Indian international students Preetham Akula and Fazil Mohammed have been named International Student – Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year and Emerging Leader – International Alumni Award category in the 2024 Victorian International Education Awards.
Preetham is an Aerospace Engineering student at RMIT University and has emerged as a dynamic entrepreneur and leader, making remarkable strides in both the food and beverage industry and space technology.
His entrepreneurial journey began with the founding of Dropout Chaiwala, a food and beverage startup that quickly expanded across multiple locations in Melbourne, achieving impressive financial success.
Building on this, Preetham leveraged his engineering expertise to establish Akula Tech, a cutting-edge space technology company. Within a short span, Akula Tech secured $1 million in pre-seed funding and is preparing for its first satellite launch.
The company has also partnered with Australian telecommunications giant VOCUS to tap into government and enterprise markets. Through Akula Tech, Preetham continues to foster mentorship, talent development, and collaboration within Victoria’s thriving startup ecosystem.
Fazil is a prominent advocate for international students and has earlier received the Emerging Leader Award from Swinburne University. He works as a Cloud Operations Engineer at PwC Australia.
Fazil’s YouTube channel, which promotes the international student experience in Melbourne, has amassed over one million views. Fazil’s commitment to community engagement and industry collaboration makes him a recognised figure in Victoria’s international student community.
This year, five Indian students have been recognised as finalists across multiple categories for their outstanding contributions to higher education, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
In addition to Preetham Akula and Fazil Mohammed, three other Indian students were also finalists in the 2024 awards:
- Angela Sojan, a finalist for the International Student of the Year – Higher Education, is a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM. She has inspired thousands of students through her work at the Victorian Space Science Education Centre and her role as the diversity and inclusion officer for the Mathematics and Statistics Society at the University of Melbourne.
- Ayushi Daga, also a finalist for the International Student of the Year – Higher Education, has made significant contributions through her volunteer work, notably during the February 2024 Grampians wildfires. Ayushi’s leadership in mental health advocacy and inclusivity through organisations like the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation is widely recognised.
- Muhsin Kizhisseri, a finalist in the International Student/Graduate Entrepreneur of the Year category, leads Healovate, a startup that focuses on stroke prediction technology. His groundbreaking research has the potential to revolutionise stroke patient care and has earned him the Study Melbourne Future Founders Venture Scholarship.
Additionally, Nishadeep Kaur was highly commended by the International Student of the Year – Vocational Education and Training judging panel.
Last year, Sarbjeet Singh from Deakin University (Geelong campus) won the coveted Premier’s Award – International Student of the Year.
The Victorian International Education Awards, organised by Study Melbourne, shine a spotlight on the state’s most outstanding international students and recent graduates.
These students represent the vibrant and innovative contributions of the Indian international student community in Victoria, showcasing leadership, creativity, and commitment to positive social impact.
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