Impact 2024
PHILANTHROPY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Palawa/Pakana of lutruwita/Tasmania and Gadigal people of Sydney, the traditional owners of the land upon which we live and work. We pay respects to Elders past and present as the knowledge holders and sharers. We honour their strong culture and knowledge as vital to the self-determination, wellbeing and resilience of their communities. We stand for a future that profoundly respects and acknowledges Aboriginal perspectives, culture, language and history.
From the Vice-Chancellor
Our refreshed strategy confronts today's unique challenges and charts our course to 2050.
Over the past year, the University of Tasmania has engaged deeply with our staff, students, and community to refresh our strategic direction. This has been driven by a need to adapt to a rapidly changing world. As a university for Tasmania, which makes distinctive contributions from Tasmania, it is important our mission remains relevant and impactful.
This has been a collaborative journey — one of reflection, renewal, and clarity. Our refresh is built on key principles: excellence in education and research, a deep connection to place, sustainability, and enduring partnerships with the communities we serve.
Since we set our last strategy in 2019, the world has changed significantly. Species extinction has accelerated, reflecting immense pressure on the natural world. We have passed the 1.5-degree threshold for global warming, underscoring the urgency of climate action. At the same time, we face strengthening global headwinds, including the fracturing of geopolitical relations, increasing inequality and its associated popularist politics, an ageing population, and stalled productivity. We are also seeing the largest change in higher education policy and funding since the early 1990s as we shift from a free-market growth driven system to a managed system of needs-based funding focused on increasing the participation of regional and equity groups in a world of declining domestic student numbers and capped international numbers.
As part of our refreshed strategy, we have set a horizon of 2050. This long-term view reflects the scale of challenges such as climate change, where the decisions we make today will shape the quality of life for generations to come. By aligning with sustainable development goals, we are committed to safeguarding biodiversity and building a future that is resilient, equitable, and thriving. At the University of Tasmania, sustainability is not just part of our strategy — it is our strategy, guiding everything we do.
To galvanise our efforts we will focus on five critical transitions Tasmania needs to make:
Education
Raising educational attainment for all Tasmanians Health
Improving life expectancy and outcomes
Productivity
Transforming industries to close economic gaps
Climate
Leading global efforts in sustainability and resilience
Tasmanian Stories
Strengthening cultural identity and creative industries
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of this work and, like the University itself, is an act of hope in a troubled world. Donor support has enabled scholarships that transform lives and create opportunities for students from regional Tasmania. It empowers us to tackle pressing challenges while building a lasting legacy. Through giving, our supporters help nurture hope — hope for individuals, communities, and the future of our planet.
To our donors, I extend our gratitude. Your generosity sustains and inspires us. Together, we can navigate these transitions and build a future we can all be proud to pass on.
Professor Rufus Black Vice-Chancellor
We value your support
We plan with a long-term horizon and a collective aspiration to create the brightest future for all Tasmanians. Philanthropy is a path to making this vision a reality in people’s lives.
Thank you for a remarkable year of support for the University’s vision to create a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous future that stretches well beyond our shores — for Tasmania and from Tasmania.
Recently I had the pleasure of listening to colleague and academic Professor Lisa Fletcher when she shared her thoughts on the power of stories and their ability to help us remember and understand our past, think and act with purpose in the present and to help us imagine our future. Her words resonated deeply with me when I consider the incredible impact your support of the University has as it ripples across our world, whether this is enabling students to realise their full potential, helping to tell Tasmanian stories through the arts, addressing health challenges like Parkinson's disease, or strengthening our researchers' efforts in saving species. It is my hope this publication captures some of the magical stories of impact that you make possible.
Indeed, 2024 was a remarkable year. It began with the public launch of Sustain, the University’s landmark philanthropic campaign which, with your help, we hope will continue to enrich the lives of Tasmanians and where the generosity of our many donors will contribute to the University’s aspirations to respond to a changing world and create the brightest possible future for all Tasmanians.
