News Archive

Andrew and Nicola Forrest have made philanthropic history today, donating a further $65 million to the Forrest Research Foundation, a partnership with all five Western Australian universities and hosted within The University of Western Australia (UWA).

The new donation will bring Andrew and Nicola’s total contribution to UWA’s New Century Campaign to $130 million. The contribution will be used to expand the Forrest Research Foundation and will allow the number of PhD scholars and postgraduate research fellows to be doubled from 30 to 60. The funds will support scholars and fellows at all five Western Australian universities.

Together, the two gifts represent the largest contribution by private individuals to Australian higher education.

UWA Chancellor Dr Michael Chaney said the Forrests’ history-making endowment would position UWA and the other universities to provide leading-edge research outcomes well into the 21st century.

“It is hard to overstate the importance of this initiative in terms of increasing the intellectual firepower of Western Australia. Over time we will be hosting hundreds of the best minds from around the globe and many are likely to stay on after their PhDs and postdoctoral research,” Dr Chaney said.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater said a large proportion of the funds from the New Century Campaign was in the form of endowments which would generate income in perpetuity for generations to come.

“The Forrests have shown incredible foresight and generosity with these gifts. They believe in the power of new knowledge and of universities to change the world,” Professor Freshwater said.

“Investing in something you can’t entirely see but know to be true and vital, takes courage. It takes a belief in people, including great faith in the brilliant Australian and international minds who will find solutions, right here in Western Australia, to global challenges. With this gift, the Forrests are helping to secure our future.”

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Media Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716