Judith Neilson
Image: David Roche
The University of New South Wales has received a $10 million endowment from wealthy philanthropist, art collector and gallery owner, Judith Neilson. The donation will fund research into the design of emergency housing for refugees of natural disasters, geo-political conflicts and other economic or environmental circumstances.
The endowment is the second in successive months following the announcement of Penelope Seidler’s gift to UNSW for the Seidler Chair in the Practice of Architecture in December 2014. It is also one of the biggest donations made to an Australian university.
Judith is the wife of funds manager Kerr Neilson who floated a large part of his company Platinum Asset management on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2007 – a move that made the couple overnight billionaires. Judith’s personal fortune reputed makes her the second richest woman in Australia. “There’s a big element of luck in being wealthy – I believe people have a responsibility to give back,” said Neilson.
“One of the most pressing issues of our time is the growing number of displaced people around the world. We can help restore the safety, dignity and hope of some of the world’s most vulnerable people, through architecture and design.” Neilson cites this as the reason she was motivated to make a major investment in research to investigate how architecture and design could be used as a powerful force for change.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates there are more than fifty-one million displaced people world-wide, a number that is likely to increase dramatically. This endowment will provide the university with the funds to appoint and co-ordinate key people conducting research in this area.
Neilson is a former graphic designer with a strong interest in art. She is the founder and director of White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, Sydney, which holds one of the most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art in the world.
