Inspiring others to achieve their dreams in the face of adversity is a key motivator for QUT engineering student Josh Loyd, who has been named one of Australia’s top 100 future leaders.
The GradConnection Top 100 Future Leaders is a national award program that recognises the top students coming out of the nation’s universities.
Josh was a finalist in the Jacobs Engineering Consultant Award category of the awards, which attracted more than 8,500 applications.
The 26-year-old Indigenous Australian has also been nominated for this year’s QUT Student Leadership Awards (announced on May 30) and is a semi-finalist in the Queensland Young Achiever Awards (announced May 5).
He combines his studies with work as an undergraduate engineer at WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, tutoring, and working with QUT’s Oodgeroo Unit as a program manager and student ambassador.
The first in his family to go to university, Josh said he continually strived to inspire people who thought they didn’t have what it took to achieve their dreams.
“I’ve faced a number of personal hardships that could have derailed my direction in life and from that I’ve found that I need to work in areas that give me meaning,” he said.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work I’ve been involved in since relocating to Queensland from Margaret River in Western Australia. It makes the world more sustainable, is improving the education of a range of students, promoting diversity and inclusion, and improves living conditions. That’s what excites and inspires me.
“I was not able to develop an appreciation for higher education until I was 23 years old, after I met an uncle who is an engineer. Since that day I have striven to achieve greatness through continuous personal improvement, and channel that drive into my community.”
Professor Anita Lee Hong, the Director of QUT’s Oodgeroo Unit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, predicted Josh would go far.
She said he was ‘an inspiration’ who regularly demonstrated his compassion and understanding to people from all walks of life and had developed into a student leader who was respected.
“I look forward to the many great things he will continue to contribute to our community and the world,” she said.
“He has always been determined to make a significant impact and be a role model for others around him. Josh will clearly be a fighter for any social injustices, even beyond his chosen field.”
Josh is on track to graduate mid-2018 and hopes to develop a fulfilling career, starting in the water sector in Australia or overseas.
QUT engineering graduate Maryanha Lee was also named in the Top 100 Future Leaders.
Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, media@qut.edu.au
- (After hours) Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 0407 585 901
