of harmful, long-life water-soluble contaminants and heavy metals in urban and environmental water systems.

20/05/2026

Introducing our 2026 Lumley Scholar: Trung Nguyen

Trung is currently pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering at Flinders University, focusing on power system optimisation. Trung completed his Masters degree at Murdoch University under the Australia Awards Scholarship. Before commencing his PhD at Flinders University, Trung worked as a lecturer at Electric Power University, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Trung’s PhD research focuses on advanced optimisation of modern standalone hybrid renewable energy systems integrating renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and electric vehicles.

19/05/2026

Introducing our 2026 Lumley Scholar: Alicia Dallisson

Alicia is a PhD candidate in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University where she also completed her Bachelor of Medical Science and Honours. Alicia is interested in finding novel, simplified methods to increase bowel cancer screening participation and improve current standard-of-care to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.

Alicia’s PhD research will assess a new type of bowel cancer screening test to improve cancer prevention and allocation of healthcare resources.

12/05/2026

🌟 Introducing our inaugural Lumley Scholars 🌟

Yesterday we announced our 2026 Lumley Scholars who have received Lumley Top-up Scholarships to support their commencing PhD research into areas that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Our Scholars were presented with their Awards by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC and Wendy Wills, Chair of the Kathleen Lumley Foundation.

Keep an eye out as we introduce our 2026 Lumley Scholars and their impactful research areas individually over the coming weeks!

L-R: Wendy Wills, Alicia Dallisson, Austin Zschech, Alex Taylor, Trung Nguyen, Dr Georgina Wood (accepting the award on behalf of Olivia Zacchigna), Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC.

📸 Naomi Jellicoe photography

11/05/2026

Today the Kathleen Lumley Foundation announced the inaugural recipients of the Lumley Top-up Scholarship Awards to five students who are commencing their PhD research at a South Australian public university in 2026.

Read more about our new Lumley Scholars in the attached media release, and we look forward to sharing more about the scholars and their important research in the coming weeks!

18/02/2026

This open-access chapter by Akemi Ashida (2023) provides an interesting read and exploration of the role of higher education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a purpose that sits at the heart of the Kathleen Lumley Foundation.

Higher education research advances the SDGs by generating evidence-based solutions, driving innovation, and fostering interdisciplinary approaches to global challenges.

Access the full chapter here:

This chapter focuses on the relationship between Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 and higher educationHigher education. Higher educationHigher education has traditionally been expected to play three significant roles: education, researchResearch, and social...