As we concluded the year it was heartening to realise that we are well on our way to reaching the goal of raising $50 million over five years with $28.7 million received by the end of our second year. The Sustain campaign is focusing on five key areas of impact, informed by the United Nations sustainable development goals and addressing world challenges which require a community to solve. They focus on creating a more equitable, healthier and creative Tasmania, saving our threatened species and protecting our planet for future generations, working in harmony with the University’s distinctive refreshed strategy.
The donations received annually work alongside a portfolio of philanthropic funds under management worth $138.5 million, which have been gifted by our community of generous benefactors, and which allow the University to deliver on our mission in tangible ways and across a generation. Whatever your area of impact, we remain incredibly grateful for your generosity. Whether contributions are large or small, they continue to make a difference locally and globally.
I invite you to be inspired by these stories. Claire’s passion for art, the legacy of Dawn’s bequest, a landmark contribution to Indigenous-led research and more, stories of impact which, through your giving, help to change the world and reimagine our future. Thank you.
Rebecca Cuthill Director, Advancement
Landmark donation sees launch of the Institute of Indigenous Knowledges
The new institute will honour Lutruwita and be centred in Palawa knowledges, empowering Indigenous people and highlighting Indigenous research impact.
On 14 November 2024, the University held its first Indigenous Research Symposium. The day brought together a range of guest speakers to celebrate Indigenous innovation in research and practice and to launch the Institute of Indigenous Knowledges.
Thanks to a $1 million donation from former Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) curator and author Ian Terry, the institute aims to empower Aboriginal people in the Tasmanian academic space.
Director of the new institute Associate Professor Sadie Hackenberg, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Aboriginal Leadership, said the launch of the Institute of Indigenous Knowledges was a great celebration.
“For me it’s a really emotional day; I think it’s emotional for everyone,” she said.
“The institute will be a place of innovative collaboration, Indigenous-led research, and strategic vision.
“Honouring Lutruwita, the beautiful Country we are on, and centring Palawa, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems, the institute brings together collaborative partnerships that empower Indigenous people and highlight Indigenous research impact across Tasmania, Australia and the world.”
Professor Greg Lehman, Professorial Fellow, Aboriginal Research, added that the symposium and creation of the new institute was confirmation that, “First Nations’ culture on this island, across this nation and the world is alive and well, vibrant, innovative, creative and transforming all the time.
“The institute will bring Indigenous people from around Australia and the world to inform, collaborate and inspire University of Tasmania researchers from across all disciplines to recognise the value and relevance of Indigenous knowledge and research methods in addressing the contemporary challenges we all face,” Professor Lehman said, citing the example of applying Indigenous knowledge in marine conservation.
Keynote speaker at the symposium was Jillian West, a Bunurong and Palawa woman, who spoke of the importance of education in cultural knowledge.
Donor Ian Terry worked at TMAG as a curator of history.
As part of his role, he co-curated the exhibition Our Land: parrawa, parrawa! Go Away!, which interrogates frontier conflict in colonial Tasmania, with the Indigenous Cultures curator, Tony Brown.
◀ Former TMAG curator and author Ian Terry has made a $1 million donation to the Institute of Indigenous Knowledges. Image: Erica Burgess.
Scholarship honours University staff member
Claire Wright — recipient of the Kate Robertson Scholarship in Fine Arts — describes the life-changing impact of the scholarship.
Art has always been close to Claire Wright’s heart, but she never thought it would be something she could pursue at university.
“Art has always been there since I can remember; I’ve always loved drawing things around me,” Claire said.
“My childhood was hard, so my art was the only thing I had.
“It was only when I went to college, and was getting Bs and As in art, that teachers asked if I’d thought about going to university — I didn’t think I could because no one before me in my family had gone to university.”
And there was another limitation. Art materials are expensive.
“When I looked into courses I was stressed because I thought I didn’t have enough materials. I was limited to very basic things.”
All of that changed when she was awarded the Kate Robertson Scholarship in Fine Arts, made possible thanks to generous seed-funding support from Frances Tyler, who previously donated her late husband’s collection of predominantly Romanian art — The Tyler Collection — to the University.
Named in honour of former Executive Director of Advancement, the late Kate Robertson, the scholarship aims to support a talented student who could benefit from financial assistance to study fine arts at the University.
