Following the record-breaking donation made to the University of Sydney earlier this year, the Khuda Women in STEM Program is now underway with the launch of the Khuda Women in STEM Academy on Wednesday evening at the University’s Camperdown campus.
Designed to encourage young women from Western Sydney to engage with science, maths, physics and engineering subjects, the Khuda Women in STEM Program will work with students from Year 7 through to graduation at the University, through a three-stage program.
141 students have been invited to join the first cohort of Khuda Academy in 2026, the next step in the program’s roll out. Aimed at young women in Year 11 and 12 from Program partner schools who are curious about a career in STEM, selected students will receive mentorship, hands-on real-world projects, financial and academic support – including access to an admissions scheme and a guaranteed scholarship for the duration of eligible Science and Engineering courses, specialised mentoring and peer support as well as tailored academic and career opportunities.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott with Professor Renae Ryan, Katherine Bennell-Pegg and Robin Khuda amongst some of the first cohort of the Khuda Women in STEM Academy. Photo credit: University of Sydney / Stefanie Zingsheim.
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LinkSpeaking at the launch – to a gathering including key donor Robin Khuda, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar PSM, and participating students alongside their school principals and parents – the University of Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, welcomed the first students taking part in the Khuda Women in STEM Program.
“We’re delighted to be working with Robin to create this Khuda Women in STEM Program, and we’re thrilled that you are here to experience this tonight and at the prospect of the opportunities that will open up as a result of this program,” he said.
“One of the things we want to do is open the doors of the university to any young person who could flourish here. We believe talented people are everywhere, and we want to provide the opportunity for talented young people to come and study successfully here at the university, so you can go off and achieve wonderful things.”
“We're very grateful to Robin for his extraordinary generosity.”
The Khuda Women in STEM Program was really inspired by a deep belief that talent is everywhere, but the opportunities are not.
Robin Khuda, founder and CEO of AirTrunk
Mr Khuda explained why he and the Foundation had wanted to support a program for Western Sydney and other areas where girls and women face obstacles pursuing STEM studies and careers.
“The Khuda Women in STEM Program was really inspired by a deep belief that talent is everywhere, but the opportunities are not,” he said.
“When I built AirTrunk, I saw how few women were coming through the pathway – especially in technical roles. The industry remains heavily male-dominated. That’s not just a diversity issue. It’s a missed opportunity.
“STEM needs different perspectives, different voices. And we need to start early. This program is about breaking barriers and showing young women – especially from Western Sydney – that they belong in STEM. That they can lead in tech, engineering, data, science.
“The Khuda Women in STEM Program provides a platform to not just study STEM programs, but also provide mentorship, support and all the encouragement to be successful in your future career.”
From left to right: Professor Alice Motion, PhD candidate Stephani Soro, Robin Khuda, Katherine Bennell-Pegg and Professor Renae Ryan. Photo credit: University of Sydney / Stefanie Zingsheim.
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LinkKatherine Bennell-Pegg encouraged the young women in the room to make the most of every opportunity available to them.
“Just over fifty years ago humans were walking on the moon – but they absolutely could not have imagined the world we would have today”, she said, “Imagine what you’ll be doing by the end of your career.”
“You have the ability to empower yourself with the knowledge and the skills to make a difference, in whatever field you choose... back yourself to give it a go."
She acknowledged that the STEM landscape in Australia can and should be improved, saying:
“I think by empowering young people with the knowledge that they can be at the forefront of discovery in solving important challenges, we will change the landscape.”
Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first astronaut to train under the Australian flag, speaking to students at the Khuda Women in STEM Academy launch event. Photo credit: University of Sydney / Stefanie Zingsheim
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LinkIt’s so magical to be the first to be part of something as monumental as this, so I’m really looking forward to see what it brings
Shulagna Roy, a Year 10 student from Girraween High School
Bossley Park High School student Lara Uguzcu with her mother Rose Ann. Photo credit: University of Sydney / Stefanie Zingsheim.
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LinkExcited to attend the launch and to be joining the Academy, Lara Uguzcu – a student from Bossley Park High School – said she’s very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program.
“When I found out I was accepted to the Khuda Women in STEM program, I was honestly super excited, and a little bit shocked too,” she said.
“This experience is allowing me to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new. My family are excited for me, they're super supportive and very happy with the fact that I'm taking on new opportunities and also doing something positive.
Shulagna Roy, from Girraween High School, agreed, "it’s so magical to be the first to be part of something as monumental as this, so I’m really looking forward to see what it brings,” she said.
“The Program is very centred around empowering women and I think that's really important – especially in STEM, a lot of fields are male dominated, and as much as men are allowed to be passionate about these fields, I do think we need more female representation and appreciation. So I really hope I can contribute to that.”
About the program
The Khuda Women in STEM Program is ambitious and unique, with three distinct stages designed to tackle the underrepresentation of women in STEM and retain their engagement as they complete their high school education and commence university:
- Khuda STEM Outreach In high schools, years 7 to 10. Working with partner schools, this program offers specialised STEM curriculum-aligned activities for boys and girls in schools and on campus to ignite an interest in physics, maths and engineering. When fully implemented, it will reach over 100,000 students.
- Khuda Women in STEM Academy In high schools, years 11 and 12. Open to girls in partner schools through a competitive application process. The Academy will support students to retain their STEM subjects through academic support and an annual bursary. Includes dedicated group tutoring, mentoring by University of Sydney students and on-campus STEM activities. Aims to reach over 1800 students once fully implemented.
- Khuda Women in STEM Scholars Commencing in 2027, Academy graduates who choose to study an eligible STEM degree will access a guaranteed scholarship stipend, and access to University-owned accommodation as needed. This stage of the program offers specialised mentoring and support to participants throughout their STEM undergraduate degree. It aims to graduate a cohort and community of over 400 women.
The University works with partner schools to deliver the program, currently a combination of government, selective and independent schools from Western Sydney.
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