2GB Ben Fordham: Vice-Chancellor highlights global community impact award and navigating sector challenges

The following is a transcript of an interview that aired on 2GB Radio between presenter, Ben Fordham and Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.

Ben Fordham:

We've got some news you're hearing here first. One of Australia's major universities has just won an award. Western Sydney University has been named the world’s best institution when it comes to delivering community impact. And congratulations to Western Sydney University, it's the fourth year in a row they've picked up the honour. Professor George Williams is the Vice-Chancellor and he's on the line. Professor, good morning to you.

George Williams:

Good morning, Ben.

Ben Fordham:

Congratulations to you and your team. They must be very happy.

George Williams:

I think stoked is the word. And, you know, the mighty Penrith Panthers got four wins in a row. We've now got four wins in a row in this big award. And the reason it matters to us is there's a lot of university rankings out there that measure things like academic citations, research output and the like, this is the big one that measures what you deliver for community, your students.

Ben Fordham:

So, how do they define that, how do they define delivering community impact?

George Williams:

What they look at is the United Nations a few years ago set down the goals that should be approached around the world. Things like equality, sustainable cities, clean energy, innovative industries, and if you look at the things we're doing it's for example getting a lot of migrants into work, that social mobility piece. It's keeping them fed through our food pantries. It's the fact that we're helping to have a clean planet we achieved net zero not in 2050, which the nation is talking about, but we're talking about actually having achieved it in 2023, so we're decades ahead. So, it's those sorts of achievements that they measure for this award.

Ben Fordham:

All right, well I know that you're relatively new there at Western Sydney University how long have you been there now?

George Williams:

Eleven months, nearly a year but gee, it's like dog years in university education at the moment. There's so much going on. And so, a win like this is a big thing and really just it's wonderful for our community. And I'd say, Ben, for Western Sydney. You know, for Western Sydney to have a world-leading university of this kind is massive, particularly how young we are and given the big opportunities with the airport and other things that will only make this better.

Ben Fordham:

Well, congratulations to you. And there are more than 2,300 universities around the globe who were part of these awards. And Western Sydney University has picked up this big gong. Just on the university, you've been there 11 months. You came in at a bit of a difficult time because it was just as the federal government was finally cutting back on the number of foreign students at universities. How's all that playing out now?

George Williams:

It's hit us hard like a lot of universities. About a quarter around the nation are losing jobs and really sad to say we're no different. We've got to tighten our belt because we haven't earned enough to pay all the salaries, so we're going through that process at the moment. Got to make sure it's fair. We're also starting at the top, so it's my own leadership team that's been the biggest impacted and of course you start with the things like the non-salary costs. So, how often we mow the lawns, all of those things. We've got to make sure we live within our means, and we will, we'll get there, and I'm absolutely confident that it's a really bright future, 2026 is looking good, but we've just got to get through this process. And I have to say an award like this is just wonderful because it recognises the fundamentals are good. But in the end, unis, we're here for our students and community. That's what matters. We’ve got to deliver.

Ben Fordham:

Is it right that you've got to cut about 400 full-time staff?

George Williams:

Yeah, that would be the worst-case scenario. We started with that, and by cutting people at the top and also focusing on all the non-salary things, your consultants, your catering, all of those things need to be cut back massively, then you reduce the numbers a lot. And that's what we're focused on now, to have as fewer impacts on our people as possible.

Ben Fordham:

Professor, I know that when you took the job, you were vocal about not earning a mega salary, or at least saying that you think that Vice-Chancellors’ salary should be in cheque and not out of control. I'm also hearing that you have accepted a cut to your salary. Can you confirm whether that's true or false?

George Williams:

Yeah, when I came into the job I did, and also I've frozen all of our pay as well for our senior leaders, given the challenges that we've got. And my view and our university's view is different to others. We actually think the salaries of someone like myself should be set like public service salaries. It should be independent with the remuneration tribunal. That way it's at arm's length. You've got public sector factors taken into account and I think you'd get better results, fairer results and for me that's the right answer and the right way we should do it.

Ben Fordham:

Alright, well congratulations on the award. That's the main thing we want to focus on today and thank much for jumping on the line. 

George Williams:

Thank you, Ben.

Ben Fordham:

Professor George Williams, the Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University. Congratulations to everyone at Western Sydney University because you picked up a gong this morning out of 2,300 universities worldwide.

ENDS

18 June 2025

Media Unit