She also wanted to maintain her Kiwi connection and support talented students to achieve their academic goals.

Julia recently established a new scholarship in her maiden name—the Buchanan Scholarship in New Zealand History and Society.

Worth $10,000 per year, the scholarship will be awarded to a full-time Master’s thesis student undertaking research into New Zealand topics, in association with the University’s Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Part of the Great Futures scholarship programme, Julia’s generous gift supports talented students to pursue their research interests and contribute to a greater collective understanding of New Zealand society and history.

“As an expatriate New Zealander, I never forget the great start in life and the outstanding education from Victoria University of Wellington that I received. I hope that, going forward from 2019, the recipients of this scholarship will add to the enrichment of New Zealand identity,” Julia says.