“I think finding a talent in somebody and then seeing it flourish is just the most beautiful thing to watch,” Frances Tyler said.
Now at the end of her first year, Claire said one day she wants to be that person who can sponsor a scholarship.
“I know how much she has done for me; I want to be able to do that for someone else.
“It just means so much to me that someone has believed in me enough to support me, someone who doesn’t even know me very well.”
Claire Wright
“Because of the scholarship I’ve started to experiment with more materials. I’ve started experimenting with oil paints.
“Also, I haven’t had to worry so much about having a lot of debt afterwards because I’ve been paying for some of my tuition.”
Claire said going to university for art has been completely different from what she thought, but in a good way.
“It has been therapy,” she said.
“I took a subject in ecology this semester — it was about attachment to place.
“I went back to this rock that I hadn’t seen since I was four years old. I spent two days looking for it. I just knew it was somewhere near Wynyard, but I didn’t know where.
“As a child, I thought it looked like a mermaid and it inspired me. I made everyone stop the car to see it.
“That’s where my passion for art started and, doing that university course, I felt like I’d gone back to the start of my journey.
▶ Fine Arts student Claire Wright is pursuing her passion. Image: Peter W Allen.
◀ Kate Robertson's love of the arts is honoured in the naming of the scholarship in her memory.
“Now I am pursuing my passion and it’s healing. Going back to that place — mermaid rock — and to that feeling that started as a child, that’s what I am chasing in my art.”
Frances Tyler said she was so impressed with Kate Robertson, who worked as Executive Director of Advancement at the University through her treatment for cancer, that she wanted to make a gift to honour her, in partnership with support from the University. Kate formerly worked in fundraising in the United Kingdom, the Tate, the Royal Academy of the Arts and the English Opera. Her passion for art is reflected in the scholarship and lives on in students like Claire.
Frances Tyler’s late husband Geoffrey Tyler completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Tasmania in 1949. Frances and Geoffrey bequeathed Geoffrey’s substantial art collection to the University. Many of the paintings are by the Romanian artist Corneliu Petrescu. Frances is a regular visitor to the University of Tasmania. She worked as the head of publications at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
“I’ll keep doing music through higher study — honours — or I’ll do a Master’s of Teaching, so that I have that in my back pocket,” he said.
“Ultimately, I’d like to do performance and session work, that’s the long-term goal. But I’d also like to teach.”
He is well on his way with invitations to the Clarence Jazz Festival and a leading guitar role in the Claremont College 2024 production Rock of Ages. He also plays with various local bands and artists, including Ra Bellatrix, This & That, HK & The Rear Admirals and Isabella Mahmoud.
“I try my best to play all sorts of music,” Dorian said. “I strive to be the most versatile musician I can be.”
Likely, it would have been music to the ears of the person who made his scholarship possible. Dawn Albert was a frequent attendant of lunchtime concerts at the conservatorium.
Administrative officer in the School of Creative Arts and Media Mel Kennedy said, “I fondly remember Dawn, who would attend our lunchtime concerts regularly and would always arrive on her bicycle. I understand that she rode quite a way!
“She was also very supportive of our student assessment recitals at the end of each semester, and loved supporting all the students by attending, sometimes staying the best part of the day in the audience. I was truly saddened to hear of her passing.”
Dawn’s legacy goes beyond music, with her gift in Will also supporting a range of medical research at the University’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
▶ Dawn Albert loved supporting music students and now her generosity is enabling their success.
Director of Menzies Professor Tracey Dickson said the value of donations which are not tied to a particular research area, such as those offered by Dawn’s bequest, are important for ongoing research excellence.
“We are so grateful to all of our donors for their support and passion for our medical research,” Professor Dickson said.
“When we receive funding that isn’t tied to a particular project it means we can put it towards our priority research areas, and work towards our mission of better health and better lives for all Tasmanians.”
Leaving a gift in your Will is a powerful and lasting statement of your life, passion and values. Your generosity can make a vital impact for future generations. To find out more or for contact details please visit utas.edu.au/bequest
Our Bequest Society recognises donors who have confirmed their intention to leave a bequest to the University of Tasmania in their Will.
