The Ashton-Nixon Scholarship at Monash University has been established because of a generous bequest by the late Stephen Ashton AM, together with his family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Steve died in 2016 as a result of mesothelioma.
The Ashton Nixon Bequest is administered by Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) as a Public Ancillary Fund. The Bequest supports the Steve Ashton Scholarship and the Ashton-Nixon Scholarship, as well as medical research and environmental causes.
Steve contributed to the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of as a former Chapter President, an Honorary Life Member (Steve was a Life Fellow) and an AIA Gold Medal Recipient (2016). In addition, Steve’s practice ARM Architecture have won a record six Victorian Architecture Medals.
Steve was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) posthumously in 2017 and the citation read: For significant service to architecture through management and design roles, to professional organisations, and to motor sport.
Steve believed that completion of a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration at Swinburne University played a significant role in the success of Ashton Raggatt McDougall, the practice which he founded in 1988 with Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall, and which became ARM Architecture. The practice boasts an impressive body of work, including the National Museum of Australia, Melbourne Recital Centre, Sumner Theatre, Perth Arena, Geelong Library, as well as alterations to Storey Hall (RMIT University), Hamer Hall, the Shrine of Remembrance and recently the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House.
Purpose of the scholarship
Given Steve’s strong belief in the utility of a business education in the creation of successful architectural practices, the purpose of the purpose of the Ashton-Nixon Scholarship is to enable graduates of the Monash Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture to undertake a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Monash University.
Awarding of the scholarship
Applications for the Ashton-Nixon Scholarship (Monash) are open and due on February 3, 2023. Details on how to apply here.
Ashton-Nixon Bequest 