2025 PRME Global Students Sustainability Award

An international honours organisation for high-achieving accounting, finance, and business information systems students, Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919 in Illinois. The Monash University chapter - Xi Epsilon Chapter - is committed to developing future-ready professionals who lead with integrity, innovation, and social responsibility. Rooted in the principles of responsible management and sustainability, we strive to bridge the gap between financial education, industry collaboration, and social impact, by equipping students with the skills and ethical mindset necessary to drive meaningful change. Our chapter, founded in 2017, actively integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and responsible management concepts into our initiatives, to ensure our members develop a deep understanding of responsible business practices. By fostering lifelong learning, professional development, and corporate engagement, we ensure that our members graduate with the technical expertise, leadership acumen, and sustainability-conscious mindset needed to thrive in the evolving financial landscape. Our vision is to shape the future of the finance and business information profession by empowering the next generation of ethical, innovative, and socially responsible leaders.

1. Our first chosen project is our partnership with Mums Supporting Families In Need (MSFIN), a Melbourne-based charity dedicated to providing essential items to families facing hardship. Our initiative primarily focuses on volunteering and donation drives, ensuring that our contributions provide both immediate relief and long-term support to vulnerable families.

Throughout the year, Beta Alpha Psi members participate in warehouse volunteering sessions, where they help sort, package, and distribute donated goods such as clothing, baby essentials, and household items. In addition to volunteering, our chapter organizes regular donation drives to collect high-demand items like non-perishable foods and clothing for MSFIN. These drives, promoted through social media and campus outreach, mobilize both our members and the wider university community to contribute essential goods.

These initiatives directly support the PRMEs of purpose and values, as well as several SDGs, including SDGs 1, 10, and 17, by strengthening collaboration between students and student organizations, charities, and the broader community. By integrating social impact into our chapter’s activities, we're reinforcing responsible management principles and encouraging our members to become ethical professionals who prioritize community well-being, because they are being shown the immense and tangible impacts of their assistance.

2. Our second chosen initiative is our student-led ‘Make It Count’ podcast. Launched in 2024 and endeavoring to empower the financial professionals of tomorrow, ‘Make It Count’ bridges the current gap between theory and practice among tertiary students and professionals/academics alike. With over 100 listeners across 2024, our innovation sparked newfound insights across 4 unique episodes. This drives irrevocable change in the way our community accesses and indoctrinates information relevant to their interests/backgrounds, and empowers listeners to become more informed and innovative professionals along both their scholastic and professional journeys. As a whole, this initiative is built upon the PRMEs of Share, Partner, Teach, and Research.

Our first episode, titled ‘Transformative Moments in your Accounting Pathway’, featured alumni from BAP Monash, and discussed their unique career pathways, sharing insights into their passion and insights into accounting. With guests on this episode being international students of Monash University, their experiences of inclusion and employment in Australia enhanced the validity of this discussion. We achieved incorporation of SDGs 4 and 8 through discussion centered around promoting the opportunities an education in Accounting and Financial Services can have, including a sustainable and stable career path, to demographics that simply may not be aware of these opportunities present.

The podcast’s second episode, ‘Investing in a Green Future’, featured the APAC Partner for Climate Change and Sustainability Services at EY, Terence Jeyaretnam. We explored how sustainability and environmentalism impact us as modern-day business students and wider business professionals. This discussion touched on many SDGs, specifically numbers 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16, incorporated throughout the episode featuring discussions on the triple bottom line concept, ESG reporting frameworks, sustainable finance, and much more. This episode sparked many members to start thinking about the wider societal and environmental impact their areas of study and future profession have.

Our third episode - ‘Business in the Digital Age’ - featured Kaushika Jayalath, an Enterprise Solutions Consultant at Oracle and Non-Executive Director at CPA Australia. We delved into the way technology and AI are transforming the finance and business sector, plus what future professionals should know and learn about technology for now and the future. Focusing on SDGs 8 and 9, our conversation stemmed from innovation, regulation, and ethical considerations surrounding the evolution of technology. We discussed how technology can be responsibly used, to support decent work and economic growth, while also promoting innovative industry developments.

2024’s final episode, ‘Accounting in a Global Context’, consisted of discourse between students from Monash University and Sam Houston State University in Texas, U.S.A. Listeners were able to gain insights about the similarities and contrasts in student life, university life, culture, work opportunities, and political landscapes between the two countries. This episode held a primary focus on SDG 17 through building global connections. We also advanced SDGs 16 and 4 by fostering global knowledge exchange, providing students with cross-border insights into governance structures, accounting education, career pathways, and industry practices.

