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This all‑time high is testament to the dedication and commitment of our community across Australia – from the Quadrangle, to NSW regional communities, to our research station in the Great Barrier Reef.

In June, we farewelled Belinda Hutchinson AC (BEc ‘76)Ìýas our 18th Chancellor. Many of you have come to knowÌýBelinda since she took office in 2013, and have seen first‑handher passion for the University’s work, her dedication andÌýunrivalled work ethic. As Chancellor, she presided overÌý65 graduation ceremonies, shaking hands with more thanÌý8500 graduands. She has been a tireless advocate for theÌýUniversity externally. And under her leadership, the campusÌýhas been transformed, with new facilities enabling innovativeÌýapproaches to multidisciplinary research and teaching.

Belinda’s clear focus has been key to our successÌýover the past decade, setting us up to become one ofÌýthe best‑governed and most successful universitiesÌýin Australia. We have been very fortunate to have herÌýas our Chancellor – and are deeply grateful to her andÌýher family for their donations to the MySydney andÌýEureka Benevolent Foundation scholarships, whichÌýbenefit rural and regional students.

With thanks to our supporters, the University has madeÌýgreat strides in the two years since the launch of theÌýSydney in 2032 strategy towards more equitable access toÌýeducation. The MySydney scholarships, for example, haveÌýenabled a 62 percent increase in enrolments from studentsÌýfrom low‑socioeconomic areas, and this comprehensiveÌýprogram has also improved retention rates for MySydneyÌýstudents compared to the broader undergraduate domesticÌýcohort. We are proud to be building a place of learning thatÌýhelps students from all backgrounds to thrive.

We are also working towards changing how AustraliaÌýthinks about innovation and commercialisation,Ìýplaying a leadership role in building an ecosystem thatÌýbrings together academics, government and the privateÌýsector to transform academic research into commercialÌýproducts and services, government policy or healthcareÌýinnovations. Much of this work has already begun – onceÌýagain thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

You can find stories of how we are translating technologyÌý– taking it from the lab to serving communities – withinÌýthese pages. Other stories highlight the diverse passionsÌýof our donor community, the students and researchersÌýthey empower, and the programs they enable. FromÌýgroundbreaking heart health innovations to restoringÌýa 450‑year‑old manuscript, and from improving foodÌýsecurity to boosting mental health research, yourÌýcontributions are enabling transformational change.

The work we do here at the ±¬ÁÏÍõ is criticalÌýto the future success, wellbeing and prosperity of our nation.ÌýBut this work does not happen in isolation – innovationÌýand excellence in education and research can only occurÌýthrough meaningful collaboration. As universities acrossÌýAustralia grapple with significant shifts in higher educationÌýpolicy, engagement with our community will be moreÌýimportant than ever.

We are sincerely grateful to you, ourÌýfriends and supporters, and look forward to our continuedÌýpartnership over the coming years.