A University of Notre Dame Australia student has been named one of Australia’s top emerging leaders through a national program that recognises outstanding achievements and career potential.
Charlotte Carles, a third-year Bachelor of Laws student in Fremantle, was named in the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Future Leaders list and awarded the national Social Impact Award.
She was one of only two students from Western Australia to be included in the Top 100 list, which celebrates high-performing students and connect them with Australia’s top graduate employers.
Ms Carles said she was proud to represent Western Australia on the national list and was honoured to have been recognised by industry leaders through the Social Impact Award.
She travelled to Sydney with her mother for the Future Leaders awards ceremony – a night she describes as surreal.
“Winning this award is a major milestone that has made me reflect deeply on what leadership and contribution to society means. I now feel more committed than ever to creating a positive impact in the spaces that I study and work in,” she said.
Ms Carles was awarded the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship in 2024 and was chosen to represent Western Australia in UNICEF Australia’s Young Ambassador program last year.
She said winning the New Colombo Plan Scholarship has inspired her to push herself out of her comfort zone, seek new opportunities and support her fellow emerging leaders.
She is deeply connected to the university community, serving as a Student Ambassador, Equity Ambassador, Peer Career Facilitator and 2026 New Colombo Plan Alumni Representative.
She said she was driven by a deep-rooted commitment to meaningfully contribute to society, whether through advocating for the rights of children and young people through her role as a Young Ambassador or supporting her fellow students at Notre Dame.
“While it’s been exciting to reach national wins like the Top 100 List, individual achievements aren’t meaningful to me unless shared with the community,” she said.
“That’s why I am grateful to Notre Dame for the ongoing support over the last few years.”
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Notre Dame student recognised as one of Australia’s future leaders (UNDA)
