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Faces of ANU, The Australian National University, Canberra (2026)

14/04/2025

📣 From student to storyteller – meet our latest Faces of ANU feature, Anayasha Thoolkar!

When Anayasha moved to Australia to study a Master’s in Marketing Management at ANU, it was more than just a degree, it was a leap of faith.

Leaving behind her support system wasn’t easy, but what she found here was a community that helped her grow personally, professionally, and creatively.

“My experience at ANU was transformative,” she says.
“The university not only provided me with world-class academic resources but also encouraged hands-on learning through internships and collaborative projects.”

One highlight was her CBE internship: "It was one of the most challenging semesters. I was juggling the internship with three courses, but it was also the most rewarding. It really pushed my time management skills and showed me the value of applying what I’d learnt in a real-world setting.”

Another standout? Topping her Marketing Strategy class, and learning to create a YouTube video from scratch! “It definitely took me out of my comfort zone.”
That project also led to her Instagram page, .

Now working at ANU, she’s helping students find their feet, the way she once did. “When I was a student, I realised that things like finding accommodation or knowing what events are on can be confusing or overwhelming. So now, I create content that directly addresses those issues.”

Her hidden gem on campus?
“ Savoir French – they have amazing coffee, and their almond croissants are the best on campus" 🥐

✨ So what’s next? “Coming to Australia taught me how important it is to love yourself. Right now, I’m doing everything I love – marketing, content creation, and creative work. My dream is to work with a fashion-focused brand so I can really let my creativity shine.”

🫵 Fashion brands - get in contact!! 👀

🔗 Read more on Anayasha's story here: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/student-life/events-stories/faces-of-anu-anayasha-thoolkar

College of Business & Economics

14/04/2025

🎨 Meet our latest Faces of ANU feature, Natasha (Nat)! a recent ANU grad, emerging artist, and creative storyteller. 🌟

Art has always been more than a passion for Nat – it’s a way of seeing the world. But turning that vision into a career? That was the challenge.

Being at ANU gave her the tools to bridge creativity and practicality. After completing a Bachelor of Business Administration alongside electives from the School of Art & Design, she reflects on her time as “an immersive period of exploration, collaboration, and self-discovery.”

“Not seeing a lot of people like me, with my background and experiences – it pushed me to grow and adapt.”

Outside the classroom, she worked in communications and design with ANU Student Life, where she brought a community-driven lens to visual storytelling.
“Being part of a network of creatives with similar morals and values was critical.”

Her biggest piece of advice for creatives?

“Be fearless, be persistent, and keep creating – try to stop doomscrolling other people’s art and collaborate, put your work out there.”

📅 Nat’s first solo exhibition opens May 15, 2025 at M16 Artspace, Gallery 2 (Griffith).

Blending mythological creatures, funky textiles, and ethereal spirits inspired by her South/Central Asian heritage – this show is for anyone who loves dreamy, unconventional art.

Read the full story here: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/student-life/events-stories/faces-of-anu-natasha-tareen-nat

20/03/2025

For Indira Zahra Zafira, studying a Master of Energy Change at ANU is more than an academic pursuit, it’s about shaping the future of renewable energy and empowering women in STEM.

As an Australia Awards student from Indonesia, Zahra has navigated the challenges of adapting to a new education system, balancing postgraduate studies with motherhood, and making her mark in a male-dominated industry. With experience across geothermal, solar, oil, and gas projects, she’s determined to lead the global energy transition while advocating for women in climate solutions.

“Energy change is essentially climate change viewed through the lens of energy,” Zahra shares. “Our coursework covers everything from engineering to economics and finance, preparing us to lead the global transition.”

Beyond her studies, Zahra finds joy in the supportive student community at ANU and the natural beauty of Canberra, whether it’s jogging by Lake Burley Griffin or spotting kangaroos near CSIRO! 🦘

💡 Read more about Zahra’s inspiring journey in our latest Faces of ANU feature: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/student-life/events-stories/faces-of-anu-empowering-change-zahras-journey-in-energy-and-stem

06/10/2023

[2/2] “The process of coming up with the presentation and then delivering it was quite exciting and creative. My enthusiasm about the topic made things easier for sure. As intuitive as it is, talk about something you're interested in. When it’s your project, presenting comes quite naturally; no one is going to know if you're right or wrong, so that can provide some confidence.

