Western Sydney University's Business School celebrates 50 years of impact

From left to right: Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AC; Ron Shapiro, founding member of Nepean College of Advanced Education; Professor Hind Benbya, Dean of the Business School; Emeritus Professor Roger Juchau; and Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University.

Western Sydney University’s Business School is proudly celebrating its 50-year anniversary, reflecting on years of excellence in education, industry impact and student success. Today, the School stands as one of Australia’s largest business schools, with more than 70,000 graduates contributing to the economic and social transformation of Western Sydney and beyond.

Students, alumni, staff and special guests came together last Wednesday night to celebrate the School’s significant contribution to Western Sydney and beyond. The event was not just a chance for reflection but a moment to acknowledge the School’s ambitions.

A proud legacy

The celebration marks a journey that began in 1976, when the School of Business was established at the Nepean College of Advanced Education and the Associate Diploma of Commerce was introduced. One year later, the School launched its first full degree, the Bachelor of Business.

Among the early leaders was Emeritus Professor Roger Juchau, who joined the University in October 1990, to expand offerings at the Hawkesbury campus as Foundation Professor in Accounting and Management. He later served as Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Management from 1993 to 1999, before being awarded the title of Emeritus Professor in 2007.

“My initial brief was to start new degrees, explore links with science programs, establish links with commerce and industry, and promote scholarship in teaching and research,” said Professor Juchau.

Following the School’s expansion to Hawkesbury – building on its origins at the Nepean and Macarthur Colleges of Advanced Education – Professor Juchau oversaw significant growth in its course portfolio and academic footprint.

Throughout the 1990s, the School expanded its academic footprint, strengthened its postgraduate offerings, and deepened its industry connections.

Reflecting on the highlights throughout his tenure, Professor Juchau said working with passionate colleagues and providing a high-quality education to students are memories that have stuck with him.

“Over 1991 to 2000 the faculty enjoyed an eventful, progressive, and fruitful period. For me a real triumph was the dedication and commitment of staff. The courses won acclaim from professional and industry bodies.”

Building on these foundations, the School then expanded its footprint, including establishing programs in Vietnam through a partnership with the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), offering both a Bachelor of Business and later an MBA.

In 2017, the School officially relocated to the University’s Parramatta City campus at 1 Parramatta Square, strengthening its presence in the heart of Parramatta’s CBD.

Future-ready focus

Building on this strong foundation, the School has entered a new phase of transformation aligned with the needs of a rapidly changing world.

Leading the School into its next chapter of growth and innovation is Dean, Professor Hind Benbya, who said innovation, social responsibility and AI-enabled education are the driving forces behind the School’s ambitions.

“For five decades, Western Sydney University Business School has shaped leaders, transformed communities, and driven social mobility across Western Sydney and globally. It has opened pathways for more than 70,000 students, transforming lives, families, and communities through accessible, high‑quality business education,” said Professor Benbya.

“We are proud of our history, but our focus is firmly on the future. The most significant transformation is happening right now.

“Over the past two years, the School has undertaken one of the most significant curriculum reforms in its history. These reforms reflect a broader shift toward embedding AI capability, digital literacy and social responsibility across the school’s programs. The focus is on preparing graduates for a future that is being reshaped by technology, automation and complexity.”

This transformation has seen the launch of a revived, future-focused Bachelor of Business and a redesigned MBA aligned to the needs of leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

With these reforms, Western Sydney University’s Business School is emerging as a national leader in AI‑enabled business education.

“A defining feature of the School’s transformation is its commitment to social responsibility which includes expanding access to experiential learning for all students and embedding social responsibility across all programs,” said Professor Benbya.

Demonstrating this commitment is the Business Tax Clinic. Launched in 2019 as part of the Australian Government’s National Tax Clinic Pilot Program, the initiative provides free tax advice to vulnerable and unrepresented taxpayers, while giving accounting students valuable, supervised real-world experience.

In recent years, the Business School achieved AACSB accreditation, placing it among the top six per cent of business schools globally. It has also opened a state-of-the-art Financial Trading Lab to enhance experiential learning in finance, analytics and markets, a sustainability lab and an SME and Entrepreneurship centre and expanded its Southeast Asian presence to the University’s Surabaya campus in Indonesia.

Professor Benbya said the School looks forward to giving more students across Western Sydney and beyond access to industry-led curriculum ensuring students graduate with practical, relevant and future-ready skills.

“As the School enters its next chapter, its vision is clear, to equip every student — across Western Sydney and beyond — with the AI‑enabled, industry‑embedded and socially responsible capabilities needed to lead in a rapidly changing world.”

Learn more about Western Sydney University’s Business School by visiting the webpage and connecting on LinkedIn.

ENDS.

16 June 2026
Photo credit: Kyisoe Han
Media Unit