Robert Johanson

GSFM has appointed Robert Johanson AO as the new chair, effective from 1 October 2024. Mr Johanson’s appointment follows the retirement of Andrew McKinnon, founder of GSFM and current executive chairman of the GSFM board, a position he has held since 2017.

Damien McIntyre, GSFM CEO, said: “We welcome Robert to the board and are looking forward to working with him to continue to grow the GSFM presence in the Australian market. He has over thirty years’ experience in corporate finance and investment banking and he has been involved in a wide array of capital markets transactions for several leading corporations.”

Mr Johanson was previously chairman of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited for 12 years and was a director of Grant Samuel for over 20 years. He was also Deputy Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, chairman of the Australia India Institute and a member of the Takeovers Panel. He is currently chairman of the Australian Friends of Asha for Slums and a director of Melbourne Business School and the Robert Salzer Foundation.

He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, where he studied arts and law, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws. He also holds an MBA from Harvard University.

Mr McIntyre also paid tribute to Mr McKinnon who co-founded GSFM (then Grant Samuel Funds Management) in 2007.

Mr McIntyre said: “On behalf of GSFM, I extend our thanks and appreciation to Andrew. He has been an integral part of the GSFM business for 17 years, from inception as its first CEO, and ultimately as executive chairman.”

“From all the staff and executives at GSFM and the board, we wish Andrew a wonderful retirement, and all the best as he starts this next chapter in his life.”

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Young Australians awarded more than $1 million worth of scholarships.

Young Australians have shared in more than $1 million worth of scholarships thanks to Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and its program partners.

This year the Bank has handed out more than 170 scholarships, to first and second year students.

The program has been made possible thanks to support from the Bank’s Community Bank® network, and its educational partners La Trobe University and  University of Melbourne.

This makes the program one of the largest privately funded scholarships in Australia, with more than $2.5 million handed out to 260 students since its inception.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chairman Robert Johanson said he did not imagine how far the program would grow when he launched it in 2007 with just one scholarship.

Mr Johanson said this year’s recipients came from every corner of the nation, from a
remote cattle station in central Queensland, to the southern tip of Tasmania.

“For many young people in rural and regional areas, this financial support is the difference between whether they can attend university or have to miss out,” Mr Johanson said.

“We want to make sure these gifted students have the opportunity to fulfil their potential no matter the difficulties they have faced.

“Each of this year’s recipients has overcome a range of obstacles including drought,illness, disability, poverty, war and violence, but none have let that get in the way of achieving their academic dreams.

“They are all a testament to the power of hard work in the face of adversity, of never giving up.”

For 19-year-old Laura Auberson, of Orange NSW, winning the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank 2014 Scholarship means she will be the first person in her family to attend university.

Laura said that living in a rural town meant a costly relocation was the only option to access the best in tertiary education, and coming from a single-parent family, money was tight.

Thanks to the scholarship Laura will be able to study law at University of Adelaide, as well as continue her violin studies at the prestigious Elders Conservatorium, without unneeded financial stress.

“I can’t wait to experience university life, gain new skills, and make new friends,” Laura said.

“The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship means I can concentrate on reaching
my academic goals and making my family proud.”

Recipients of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank 2014 Scholarship include:

• Najibullah Hashimi – Castlemaine, Victoria
• Vanessa Forsythe – Gladstone, Queensland
• Hadia Elahi – Swan Hill, Victoria
• Hilary Wood – Blackall, Queensland
• Jae-Marie Jaensch – Nuriootpa, South Australia
• Gaby Bolton – Inverleigh, Victoria
• Alicia Giles – Bendigo, Victoria
• Eva Duck – Gympie, Queensland
• Jeannie Harris – Upper Castra, Tasmania
• Charles Kellock – Eagle Point, Victoria
• Jasmine Brauman – Davistown, New South Wales
• Rebekah Dolan – Terranora, New South Wales
• Laura Auberson – Orange, New South Wales
• Kate Donovan – Atherton, Queensland
• Daniel Lee – Blackmans Bay, Tasmania
• Riziki Kickombe – Bendigo, Victoria

Click here for a full list of scholarship recipients, visit

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Last chance to apply for the Adelaide and Bendigo Bank 2014 scholarship program.

First-year university students have just one week left to apply for the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship Program.

More than 170 scholarships will be awarded as part of the 2014 program, to first year undergraduates as well as those second year students who received first year scholarship support in 2013.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chairman Robert Johanson said that with university offers released this week, now was the perfect time to apply for the scholarship.

Applications for first-year students close on Friday 24 January, and Mr Johanson urged those seeking support to apply.

“Our scholarship program is now one of the largest privately funded programs in Australia, with more than 170 places on offer,” Mr Johanson said.

“Two years ago our Community Bank® partners joined the program, and this year our wholly-owned subsidiary Rural Bank is also offering its own agribusiness scholarships, allowing us to help even more Australian students.”

