Singleton’s Olsen Garland has been awarded the prestigious Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship for Engineering in 2017, a scholarship won by the best and brightest Australian engineers who seek to undertake postgraduate studies overseas.
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The Scholar in Engineering is looking to help bring cheaper, more efficient, zero-emission electricity to markets at home and abroad by combining business nous with his electrical engineering skills.
Olsen attended Singleton Heights Primary School and Singleton High School before moving to Newcastle to study a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Newcastle.
After winning the scholarship, Olsen will study a Master of Business Administration at the London Business School starting in August 2017, with the long-term aim of starting a company which can compete with the big electricity suppliers.
The Singletonian is the first Menzies Scholar in Engineering from the University of Newcastle, having already won the University Medal and several other prestigious academic awards as he completed an electrical engineering degree with first class honours.
The humble achiever said he still couldn’t quite belief his success in being awarded the prestigious award.
“I would not be going to do the Master of Business Administration without this help, it’s a dream come true,” Olsen said.
“For me this is about developing all-round knowledge, not just having the technical engineering skills but the business, finance, management and marketing skills to be able to implement ideas.”
Olsen based his application for the Menzies scholarship on the idea that in future our large monopoly energy network providers will be replaced with micro-grids, providing consumers with cheaper, more efficient, zero-emission power.
According to Olsen, while the technology for such a disruptive approach exists now there is a need to change people’s mindsets, improve the speed from idea development to practical application on the network and navigate the regulatory environment.
The London Business School’s location will allow Olsen to visit the latest micro-grid projects happening in Europe and bring this knowledge back to Australia on completion of his studies.
Olsen is also the youngest elected Chair of the Electrical Branch of Engineers Australia and has been participating in their EngMentor scheme.
“It’s about developing the next lot of engineers and I want them to be excited and enjoy what they are learning.”
And if his resume wasn’t already impressive enough, Olsen is also a judge at the national Science and Engineering Challenge and Tournament of the Minds, a member of the Hunter Academy of Sport and NSW Institute of Sport and an SES volunteer.
“I am very excited to have this opportunity and I cannot wait.”
