Record $30 million donation to establish residential college for women

The partnership between the H.S. Chau Foundation and UNSW reflects a shared vision to support leadership, innovation and equity in STEM.

A new residential college dedicated to women studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will be established at UNSW Sydney, thanks to a record $30 million donation from the H.S. Chau Foundation in Hong Kong. 

The donation is the largest philanthropic contribution ever made to UNSW for student accommodation. 

It will establish the H.S. Chau College, which will be housed within the new Horizons Building at UNSW’s Kensington campus. Construction is slated to commence in 2027 and is expected to be completed by 2029, ready for opening in 2030. 

The H.S. Chau Foundation, established by Solina Chau – co-founder of Horizons Ventures – funds educational and social initiatives that promote equity and access, particularly for women. The Foundation has previously supported programs at UNSW to advance women in engineering, science and mathematics. Through her venture capital firm, Horizons Ventures, Ms Chau invests in deep science and disruptive technology startups around the world to help build the ‘next normal’ and transform lives. 

"Studying at UNSW was a pivotal moment in my life,” said Ms Chau. 

“I gained insights that guided my life, especially my quests and perspectives in business, for which I am profoundly grateful. I’m proud to be giving back to UNSW in this impactful way.” 

The partnership between the Foundation and the University reflects the shared vision of Ms Chau and UNSW to empower women to thrive and lead across the STEM disciplines.

“Australia needs to attract and retain more women into STEM if we are to meet the complex challenges of the future,” UNSW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise Professor Bronwyn Fox said.

“By creating a purpose-built residential college designed to empower female STEM students, we’re building an environment that nurtures leadership, collaboration and a strong sense of community. The H.S. Chau College will become a beacon of opportunity for women in science and engineering.”

The Horizons building will be one of three new, interconnected student accommodation buildings at UNSW. The H.S. Chau College will occupy the top four levels, housing a close-knit cohort of high-achieving female STEM students. Residents will live in self-catered apartments complemented by spacious, comfortable communal areas that foster a strong sense of community. Apartments for college leadership and visiting academics will also be located within the Horizons building, creating direct opportunities for mentorship and academic engagement.

UNSW students Hayley Jiang and Ruby Chang said they’re looking forward to the development.

“I think it’s incredible. For women, especially women in STEM, having these kinds of communities that are implicit is important,” said Ms Jiang, who studies engineering and arts. “The STEM fields are quite a male-dominated space so having accommodation specifically for women will give them spaces where they feel like they belong.”

“Finding safe community and allyship on campus is really important,” said Ms Chang, an engineering and commerce student and a former resident of UNSW New College. “This college will help bridge the gap for students who feel intimidated and provide a good networking base.”

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the partnership built on the University’s long-standing support for women in STEM.

“From our STEM Champions program to the work of Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith who was selected as Australia’s first Women in STEM Ambassador, UNSW is deeply committed to increasing participation and leadership among women in science and engineering,” Prof. Brungs said.

“This extraordinary donation from Solina Chau and the H.S. Chau Foundation will not only transform the lives of individual students - it will help shape the future of Australia’s innovation economy.

“Diverse teams drive better discoveries, design smarter technologies, and deliver more inclusive solutions to society’s greatest challenges - from climate change to health care to the digital economy. Through this partnership, we’re building a pipeline of future change-makers, entrepreneurs and leaders whose work will have a lasting positive impact on communities here in Australia and around the world.”

The donation was announced at the Techcracker Lab showcase at UNSW on Friday, co-hosted by Horizons Ventures. 

The event showcased breakthrough technologies and the visionary people behind them. It included demonstrations from med-tech start-ups, based both at UNSW and overseas, including American-based company HistoSonics. A live demonstration of HistoSonics’ new FDA-approved technology, known as histotripsy, which can break down tumour tissue using pulsed sound waves, was also featured. 

Ms Chau and UNSW Chancellor, corporate lawyer and businessman, David Gonski AC, were among the lineup of speakers.

Mr Gonski welcomed the generous donation from Ms Chau and noted that it was a strong endorsement of the worldwide standing of UNSW.

“This generous support from the H.S. Chau Foundation will significantly enhance UNSW’s ability to build a more inclusive and equitable workforce. This new college will foster an environment where Australia’s future female innovators are supported to flourish,” he said.