Scentre Group, owner of Westfield destinations in Australia and New Zealand, and Western Sydney University have announced a new scholarship in recognition of the extraordinary leadership and longstanding career of its recently retired Board Chair, Brian Schwartz AM.

The Brian Schwartz AM – Scentre Group Scholarship for Excellence is a fully funded university scholarship. It will be awarded to up to four high-achieving undergraduate students over a six-year period.

Scentre Group Chief Executive Officer Elliott Rusanow said the scholarship was created to recognise Schwartz’s leadership and commitment to lifelong learning and development.

“Brian has been an influential and empowering leader of our business and was our second Board Chair between 2016 and 2023. He is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity, investing in capabilities to grow businesses and nurturing the potential of people to succeed.

“We are very pleased to be working with Western Sydney University to acknowledge Brian’s leadership qualities, our role in the broader Western Sydney community and our shared commitment to making a difference to someone’s life through access to education.”

Brian Schwartz was the non-executive Chair of Scentre Group from 2016 to 2023. His career with Ernst & Young Australia spanned more than 25 years. He rose to the positions of Chair (1996 – 1998) and then CEO of the firm from 1998 to 2004. From 2005 to 2009, Schwartz was the CEO of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited.  He is a director of a Guardian Early Learning Group company, part of Partners Group, a global private markets investment manager.  Schwartz was previously Chair of Insurance Australia Group Limited, Deputy Chair of Westfield Corporation, Deputy Chair of Football Federation Australia Limited and a Director of Brambles Limited.

Schwartz said: “I’m delighted by the acknowledgement and association with this scholarship which will create life-changing opportunities. The benefit of higher education goes beyond a student’s time at university, it creates a lifelong curiosity for learning and enables people to directly contribute to the future of communities and economies.

“I am very much looking forward to meeting the first recipient of the scholarship in early 2024 and supporting their learning journey throughout their degree.”

Western Sydney University has been named number one in the world for its social, economic and environmental impact in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings for the second year in a row.

Professor Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement and Advancement) at Western Sydney University commended Scentre Group and Brian Schwartz AM for their generous contribution through the scholarships program.

“Western Sydney University has a long history of opening up access for the people of our region and providing higher education opportunities for any student who has the drive, ambition and dedication to succeed,” said Professor Possamai-Inesedy.

“The University is proud to offer The Brian Schwartz AM – Scentre Group Scholarship for Excellence to its students, in recognition of Mr Schwartz’s commitment and advocacy for the life-changing impact of further education.

“The scholarship will provide vital support to high achieving students throughout the duration of their degrees helping them to achieve their educational and career aspirations.”

The first student to be awarded the scholarship will commence study in 2024.