3. Our third chosen initiative is our Inclusive Leadership Series. Consisting of 3 events, this initiative sought to go beyond surface-level discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) by actively fostering spaces where inclusivity is practiced, not just promoted.

Firstly, we had the ‘Breaking Bread’ Orientation Event. This was an initiative designed to help students from diverse backgrounds feel a sense of belonging from the very start of their BAP journey. We recognized that traditional orientation sessions often focus solely on professional networking, leaving little room for genuine cultural exchange, conversation, and personal connection. This event directly aligned with SDG 3 and 11, as well as the PRME of Values, as we prioritized well-being through social inclusion by bringing members together over a shared meal. Attendees were encouraged to bring a dish from their cultural background, sparking conversations around identity, traditions, and personal experiences. We facilitated discussions on navigating university life, imposter syndrome, and strategies for finding support networks. By fostering intercultural dialogue in a relaxed, informal setting, this event strengthened peer relationships and ensured that every member—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—felt seen, valued, and supported within our chapter, and reciprocate this in wider society.

Secondly, we held an Unconscious Bias Workshop in our commitment to SDGs 10 and 16, plus PRMEs ‘Teach’, ‘Values’, and ‘Share’. The interactive workshop was run by one of our university’s esteemed academics Nick McGuigan, who has completed extensive work into inclusivity and understanding human biases. Aiming to help members recognize and mitigate such biases in professional and academic settings, this workshop introduced attendees to key psychological concepts around bias and privilege and included case studies, role playing scenarios, and facilitated discussions on how to challenge implicit assumptions. By engaging future financial professionals in these discussions early in their careers, we aimed to instill the values of inclusive leadership, ethical decision-making, and workplace equity. Through a process of pre-workshop assessments and testing, followed by a tailored presentation, we provided the toolkit for attendees to actively engage in reducing inequalities in their own lives and perceptions and extend these learnings to the wider communities each person operates in.

Thirdly, we held our International Student Career Panel discussion. For many international students, navigating the Australian job market can feel overwhelming due to visa regulations, cultural differences, and employer biases. In alignment with PRMEs ‘Partner’ and ‘Share’, as well as SDG 8 and 4, we partnered with ShineWing Accountants and Advisors (SW) to bridge this knowledge gap and provide international students with actionable career guidance. We were motivated to uphold inclusive economic prosperity through empowering traditionally marginalised demographics to obtain full and productive employment. The panel featured industry professionals who were once international students themselves, and ultimately empowered international students with the confidence, resources, and networks needed to pursue careers in accounting and finance, while encouraging them to pass on this knowledge to their peers in wider communities beyond BAP Monash.

1. Our volunteering and donation drives for MSFIN have created tangible benefits for both the community and our members. Over the past year, more than 50 Beta Alpha Psi members have collectively contributed over 200 hours of volunteer service at MSFIN’s warehouse. Their efforts have directly supported the distribution of thousands of essential items to families in need, providing immediate relief to those facing economic hardship.

Through our donation drives, our chapter has facilitated the collection of hundreds of essential items, including clothing, baby supplies, and hygiene products. By organizing structured collection campaigns and engaging both students and faculty, we have expanded MSFIN’s reach and increased awareness about the importance of community-driven support. Our sustained involvement has also strengthened MSFIN’s capacity to serve more families, as student volunteers have helped streamline their distribution processes.

Beyond quantitative impact, this initiative has fostered a culture of social responsibility within our chapter and the wider university ecosystem. Many students have shared that their participation in MSFIN volunteering sessions deepened their understanding of socio-economic challenges and inspired them to seek further opportunities to contribute to their communities. This initiative has also enhanced Beta Alpha Psi’s reputation as a purpose-driven organization, attracting more students who value ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility.

2. In the infant stage of the ‘Make It Count’ podcast, our total consumption hours totaled over 17 hours. This engagement provides encouraging signs that our topics of discussion are relevant to our members, Monash University, as well as our wider community. Furthermore, our new platform enables our episodes to span across regional and international communities. The geographic location of listeners include 12.4% being from the United States, and 2.2% from New Zealand, to go along with our 85.4% Australian audience. Our goal to inform the financial professionals of tomorrow comes to fruition through 37.5% of our listeners falling between the ages of 18-22. Nonetheless, our topical discussions are also consumed by a multitude of diverse demographics and backgrounds, which fuels us to leave a lasting impact on listeners.

