Olivia Blight, a medical product development engineer, has been named the recipient of the University of Sydney Business School’s 2025 Future Leaders MBA Scholarship.
Valued at over $70,000, the scholarship supports her pursuit of a part-time MBA, designed to cultivate leadership and real-world business acumen.
Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at just nine years old, Olivia’s personal journey has deeply influenced her professional path. Her lived experience as a patient inspired her to become a medical engineer, aiming to enhance the lives of others managing chronic conditions.
“I strive to be an ambassador for diabetics,” Olivia said. “With my technical background paired with my understanding of the patient experience, I believe I can bridge the gap between people with diabetes and their technology apprehension.”
Olivia’s academic and professional journey is impressive. After earning a Bachelor of Medical Engineering (Honours), she began her career at an orthopaedic startup, later joining Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s design and prototyping team, where she was a finalist for the Women in Defence Awards’ Rising Star category. Currently, she works at IDE Group, a consultancy focused on medical device innovation and commercialisation.
Her commitment to continuous learning and cross-industry collaboration is evident. Olivia is determined to foster female leadership and representation across engineering, defence, and healthcare sectors. Through her MBA studies, she aims to gain the strategic and managerial skills needed to drive sustainable innovation in healthcare. She began her studies in Semester 1, 2025.
“Completing the MBA at the University of Sydney Business School will provide me with the platform and acumen to develop the skills needed to navigate the business and management side of my industry. It will provide me the opportunity to lead and create sustainable value for the healthcare sector and its patients,” Olivia said.
The school’s Future Leaders MBA Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding candidate who completes a rigorous selection process, including a motivational statement, a reflective essay, and a final interview.
