Data centre billionaire Robin Khuda on Thursday urged business, government and academia to unite to draw more women into STEM careers, as he launched the next stage of a new academy at the University of Sydney.
Pointing to new figures showing Australia will miss its national tech jobs goal, Mr Khuda said the lack of diversity in STEM roles was not “just a diversity issue” but also a “missed opportunity”.
“Creating a truly inclusive STEM future is a shared responsibility,” Mr Khuda said in a LinkedIn post. “It will take business, government, education, and community working together.”
“By building pathways that break barriers and unlock talent, we can ensure no potential is left behind.”
Mr Khuda founded data centre company Airtrunk in Sydney’s west in 2017 and sold it to Blackstone for $24 billion last year.
Shortly after the sale the Khuda Family Foundation made a record $100 million donation to establish the Khuda women in STEM program at the University of Sydney.
The program aims to reach more than 100,000 students across its 20-year lifespan through school outreach and support for higher education. 1,800 women are expected to graduate through its academy and 400 through its scholarship program.
The Academy’s first cohort will include 141 female students across Year 11 and 12, recruited through an initial outreach across schools in Western Sydney.
A third stage of the program will launch in 2027, giving Academy graduates who choose to study STEM degrees at the University of Sydney access to scholarships, and academic and career support.
Federal Industry department figures show girls made up 47 per cent of enrolments in STEM subjects as of 2023, a two per cent increase since 2013.
The federal government on Tuesday released a Statement on the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review which failed to respond to its key recommendations.
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