Feedback from our members and listeners surrounding the convenience of accessing and listening to episodes, paired with our qualitative Spotify statistics, provide a fundamental basis for positive impact across many ecosystems. Unlike an event on campus, these teachings are something that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, with the content being deliberately constructed to be relevant now and well into the future. This initiative internationally awarded us among the Beta Alpha Psi organisation, which spans across Oceania and the United States. This proves the ‘Make It Count’ podcast as the perfect resource to compliment our events held during the year. Furthermore, this innovative platform evokes students’ critical thinking on concepts that have real impact, by interviewing those who are at the heart of these globally-relevant issues and trends in all ecosystems.

3. The Inclusive Leadership Series has significantly influenced the university ecosystem, local communities, and key stakeholders, fostering a culture of belonging, professional readiness, and inclusive leadership. Through a combination of qualitative feedback, attendance data, and measurable engagement outcomes, we have assessed its tangible impact on our chapter and broader networks.

The Unconscious Bias Workshop was attended by over 20 students, with 100% reporting in post-event surveys that they felt more confident identifying and addressing bias in professional settings. The ‘Breaking Bread’ Orientation Event attracted over half of our committee, with 100% of surveyed participants agreeing that it helped them feel more included in the BAP community, and also helped them learn more about their peers’ cultural foods, traditions, backgrounds and experiences. Our International Student Career Panel with ShineWing saw over 30 attendees, with 95% of international student participants (a vast amount of our attendees) stating they felt “better prepared” to navigate the Australian job market.

Post-event feedback and testimonies revealed that attendees valued the practical, hands-on approach of our Unconscious Bias Workshop, with one participant stating: “This session opened my eyes to biases I didn’t realize I had, and now I feel equipped to challenge them in a workplace setting.”

The Breaking Bread event fostered a strong sense of community and peer mentorship, with one student noting: “I was pleased to see how open everyone at Xi Epsilon is to learning about other cultures!”

Our International Student Career Panel received praise for providing actionable career guidance, with one attendee commenting: “Hearing from professionals who were once in my shoes was incredibly reassuring—I now have a clearer roadmap for securing internships.”

In interpreting this, this initiative has been tremendous in the contributions each of our members have and continue to make to BAP Monash, as we’ve witnessed an increased spark in initiative, leadership, active engagement, and enjoyment.

Additionally, we've strengthened the university ecosystem by embedding DE&I discussions into our chapter’s professional development initiatives, thereby setting a precedent for future student-led leadership programs. Overall, we were able to align with UNSDGs and PRMEs before-listed by enhancing employability, promoting inclusive leadership, and fostering equitable career opportunities that contributed to discussions and innovations to ensure future prosperity of all kinds at the tertiary and professional level.

1. The MSFIN volunteering and donation drives have provided Beta Alpha Psi members with invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. By engaging directly with a nonprofit organization, students have gained insights into the challenges of running a charity, improving their problem-solving and organizational skills in a real-world context.

The hands-on nature of warehouse volunteering has strengthened students’ ability to work in teams, manage logistics, and understand the broader societal impact of community service. Through structured donation drives, students have also developed marketing and leadership skills, as they were responsible for promoting the initiatives, coordinating collections, and ensuring efficient delivery to MSFIN. These skills are elemental in corporate, academic, and everyday environments.

Furthermore, this initiative has reinforced the importance of ethical leadership and social impact in business and finance, which uphold the PRMEs of Purpose and Values. Many of our members will go on to work in industries where corporate social responsibility plays a critical role. By participating in this initiative, they have developed a mindset that will continue to prioritize sustainable and inclusive economic practices, aligning with SDG 4 and SDG 16, by fostering responsible and ethical engagement with the community.

Overall, the MSFIN partnership has empowered our members to become well-rounded professionals who not only excel in their fields but also contribute meaningfully to society - and will continue to do so! Through experiential learning, our students have built resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills, ensuring they are prepared for both their careers and their roles as active, socially responsible citizens.

2. Continuous development of the ‘Make It Count’ podcast has bolstered student development through the whole episode creation process, from idea generation to script writing to hosting the episode itself. Such engagement ensures that this student-led podcast remains highly beneficial to students, as they co-create episodes for their peers and wider networks.

Walking through the process of curating an episode, our themes are driven by student surveys. This not only ensures each episode’s content is relevant to listeners, but also consisting thought leadership concepts and issues that resonate best with members. This way, the ‘Make It Count’ podcast truly empowers the financial professionals of tomorrow. After deciding on a topic, student development is further invited through expressions of interest for hosting the podcast episode, as well as students having the opportunity to utilise their own connections to jointly find the most suitable guests for each given episode, and coordinate the execution of the recording. After the recording stage, post-production editing and publishing are also executed by BAP Monash members. This structure provides a unique opportunity for students to take initiative and enhance many essential skills both professionally and personally.

