Dear colleagues
O-Week is undoubtedly one of my favourite times of the year as our campus comes alive with the energy of thousands of new and returning students. More than 9000 students attended the many engaging events staged around campus last week. It’s inspiring to witness the enthusiasm and excitement as everyone gathers to begin the academic year, forge new connections and explore new opportunities. Even a sudden intense downpour at the start of the week couldn’t dampen the vibrant atmosphere. The week began with the Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country, reminding us of the privilege it is to learn and to work on land where the Traditional Custodians have exchanged knowledge for 65,000 years.
I had a fantastic time walking around campus, meeting students, answering lots of questions and guiding students to various parts of campus (a serious responsibility when one is in a yellow shirt). I always feel optimistic about the future after O-Week. A huge thank you to our friends at Arc, the UNSW Student Engagement team, the Yellow Shirts and all the other awesome volunteers for creating yet another unforgettable O-Week and so warmly welcoming our students for 2025!
Launched! UNSW Strategy: Progress for All
Earlier today we officially launched UNSW Strategy: Progress for All. I was delighted to see more than 400 colleagues in Leighton Hall. I’d like to thank them and more than 1000 colleagues who tuned in to the livestream, including from UNSW Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Parramatta.
Thank you also to our colleagues who spoke at today’s event about the work they’re doing that reflects several of our nine Strategic Pillars: Professor Heidi Norman (UNSW ADA), Doha Goreishi (Gateway Ambassador and Engineering student), Associate Professor Rebecca Deans (UNSW Medicine & Health), Martin Collings (UNSW alumnus and founder of startup, Charopy) and our host, Neda Dowling (UNSW Business School).
The Strategy is a strategy for all of us and so it had to be created by, and with, the people who are critical to making it succeed – our students, staff, alumni, donors, UNSW partners in industry and the community sectors, and the community more broadly. Extensive discussion and engagement generated a distinctively UNSW Strategy to focus and guide our work for the next 10 years and beyond.
One of the reasons I’m excited about the Strategy is that it’s unashamedly ambitious, but it’s not ambitious for ourselves, it’s ambitious for how we will utilise today’s incredible opportunities and have a positive impact by tackling some of the biggest issues facing society in generations – in a way that enables people everywhere to benefit.
In the coming days, you will receive an email with a link to the UNSW Strategy website. There, you’ll be able to read UNSW Strategy: Progress for All, watch the video featured in this morning’s launch, and find out more about how the Strategy will be implemented in the months and years ahead.
In the meantime, I encourage you to be on the lookout for screens around campus displaying an infographic of our nine Strategic Pillars – the five Impact Pathways and four Impact Focus Areas, and a QR code to find out more.
The Strategy is a guide. What we do with it is what matters and I believe the next decade is going to be a wonderfully exciting time for UNSW as, together, we strive for Progress for All.
UNSW Innovation Hub
One exciting Progress for All initiative that is ready to hit the ground running is the UNSW Innovation Hub. The Hub brings together teams from across the University to collaborate on problem-solving for UNSW – and in partnerships with community, industry and government – for external positive societal impact. The Hub’s specialty is facilitating problem-solving through design-led methods.
This approach is a great way of enabling new ways of working, providing strategic support for project teams that are grappling with complex problems within UNSW and how we operate, and helping achieve societal impact at scale and at pace. The Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture has tested and implemented this approach over the last four years with great success.
UNSW named most employable university for the sixth year
I am pleased to share that UNSW students have achieved the top employability ranking for the sixth consecutive year at the 2025 Top100 Future Leaders Awards, with 37 UNSW students recognised as the most in-demand hires. It’s fantastic to see these students recognised for their professionalism and potential. This achievement is also a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our teaching, research and professional staff, whose commitment to excellence ensures the best outcomes for our students.
This result underscores UNSW’s focus on equipping students with strong foundations in critical thinking, problem-solving and work-integrated learning experiences. These key skills prepare our graduates for success in a wide range of careers, including those that may not even exist yet. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.
Vale Uncle Vic Simms
With great sadness I share the news that Uncle Vic Simms, Bidjigal Elder and renowned musician, passed away this month. Uncle Vic was an exceptional individual who was dedicated to serving the community and advancing the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. His involvement with our University highlighted the enduring connection to the Bidjigal lands on which UNSW Sydney is situated.
Throughout his long association with UNSW, many of us had the privilege of working with Uncle Vic or attending one of his heartfelt Welcome to Country ceremonies. UNSW was truly fortunate to have benefited from his cultural knowledge and guidance.