A legacy of giving back
How the d’Antoine Family Foundation is changing futures through scholarships.
Growing up on a grazing property in the Midlands and attending the local district school for a couple of years, Fleur d’Antoine Castle says she became aware that not everyone was as fortunate as her family. The realisation continued after her parents sold the family farm thirty years ago.
“There are a lot of fortunate people in our community and a lot of less fortunate people and we need to help each other,” Fleur said.
It was the motivation behind her parents establishing the d’Antoine Family Foundation Scholarship to assist people to attend university.
“Mum and Dad set it up, and now it’s my brother and I who are involved with it — it’s a way of giving back to our local community,” she said.
“We all regard education highly and it is wonderful to give opportunity to someone who might not be able to otherwise attend university or who hasn’t thought about going to university.”
Nursing student Georgia Cordwell is just such a person. At school she was unsure what she wanted to do as a career until a teacher mentioned nursing. Receiving the scholarship was a game changer.
“It has helped me so, so much,” she said. “It has allowed me to buy stationery and text books as well as my nursing uniform,” she said.
“It has also helped me with my (hospital) placements. I choose not to work during my placements because it is quite stressful, so the scholarship has allowed me to buy food and everything else I need during my placements.”
Georgia Cordwell
Georgia said nursing appealed to her because of its breadth, opening doors to a myriad of different opportunities.
“Every day is different,” she said. “With nursing, I can go anywhere and there are so many types of nursing that I could get into.
“I also really wanted to give back to the community, and I liked the idea of caring and helping those in need.”
Georgia and her donor, Fleur’s father, Nicholas d’Antoine, had the opportunity to meet at a morning tea the University hosted.
“We had a great conversation; he talked about mentoring. I look forward to having more contact with the family,” Georgia said.
Another recent beneficiary was Sarah Haidau who used the scholarship in her first year of her Bachelor of Laws degree. “I’d like to go into International Law, human rights or something like that,” she said.
“I had to move out of home to start university so the scholarship assisted with relocation and buying what I needed. I still worked, but it made a difference in terms of alleviating some of the financial pressure to fund yourself.”
In addition to receiving the d’Antoine Family Foundation Scholarship, Georgia Cordwell received a Springboard to Higher Education Scholarship in Grade 11. These scholarships are designed to provide financial and educational support to help students transition from secondary school to university. Georgia said the Springboard scholarship helped her purchase a laptop and other school supplies.
“It allowed me to fully prepare myself for my studies,” she said. “I am very honoured to have received the scholarship and grateful for how much it has helped me.”
Leanne Arnott, Director of Engagement at the University, says the program is wonderful recognition from the student's school that they recognise their potential.
Leanne is passionate about the role of education in changing people's lives, having experienced the benefits first-hand. She grew up in regional Tasmania and was the first in her family to attend university.
“It is wonderful to see the difference these scholarships can make,” Leanne said.
“Springboard to Higher Education Scholarships provide a level of confidence that they will be supported in their educational journey and reduces some of the stresses financially.”
▶ Nicholas d'Antoine with scholarship recipient and nursing student Georgia Cordwell.
Visionary philanthropist powers the future
The Sir William Tyree Engineering Scholarship is an opportunity of a lifetime for aspiring engineers.
The right opportunity can set a young person’s career in motion, while the absence of one can bring it to a standstill.
Fletcher Tait had all the traits of an engineer — a deep curiosity about how things move, a knack for maths and a passion for problem-solving.
His future career choice first emerged at high school during work experience at an engineering company on Tasmania’s North-West Coast.
He soon enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at the University of Tasmania where he was awarded the prestigious Sir William Tyree Engineering Scholarship.
Established by the late Sir William Tyree, a revolutionary thinker, engineer and philanthropist, the scholarship has afforded Fletcher opportunities to learn, grow and network.
“The support I have received is amazing,” Fletcher said.
“The Tyree Foundation is investing in me, which makes me push myself harder and believe in myself.”
Sir William’s daughter Robyn Fennell said it brings her and her fellow Board Directors great joy to support students like Fletcher.
