Whitsundays local Ayva’s conservation career gets a major boost from NQXT
29th April 2026
Ayva Gilbert’s ambition to build a conservation focused?career in regional Queensland is one step closer thanks to the North Queensland Export Terminal (NQXT) and its Whitsunday Futures Education Grant.
The James Cook University Bachelor of Marine Science student is the inaugural recipient of the scholarship, which was designed to help Whitsunday locals pursue higher education and a career in the resources sector.
Ms Gilbert, from Dingo Beach, said the combination of financial support and work placement at the North Queensland Export Terminal just north of Bowen was a golden opportunity.
“I’ve always loved the ocean and the animals in it, and protecting the Great Barrier Reef has been a big motivation for me in my studies,” Ms Gilbert said.
“The Whitsunday Futures Education Grant will help fund my placement and opportunity to travel and gain real-world experience at NQXT without the added financial pressure.
Ms Gilbert said she was particularly interested in NQXT’s industry-leading water monitoring and environmental programs to help build on her previous experience in water monitoring and soil sampling.
NQXT Pty Ltd General Manager Mark Smith said the business was delighted to support Ayva to complete her studies while turning classroom theory into on-the-ground action.
“The Whitsunday Futures Education Grant is about investing in local students from the region who are studying at JCU and want to build their future here,” Mr Smith said.
“It provides financial support alongside a placement at NQXT, giving students real-world experience to complement their studies and help develop the skills they need for future careers in the region.”
Mr Smith said supporting local talent was critical to ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled workers for the Whitsundays and North Queensland.
“For us, it’s about backing local people, supporting their development, and creating opportunities that allow them to thrive while staying connected to the communities they call home,” he said.
The NQXT Whitsunday Futures Education Grant is open to students with home addresses in the Whitsunday Regional Council Local Government Area (including Bowen, Airlie Beach, Proserpine, Collinsville) studying Environmental Science, Marine Science, Geology, Data Science, and related fields.
Scholarship recipients receive financial assistance to alleviate the costs of studying full-time, as well as the opportunity to undertake a work placement at the North Queensland Export Terminal to gain hands-on industry exposure, mentorship, and invaluable networking opportunities.
JCU and NQXT Pty Ltd assess applicants on academic performance, community involvement, and extracurricular achievements, as well as their commitment to live and work in Central Queensland upon graduation.
The North Queensland Export Terminal is a multi-user export cargo handling facility located within the Port of Abbot Point, about 25 kilometres north of the town of Bowen on Queensland’s east coast.
The Terminal has a nameplate capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum and provides export access for customers with high-quality thermal or metallurgical coal mines in the Bowen and Galilee basins.
Applications for the next round of the NQXT Whitsunday Futures Education Grant are now open and close at midday on Friday 29 May 2026.
To apply, visit: https://www.jcu.edu.au/scholarships/search/nqxt-whitsunday-futures-education-grant.