Prestigious Woolf Fisher scholarships to study at Cambridge announced today

Three outstanding students with the potential to become future leaders in their field have today been awarded Woolf Fisher scholarships to study for their doctorates at the prestigious University of Cambridge in the UK.

The successful scholars are:

James Gawith, aged 24, graduated from the University of Auckland last year with a Bachelor of Engineering with First Class Honours, specialising in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.  At Cambridge he is planning to study for his Doctorate in the Department of Engineering, focusing on inductive power transfer (IPT), a form of wireless power transfer for recharging electric vehicles.  The use of wireless charging could increase the range of electric vehicles and reduce the need for heavy batteries.  James, who is from Khandallah in Wellington, attended Scots College.  Last year he was a teaching assistant for a third year engineering design course at the University of Auckland and he has been involved with the student committee of Engineers without Borders.

Matthew Conder, aged 22, attended Onehunga High School in Auckland where he was Head Boy.  He has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Chemistry from the University of Auckland and is currently completing his Honours degree there in Mathematics.  At Cambridge he will study towards his doctorate in the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.  He is a keen footballer and currently plays for the Three Kings United Football Club where he captains a team.  Matthew tutored for the NCEA Campus programme, a not-for-profit, youth-for-youth organisation which supports students from diverse backgrounds to success at secondary school external exams.

Reece Oosterbeek, aged 25, attended Alfriston College in Auckland.  He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree with Honours and a Masters of Engineering degree, both from the University of Auckland. He is currently working as a Project Manager and Research Engineer at the Photon Factory, a Research centre at the University of Auckland.  At Cambridge he proposes to study towards his Doctorate in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, researching medical implant material.  He plans to investigate the development of bio-resorbable composite materials for regenerating load-bearing tissue following tissue injuries.  This involves the development of bio-implant materials to develop artificial tendon and ligament tissue or polymer matrix composites for bone grafts.  Reece’s goal is to become a research professor in the field of medical materials and surface science. 

The Chairman of the Woolf Fisher Trust, Sir Noel Robinson, said James, Matthew and Reece all exemplify the qualities admired by the late Sir Woolf Fisher which are “integrity, leadership, boldness of vision and exceptional zeal, keenness and capacity for work.”

“The key objective of the Trust is that Woolf Fisher Scholars will make a significant commitment to New Zealand and become leaders in their fields.  We look forward to working with these outstanding scholars throughout their studies and to observing their future progress.”

Sir Woolf Fisher (1912-1975), co-founder of Fisher and Paykel, set up the Trust in 1960 to recognise and reward excellence in education.  This scholarship was established in 2004 by the Trustees to honour Sir Woolf Fisher who founded New Zealand Steel and, together with Maurice Paykel, the whiteware company Fisher & Paykel.

The Woolf Fisher Scholarship is funded by the Woolf Fisher Trust, supported by the Cambridge Trust.  It covers the students’ study and living costs at Cambridge and is estimated to have a value of $300,000 per student, making it one of the most generous scholarships available to New Zealand students.

Universities New Zealand today acknowledged the work of the Trust, and their investment in young New Zealanders and in academic research and innovation.

Universities New Zealand administers over 40 nationally available undergraduate and postgraduate awards, worth over $2 million a year.