“It represents not only a way to honour my father’s values and vision but also a chance to make his life’s work endure in a tangible way,” Robyn said.
“Knowing that we’re making a difference — helping young people access opportunities, education and pathways they might not have otherwise, is deeply moving.
“It reminds me of the principles he lived by, generosity, perseverance and a commitment to educating our future generations.”
Recipients of the national scholarship program become part of a Scholars and Friends Network, visit the Tyree Group’s Mittagong manufacturing plant, and participate in a mentoring program.
“The program creates opportunities that otherwise would likely have been impossible,” she said.
The scholarship is enabling Fletcher to experience studying in Slovenia at the University of Ljubljana.
“I feel very lucky and thankful to the Tyree Foundation!”
Fletcher aims to pay it forward by mentoring young engineers in the future.
▶ Fletcher Tait has embarked on a life-changing study exchange to Slovenia in 2025.
Rewarding excellence in the psychological sciences
How a passion for the mind is supporting the next generation of psychologists.
Anne McMahon traces her family connection to Tasmania back to her great-great grandfather and his siblings who were transported to what was then Van Diemen’s Land during the Irish famine. Their crime? Faced with starvation, they stole a sheep wandering on a mountain slope in County Clare. Learning this history, it is little wonder Anne developed an interest in the human mind and ethics.
After completing her Honours in Psychology at the University of Tasmania, Anne moved interstate to complete her master’s and to pursue a career in academia. She taught professional ethics in psychology at the University of Canberra, where she became Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science.
On her retirement, still passionate about her profession, she decided to endow an award for an outstanding publication in psychology in the University of Tasmania’s PhD program. Among the goals she had in mind was to encourage students to join their professional association.
“Publication is the gateway to membership in the Australian Psychological Society,” Anne said.
The inaugural recipients of the Anne McMahon Prize were Eamon Garrett and Max Kucina. The 2024 recipient is Simon Weber.
Simon’s paper examined the tests psychologists use to measure inhibitory control — a core executive function that helps people think before they act.
“Inhibitory control is a fascinating field of study because it involves trying to quantify the movements we don't make.”
Simon Weber
“Choosing not to make a movement, or suppressing an impulse, are key aspects of how we navigate the world; nonetheless, the way this is mediated by the nervous system is incompletely understood,” he said.
“Having well-designed behavioural tests is important for understanding the changes to neurology and cognition that occur in certain psychological disorders, as well as in normal ageing.
“My research highlighted how variability in test design influences a psychologist’s observations.
“It is helping to improve the assessment of executive function and movement in both clinical and non-clinical populations.”
On a personal level, Simon said the prize provided additional motivation to further publish his research. “The prospect of contributing to a field of research with so many unanswered questions is both exciting and intriguing,” he said.
◀ Anne McMahon's contribution to the field of psychology continues.
Joint mission to change the course of Parkinson’s disease
Philanthropists tap into the University of Tasmania’s expertise to fast-track momentum in medical research.
A philanthropic partnership is funding a first-of-its-kind online course for Parkinson’s disease, aiming to accelerate breakthroughs into the rapidly growing neurological disorder. Former banker Michael Katz and retired global CEO Dr Richard Balanson set up the Parkinson’s Research Foundation after meeting at a fundraiser for the disease.
Michael’s wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago. Richard has been living with the disease for 15 years.
“We both have curious minds and a shared interest in understanding why there haven’t been any significant breakthroughs for Parkinson’s disease since the 1970s, despite all of the efforts put into medical research,” Richard said.
They were dismayed to discover researchers spend up to 30 per cent of their time applying for grants with low success rates.
The pair set up a venture philanthropy fund, Miriax, which provides a sustainable revenue stream to the Foundation so it can provide long-term support to medical research.
“We want to prevent medical researchers from spending an inordinate amount of time applying for grants,” Michael said.
“We intend to provide ongoing financial support for a small number of promising projects with which we have a close working relationship.”
The pair apply their experience working in high-performance organisations to ensure projects progress efficiently.
▲ Michael Katz, Michele Callisaya, Rufus Black, Jane Alty, Richard Balanson and Harley Stanton, working in partnership to build a global Parkinson's disease community.
