Dear colleagues
Thank you to the thousands of colleagues who joined the all-staff Town Hall last Thursday. We had almost 3000 colleagues join online. I was delighted to see so many of you take the time to be there – your engagement and commitment are what drive our collective success. The Town Hall provided an opportunity to present some of the work we're doing together to advance Progress for All, and highlight some the current challenges we are working through, including AI and the rapidly evolving research landscape.
I was joined by UNSW’s Chancellor Warwick Negus AM, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise Professor Bronwyn Fox AO and Chief Information Officer Dr Chrissy Burns, who shared updates on transforming the research environment, and AI across UNSW. I was particularly grateful to Professor Scott Eacott, who discussed his research in helping address teacher supply through key worker housing, and Dr Sasha Vassar, who showcased how AI is being used to help students develop their programming skills. Their presentations highlighted the real-world impact and innovation taking place across our University.
Thanks to many colleagues who contributed to the Q&A session. I really appreciated your insightful questions, many of which perfectly demonstrated the salient issues we are all grappling with across UNSW and the sector more broadly: AI, curriculum development, evolving student experience, integrity/assessment, research self-sufficiency, infrastructure requirements, sustainability and revenue diversification. While we could only answer some questions during the forum, as with previous Town Halls, we’ll follow up with direct responses to those who posted questions as soon as possible and put a summary list in Inside UNSW. As I think the topics raised are very relevant to many of us, I’m also planning to publish a more detailed set of answers, like an FAQs, in Inside UNSW. Thank you again to everyone who took part.
A huge thank you to the Audio-Visual Team in Venue and Event Services for their expertise which ensured last week’s all-staff forum ran seamlessly.
UNSW Powered By Showcase at Australian Parliament House
UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Professor Leanne Holt with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister The Hon. Richard Marles MP at the UNSW Powered By Showcase at Australian Parliament House.
Last week began with a successful UNSW Showcase at Parliament House in Canberra. Ministers, shadow ministers, parliamentarians of all stripes, public servants, alumni, business leaders, diplomats and staffers took us up on the offer to meet and talk to our UNSW colleagues who are working on the most pressing challenges facing Australia and the world. It was encouraging to witness the level of interest and engagement from policymakers in research and innovation coming out of UNSW.
We are uniquely placed to inform and advise national leaders. UNSW plays a significant role in the research and translation that drive Australia’s innovation ecosystem. At the same time, we are helping to educate the workforce needed to transform innovative technologies into improved productivity and the industries of the future.
I was proud of the UNSW contingent we gathered in the Mural Hall of Parliament House and I was heartened by the feedback from both sides about genuine interest and positive conversations. We take our leadership role in the national productivity debate seriously, and part of that is engaging with national political leadership and keeping them up to date with transformative research. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.
CEDA State of the Nation 2026 Conference
Australian Prime Minister The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP with UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs and Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement Professor Verity Firth at the CEDA State of the Nation 2026 Conference.
Canberra also hosted the annual CEDA State of the Nation conference, and once again UNSW was called upon to be part of the national debate on productivity reform. I facilitated a session with Minister for Industry & Innovation and Minister for Science, Tim Ayres, incoming Tech Council of Australia CEO, Dr Kate Cornick, and Jenny Dodd, CEO of TAFE Directors Australia. The topic was Research and Development for a Future Made in Australia and there was a strong consensus from the panel and the audience that we are at a crucial moment in Australia’s productivity transition.
Artificial Intelligence presents both risks and opportunities in terms of a productivity revolution. It comes at a time of global uncertainty and a fracturing of traditional international alliances in the research environment. I’m optimistic that the direction offered by the government in the Ambitious Australia report and the possibility of an integrated, mission-based approach to research and development, could lead to positive outcomes as long as there is sufficient funding and investment to make it a reality. The potential of Horizon Europe could be a significant moment for UNSW and our role in Australia’s innovation ecosystem.
I was interested in the fact that both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader mentioned UNSW and our contribution to innovation in their keynotes. Our researchers already make an outsize contribution, so it was pleasing to draw the attention of policymakers and business leaders to the role our University plays.
