The Celebrating UNSW Women project: A strategic social impact project to drive gender equity, community and engagement

Universities have a unique role in advancing social justice and fostering inclusive environments. This responsibility extends to creating spaces where all community members feel seen, recognised and celebrated. The visibility of role models for the broad and diverse university community is important for building acceptance and belonging. The ‘Celebrating UNSW Women’ project set out to address the historical underrepresentation of women across campus spaces at UNSW. Traditionally, campus buildings were named after men, however with 46 per cent of students1 and a significant portion of staff identifying as women; this lack of representation was seen as a missed opportunity. Prior to this project, only one building at UNSW was named after a woman, highlighting the gender disparity. Launched in March 2022, the project aimed to rectify this imbalance by renaming buildings and creating a physical presence on campus. This paper describes the initiative, led by UNSW Chancellor David Gonski AC and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Eileen Baldry AO, involved multiple stakeholders and was executed in three phases: renaming buildings, creating a physical and virtual trail and developing an equitable naming policy. This project not only enhanced representation but also promoted a sense of belonging and inspiration among women, contributing to long-term equity and leadership in the sector.