Last year they gifted $250,000 to the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia Centre and Menzies Institute for Medical Research to develop the Parkinson’s Disease Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
The MOOC provides accessible, scientifically-proven information to people with Parkinson’s, their support networks and health professionals.
“The MOOC is our inaugural donation and we chose to support the University after discovering it has two dementia MOOCs in the top 10 in the world,” Michael said.
“This course is a terrific vehicle for providing people with a tertiary level understanding of the huge complexity of this disease.”
Michael said it was also the first step towards building a global Parkinson’s disease community.
Their ultimate aim? To fast-track treatments and help find a cure for the disease.
University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black said the University was privileged to launch the MOOC, which would make a massive impact at scale.
He said the success of projects like these were dependent on a combination of core ingredients: lived experiences, ambition, partnerships and expert knowledge.
“We are deeply grateful to Michael, Richard and the other funders, but also to the government and our colleagues, for bringing these ingredients together, so we can transform outcomes for everyone touched by Parkinson’s disease,” Professor Black said.
Other species the University is working to conserve include the Maugean skate, which is found nowhere else on Earth; the spotted quoll, a marsupial hunter that is vital to our ecosystems but is battling threats from habitat loss and invasive species; and giant kelp, which forms towering underwater forests that sustain countless marine species, yet are threatened by warming oceans.
While Tricia’s focus now is on supporting science that is looking after the island’s animal species, she has in the past supported medical research at the University as well as educational scholarships.
“I’m happy I’m supporting ongoing research into these causes,” Tricia said.
Such regular donations help the University apply its expertise in saving species threatened by the changes to our natural world on land and sea, as well as regenerate already damaged terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Tricia, who did postgraduate studies in audiology after her arts degree, says she will go on to further studies on her retirement, taking part in The Island Project, which offers free ongoing learning to people over fifty.
The IMAS red handfish captive breeding program is funded by the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered species with support from Tasmania’s Seahorse World and in consultation with the National Handfish Recovery Team and the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE TAS).
This important work is made possible through support from the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), and the generous donors who support the Handfish Conservation Project.
▲ Tasmanian devil, Freycinet National Park.
◀ The critically endangered red handfish. Image: Rick Stuart-Smith.
We celebrate our generous donors, who like Tricia, gave to support our Tasmanian devil and red handfish in 2024
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Donors have given to research to help save the Tasmanian devil
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Donors have provided support to the Handfish Conservation Project
Youth voices crucial for a sustainable future
Global backing to empower the next generation to shape climate change education.
Tasmanian children’s voices and views will be amplified by innovative new research that seeks to shape climate change education across our island State.
Young people live under the looming shadow of climate change, yet they often feel powerless to shape a sustainable future for themselves.
With the support of the Spencer Foundation, a global research education charity, the University of Tasmania is launching a game-changing project that brings young people and decision-makers together to design effective climate change education that’s responsive to the next generation’s needs.
Project lead Dr Kim Beasy, a Senior Lecturer in Education, said the research team, with expertise in science, law, policy, communication and education, wants to ensure young people are informed, empowered and supported to be agents of change.
“Young people are the future,” Kim said.
“Research has shown that many of them feel disempowered about their climate-affected futures and often feel abandoned and even betrayed by older generations.
“We want to support young people to shape their own climate education.”
The project will build on Curious Climate Schools, a free platform led by a globally recognised expert in climate change communication and social adaptation, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Dr Chloe Lucas.
It connects Tasmanian students with scientists to build climate change literacy.
Kim began her career as a physical geographer exploring the carbon sequestration potential of rice grass, an invasive species introduced to stabilise the muddy banks of the Tamar Estuary in Northern Tasmania.
She came to realise that the greatest impact she could have on climate change was to address the underlying cause of it, human behaviour.
Kim said that young people will be disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change, yet they have very little influence in shaping their education that will help them navigate the challenges ahead.
“High school students are at the age where they are really starting to grapple with the realities of what the future may bring and we want to ensure they have a meaningful say in how it’s addressed in the classroom.”
