 I'm Lakshmi Logavasan. I was a part of the 2015 New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program and I currently work with the New South Wales Government in their graduate program currently rotating in the Ministry of Health. The New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program has opened up incredible opportunities for me. I'm the first generation Australian Sri Lankan Tamil. I live in Western Sydney and I grew up in Western Sydney and the scholarship program has opened so many opportunities. Educationally and professionally that I probably otherwise wouldn't have had. Studying at the National University of Singapore and taking public policy subjects, sitting down with a classroom full of students across the region and discussing public policy issues has had a profound impact on my career trajectory and the way that I view how countries plan their future. And that has led to my current job here in New South Wales Government in public policy. During my time in Singapore I made some incredible connections with peers at university and also my peers during my internship and many of my friends have gone on to work in government. We have very strong passions about public policy and the shaping the future of our country and our region and I think that grows incredibly well for Australia and also our region.