Progress for All: How Doha Goreishi Embodies UNSW's New Strategy

In February 2025, UNSW launched it’s new 10 year strategy: Progress for All.

The strategy highlights our commitment to advancing the public good and drives this over the next 10 years through areas where UNSW can really ‘turn the dial’ on some of the greatest challenges – and opportunities – global society has ever faced.

At the launch Doha Goreishi, a UNSW student, was invited to not only share her story, but was able to demonstrate what "Progress for All" actually looks like.

“UNSW’s new 10-year strategy is built around equity, impact, and opportunity, and for me, that’s personal,” said Doha. “I walked away from this event feeling more certain than ever that progress isn’t just about where you start - it’s about what’s possible when you’re given the chance to succeed.”

Doha is a proud UNSW Gateway Ambassador having participated in the Gateway Admission Pathway Program during high school and is always looking for ways to solve problems, tell stories, and make an impact, and share her experience with the next generation of leaders following in her footsteps.

Doha also stated that one of the biggest things she has learned through her Gateway experience is that representation matters. It’s not just about getting students through the door. It’s about making sure they feel like they belong once they’re here, that they deserve to take up space, to succeed, and to help others do the same.

“A lot of people misunderstand what equity in education really means. Programs like UNSW Gateway don’t give students a free pass. They don’t lower the bar or make things easier. What they do is recognise potential in students who have worked hard, often despite significant challenges, and give them a fair shot at success.”

“I know this because I was one of those students. There was a time when I thought that my degrees weren't for people like me. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I didn’t see people like me in those spaces. But thanks to the opportunities and support I received; I was able to see what was possible,” says Doha.

Doha is currently studying a double Bachelor’s degree in UNSW Chemical Engineering and Commerce and is especially interested in renewable energy and how we can build a more sustainable future.

“Chemical engineering and Commerce are a powerful combination because they equip you with both the technical skills to innovate and the business acumen to bring those innovations to life. Through my Commerce studies, particularly in Business Analytics, I’ve learned the importance of understanding market dynamics and the art of ‘turning data into stories.”

The UNSW Progress for All launch event was an exciting opportunity to hear from our Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs and others in our community about the aspirations of the new Strategy. 

Host Neda Dowling, Engagement and Communications Coordinator, UNSW Business School, introduced some inspiring members of the UNSW community who are already making an impact in society and the speakers presented the important and diverse work already happening across UNSW.

Doha was one of these incredible speakers, and the UNSW Business School EDI team has republished with permission Doha’s Student Ambassador Keynote speech.

My name is Doha Goreishi, and I’m a fourth-year student at UNSW, studying a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce. I’m also a proud Gateway Ambassador, and today I’d like to share how my journey connects to UNSW’s vision of "Progress for All."

I was born in Australia, but my family’s heritage is a mix of Syrian and Iraqi. It’s the perfect combination; two nations with a complicated history, coming together in one person.

My dad, an engineer, left Iraq with his degree and rebuilt his life in Australia. Watching him solve problems inspired me to tinker and experiment, sparking my love for engineering. But my real drive to succeed comes from my mum, whose strength and resilience have shaped who I am today.

I attended Auburn Girls High in Western Sydney, where I worked hard and took on many challenges. In Year 9, I received a Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship, which gave me financial support and access to mentoring and tutoring.

For the first time, I was working alongside students from elite private schools – students who seemed polished, confident, and well-resourced. It made me realise how uneven the playing field really was. Some students started their race miles ahead, while many of us were just trying to reach the starting line. That realisation still shapes how I view education and opportunity today.

When it came time to think about university, I knew I wanted to go but didn’t believe engineering was for someone like me. I assumed that attending a school like mine meant my ATAR simply wouldn’t be high enough.

In fact, I had so little faith in myself that when I applied for the Gateway early conditional offer program, I chose Advanced Science and Arts because engineering felt out of reach. Once I secured this offer, I felt reasonably confident about the HSC. To my surprise, my ATAR qualified me for engineering outright. That moment transformed my perspective, and I realised the limits I’d placed on myself were entirely self-imposed.

Coming to UNSW was a whole new world. In my first year, I was so intimidated by university life that I didn’t go past level 2 of the library – I was genuinely nervous about what might be upstairs!  But with time, I found my footing. An equity scholarship helped relieve financial stress, and the Gateway program gave me a sense of belonging and community. Those supports didn’t just help me stay at UNSW; they helped me thrive.

Growing up in Western Sydney shaped how I think about inequity and progress. Western Sydney is incredibly vibrant and multicultural – a place where people bring rich traditions and incredible resilience. But it’s also a region where challenges are a part of everyday life.

Challenges like long commutes, balancing jobs with study and navigating complicated family situations – situations as complicated as having family members living in active warzones. These realities can make you feel out of place or weighed down by circumstances beyond your control. But they also teach you grit, determination, and resilience, lessons I carry with me every day.

One of the most meaningful parts of my time at UNSW has been working as a Gateway Ambassador. Visiting schools, running workshops, and sharing my story with students who feel the same doubts I once did has been incredibly rewarding. I’ll never forget one Year 12 student who came up to me after a talk and said, "I didn’t think people like me went to uni, but hearing you made me feel like I could too."

That’s what progress looks like to me; breaking down barriers and helping others see their potential.

I’ve also been lucky to apply my studies in real-world settings, like my internship at Inloop, where I later worked for over a year. As the youngest person on the team, I found it intimidating but also a chance to prove myself.

I learned to adapt, take initiative, and see how the skills I’d developed at UNSW could make an impact. That experience reinforced my love for STEM and showed me what’s possible when technical expertise meets purpose.

When I think about UNSW’s vision of "Progress for All," I see it as equity in action; ensuring every student gets the support they need to succeed, no matter where they start.

It’s not about making things easier or lowering the bar; it’s about recognising potential in students who have demonstrated drive, resilience and determination while overcoming significant barriers. It’s about giving them a fair, competitive chance.

Programs like Gateway don’t just open doors; they empower students to realise their potential and walk through those doors with confidence, helping them build a future they’re proud of.  So, let’s continue building a university where everyone can contribute to a brighter future for all.

Thank you for letting me share my story today.