Biggest donation for UWA

In what is believed to be the largest single philanthropic donation in Australian history, mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola have given the University of Western Australia (UWA) $65 million to fund university research.

The gift launches a $400 million fundraising campaign, the New Century Campaign, for UWA.

The money will go into the new $50 million Forrest Foundation, which will fund PhD scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships each year across all five universities in Western Australia. The recipients will be collectively known as the Forrest scholars and fellows.

A further $15 million will be used to build their accommodation at Forrest Hall, which will be constructed adjacent to UWA.

The aim of the Forrest scholarships is to boost academic excellence in research in Western Australia by attracting bright young people from around the world. The money will be divided according to the research work done in each of the five universities in the state.

The Forrests - well known for their support of philanthropic causes - are the first Australians to have joined ‘The Giving Pledge’ movement founded by US Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, and US business magnate Warren Buffet, committing billionaires to donating the majority of their wealth to charity.

UWA was selected by the Forrest family to administer their foundation and as the home for Forrest Hall on the basis of its research and teaching excellence. Forrest graduated from UWA in 1983 with a BA (Econ) before becoming CEO and now chairman of leading WA iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group.