UNSW Canberra City construction begins, celebrating our amazing alumni and Arc’s night of nights! – 28 October 2025

28 Oct 2025
VC Message
Edition 20 2025
SOD turn

Dear colleagues

Last Monday marked an exciting milestone for UNSW Canberra, with work officially commencing on the new UNSW Canberra City precinct. I was delighted to stand alongside ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, UNSW Canberra Rector Professor Emma Sparks and UNSW PVC Precincts Professor Zoe Terpening on site – and later join colleagues from Canberra – to celebrate the first steps towards realising a world-class centre for education, research, innovation and community engagement in the heart of our capital.

Above and top: Celebrating the start of construction of the new UNSW Canberra City precinct.

The new campus will feature two contemporary multi-use buildings designed to host state-of-the-art teaching and research spaces, as well as retail and cultural locations. Importantly, the precinct will foster even deeper partnerships with industry in priority areas such as defence, space, cyber and public policy.

UNSW Canberra City builds on our strong foundation in the ACT, including our longstanding role in educating Defence Force cadets and, more recently, the establishment of our Reid campus where we welcomed our first Bachelor of Cyber Security students earlier this year. 

The new precinct will further strengthen this presence, attracting approximately 6000 additional students and educators to Canberra and supporting the ACT Government’s vision for a vibrant, knowledge-based economy. 

At the sod turn, Chief Minister Barr spoke glowingly about our University’s positive impact in Canberra and globally, and about how the UNSW Canberra City precinct forms a key part of the ACT Government’s commitment and investment in fostering innovation, education and economic growth.

With completion expected in 2028, I look forward to watching this landmark development grow into a world-class hub for education, research and innovation that serves both the city and the nation. But already the city campus has had an impressive refurbishment of the CIT facilities. This has enabled us to expand our ACT educational and innovation activities and provides opportunity for all UNSW staff to have access to and run programs at our City site. I encourage you to either use or visit the new City precinct when you have the opportunity.

Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.

Inspiring UNSW alumni recognised

2025 Alumni Awards: award winners Professor Ian Hickie, Daniel Joinbee, Professor Louise Maple-Brown,  Annette Larkin, Deanne Stewart and Professor Jeremy O’Brien with UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs and UNSW Chancellor David Gonski who received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Absent: Dr Sandersan Onie. Photo: Jacquie Manning.

Last Wednesday’s 2025 UNSW Alumni Awards were a truly inspiring celebration of excellence, leadership, service, innovation and impact. More than 400 guests gathered to honour the remarkable achievements of our alumni, whose contributions span aerospace, business, mental health, public service, the arts and social impact. Each winner spoke movingly about the positive influence UNSW has had on their lives and the lasting connection they feel to our University. I often say our alumni are our greatest ambassadors, and this evening was proof of that — they are creative, passionate and deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the world. My sincere thanks to everyone involved in organising such a memorable event. As a proud UNSW alumnus myself, I left the evening feeling inspired and privileged to be part of a community that continues to shape the future with purpose and pride. Read more on the UNSW Newsroom.

Celebrating Arc: The heart of student life at UNSW

 

 

Above: A wonderful celebration of Arc’s achievements at the annual Arc dinner, including an address by Arc Chair Aania Cheema and performance by UNSW Vocallective.

What a wonderful evening it was at Arc’s annual dinner – a true celebration of the vibrant, supportive community that defines student life at UNSW. The night was filled with camaraderie, energy and that all-important sense of belonging that Arc fosters so beautifully. I was deeply impressed by the thought, effort and passion that go into ensuring every student feels connected and supported throughout their UNSW journey.

Arc’s achievements over the past year are nothing short of remarkable. With 52,000 members, Arc stands proudly as the largest student organisation in Australia. Its thriving network of more than 400 clubs and societies, involving more than 230,000 members, alongside 41 sporting clubs, brings together students from every corner of the University. 

Arc has held more than 1500 individual events, drawing 425,000 attendees, which is just incredible! Volunteering remains a cornerstone of the Arc spirit, with 3000 volunteers contributing more than 75,000 hours of service. This year also saw the launch of innovative services including Arc Savers, Arc Borrowing, Second Life Hub, Financial Counselling and Place 2 Be, as well as the debut of Arc College with 1500 new members. On top of that, Arc helped 2000 students through Arc Legal and distributed 190,000 meals through Food Hub. I’m in awe of these achievements and extend my sincere thanks to Arc CEO Shelley Valentine and the entire Arc team, and to every student leader and volunteer who has so generously given their time and support.

RaSS showcase: shaping the student experience

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Attila Brungs with Ma Rosario Esguerra, Natasha Thjin, Ash Kumar and Maria Roveri from RaSS.

I had the pleasure of attending the annual Registrar & Student Services (RaSS) poster showcase last Wednesday, and it was a great reminder of how much incredible work happens behind the scenes to support our students and the staff who work with them every day.

RaSS plays a central role in the student journey, from onboarding and enrolment, timetabling, student apps, systems and platforms, the Nucleus: Student Hub, student communications, exams and graduation. 