2026 Vice-Chancellor's Awards
Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of hosting the Vice-Chancellor's Awards (pictured top), our annual celebration of the people whose dedication, expertise and generosity help make UNSW the outstanding university it is today. One of the things I value most about these awards is seeing colleagues take the time to recognise and celebrate one another. The Roundhouse was full and pumping with colleagues and teams from across the university including most of our precincts. This year, we received an incredible 707 nominations, including 570 individual and 137 team nominations, representing more than 1000 colleagues.
The enthusiasm for the People's Choice Award was just as inspiring. More than 2870 staff cast over 14,880 votes to recognise colleagues who make a real difference every day. Congratulations to all of this year's nominees and award recipients. Thank you for everything you do to support our students, your colleagues and the wider UNSW community. Read more in this edition of Inside UNSW.
UNSW Indigenous Research Plan 2026-2029
One of the key aspirations of Progress for All is to centre Indigenous Knowledges in our research, so I'm pleased to see another important milestone in bringing that vision to life with the new UNSW Indigenous Research Plan (IRP).
The IRP focuses on four priorities: embedding Indigenous governance in research decision-making, strengthening reciprocal, community-led research partnerships, building the capacity and success of Indigenous researchers and higher degree research candidates, and positioning UNSW as a global leader in Indigenous reciprocal knowledges exchange and societal impact.
Read more in this edition of Inside UNSW.
NAIDOC Week 2026
NAIDOC Week 2026 officially began on Sunday, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the enduring strength, resilience and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
At UNSW, we remain dedicated to embedding Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and leadership across our teaching, research and engagement activities, and to advancing the aspirations outlined in our Indigenous Strategy and broader commitment to reconciliation.
I encourage you to read the email Professor Leanne Holt, DVC Indigenous, sent on Monday and engage both with UNSW NAIDOC events, and also with local events and activities, which provide valuable opportunities to deepen understanding, strengthen relationships and celebrate the rich cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Fair Work Ombudsman
As I have stated publicly, paying our people correctly is a fundamental responsibility of the University. Our Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is the next positive step in our program to address historical payroll compliance issues, work that has been going on in earnest for six years, as many of you can attest. I know it has required and continues to require significant effort and I would like to thank the many colleagues across the University for keeping the unremitting attention on the rigour we need. You can find out more about our agreement with FWO and the actions we have taken and will continue to take, as we work to get this right.
Thank you to our Yellow Shirts!
Student volunteers at the 2026 Arc Yellow Shirt thank you event.
One of the things I value most about UNSW is the extraordinary generosity of our community. Time and again, our students, colleagues and alumni step forward to support one another, contribute their talents and help create a culture of belonging. That spirit of giving was on full display at the recent Yellow Shirts thank you event. It was a pleasure to celebrate with the incredible students who bring such energy and enthusiasm to O-Week. This year 180 students pulled on the unmistakeable yellow shirt to offer their support. Whether they are giving directions, answering questions or helping nervous new students find their feet, our Yellow Shirts embody the very best of UNSW. Their commitment, generosity and sense of fun help transform what can be an overwhelming first week into a welcoming experience for new students, so that they feel part of the UNSW community from day one. I left the evening feeling immensely grateful for this wonderful group of volunteers and proud of the vibrant, inclusive community they help create.
There’s more to read Inside UNSW…
- While building a career supporting UNSW Engineering leadership, outside of work Belinda Bullivant is an elite open water swimmer. Read more in this edition’s staff profile.
- Professor Hussein Abbass is leading research into human-AI collaboration, developing trustworthy AI ecosystems that combine the strengths of people and multiple AI agents to tackle complex challenges.
- Universities Australia Shaping Australia Awards for 2026 are now open and UNSW is seeking expressions of interest for innovations that help solve problems, create opportunities and improve lives across Australia. Find out more about the awards and how to submit an EOI in this edition of Inside UNSW.
- The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood mobile donor centre will be outside the Chancellery Building from 20 to 24 July. Bookings are essential. Find out more.
- It’s Annual Disclosures Week at UNSW. Please remember to complete your disclosure of interests before Friday 10 July.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
Vice-Chancellor & President
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