(PRESS RELEASE) BHVI announces that Divya Jagadeesh, an optometry student from India undertaking a PhD at BHVI and enrolled through the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW, is a finalist in the prestigious NSW International Student of the year Award.
Nominated by her faculty and supervisors at BHVI and UNSW for her outstanding contributions to the community, her leadership and her vision, Divya’s selection as a finalist celebrates both her exceptional work in her field of post-graduate study and the positive impact she has had on her community.
“We are so proud of Divya and her nomination. She shares BHVI’s commitment to improving the quality of life for all people in the world through vision excellence and this has been demonstrated by her community contributions in Sydney,” says Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg, head of Myopia Management and Intellectual Property at BHVI. “We are delighted to have her as part of the BHVI team knowing that the future is brighter and clearer for so many people, thanks to her hard work and dedication.”
From Kerala in India, Divya moved to Sydney in 2016 to commence her PhD in the area of myopia working with Prof Sankaridurg, Dr Cathleen Fedtke and Dr Monica Jong. “I was inspired to find solutions to vison impairment affecting children in the community,” says Divya. “Knowing that I can in some way contribute to easing some of the key contributors to vision impairment and blindness is a huge motivation for me. I am glad I could be a part of number of societies in UNSW that celebrates and promotes equity and diversity, education and STEM for girls”.
“This is yet another recognition of the excellence in STEM and female scientists that we have at BHVI,” said Yvette Waddell, CEO of BHVI. “BHVI has long led the way in inclusion and scientific excellence, we are so proud to have Divya working with us.”
The annual awards are managed by Study NSW and acknowledge that international education is NSW’s biggest services export industry attracting over 260,000 international students last year.