I enjoyed chatting to the teams and exploring the wide range of initiatives on display. Initiatives like myPlan, a customised progression checker and study planning tool helping students navigate their progress through their program in real time. What impressed me most was not only the impact of this work on students, but the collaboration that made it possible. 

Whether it’s through smarter systems, more inclusive processes, or better ways of working together, RaSS is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our diverse student community.

Arc PGC Research Awards

Arc PGC Research Awards: Celebrating supervisors, researchers and staff who go above and beyond to enhance the HDR experience at UNSW.

It truly has been a week of celebrating excellence. On Friday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Arc PGC Research Awards and meeting some of the people who make up our exceptional Higher Degree Research (HDR) community. The awards recognise the outstanding contributions of our researchers, supervisors and professional staff who go above and beyond to ensure the HDR experience is positive and rewarding. HDRs play a crucial role in our University’s research effort. We have more than 4100 HDRs and 3000 HDR supervisors at UNSW. Thank you to the organisers of the awards and to everyone who contributes to making the HDR experience the best it can be. 

Water Research Laboratory open day

L-R: UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Attila Brungs, Dean of Engineering Professor Julien Epps, Associate Head of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engagement Associate Professor Kurt Douglas, Managing Director of the UNSW Water Research Laboratory Associate Professor Kristen Splinter and Dr Laura Montano from Project Halo at UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory open day.

PhD Candidate Marina Tedesco, Deputy Head of School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Research Professor Denis O'Carroll and Managing Director of the UNSW Water Research Laboratory Associate Professor Kristen Splinter.

UNSW’s Water Research Laboratory (WRL) held a wonderful open day at our Manly Vale campus on Saturday. I enjoyed meeting the Laboratory’s Managing Director, Associate Professor Kristen Splinter, and members of her talented team, and learning more about the incredible work they do to tackle some of the world’s most challenging water engineering problems. The WRL, part of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, spans four hectares and is home to state-of-the-art facilities and a team of experienced staff who are creative problem-solvers in their respective areas of research and industry. The team specialises in areas of coastal, environmental, nature-based solutions, hydrology, water resources, hydraulics and groundwater. The open day was a wonderful opportunity to showcase WRL’s research, inspire the next generation of engineers, and engage with the community. More than 700 visitors attended, including lots of families. What a fantastic way to demonstrate the positive impact of UNSW’s research. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such a memorable and impactful event.

UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response Industry Forum

Last week, I spoke at the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response (ICRR) Industry Forum, an event designed to advance collaboration between academia, industry and government in responding to climate risks and opportunities. The forum explored topics at the heart of national climate risk: diplomacy and leadership as we approach COP31, affordability and resilience for Australian homes, new research on food systems and critical resources, and the evolution of climate accounting, disclosure and governance responsibilities. 

The ICRR exemplifies UNSW’s leadership in addressing climate challenges through research, education and collaboration. It brings together expertise across disciplines to tackle systemic issues including energy transition, food security, infrastructure resilience and institutional trust. The institute equips future climate leaders through HDR support, early-career mentoring and lifelong learning programs. It is doing vital work to strengthen UNSW’s role in shaping national and global climate responses and support Australia’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Celebrating 50 years of Japanese studies at UNSW

Earlier this month, we celebrated 50 years of Japanese Studies at UNSW, a program that has grown into one of Australia’s most respected language and cultural programs. Over the decades, it has engaged students from across disciplines, produced more than 1000 graduates, and earned national and international recognition for teaching and research excellence. Beyond academic achievement, Japanese Studies fosters cross-cultural understanding, opens minds and opportunities, and strengthens global connections. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has contributed to its success.

Dean of UNSW Business School to step down

After six years at UNSW, Professor Frederik Anseel will be leaving his role as Dean of the Business School to take up a new position at an overseas university in February 2026. Frederik joined UNSW in 2019 as Deputy Dean in the UNSW Business School, before commencing as Dean in January 2024. He has provided exceptional leadership across the Business School, its seven schools and the Centre for Social Impact, while also playing a key role in developing the UNSW Strategy: Progress for All, and providing excellent cross-University leadership on many topics as I expect of all members of ULT. Under his stewardship, the Business School strengthened its reputation for innovation, research excellence and industry engagement, consistently ranking among the top business schools in Australia and the Asia-Pacific. On a personal note, it was a pleasure to work with Frederik. I thank Frederik for his significant contributions to UNSW and wish him the best in his new role.

The Hon. Justice Elizabeth Cheeseman reappointed to UNSW Council

I’m delighted to share that The Hon. Justice Elizabeth Cheeseman has been reappointed as a member of the UNSW Council for a second term, commencing on 5 December 2025. Justice Cheeseman’s reappointment was made by The Hon. Steve Whan MP Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education. Justice Cheeseman has served as a Federal Court judge since 2021, following a distinguished career spanning commercial, corporate, banking, regulatory and insurance law. I’m deeply grateful to Justice Cheeseman for the wise counsel, legal insight and steadfast commitment to good governance she has brought to the UNSW Council over the last three years, and I am most pleased that she will continue to serve on Council for a second term.

There’s more to read Inside UNSW…

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