Climate change affects all facets of our lives, so it needs to be integrated into the curriculum in the same way, and we want to facilitate discussions with young people and decision-makers about what is required and realistic.
The research will bring the perspectives of Tasmanian secondary school students, aged 12-16, to the forefront through a series of citizen panels with principals, teachers, policy and curriculum leaders and government representatives.
“We're not just gathering feedback from young people — we're creating a space for them to work alongside the people who can make real change happen.”
Dr Kim Beasy
“Through our four citizen panels, we’ll gather insights into how young people want their education to support their capacity to thrive in a changing climate.”
Kim said the Spencer Foundation's $58,000 grant, which was facilitated thanks to the University of Tasmania Foundation USA, is crucial in realising this vision.
"Their endorsement validates the importance of this work and the need to empower young people as agents of change," she said.
"With their backing, we can truly put Tasmania on the map as a leader in climate change education and we are thankful for their support."
◀ Dr Kim Beasy works with students to reflect their voices in climate change education.
The researchers hope the project marks the beginning of a new chapter in meaningful educational engagement that reflects the needs and aspirations of young people.
Thanks to the philanthropic Carbon to Sea Initiative, which funds research dedicated to evaluating the ocean’s potential to mitigate climate change, Lennart established a global project to test how enhancing the alkalinity of seawater affects plankton.
Under the auspices of University of Tasmania Foundation USA, the project has seen Lennart coordinate research from Africa through Europe, Asia and Australia. Scientists at each location test the effects on local plankton of enhancing the alkalinity of seawater with material such as volcanic rock. Some have compared the approach to developing targeted antacids for our seas.
“Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) is qualified as a novel carbon dioxide removal strategy but no one knows if it can work,” Lennart said. “Our research is among the earliest efforts to understand if we can restore the carbon cycle sustainably.”
Lennart says the idea is being investigated at the local scale in ways that are tailored to each region. The goal is to develop a simple, cost-effective protocol that is adopted globally so that the environmental safety and benefits of OAE can be assessed in a standardised and reproducible way. “I wanted to build community, bringing as many people interested in this topic together as possible,” Lennart said. “This is the topic of the moment.”
Each experimental tank, described as a microcosm, contains seawater and plankton, like a mini ocean community.
“Everyone does the same experiments then sends the data to the University of Tasmania, which synthesises the results and looks for common overarching patterns. The aim is that we will hopefully understand if ocean alkalinity enhancement could make a contribution to mitigate the risks of climate change,” Lennart says.
The full name of the project is the Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Pelagic Impact Intercomparison Project.
The Carbon to Sea Initiative is dedicated to evaluating the ocean’s potential to mitigate climate change. The work of our team, partners, and grantees is on the cutting edge of scientific exploration to determine whether and how OAE can deliver on its exciting potential.
◀ Collaborators at the University of Otago in New Zealand collect water samples for the ocean alkalinity project.
▶ IMAS project team observing seawater experimental tanks.
▶ IMAS researcher Lennart Bach leads the global project.
Westpac scholarships shaping Australia's future and forging links with Asia
In 2024, four University of Tasmania students were awarded Westpac Scholarships, providing them with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, broaden their worldview, and gain new perspectives.
Westpac Scholars Trust has invested over $1.3 million in 15 outstanding scholars at the University of Tasmania since 2016. Each year, this number continues to grow with the selection of passionate University of Tasmania students as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to awarding 100 new scholarships every year.
“By empowering our newest scholars through education, leadership and connections, I believe they will be at the forefront, driving positive change in Australia.”
Westpac Scholars Trust CEO Amy Lyden
The scholarships fall into two categories: Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarships and Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships.
The Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarships provide Australian undergraduate students with the opportunity to study for a semester at a leading Asian university, with a focus on developing leadership skills and understanding Asian culture.
Recipients receive $12,700 in financial support from Westpac for their exchange. The funding supports travel, study and living expenses as scholars immerse themselves in the cultural, social and political experiences the region has to offer.
The University of Tasmania Westpac Asian Exchange Scholars in 2024 were Georgia Arnold and Molly Topham. For the third consecutive year, the University of Tasmania was also proud to partner with Westpac in the design and delivery of the Asian Exchange Leadership Development Program, which is held in Singapore.