My literature review ended up being something crazy like 9000 words. It was challenging to condense that into a ten-minute presentation, so I had to focus on picking out the most salient points. My two main tips are, keep it simple and have a catch to draw interest.

When you're presenting you want to have a story that people can understand. We tend to pick up things more easily as a narrative. That's the approach I took on, and some of the other winning presentations also used this strategy. When you're speaking to a general audience this is even more important to ensure they can follow along.

Beyond the content, the way you say things, your gestures and your voice make an enormous difference in how your presentation is received. Sometimes this plays more of a part than the content of what you're saying.

Because the time you're presenting is so short, it's important to trust that you've practiced enough and just enjoy the experience. You're probably going to make a mistake you didn't expect, but it won't make a difference so appreciate the moment!

For anyone unsure about presenting at the conference, I strongly recommend submitting an abstract anyway. It is great practice in terms of writing and it's not a long process. If you don't get in, it doesn't change anything, but if you do, I guarantee it will be worth your time!”

Sonali Varma was Undergraduate Winner at the 2023 ANU Student Research Conference.

05/10/2023

[1/2] “A common theme across different disciplines is the importance of communication. That's why I have really enjoyed opportunities like the ANU Student Research Conference (SRC). Especially when doing a topic which is technical, finding a way to effectively communicate to general audiences is key; otherwise findings don't go beyond an academic or research context.

I presented a literature review at SRC. Which somehow didn't feel as valid as going out and conducting a completely original study or experiment, but it's research for sure and just as valuable. My review was part of a research project I did in a special topics in psychology course. I looked at how we can use a neuroimaging method called the event related potential (ERP) technique to better understand and treat depression.

It was a good reminder that I really enjoy public speaking and engaging with an audience. I used to love it when I was younger and I'd done well in a few competitions in primary school, but since then I hadn’t thought to seek out those opportunities. Honestly, I wasn't sure how this conference was going to go down!

Until recently, I didn't know there were events like SRC for undergrad students. It was an incredibly fun opportunity and everyone was so supportive. After the conference was done, I knew I wanted to do something like that again, so I'm very keen I get to represent ANU at the Australasian Conference for Undergraduate Research in November.

Next year, I'm planning on doing honours in population health, keeping my focus on mental health issues. I'll be thinking strategically about the research I'm doing and how I could present it to an audience in a digestible way.”

Sonali Varma was Undergraduate Winner at the 2023 ANU Student Research Conference

18/05/2023

To celebrate National Volunteering Week (15-21 May), On Campus interviewed two students set to graduate from the ANU+ program this Semester.

ANU postgraduate Angus Dunne’s experience with ANU+ is a testament to the impact that volunteering can have, not only on the community but also on oneself. He is currently finishing his final semester studying for his Master of Science in Agricultural Innovation and says the ANU+ program has been an invaluable part of this university experience.

He took on volunteering roles with the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Food Co-op. He found these volunteering opportunities by searching online for opportunities he was passionate about. His favourite role involved co-coordinating a rooftop garden for The Food Co-op to grow food for their meals and to educate members about ecological systems. His work has even led to a successful community grant application to fund the garden into the future.

In his time with the Australian Conservation Foundation, he took part in numerous community building projects which he found highly rewarding. One of the highlights was advocating for an electric suburb pilot.

Through ANU+, Angus was able to gain skills in leadership, problem-solving, networking, and advocacy. He found that his volunteering experience expanded his abilities and built confidence in the skills he already had. Additionally, he developed strong relationships that helped create a sense of belonging and contributed to the community.

He highly recommends this program to other students, saying, "This is a great opportunity to use your talents for something meaningful and something you are passionate about and helps you build strong skills for the future."
When it came to balancing his studies and the program, he has some helpful advice to other students.

"It can be a challenge to not overcommit, a lot of the volunteering opportunities are fun activities that you may want to be a part of. I looked at this program as helpful break from studies and it gave me a better understanding of my own studies as I volunteered in the field."

17/05/2023

To celebrate National Volunteering Week (15-21 May), On Campus interviewed two students set to graduate from the ANU+ program this Semester.