The podcast proves our ‘student-led’ label, and is a unique offering from Xi Epsilon to students. Essential skills such as communication, stakeholder engagement/management, professionalism, and initiative are all key areas of development for those working on the podcast. Furthermore, in line with our goals as a student society, listening and participating in the curation of an episode of ‘Make It Count’ truly develops students’ academic, professional, and personal journeys.

3. The Inclusive Leadership Series provided Xi Epsilon members with a transformative learning experience, enhancing their academic, professional, and personal growth. As a student-led initiative, its implementation required our members to develop and apply leadership, communication, event coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills in real-world settings. Through organizing and executing three distinct events, students took ownership of planning, outreach, and facilitation, learning to set objectives, delegate tasks, and execute outreach strategies to ensure these events reached and impacted a diverse range of attendees.

The initiative also provided invaluable opportunities to develop communication and stakeholder management skills. Students liaised with external industry professionals, coordinating panelists and managing professional interactions, which strengthened their ability to engage with stakeholders in a professional setting. Furthermore, by leading panel discussions, moderating Q&A sessions, and facilitating small-group activities, members improved their public speaking and presentation skills. Lastly, interacting directly with international students deepened their cross-cultural communication abilities, equipping them with the skills necessary to navigate diverse professional environments.

On a personal level, the Inclusive Leadership Series empowered members to gain confidence in leading conversations about inclusivity and advocating for DE&I in the workplace. Stepping outside their comfort zones—whether through public speaking/hosting, networking with professionals, or facilitating workshops—helped students strengthen their adaptability and teamwork skills. Many members reflected that the initiative provided them an adequate challenge and prepared them for leadership roles, offering real-world experience in corporate engagement, event execution, and meaningful impact creation.

1. Celebrating Diversity - Orientation Day Committee Dinner

2. Crash Course to First Year - Providing New Students Guidance in their first weeks at University

3. Inclusive Leadership Series - ‘Breaking Bread’ Orientation Event - Breaking Barriers between Students and Staff in Accounting at Monash

4. Unconscious Bias Workshop - led by Professor Nicholas McGuigan

5. International Students Career Workshop and Alumni Panel - in collaboration with ShineWing Accountants & Advisors (ShineWing) and international alumni from the Monash University International Students Society (MUISS)

6. Oracle Workshop Series

Oracle Workshop 1 - Intro to Data Integration and Data Visualisation with Wayne Goodall (VP of Oracle JAPAC Cloud Application Deployment)

Oracle Workshop 2 - Intro to Machine Learning and Enterprise Performance Management with Shilpa Bhale (Product Management Director, Oracle), Rami Matar (Business Solutions Director, Oracle), and Kaushika Jayalath (Enterprise Solutions Consultant, Oracle)

Oracle Workshop 3 - Impact of Technology in ESG Reporting and Sustainability with Marissa Aliferis (Oracle’s APAC Lead - Sustainable and Responsible Business)

7. Financial Services Networking Evening - inaugural networking event among Victorian Beta Alpha Psi societies with a variety of Accounting and Finance firms

8. Computing and Commerce Association collaboration - Navigating Pathways in Business and Tech discussing the versatility of roles in the Business and Tech industries

9. MYOB - “Get Job Ready” Workshop, diving into mastering the art of earning a dream internship or graduate position

10. MSFIN Volunteering Sessions - regular warehouse volunteering for partner charity ‘Mums Supporting Families In Need’

11. Monash Accounting Student Association collaboration - Revision Seminar for Accounting students at Monash University, led by students for students

12. Monash Career Connect collaboration - “Building an Impactful Brand” Workshop

13. Protiviti collaboration - Innovation and Design-Thinking Workshop exploring methods of innovation and design-thinking with a panel of consultants, coupled with practical activities that apply these methods to real-world problems

14. EY x Computing and Commerce Association collaboration - Mock Recruitment Day

15. McKinsey & Company collaboration - Case Competition

16. CPA collaboration - Exploring Career Journeys in Accounting and Finance Panel featuring insights on emerging industry trends and personal experiences from Mo Khan (Deloitte Partner, Finance Transformation and Performance Management), Kaushika Jayalath (CPA Australia Non-Executive Director and Oracle Enterprise Solutions Consultant), Anastasia Crisafi (UniSuper Chief Financial Officer), and Tony Citera (Australia Post General Manager, Finance)

Student Representative

Patrick Kewin

pkew0002@student.monash.edu

+61 499 926 654

Academic Supervisor

Daniela Juric

Daniela.Juric@monash.edu