UNSW receives $2.7m Optiver Foundation grant to boost diversity in STEM

The UNSW Future You program aims to get kids from all backgrounds excited about STEM careers in Australia.

Published on the 30 May 2025
Chief Advancement Officer at UNSW Sydney Lindsay Robinson, Chairman of the Optiver Foundation, Charles Lui, UNSW Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, UNSW Professor Lisa Williams, UNSW Dean of Science, UNSW Scientia Professor Sven Rogge, UNSW Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement Professor Verity Firth. 
Announcing the grant were (from left) Chief Advancement Officer at UNSW Sydney Lindsay Robinson, Chairman of the Optiver Foundation, Charles Lui, UNSW Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, UNSW Professor Lisa Williams, UNSW Dean of Science and Scientia Professor Sven Rogge, UNSW Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement Professor Verity Firth. Photo: UNSW Sydney / Richard Freeman.
“By inspiring a new generation of problem-solvers from all backgrounds, we are not only shaping future innovators but also contributing to a more inclusive, equitable workforce.”

Scientia Professor Sven Rogge

The Optiver Foundation has awarded a $2.7 million grant to UNSW Sydney to support the University’s Future You program. 

UNSW’s Future You is designed to get kids aged eight to 12 excited about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects and inspire them to explore future careers. It includes a range of free resources for teachers, parents and kids to get involved and learn about STEM in a fun and engaging way.  

The three-year grant from the Optiver Foundation will enable the Future You program to expand its impact by creating resources and connecting with more people. 

“We want to inspire young minds to discover the exciting world of STEM,” said UNSW Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, an astrophysicist and former Australian Ambassador for Women in STEM. “Our goal is to show students that anyone, regardless of their background, can thrive in STEM. It’s about fostering inclusivity and empowering all children to pursue their passions and realise their potential.” 

The Optiver Foundation is the corporate philanthropic arm for Optiver, an international trading and financial services company. Charles Lui, Chairman of the Optiver Foundation, said: “As a Foundation with a key focus on reducing inequality in STEM education outcomes, we are excited by the scalability, purpose and focus of the Future You initiative and its potential impact on education equality for Australian students… We’re particularly motivated by the program’s long-term potential to see more women take up STEM careers.” 

UNSW Dean of Science, Scientia Professor Sven Rogge, said the Future You program was already changing the way people thought about STEM careers. “This generous support from the Optiver Foundation will allow Future You to make significant strides in breaking down barriers and fostering greater diversity in STEM... By inspiring a new generation of problem-solvers from all backgrounds, we are not only shaping future innovators but also contributing to a more inclusive, equitable workforce,” Professor Rogge said. 
An illustration from Future You’s ‘Imagining the Future’ storytelling stream.

Making STEM exciting and inclusive

Future You, led by Professor Lisa Williams from UNSW’s School of Psychology, features two streams: Pathfinders (featuring diverse STEM role models) and Imagining the Future fiction (promoting STEM through storytelling). 

Liz Edwards, teacher at Bogangar Public School on the Tweed Coast NSW and STEM Project Officer for the Coastal Academy of STEM Excellence, said the Pathfinder videos created an initial spark of interest in her students, which led to more investigation for some.     

“Most students think of STEM jobs and careers as ‘super smart’ people in lab coats and something out of their reach,” Mrs Edwards said. “The program has put STEM careers in a real context of jobs that involve problem solving and innovation across many areas that they are familiar with.” 

Empowering the next generation of STEM leaders

By raising greater awareness of diverse STEM career paths, the program can increase STEM interest and, ultimately, participation among cohorts historically underrepresented in the sector: girls, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those with disabilities, students from regional, remote and Indigenous communities, and those from low socio-economic communities.  

With this funding, the program has promised to deliver long-term impact, including improved social equity, enhanced problem-solving capacity and a reduction in STEM skill shortages. 

The Future You program aligns with Optiver Foundation’s focus on enhancing diversity through STEM education. The program’s emphasis on inclusion, innovation, and global reach directly supports the Optiver Foundation’s mission to create equal opportunities in STEM.

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