UNSW adopts new investment guidelines

Over 10 months, UNSW ran a major consultation to review how the University invests its funds. The consultation engaged broadly with UNSW students and staff to debate and determine if, and how, UNSW’s investment guidelines should change. Following this process, all recommendations have been adopted to improve and update our investment practices.

About the review

The independent, expert review was led by the Financial Investment Strategy Consultation (FISC) Working Group, made up of eight professional staff, seven academic staff and one external expert who is a member of the UNSW Investment Sub-Committee.

Between December 2024 and June 2025, the Working Group reviewed existing frameworks and ran a series of focus groups and online surveys to gather input from the University community. Elected student representatives, around 300 club and society leaders from across UNSW as well as students from various faculties were invited to take part. 

Feedback, input and submissions were also sought from all 82,000 students and 10,000+ staff, ensuring all recommendations were shaped by student and staff perspectives.

What's changing?

All five recommendations put forward by the Working Group have now been adopted by the UNSW Council.

The recommendations clarify UNSW’s financial objectives and include four changes:

• a commitment to increased transparency
• a new ‘controversial weapons’ investment exclusion
• an enhancement of the fossil fuel exclusion to accelerate the energy transition
• a commitment to work with the funds management industry to develop a means to exclude companies with primarily gambling revenue.

Last edited on 20 October 2025