RMIT University students, Sofiya Khan and Georgie Menzies, have emerged as the winners of the inaugural Icon Agency Future Communicators Foundation (FCF) Scholarship.

The scholarship, sponsored by Icon Agency, awards two annual scholarships of $2500 each to senior undergraduates enrolled in Public Relations programs at RMIT University, Melbourne. The scholarship's focus is on PR strategies for sustainability, with the 2023 theme being 'Social Responsibility to the Environment in Australia.' Khan and Menzies' winning campaigns proposed innovative solutions to promote sustainability and social responsibility.

Khan's winning campaign, 'Realfoods: Sip & Learn,' proposes a partnership with Realfoods, a volunteer-run café on RMIT campus. The campaign aims to offer workshops in environmental responsibility and increase sales of ethically sourced, fair-trade products.

"The Icon FCF Scholarship is an invaluable tool in furthering my education. It’s an opportunity to stretch my communication skills to work on what I care about most — sustainability and social responsibility," Khan said.

Menzies' winning campaign, 'Carbon-Conscious Commute,' proposes a smartphone app that encourages the use of public transport and greener methods of transportation through a gamified experience.

"I am incredibly honoured to be awarded this year’s Icon Agency FCF Scholarship. I hope to have the opportunity to work on future projects relating to sustainability and social justice in my professional communications endeavours," Menzies stated.

The winners also receive a one-hour mentor meeting with Icon Agency Group Account Director, Fiona Nwoke, and future opportunities with FCF international programs. Nwoke, who transitioned from national radio in the UK to large PR agencies and now leads a team at Icon in Australia, emphasised the importance of mentorship in guiding the next generation of PR leaders.

"I see first-hand the importance of mentorship to encourage and guide the next generation of PR leaders to affect social impact and change. The industry is always evolving and I believe the practice of continually sharing experiences and knowledge strengthens us both as practitioners and mentors," she commented.

Icon Agency Co-founder and Group Managing Director, Joanne Painter, said, the initiative is another nod to the agency's focus on people as well as social progress.

"Whether it’s sponsoring gender equality research, or donating our time to university boards, we’re big believers in getting involved and giving back to our industry," she added.