Dear colleagues
We recently held a ground-breaking and Smoking Ceremony to mark the start of construction on the G25 Education Building, a significant step in renewing our campus for the future. Once complete, G25 will deliver more than 20,000 square metres of modern, purpose-built teaching and learning space, including flexible classrooms – student spaces key to enabling the transition to flex-semesters – and a purpose-designed new home for the School of Psychology.
It was a pleasure to celebrate this milestone and recognise the years of planning, design and collaboration that have brought us here, alongside the organisational discipline and careful stewardship of resources required to make such an investment possible.
Universities play a unique role in society, working across the short, medium and long term to deliver impact. The research and ideas we develop today can shape lives, industries and communities for decades to come. In the same way, our investment in physical and digital infrastructure supports the experience of our students and staff for years ahead.
As custodians of a complex and evolving campus, we are responsible for maintaining ageing assets while also building new facilities that reflect contemporary approaches to teaching, learning and research. Alongside this, we continue to invest in critical digital systems and specialised research infrastructure that underpin our world-leading work. It is almost a decade since the federal government completely cut off direct funding for new capital works and maintenance, and simply keeping universities operating through the global pandemic depleted everyone's reserves. The whole of UNSW can take credit for the long-term planning, efficient resource management and careful prioritisation that now allows us to invest for the future.
G25 is a visible outcome of that effort. It reflects not only years of collaboration, but our ongoing commitment to ensuring UNSW remains a place where outstanding education, research and innovation can thrive for generations to come. Congratulations and thank you to all involved. Read more in Inside UNSW.
Torch at UNSW celebrates 10th anniversary
During my recent visit to Beijing, I joined colleagues and partners to mark the 10-year anniversary of Torch at UNSW.
Over the past decade, Torch at UNSW has shown what is possible when universities, industry and government work together across borders. By combining our strengths, we have accelerated progress on some of the most pressing global challenges, from sustainable energy and environmental protection to food security and improved health outcomes.
Since its establishment as the first international implementation of China’s Torch model, the initiative has supported more than 280 collaborative projects and built more than 130 industry partnerships.
A technology showcase spanning clean energy, health, water and environmental solutions demonstrated how this model continues to connect cutting-edge research with industry needs and accelerate progress from discovery to deployment at scale.
What stood out throughout the visit was how this sustained collaboration has evolved into a globally connected innovation platform operating at scale. Torch at UNSW reflects a shared commitment to ensuring research delivers impact, not only for Australia and China, but for communities worldwide.
60th anniversary of UNSW College
Last week, I had the pleasure of joining colleagues, partners and alumni in Beijing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of UNSW College. This is an important milestone in our University’s history. For six decades, UNSW College has been a vital gateway to UNSW, preparing generations of students for success in their degrees and beyond. It has played a central role in supporting academic readiness, building confidence and enabling students to thrive in a global learning environment.
Today, UNSW College remains a deeply valued part of our community, strengthening the student experience and supporting our broader ambitions for education excellence, global engagement and real-world impact. As we look ahead, its role will only become more important in ensuring we continue to attract, support and develop talented students from around the world.
Rector of UNSW Bengaluru announced
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Payyazhi Jayashree (Jaya) as the Rector of UNSW Bengaluru.
Jaya brings extensive experience in transnational education, academic governance and branch campus leadership. She is currently a senior academic leader at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, where she has held roles including Dean of the School of Business. She has led academic strategy, accreditation, curriculum development and quality assurance within an Australian university operating across jurisdictions and has contributed to the strategic growth of existing academic operations in the region.
Throughout her career, Jaya has played a key role in strengthening academic standards, regulatory compliance and cross-campus collaboration between home and offshore campuses. She has strong familiarity with the Indian higher education system through her academic training and first-hand knowledge of the sector and has supported the development of new transnational higher education initiatives.
Jaya will officially commence at UNSW Bengaluru on Monday, 20 July 2026. I look forward to working with her and supporting the successful launch and development of UNSW Bengaluru.
Dean of UNSW Business School appointed
I’m pleased to share that Professor Paul Andon has been appointed Dean of the UNSW Business School.
Paul is a highly accomplished academic leader who has been a part of the Business School for nearly 25 years.
He has served as interim Co-Dean of the Business School since November 2025 and previously held senior leadership roles including Senior Deputy Dean (Education & Student Experience) and Head of the School of Accounting, Auditing & Taxation.
In these roles, he led major educational and curriculum innovations across the Business School and spearheaded key initiatives, such as integrating artificial intelligence into business education and expanding the UNSW Tax Clinic into a comprehensive Tax and Business Advisory service with a focus on societal impact and social justice.
I’m sure you will join me in welcoming Paul to the role. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank both Paul and Scientia Professor Richard Holden for leading the Business School as co-Deans since November 2025. Both Paul and Richard, in his new role as Chief Societal Economist and Vice-Chancellor’s Professor at UNSW, started their respective roles on Monday 20 April 2026.
Professor Colin Grant leaving UNSW to take up VC role in UK
Professor Colin Grant will be departing from his role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global following three years of outstanding service to UNSW. Colin will join Aston University in the UK as its next Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer in the coming months.
Since joining UNSW in 2023, Colin has played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing our global strategy by strengthening partnerships and positioning the University for long-term international impact.
Among his many achievements, Colin established the University Office of Global Affairs (UoGA), including the Transnational Education (TNE) team, creating a strong foundation for UNSW’s international engagement. Colin also led the development of the UNSW Bengaluru campus from initial concept through to Council approval, marking a major milestone in our global expansion.
I have greatly enjoyed working with Colin and thank him for his leadership, energy and dedication, and, while I am sad to see him go, I am delighted he has the opportunity to return to the UK. I’m sure his colleagues will join me in wishing him every success in his next chapter.
UNSW supports community connection in South West Sydney
UNSW has a longstanding presence in South West Sydney and we were proud to support a recent Street Industries community event in Liverpool, delivered in partnership with Westfield Liverpool and Liverpool City Council.
Street Industries is a not-for-profit organisation focused on youth engagement, community connection and opportunity. The Liverpool event brought together hundreds of community members, using street sport as a platform to engage young people and families from across South West Sydney.
UNSW Precincts and UNSW’s Suburban University Study Hub in Liverpool provided a visible university presence, helping connect community participants with information about local study pathways and support services.
There’s more to read Inside UNSW…
- Lauren Carr, the inaugural First Peoples Academic lead for the School of Optometry & Vision Science (SOVS) and Blakcademy in the Faculty of Medicine & Health, was a competitive fisherwoman who spent time with her father and godfather on the rural fishing circuit. Read more in this edition’s staff profile.
- This edition of AI Insider features work from UNSW’s School of Law, Society & Criminology on how AI can be used in courts, with a focus on managing risks and addressing ethical considerations.
- In our Inside UNSW series featuring members of the UNSW Council, we meet Council-appointed members Mark Johnson, Luan Atkinson and James Hooke.
Best regards
Attila
Professor Attila Brungs
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