Meet some of the Haileybury students who have represented Australia on the world stage in international competitions as diverse as debating, AI and chemistry.
Vinay’s winning formula at Chemistry Olympiad
With a winning formula of hard work and perseverance, Vinay, Year 12, took home a silver medal from the prestigious International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) held in Dubai in July.
To qualify for the Australian Olympiad team Vinay underwent a challenging selection process. From hundreds of candidates across the country who sat the national qualifying exam, Vinay was one of 24 students invited to attend a two-week intensive training camp at the Australian National University in Canberra.
At the camp, students learnt university-level chemistry and developed practical skills in the laboratory. As part of a final selection process the students were then asked to complete two challenging practical exams during the camp and two follow up theoretical exams a month later. After getting through the selection process Vinay was one of just four Australian students to earn a coveted place on IChO Team.
The Olympiad itself was attended by 354 talented young student chemists from around the world.
“The biggest highlight was being able to meet many other chemistry students from around the world. It was a great opportunity to be able to share ideas and experiences with others who had similar interests, and I’ve become good friends with lots of people I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to meet,” says Vinay.
The Olympiad featured a five-hour practical exam and a five-hour theoretical exam. Vinay’s outstanding effort saw him place 52nd internationally, an achievement which was recognised with a silver medal.
Reflecting on his experience, Vinay encourages others who are interested in chemistry to also apply for the Olympiad. “The Chemistry Olympiad is a great way to go beyond the school curriculum and learn new and interesting content that will deepen your understanding of the subject. You’ll also get hands-on experience with exciting experiments in university labs, which is both challenging and fun,” he says.
Lucy talks her way to success
Lucy, Year 7, has made her mark on the international stage at the Asia Pacific Junior Debate Championships in Tokyo earlier this year.
Lucy competed in eight debates over two days of competition. The debate topics were diverse and included areas such as copyright and the role of AI in education.
Among more than 50 Australian participants, Lucy distinguished herself by not only reaching the semi-finals, but also by being ranked as the eighth best Australian speaker in the tournament.
Lucy also participated in 2024 when she made the quarter finals. This year she built on her experience to advance all the way to the semi-finals, competing against talented students from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Her achievement is a testament to her hard work, quick thinking and a love for debating. “On a family trip to Japan my parents caught up with an old friend from the international debate tour. She asked if I would debate with her daughter Nao, and we did a few classes together. Over the next 18 months we debated at three tournaments together,” explains Lucy.
Lucy’s journey did not just highlight her debating abilities, but also her commitment to continuous improvement and excellence. Her performance in Tokyo reflects her dedication and the valuable experience she gained in last year’s event.
Henry’s AI achievement in Beijing
In August, Henry, Year 12, swapped the classroom for the excitement of the rapidly evolving world of Artificial Intelligence, representing Australia at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) in Beijing.
Henry was selected for the Australian team after excelling in a series of rigorous qualifying exams and attending an invitation-only training camp.
The IOAI brought together under the one event some of the best young AI talent from around the world, with teams of students from Years 7–12 representing over 60 countries.
Henry says the highlight was meeting new friends who share his passion for AI. “My fondest memories were meeting all kinds of contestants from around the world with a similar interest in AI and technology as me. I have made some great friends during the trip.”
Across 48 hours, Henry faced a marathon of problem solving. For six hours each day, he was challenged to solve three complex problems related to AI. These ranged from image recognition and deep learning to natural language processing. Each problem was scored out of 100, with Olympiad final rankings based on combined totals. A percentage of the top-performing students received medals, with Henry being awarded a bronze.
“I had plenty of fun solving the problems and surprised myself by managing to code up several solutions, even with severe mental fatigue setting in at the four-to five-hour mark,” explains Henry
He encourages anyone with an interest in technology to give the AI Olympiad a go. “I would highly recommend it, especially if you are interested in the broad field of technology. Participating in the Olympiad not only hones valuable industry skills, but you will also be able to form lifelong friendships with like-minded peers,” he says.