UNSW Law graduate awarded prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Congratulations to UNSW Law alumna Babette Brophy who has been awarded a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Babette, who graduated from UNSW Law in 2014 after studying a Bachelor of Law and International Studies, will complete a MPhil in Conservation Leadership to continue her research into wildlife law and policy.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is the most prestigious international postgraduate scholarship offered at the University of Cambridge, attracting academically outstanding applicants from around the world and across all fields of endeavour.

The 92 new scholars were selected from a total pool of 5,798 applicants based on their intellectual ability, commitment to improving the lives of others, leadership potential and academic fit with Cambridge. The aim of the programme is to grow a global network of future leaders committed to social contribution.

Cambridge Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Gates Cambridge Board of Trustees, Professor Stephen Toope, recognised the transformative nature of the Gates Cambridge programme for recipients to make a significant social contribution.

"They attract some of the best students from all over the world and from the most diverse backgrounds and sustain a global network of leaders who will integrate the University’s values into everything they do,” he said of the scholarships.

Since graduating from UNSW Law, Babette has been researching the law, policies and practices surrounding wildlife crime and human-wildlife conflict in Southern Africa and has spent time working on conservation projects studying elephants, rhinos and large carnivores in Namibia.

Babette, who currently works with the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage, said she was honoured to receive the scholarship.

“It is an incredibly exciting opportunity and would not have been possible without the support of the wonderful lecturers from UNSW,” she said.