The 2026 intake includes more scholarship recipients than previous years, responding to growing workforce pressures across health, engineering, veterinary science, food technology and agribusiness in dairy regions.
The scholarship recipients are Aaron Shuren, Elizabeth Ford, Ella Berry, Emily Benson, Evie McCosh, Hector MacAulay, Bonnie Ross, Josh Gale, Luke Dwyer, Sage Dennen, Brittney Kelly and Andrew Jeffers.
Research shows students who study in regional areas are more likely to remain there, with place of origin and regional placements playing a strong role in shaping long-term career pathways.
Gardiner’s enhanced scholarships are designed to retain skills and talent within dairy communities by strengthening pathways into study and work.
Gardiner CEO Allan Cameron said the 2026 cohort reflected a deliberate focus on people and place.
“These scholarships support talented students to study, work and build their lives in dairy regions,” Mr Cameron said.
“By linking support to regional study and placements, we are helping build the workforce dairy communities need now and into the future.”
This year’s cohort includes two scholarships supporting employees in the dairy processing sector to upskill in food science and engineering, strengthening capability across the supply chain.
Recipients are pursuing careers that address key regional gaps, including medicine in northern Victoria, engineering in Gippsland, and allied health and agricultural science across south-west and Gippsland dairy regions.
The scholarships are named in honour of respected dairy leaders Neil Black, Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle and Doug Weir.
In 2026, Gardiner has also introduced a new scholarship recognising industry legend Max Fehring.
Elizabeth Ford is the 2026 Doug Weir Scholar.
Elizabeth, from Tatura and a former student of Goulburn Valley Grammar School, will study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science at Monash University’s Clayton campus.
She is passionate about applying innovation, renewable energy and data analytics to support the dairy industry and regional communities.
Aaron Shuren is the 2026 Niel Black Scholar.
Aaron, from Mooroopna and a former student of Notre Dame College, Shepparton, will study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) at La Trobe University, with plans to progress to a Doctor of Medicine.
He has volunteered at Goulburn Valley Health and aims to return to regional Victoria as a junior doctor, supporting communities like his own.
Andrew Jeffers is the 2026 Geoffrey Gardiner scholar.
Andrew, based in Shepparton, is the reliability and maintenance lead at Noumi, where he has spent seven years progressing from hands on technical roles to leading teams focused on plant reliability, automation and process innovation.
In 2026, he will study a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Automation Engineering at the Engineering Institute of Technology, building on a track record of developing digital tools, mentoring junior staff and driving continuous improvement.
Brittany Kelly is the 2026 Geoffrey Gardiner scholar.
Brittney, from Stanhope, works as a quality technician at Fonterra’s Stanhope factory and will study a Certificate IV in Food Science and Technology at GOTAFE Wangaratta.
She aims to deepen her expertise in food science and progress to a quality co-ordinator role, supporting the dairy industry’s focus on quality and safety.
