Lisa Spender Prize for Issues in International Political Economy

Each year the ANU School of Politics and International Relations may offer one prize per annum known as the Lisa Spender Prize for Issues in International Political Economy. The objective of the prize is to reward the student with the highest mark studying Issues in International Political Economy.

Lisa Spender was a student in the School of Politics and International Relations during the 1990s who had a lifelong passion for learning and discourse about politics and political economy. Lisa was keenly aware of injustice and she sought to redress injustice and inequality throughout her working life in areas such as workers' entitlements, international education and foreign aid. In her studies, Lisa explored the design of capitalism and political institutions and later applied this knowledge in developing countries, particularly in the Pacific and South East Asia.

To honour Lisa's legacy, her estate has funded this prize so that future students may be similarly inspired.