Inspired by her passion for social justice, justice studies student Molly travelled to East China Normal University for her exchange.
“I want to find ways to strengthen our relationship beyond trade and cooperate towards substantial change,” Molly said before departing.
“Chinese culture is also rich and beautiful, and as a dancer, the opportunity to try new forms and styles of dance is quite exciting!”
Since returning, Molly said, “As an avid learner of Mandarin Chinese, getting the opportunity to use the language and be fully immersed daily greatly impacted both my current skills and the determination to continue learning the language to increase my fluency.
“Beyond the academic, I benefitted by seeing and being challenged by the perspectives of my peers, and through travel experiences and communicating with locals I saw and got to appreciate new perspectives, values and ways of life different to my own.
“My exchange helped me challenge my original perceptions of what I thought I was capable of; it helped me recognise that nothing is impossible as long as we try.”
Arts student Georgia Arnold travelled to Tsuru University in Japan for her Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship.
“I am passionate about helping people,” Georgia said.
“I hope to one day work as a speech pathologist in Japan, assisting English speakers living there, as well as Japanese natives learning English,” she said.
“Living in Japan was always a dream of mine, and this scholarship offered me the chance to not only achieve that, but to connect with a group of similar, enthusiastic people who I am sure will teach me a lot.”
In addition to Asian Exchange Scholarships, nine University of Tasmania students have received Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships, with two more announced for 2025. Valued at $120,000 each, these scholarships support postgraduate study in areas such as innovation, sustainability, and social change, while also providing access to leadership and mentorship programs. The 2024 University of Tasmania recipients of the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships were Ella Burgun (marine and Antarctic science) and Bethany Yates (protected area conservation).
Bethany says, “The Westpac Scholarship is validation of my pursuits, it is the support needed to dedicate myself to my studies, and it is a community of mentors and scholars that say, ‘you can do this, we believe in you’.”
▲ Georgia Arnold (in white cap), joins students from around Australia at the Asian Exchange Leadership Development Program in Singapore. Image: Can Seng Ooi.
◀ 2024 Westpac Scholars: Ella Burgun, Bethany Yates, Georgia Arnold and Molly Topham.
University Foundation Committee
Thank you to University Foundation Committee (UFC) members for volunteering their time and expertise in overseeing philanthropic management at the University.
The University Foundation Committee (UFC) is a committee of the Council of the University of Tasmania. It was established to ensure that the University’s philanthropic practices and policies are consistent with its mission and strategic plan, and ensures that trusts and funds provided through philanthropy are compliant with the wishes of donors and used for educational, research and other purposes of the University.
We are grateful to members of the UFC who volunteer their time to provide oversight and governance of philanthropic activity at the University. Of note was the committee’s endorsement of the public launch of the Sustain campaign, the presentation of the first annual University of Tasmania ACNC Compliance Report and the significant uprise in funding for high impact, strategically aligned research.
In 2024 Edward Kemp completed his role on the committee and we thank him for his contribution to the committee over the past two years and for his continued support and advocacy for the University through his membership of the Menzies Advisory Board.
Mark Habner, Chair, University of Tasmania Foundation USA, joined the committee in 2024. His deep understanding of the USA and contribution to the University's philanthropic ambitions in this country will be invaluable. As outlined in the University’s refreshed Strategic Plan, the University aims to make a difference for Tasmania and a distinctive contribution from Tasmania. Philanthropy plays a key role in helping the University achieve these goals, with important oversight and governance from the UFC.
Over 2024 UFC considered amendments to its terms of reference to better align its mission in support of the University's reshaped strategic approach to its philanthropic ambitions. It recommended some changes to the makeup of its membership to include a member of the University of Tasmania Foundation USA and to ensure consultation with the Alumni Advisory Committee. These changes were endorsed by the University Council at its meeting on 6 December and the revised ordinance can be viewed online at utas.edu.au/policy/ordinances
▼ David Warren, Rufus Black, Rebecca Cuthill, Ashley Townsend, Susan Gough. Absent: Edward Kemp and Mark Habner. Image: Peter W Allen.