Canberra export and former first-class cricketer Ryan Carters has continued his remarkable career at Harvard University in the United States.
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Carters played in the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League before the former Wests batsman famously retired last year at just 26 to focus on his charity Batting for Change.
Batting for Change raises money for disadvantaged women in cricket-playing nations and has been steadily growing its worldwide footprint since Carters founded the charity in 2014.
The 28-year-old is now studying a masters in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School after a John Monash scholarship landed him on the famous US campus.
"After I finished up with cricket and had a chance to think about the next step I had some good family time to reflect then the priority was to continue growing Batting for Change," Carters said.
"I looked into education opportunities overseas and applied for a John Monash scholarship and won it. I wanted to come to the Harvard Kennedy School because of its amazing multi-discipline programs.
"The best academics and practitioners are here and it's about thinking how the public, private and not-for-profit sectors can work together to solve social challenges I’m interested in.
"The school has been great, it's really opened my mind to some of the great work going on how to solve social and economic issues.
"New technology is creating wealth but exacerbating inequality, we're asking how can we design our society so these technological advances can benefit everyone and not just a minority.
"This is stuff I care about and this is the best place in the world to come work it out how to do it.
"Our world is changing so fast due to technology, I was at MIT today and they were talking about artificial intelligence and the future of work.
"That's just one example. Every week here there's fantastic lecturers from leading thinkers from around the world so it's great place to be exposed to strategies."
Carters has become a father since arriving in Boston this past August after his wife Sarah gave birth to their daughter Marigold in late September.
"She's keeping us busy but I'm lucky to have the support of my wife who is fantastic," Carters said.
"We’re here as a family, it’s pretty extraordinary to have moved here to start this degree and I couldn't be more excited about what's ahead."
Carters linked his former Big Bash sides the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixes when they clashed last summer and raised $107,000 for Batting for Change.
The money will support the education of women in Sri Lanka and India and the same event will run again this season on February 2.
Batting for Change hosted its most recent fundraiser with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Kirribilli House last Saturday.
Harvard has a cricket club but Carters is yet to represent the university.
Meanwhile, day two of the Douglas Cup opening round will see Wests look to defend 352 against Tuggeranong Valley, North Canberra-Gungahlin are cruising at 8-305 against ANU, Ginninderra are 2-39 chasing 160 against Queanbeyan, and Eastlake have already lost the first innings against Weston Creek Molonglo.
DOUGLAS CUP ROUND ONE, day two
Saturday 11am: Ginninderra v Queanbeyan at Kippax Oval, Eastlake v Weston Creek Molonglo at Kingston Oval, Tuggeranong Valley v Western District-UC at Chisholm Oval, ANU v North Canberra-Gungahlin at Harrison Oval.
