Dear colleagues
Wishing you all a warm welcome back. I hope you had an enjoyable and restorative break. It’s my pleasure to bring you the first edition of Inside UNSW for the year, brimming with awards and recognition for our colleagues' outstanding achievements, including the 2025 Australia Day Honours and a very exclusive honour involving a ferry!
As we begin the year however, I want to acknowledge the recent dreadful incidents of antisemitism across Australia and in our own neighbourhood, which have affected many people in our community. I reaffirm UNSW’s unwavering commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for every member of the University community. I also thank again many of our academics whose research, expertise and education is aimed at reducing such incidents across society and building social cohesion.
It is more crucial than ever that we come together as a community grounded in respect, sympathy and understanding. Our collective commitment to creating an environment free from discrimination, hate and prejudice is not just a response to current events, but a continuous responsibility that each of us must uphold every day. Indeed, the compassion of the UNSW community has been a hallmark of our University for many years.
In light of current events, we have increased our security measures on campus and our contact with the NSW Police Force. I strongly encourage everyone to download SafeZone, a free app that provides a direct line to the UNSW Security Operations Centre and emergency assistance should you need it.
I would also like to remind you that at the bottom of every single page on the UNSW website is a ‘Complaints’ link that takes you straight to the ‘SpeakUp’ portal, where you can report and raise matters you have experienced or seen that concern you.
We have also increased the number of support services available to students and staff. Please, if you need help or support, do not hesitate to contact one of our services listed below.
Support for students
- Situation in the Middle East | Mental Health Support
- UNSW Student Support Services
- UNSW Mental Health Connect
Support for staff
Australia Day Honours
Congratulations to the members of the UNSW community honoured in the 2025 Australia Day Honours list for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the nation.
Scientia Professor Megan Davis, UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Society, was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to the law and to social justice, to the national and international advocacy of the rights of Indigenous peoples, and to the community. This is well-deserved recognition of Megan’s unwavering commitment to scholarship, justice and equity. Her leadership, academic excellence and tireless advocacy for the rights of Indigenous peoples over the past two decades are inspiring.
Professor Bronwyn Fox, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, and Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at UNSW (SMaRT@UNSW), have been appointed Officers of the Order of Australia (AO). Prof. Fox was recognised for her distinguished service to public administration, scientific research and development, advanced manufacturing, and to tertiary education. Prof. Sahajwalla was recognised for her distinguished service to science as an engineer and inventor, to sustainable materials research and technology and waste management.
My heartfelt congratulations to Megan, Bronwyn, Veena and every member of the UNSW community who was recognised in the Australia Day Honours list. Their dedication to advancing knowledge, equity and innovation is inspiring. I thank them for their commitment to improving the lives of all Australians and their drive to have a positive, meaningful impact on the world. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.
Professor Martin Green’s legacy anchored with ferry named in his honour
Scientia Professor Martin Green, founding Director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW, also known as the ‘father of modern photovoltaics’, has been recognised with a ferry named in his honour (see photo at the top).Over the past five decades, Prof. Green and his team have revolutionised solar energy technology, creating high-performance, low-cost solar options. He led the team that invented and perfected the Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) solar cell and the team that first demonstrated the Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) cells. Together these cells account for more than 90% of solar cells manufactured in the world today.
The Martin Green Ferry is one of seven new Parramatta River Class vessels which will replace the 30-year-old RiverCats. This honour is a fitting tribute to Martin, whose pioneering work continues to have a transformative impact on the global energy sector and has greatly accelerated the global fight against climate change. Read more about the launch of the ferry Martin Green on the Newsroom.
Leading the way in solar efficiency
UNSW researchers continue to lead the way in solar research, in their quest to make electricity cheaper and greener to generate. Scientia Professor Xiaojing Hao and her team from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) have set a new world record for a kesterite (CZTS) solar cell, which could become a sustainable and cost-effective add-on or replacement for silicon-based panels. CZTS is a promising material for future generations of solar cells because it is environmentally friendly, cost-effective to manufacture and maintains its photovoltaic performance over time. However, its efficiency is limited due to defects that occur during production. The team have helped to solve this problem by annealing, or heat-treating, the CZTS solar cell device in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. Congratulations to all involved.
Read more about their groundbreaking research on the UNSW Newsroom.