In 2024, Uncle Vic was awarded with UNSW’s highest honour: the degree of Doctor of the University, honoris causa, in recognition of his outstanding service to the community.
I have written to Uncle Vic’s family to express my condolences on behalf of the UNSW community. I extend my sympathy to colleagues who knew him, too. You can read more about Uncle Vic’s immense contributions to UNSW and the community on the UNSW Newsroom.
Global Indigenous Knowledge Exchange
Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of speaking at UNSW’s inaugural Global Indigenous Knowledge Exchange Community of Practice event. Indigenous scholars from our University were joined by 14 Indigenous thought leaders and researchers from around the world for the week-long event to share knowledge and foster research and educational opportunities.
Indigenous culture is an intrinsic part of UNSW. We want to work with Indigenous people and communities to create a future where Indigenous knowledges and perspectives are not only honoured, but where they’re recognised as being integral to advancing society so that everyone benefits. In our new UNSW Strategy: Progress for All, Indigenous Knowledges are a central component of our work and our decision-making.
That’s why I was so excited about the event, which was focused on sharing expertise, ideas and information on how Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing can address global challenges. Creating an international community of practice is an effective way of facilitating knowledge exchange and promoting collaboration between Indigenous communities globally. This will not only help embed Indigenous ways of knowing into our policies and practices at UNSW, it will help to translate research and education into meaningful social, environmental and cultural impacts for Indigenous communities worldwide. Read more about the event on the UNSW Newsroom.
UNSW Eureka Prize for Societal Impact in Science now open
UNSW is proud to sponsor a new prize in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes stable – the UNSW Eureka Prize for Societal Impact in Science. This prize celebrates the advancements and positive societal impact that comes from collaborative science. It recognises individuals or teams who, through partnership with industry, government or not-for-profit organisations, have transformed their scientific research into practical solutions that address pressing global societal challenges. Entries are encouraged from any science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medical (STEMM) discipline. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.
Inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor–Precincts
Last week we welcomed our colleague Dr Zoe Terpening to her new role as UNSW’s inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor–Precincts. As PVC–Precincts, Zoe joins the Vice-Chancellor’s Office to lead our University’s expanding Greater Sydney and precinct strategy and engagement, moving UNSW to a university that is truly enmeshed in the communities we serve.
Zoe was formerly Director of Strategy & Precincts in the Provost’s Office and played an important role in shaping UNSW’s health precincts developments, including Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct, the Liverpool Innovation Precinct and the Murrumbidgee Health & Knowledge Precinct, along with other health and innovation precincts across the state.
A focus of the PVC–Precincts is to ensure UNSW continues to deliver high-impact precincts that support teaching, research and industry collaboration, aligned to the UNSW Strategy: Progress for All.
UNSW School of Aviation soaring to new heights
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to take to the skies in one of UNSW School of Aviation’s new planes in the expert hands of pilot Michael De Manincor, Manager Internal Training and Checking, Flying Operations Unit. It was an exhilarating experience.
The arrival of two Diamond DA40 aircraft at Bankstown Airport marks an exciting milestone for UNSW Aviation. They are the first of six new aeroplanes the school has acquired. The latest additions to the fleet will ensure students continue to be trained in some of the safest and highest quality aeroplanes available. Another highlight of the day was talking with the students – our next generation of aviation leaders – about their experiences of studying at UNSW and their career aspirations.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs with students Karl Smith, Lillian Miller, Ariane Fouracre and Arjun Jogia (instructor and UNSW graduate).
UNSW Aviation provides world-class aviation training, fostering not only technical expertise but also leadership, problem-solving and social awareness. These qualities are essential for navigating the complexities of modern aviation and driving meaningful advancement in the sector. Read more about UNSW School of Aviation’s state-of-the-art planes on the UNSW Newsroom.
Flying high with Senior Flight Instructor Michael De Manincor, Manager Internal Training and Checking, Flying Operations Unit, UNSW Aviation.
Incredible views from the new Diamond DA40.
There’s more to read Inside UNSW…
- UNSW has secured federal funding to establish a Suburban University Study Hub in Liverpool, building on UNSW’s long-standing presence in South West Sydney.
- UNSW’s Cyber Program is improving our University’s email security system to make it safer, smarter and more user-friendly.
- I was pleased to be joined by UNSW partners at the Chinese Lunar New Year event at the Lounge, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake which symbolises wisdom, transformation and renewal.
- UNSW Wellbeing is offering free skin checks with a doctor on campus during February. Bookings are essential.
- In this week’s staff profile we meet Professor Bronwen Morgan a law professor and sustainability advocate.
My best wishes for Week 1, T1. I look forward to seeing you around campus.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
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