35th Anniversary Speech: Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO

Transcript of a speech delivered by Chancellor, Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, at the launch of Worlds Within Us Merge: Western Sydney Community, Metropolis and Global Aspirations, 2012–2024 on Friday, 21 February 2025.

Thank you.

What a fantastic panel.

Can I begin by thanking Uncle Chris for his warm welcome which is a simple but profound act of respect which we accept with the grace that it was given.

In preparing these closing remarks, I took some time to reflect on what it is exactly that makes our University so special and unique.

I really didn’t have to look much further than the photos in Mark’s wonderful book.

In those photos, we see

• the people who have helped shape the university
• the people who have benefitted from our presence, and
• the people who have been massive supporters of our endeavours.

It is – as George and I often say – the people who define Western Sydney University’s

• character
• drive
• care for others and our region, and
• spirit.

These are our people - people who are there for the good times, and who stand with us during more challenging moments.

It is not an exaggeration to say there is probably no more important institution in the higher education sector than this University.

We are a living, breathing embodiment of Gough Whitlam’s vision for Western Sydney.

Whitlam knew this region was going to be pivotal to Australia’s future.

We are honoured to house this Institute – where we find ourselves today – in recognition of Gough Whitlam’s huge contribution to Australia, and his vision for Western Sydney.

Our University has experienced many iterations.

Mark’s book celebrates and recognises the decade of Barney Glover and Peter Shergold’s leaderships, which built on the magnificent foundations of Janice Reid and others.

They tilled the ground for us to begin taking our place as a leading university in the world and in the country. Even though we have been through some of this it is good to reflect again on some of those big shifts.

It was great last week to stand with the Vice-Chancellor and members our Senior Executive Team to open our campus in Surabaya in Indonesia.

We are the first foreign university to be allowed to be offer undergraduate qualifications in Indonesia.

To see the pride on the acting Governor’s face, that he could see this University was not going to just be a fantastic place for people to study, it was going to change East Java, and that was how he presented his remarks. We have a long-standing relationship with the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and 2,000 students. It was great last year to go and graduate, albeit on a very hot day in a very hot gown, 500 students from the campus.

Looking at the retention rates of those students in those campuses; we have become a leading national university with world class offerings and world leading institutes.

Our campus revitalisation which we have talked about has put a tremendous corpus in our grasp but has also been fundamental in the place making of Western Sydney. We are also now synonymous with global sustainability and impact. For a remarkable three years in a row, we have topped the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings.

The rankings measure more than 2,000 universities against progress on the 17 United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

And again, I can’t tell you how much this means internationally.

This is something that when you are in Vietnam or you are in Surabaya, when you are in India, they talk about this University leading the world on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible work of Barney and Peter, and I thank them for their forward thinking, commitment and incredible leadership.

The future

The future of our University is now vested in myself, George, the Board and all our teams.

I do want to take the opportunity to thank the leadership team for their incredible and sustained effort in contributing to the life of this University.

I know I speak for all of us when I say we take this responsibility to our students and the community incredibly seriously.

So, now is the time to build on these fantastic foundations.

Now is the time to take advantage of the disruption underway in our society which is seeing antiquated and traditional education models under challenge.

Now is the time for this University to disrupt and lead:

• On the unfairness of the fee system, and
• On the nature of the outdated academic structure which goes against what students want – which is choice and flexibility. Not just in a university but across the tertiary system.

I am so proud that George is leading the way on these issues because we want to catapult our university so it produces:

• the most qualified
• work ready
• digitally enabled
• agile
• values-driven students who are committed to excellence in everything they do, and
• who will be the most sought after graduates in the country.

Our research will drive the formation of new industries in Western Sydney and overseas, and those industries, particularly as we drive them in Western Sydney, will correct the great unfairness by placing great jobs closer to where people live.

We will be a magnet for students – not just in Western Sydney – but around the world.

We will be the employer’s choice for undergraduate, specific tailored courses, and postgraduate qualifications.

We will build partnerships with industry and the community that drive Western Sydney’s economic and social development.

We will lead the country in Indigenous advancement.

And as One University – we will never lose our moral, social and economic commitment to equity, fairness, quality and excellence.

The thing I love about our University – the thing that makes it feel like my spiritual home – is our collective dynamic and shared ambition for the people of Western Sydney.

We will remain the symbol of hope for people whose lives can be – and should be – transformed by the power of education.

We will continue to be the university that people – who never thought of university as an option – walk past us our Bankstown, Parramatta, Penrith and Bradfield campuses and see us as their first choice to a successful and fulfilling life.

That is surely what we are celebrating today our incredible institutional legacy in the promotion of:

• Knowledge
• Enlightenment, and of
• The drive of opportunity.

Thank you.

ENDS

26 February 2025

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