Ready to launch! UNSW Strategy: Progress for All
I am delighted to advise that the UNSW Strategy: Progress for All is ready to be launched!
On Wednesday, 19 February at 11.30am we are having a special event to launch the Strategy. I'm really looking forward to spending time with the great range of UNSW people who contributed to the Strategy over the past year, and to launching the next 10 years of our vision for positive societal impact.
The launch event will feature some of UNSW’s greatest changemakers. These inspiring colleagues will speak about how our vision of Progress for All comes through in their work, and how you can be involved in the future we are building together.
Find out more about the launch and register to attend online or in person at Leighton Hall (Kensington campus).
I would also like to thank the hundreds of colleagues who joined us at the Esme Timbery theatre precinct last week for the photoshoot for the strategy documents. It was great to see so many people and to talk after the shoot about the exciting plans for 2025. The atmosphere was fantastic, as you can see in the photo below.
Times Higher Education Rankings
Ten UNSW subjects have been recognised among the global top 100 in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject. UNSW Law & Justice ranked 35th globally and UNSW Engineering ranked 51st in the world, regaining its status as the top-ranked engineering school in Australia. Other UNSW subjects ranked among the world’s top 100 are Education (60), Psychology (69), Medicine and Health (71), Physical Sciences (82), Computer Science (84), Life Sciences (89), Social Sciences (90), and Business and Economics (98). These rankings reflect UNSW’s commitment to students, research excellence and strong industry partnerships and our focus on contributing to meaningful societal impact.
Academic Calendar Discussion Forums
In January, you received an email from Provost Professor Vlado Perkovic inviting you to participate in an Academic Calendar Discussion Forum. These sessions follow on from the all-staff meeting in December 2024 and provide an opportunity to share your further insights, explore the operational and academic implications of the different calendar models being considered, and discuss how we can collectively shape a calendar that meets the needs of our community for the future. Please register for one of the sessions scheduled over the next two weeks.
Vale Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart
With great sadness I share the news that Sir Fraser Stoddart, Chemistry trailblazer, nanotechnology pioneer, mentor, Nobel Laureate and UNSW colleague, passed away on 30 December 2024.
Sir Fraser was a man of extraordinary talent and intellect, a brilliant researcher and teacher, and a true pioneer in the fields of nanoscience and organic chemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016, jointly with Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Bernard L. Feringa, "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines". UNSW was honoured that a man of his calibre and accomplishments chose to join our Faculty of Science in 2017 as part of our SHARP* program to bring world-class researchers to the University.
Sir Fraser formed many connections at UNSW during his time in the faculty. These connections were undoubtedly products of his unyielding intellectual generosity, his kindness and his friendships across the breadth of our University community, from undergraduate students to early career researchers and colleagues. These were markers of a fine man who was valued most highly by those who were fortunate to know him. I encourage you to read this In Memoriam that UNSW Science published in January.
I have written to Sir Fraser’s family to express my condolences on behalf of the UNSW community. I extend my sympathy to colleagues who knew him, too.
Sir Fraser’s legacy is grand. He will be greatly missed.
* SHARP stands for Strategic Hires and Retention Pathways.
Australia Awards Scholarships – a lively celebration
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs with recipients of the Australia Awards Scholarships.
I had the opportunity to drop into an afternoon tea to celebrate this term’s Australia Awards Scholarships recipients. These prestigious international scholarships and fellowships are funded and awarded by the Australian Government. This term UNSW welcomes 36 international students from 16 countries.
International students are an important part of our student body. They make an incredible contribution to the vibrancy of the campus – you can see a lovely glimpse in the smiling faces in the photo above. I would like to congratulate all recipients on their outstanding academic success and wish them all the very best with their studies in 2025.
Staff stories
One of the things I really enjoy reading in each edition of Inside UNSW is the staff profile. Our University community is filled with people doing incredible things both in and outside of work. This week we meet Director of UNSW IT Customer Service Mark Griffiths, who is also a Deputy Captain in the Rural Fire Service.
Salad days at Taste Baguette
I’ll leave you with a tasty morsel for those times when you’re feeling peckish… We have a new food outlet on campus, Taste Baguette. They’ve opened in the Tyree Building (H6) and I am definitely going to see you down there for some ethically sourced ONA coffee sometime soon! Find out more about their opening offer on salads in this week’s Inside UNSW.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor and President
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