Brooke Kinsela has won the Audi Foundation – CEF Alumnus of the Year award.
Country Education Foundation of Canowindra student Brooke Kinsela has won a prestigious award at the Country Education Foundation (CEF) of Australia awards on Saturday evening in Canberra.
Brooke won the Audi Foundation – CEF Alumnus of the Year award. The Alumnus of the Year is a past recipient who has achieved on a regional, national, or international stage, showcasing excellence in character and leadership and demonstrating high achievement.
“Every day, I am blown away by the achievements of our students and alumni, with the recipients of this year’s awards are no exception,” CEF CEO Wendy Mason said.
Brooke’s academic journey began in Canowindra, where she completed her schooling before pursuing a Bachelor of Genetics at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 during her final year, Brooke graduated and went on to achieve First Class Honours at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. She now continues her work as part of the Quinn lab team while completing her PhD.
Brooke’s research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain cancer, a disease that claims more children’s lives in Australia than any other and is the deadliest cancer for those under 40. With no significant treatment advancements in over 35 years, Brooke is passionately committed to improving outcomes.
As a coordinator for the ACT’s first Brain Cancer Biobank, she hopes to enhance treatment access and representation for brain cancer patients, particularly in rural and regional areas.