World Trade Organisation Geneva | Helen Argyris
ANU Law School alumni have banded together to support a student undertaking a three-month internship at the Australian Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The ANU Law Global Alumni Scholars Grant is available to four students in 2026, with the first spot being awarded to Master of Laws student Helen Argyris.
“The support this grant offers is invaluable, given that it allows me to pursue my interest in international law, through experiences that might otherwise remain inaccessible to me,” she says.
She explained that without this funding, being at the World Trade Organization, as part of the Australian Mission, would not be possible. Living costs alone in places such as New York or Geneva, where she currently is, would make a placement like hers almost impossible to afford.
Lining up the placement
Helen first discovered the mission in Geneva when studying her postgraduate degree in National Security Policy, so she knew she would need financial support to make it happen. An application and two interviews later, she was offered a spot with the WTO team of the Australian Permanent Mission. Next steps were applying to ANU Law School for credit as a Semester 1 subject, and locking in the funding to achieve this long-lived goal.
To do this, she searched the ANU Scholarships website, narrowing results down to ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy where she found the ANU Law Global Alumni Scholars Grant.
“Grants like this help reduce those barriers and allow us to focus on learning, contributing, and representing ANU on an international stage,” Helen says.
Henry Makeham, an ANU Law and Asian Studies alumnus, ANU Young Alumnus of the Year and now a sovereign wealth capital lawyer based in the Middle East, is one of the nine donors who set up the grant. He told us this funding "reflects a belief that exposure to international legal environments shouldn’t be the exception reserved for a privileged few, but something more broadly accessible to talented students with the ambition to engage globally.”
The grant was co-founded by Henry Makeham and David Olsson AM, also an ANU Law alumnus and former senior partner of a top tier law firm, whose international careers have taken them across global legal and commercial settings. Both emphasise the importance of creating pathways for students to gain real-world international experience early in their careers, and of strengthening the connection between academic study and professional practice.
David said that his own career had been shaped by opportunities to work internationally early on.
“International experience early in a career builds judgement, relationships and cultural understanding. Those are essential not just for individual success, but for how Australia engages in the world.”
The grant was set up as a way for the group to give back to the ecosystem that shaped how they all think about law, institutions and the broader global geopolitical frameworks they operate in.
The founders also see the grant as a starting point. By working together, alumni contributions can compound over time and materially expand the access to international opportunities of ANU law students, demonstrating the impact of a connected and engaged alumni community.
Getting out of the classroom
Both Helen and Henry note the importance of getting out of the classroom, with Henry elaborating that while a classroom provides the foundation, “it’s through work-integrated experiences - particularly in internationally competitive settings - that students develop judgment, commercial awareness, and adaptability”.
“By supporting international placements, the grant allows students to move beyond theory and into environments where the stakes are real,” Henry added.
It isn’t just the funding that the donors are offering; the group will also provide an unparalleled network of professional mentors who actively want to help successful grant recipients thrive in their careers.
Key advice on your application
Henry says the best advice for the ANU Law Global Alumni Scholars Grant is to be intentional about how you frame your application. “This isn’t just about academic achievement; it’s about demonstrating a clear sense of how an international experience will shape your trajectory: what you want to learn, where you want to go, and why it matters.”
“It is also to think expansively. The most compelling applications will be those that connect the opportunity to a broader set of ambitions (whether that’s in international law, policy, business, or something more interdisciplinary).”
Helen adds that “opportunities like this aren’t about being perfect; they’re about showing potential, initiative, and a clear sense of purpose. If you can demonstrate that you’re engaged with the world, willing to learn quickly, and able to turn your ideas into sharp, practical analysis, you have a real shot.”
And finally, this key piece of advice:
“Don’t self-select out. If you have the curiosity and the drive to engage globally, this is exactly the kind of opportunity designed for you!” Henry says.
Three grants are still available for ANU Law School students in 2026 – apply now. You can learn more here or email enquiries.clgp@anu.edu.au.