News and events

11 March 2025 - 1:36am

Graduate Women Wellington (GWW) celebrates Awardees

At the February meeting, GWW heard from 3 awardees. As it turned out, it had a focus on women's health, which is so important.
Sonesavanh Larnkham, GWNZ Harriette Jenkins scholarship spoke of her PhD research at the Pitman Laboratory, VUW, which involves investigating genetic molecules released by ovarian cancer cells as potential biomarkers of early disease.

Leila Murray, GWW summer research studentship OU (Wellington), spoke of the impact of modern radiotherapy techniques on myocardial infarction risk of women in New Zealand with breast cancer. Prior to her radiotherapy course in Wellington, she completed a Biomedical Science degree, where she developed a keen interest in cancer pathology and cardiac physiology. It was interesting to hear how she appreciated the opportunity to undertake this interesting research in a supervised position, and it is something she might look to consider in the future.

Chelsea Shaw had a 2024 GWW scholarship whilst completing her Bachelor of Nursing at Whitireia Polytechnic. She now has a position in the Neurology Ward at Wellington Hospital. Her journey was impressive as she had a baby halfway through her course and still had the resilience to complete it and then take on work with the help of her wider whānau, too.

It is always heartening to hear from the recipients and learn what having the support of our organisation has meant to them and what advocates for women's health they will become!