Jade Vlatkovic volunteered in several roles through ANU+, including with Surf Life Saving Australia, Vinnies ACT and the 2023 National Multicultural Festival. Her favourite role was with Vinnies - they provided her with several free training courses and other opportunities she otherwise wouldn't have had access to. She says volunteering helped her gain a new outlook on life, explore interests and develop skills.

"Volunteering provides a distraction from our self-centred lives, and it allows you to put your challenges in perspective; when you volunteer you get a set of skills without even noticing. For example, public speaking, time management, effective communication, problem solving and leading by example. Volunteering can help you develop skills that you may not realize you are acquiring, and these skills can help you balance your commitments, including your studies, in all areas of your life."

"I felt part of the community and that my experience was valued, whilst also being able to support those without a voice and ensuring that the people we were helping felt included and connected."

Jade found volunteering easy to incorporate into her schedule, and she advises others to contribute what they can.

"You don't need to move mountains, it's as simple as helping someone no matter how small the task. You just need to be kind. There are no expectations on you as a volunteer and you should only contribute what you can as that is all that's being asked. Volunteering is filled with people from all walks of life, and everyone contributes differently to every endeavour. This diversity created such an inclusive and educational environment."

27/04/2023

Aleisha is the ANU Indigenous Officer for 2023 and is helping to run an education campaign ahead of the Voice referendum later this year. Faces of ANU chatted with her about the campaign, and about her experience coming to ANU:

[2/2] I was selected as the Indigenous department officer for this year. Through the department we've launched an educational campaign in the lead up to the Voice referendum to ensure that students at ANU have an informed vote on the referendum. As a department, our main goal is to support and advocate for Indigenous students and we felt that taking a stance on either the yes or no would just isolate students. So we chose to remain neutral and focus on the educational campaign.

We'll be drawing upon some amazing academics and students here at ANU and in the wider community to clear up misconceptions and help students recognize what the Australian constitution is, what this referendum will look like, what the proposed changes are and how it will look if it's implemented. From what I've seen in the media, there's been a lot of people forgetting the Uluru statement from the heart that's at the centre of this, so drawing it back to where it started will be another focus of the campaign.
Initially we've got this event on the 28th April for Burgmann and B&G students with speakers such as Asmi Wood, Mary Spiers Williams and Jodene Garstone. Those three are very knowledgeable in this area - Asmi is on the advisory committee and Mary's worked around the Australian Constitution for many years. Students will be welcome to ask questions and after there will be a barbecue so everyone can mingle.

I'm organising with other residential halls to hold similar events, then we're hoping to do a larger event next semester at the cultural centre where students all over ANU can come. It will have a similar style of a panel and then a Q&A afterwards to create a relaxed environment where students can listen. There's a lot of speaking over the top of Indigenous voices at the moment and so we're hoping that inviting all students from across campus to come and listen and ask questions afterwards will be a success, and that people walk away with, not necessarily a changed mindset, but just more confidence in what they know about the upcoming referendum.

26/04/2023

Aleisha is the ANU Indigenous Officer for 2023 and is helping to run an education campaign ahead of the Voice referendum later this year. Faces of ANU chatted with her about the campaign, and about her experience coming to ANU.

[1/2] My name is Aleisha Knack. I study a Bachelor of Science, majoring in biodiversity conservation and minoring in forest science and forest policy. I'm a proud Gunggari woman, grew up on Wulgurukaba and Bindal country, aka Townsville, and then moved to Canberra to study at ANU in 2021. I was blessed to be able to do that through the Kambri scholarship, which is offered by Tjabal, which allowed me to come down here and study.

Coming to university, I remember just being so nervous. About two weeks before I started, one of the staff at Tjabal gave me a phone call and I just remember so much weight was lifted off my shoulders. Tjabal has been amazing. A lot of us Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students come from all corners of the country. A lot of us come from the top end, a few of us, like myself, come from North Queensland, a few of us from WA and even from very remote places in New South Wales. Tjabal understand that university is very challenging being away from community, being away from your family. They're there to help you financially or with your wellbeing. Being able to have that family away from home, you can always walk in, you feel welcomed, there's staff that you can talk to, there's always events. It's just been a major part of me being able to get through my degree, having that community is something that's really important to me.

Faces of ANU

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