This year, Rural Bank will be offering eight scholarships to rural and regional students pursuing a career in agribusiness, in partnership with selected Community Bank® branches.

The Bank first launched its scholarship program in 2007 to provide some financial support to disadvantaged, yet academically outstanding rural and regional students moving away from home to start their university studies.

Mr Johanson said the program’s rapid expansion showed the Bank’s ongoing commitment to building stronger communities across Australia.

“We believe in strengthening communities and there’s no better way than supporting young people to pursue their dreams,” he said.

“These scholarships can give students the financial help they need to take the first step on their pathway to higher learning, and maybe one day they will be able to bring these skills back to their local community.”

Applications for the 2014 program close on Friday 24 January 2014.

For more information about the 2014 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship, visit www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/scholarships.

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Adelaide and Bendigo Bank launch 2014 scholarship program.

Studying his VCE in the rural Victorian town of Horsham in 2012, Saif Kahn’s dreams of becoming a diplomat in Central Asia were literally a world away.

Living without his parents, and forced to support himself through his year 12; this 18- year-old from a non-English speaking background had to work harder than most to achieve his goals.

But 12 months later, with the support of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship program, Saif has just finished his first year exams at ANU in Canberra, a double degree of law and international relations in his sights.

Saif said the scholarship had proved invaluable during his first year of study, allowing extra time to explore his love of languages – he is taking a Farsi class outside his university studies – and community work with Dragons Abreast and the Victims of Crime Association League (ACT).

“The scholarship has given me that extra level of security,” he said. “This year has been excellent for me, I’ve done even better than I expected. “I didn’t have to work through exams, which has contributed to my good results, and I wouldn’t have had that option without the scholarship.”

Hundreds of other Australian students just like Saif have benefitted from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s scholarship program since it began in 2007.

Yesterday the Bank launched its largest ever scholarship program. More than 160 scholarships will be offered in 2014 – both to first year undergraduates as well as those second year students who received first year scholarship support in 2013.

“The program has expanded dramatically since its launch in 2007,” Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chairman Robert Johanson said.

“Two years ago our Community Bank® partners joined the program, and this year we are excited to announce that our wholly-owned subsidiary Rural Bank will also be offering its own agribusiness scholarships, allowing us to help even more Australian students.”

This year, Rural Bank will be offering eight scholarships to rural and regional students pursuing a career in agribusiness, in partnership with selected Community Bank® branches.

La Trobe University and Melbourne University have also partnered with the Bank to offer specialised scholarship programs for their rural and regional students.

While the bulk of the scholarship program focuses on students from rural and regional locations, several metropolitan Community Bank® branches are also helping local students from their district with study costs.

Mr Johanson said the Bank continued to look at ways it could expand its support of the communities it operated within.

“We believe in strengthening communities and there’s no better way than supporting young people to pursue their dreams,” he said.

“These scholarships can give students the financial help they need to take the first step on their pathway to higher learning, and maybe one day they will be able to bring these skills back to their local community.”

Successful applicants initially receive funding for one year and depending on academic performance, the scholarship may be renewed to support their second year of study.

Applications for the 2014 program will close on Friday 24 January 2014.

For more information about the 2014 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship, visit www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/scholarships.

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More than 100 scholarships will be awarded as part of the 2013 program – both to first year undergraduates as well as those second year students who received first year scholarship support in 2012.

“The program has grown immensely since its launch in 2007, especially in the past two years with the Bank’s corporate scholarships now joined by those offered by our supporting Community Bank® branches,” Chairman Robert Johanson said.

“This year the program supported 71 students to pursue their academic dreams and the program continues to grow which is good news for those students who face challenges in pursuing tertiary studies.”

In 2007 the corporate scholarship was launched to provide some financial support to disadvantaged, yet academically outstanding students living in rural and regional Australia who need to move away from home to commence their university studies.

Since then, the program has grown to include scholarships funded by supporting Community Bank® branches which are designed to support local students from their district.

Whilst the bulk of the scholarship program focuses on students from rural and regional locations, several metropolitan Community Bank® branches are also assisting local students from their district.

Mr Johanson said the program’s rapid expansion clearly demonstrates the wider Bank’s commitment to building stronger communities.

“The recent tough economic times as well as challenging family circumstances can have a significant impact on a young person’s ability to continue their education. The additional costs of living away from home prevent many people taking up their opportunities. We believe in helping build the capacity of communities and there’s no better way than supporting young people to pursue their dreams,” he said.

“Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Community Bank® branches, together we are supporting even more students to follow their academic dreams and maybe one day use their skills and knowledge to benefit their local community.

The corporate Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship supports outstanding students from rural and regional areas who need to move away from home to further their studies. Scholarships offered by participating Community Bank® branches aim to support local students with study-related costs.

Successful applicants initially receive funding for one year and, depending on academic performance, the scholarship may be renewed to support their second year of study.

A range of inspiring young people were recognised this year for their scholastic efforts including Tom Diaz, of Lamplough, in country Victoria. Tom has now completed his first year of an Arts degree at Melbourne University, whilst commuting each day from central Victoria so he could also continue to help on his family’s farm on weekends.

Another inspiring story is Ram Khanal, a Bhutanese refugee from Lavington, New South Wales who is studying Medical Science at the Australian National University in Canberra. Despite the challenges, with diligence and commitment to his studies together with tremendous support from his secondary school and family, Ram achieved wonderful academic results which made him an ideal candidate for his scholarship.

“Each of the 71 students awarded in 2012 had an inspiring story and this year we are pleased to be able to offer more students from more locations the opportunity to follow their dreams and to enter university,” Mr Johanson said.

Applications for the 2013 program will close on Friday 25 January 2013.

For more information about the 2013 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship, click here.

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A further 14 students will start their second year of higher education under the program, which was first launched by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank with just one scholarship back in 2007.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarships are awarded to first-time tertiary students whose financial circumstances mean attaining a university degree is out of their reach.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chairman, Robert Johanson, said the scholarship program helps students who experience crisis such as family breakdowns, illness, drought, natural disasters, debt and unemployment.

“We want to make a difference to outstanding, but disadvantaged regional students who are unable to access higher education because of significant accommodation and study costs which can place considerable pressure on an already struggling family,’’ Mr Johanson said.

‘’These scholarships will mean that young people will have the chance to become doctors, occupational therapists, IT professionals, dentists, engineers, scientists or whatever they dream to be; so its reach and impact will be significant.

‘’The successful students are very deserving of a scholarship and I wish them all the best of luck as they begin an exciting journey toward achieving their goals,’’ he said.

Mr Johanson said the number of scholarships recipients has almost tripled this year compared to last, after the Bank invited its Community Bank® network and other partners to join the program.

“Our Community Bank® partners, Bendigo Community Telco, Lead On Bendigo and the Strathfieldsaye & Districts Community Enterprise have joined with the Bank and thrown their support behind this program.

“Now even more students in regional locations and selected city locations can achieve their academic aspirations and maybe one day use their skills and knowledge to benefit their local community.’

‘’This is just one of the ways our Bank commits to building stronger communities,’’ Mr Johanson said.

Former Bendigo Senior Secondary College student, Ilona Jakab, almost aced her Year 12 exams to secure a place studying Biomedicine at University of Melbourne. However, the Maldon teen said without the Bank’s support, moving to Melbourne to pursue this goal would not have been possible.

“It’s great to know that I have financial support to start my degree, which means I don’t have to worry about how I will pay to live away from home,” Ms Jakab said.

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Up to 60 new scholarships will be awarded to first-time students whose circumstances might otherwise preclude them from accepting their university course offer.

And 15 more students will enter their second year under the program, first launched with just one scholarship in 2007.

Officially opening applications for the 2012 academic year, Chairman Robert Johanson, said the surge in new scholarship numbers came after the Bank invited its Community Bank® and other partners to join the program.

“We were overwhelmed by their enthusiastic response,” Mr Johanson said.

“More than 20 of our community partners will provide a total of up to 40 scholarships to students from their local areas and three more students will be funded by Bank associate companies.”

The first scholarship program was launched in 2007 to provide some financial support to disadvantaged, yet academically outstanding rural and regional students moving away from home to start their university studies.

Mr Johanson said the program’s rapid expansion shows the wider Bank community’s commitment to building stronger communities.

“Influences like family circumstances, drought, natural disasters, debt and unemployment have a significant impact on a young person’s ability to continue their education,” he said.

‘’Thanks to our Community Bank® partners, Bendigo Community Telco, Lead On Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye & Districts Community Enterprise joining with the Bank in this program, now even more students in regional locations and selected city locations can achieve their academic dreams and maybe one day use their skills and knowledge to benefit their local community.

“The scholarship is currently supporting students who will join the workforce and the community in future roles such as doctors, occupational therapists, IT professionals, dentists, engineers and scientists, so its reach and impact will be significant.”

Last year, Nicole Feast received a scholarship to assist with accommodation costs while studying a Science degree at the University of Melbourne. Ms Feast said the receiving the scholarship made it easier for her to live away from her home in Mount Gambier.

“I had to find a lot of help if I was going to make my dreams come true, and I’m so grateful that Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has supported me to get to university.’’

Successful applicants will initially receive funding for one year and depending on academic performance, the scholarship may be renewed to support their second year of study.

Applications for 2012 will close at 5pm (AEDST) Friday 27 January 2012.

This is the sixth year the Bank has offered the scholarship program.

For more information about the 2012 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship, visit www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/scholarships

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