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BHP Billiton today committed $17 million to The University of Western Australia's New Century Campaign, reinforcing the company's longstanding relationship with the University.

BHP Billiton's substantial investment will support UWA students and research, the revolutionary Engineering Zone and programs designed to attract more female engineers to the Business School.

BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Jimmy Wilson, said the new partnership reflected BHP Billiton's commitment to education at every level in Western Australia.

"I am immensely pleased that BHP Billiton will continue its long and successful partnership with The University of Western Australia with this new $17 million investment," he said.

"Our investment in The University and higher education in WA builds on the $55 million we have donated to a range of primary, secondary and tertiary education, vocational training and employment programs in this State over the past five years.

"Our investment in state-of-the-art engineering facilities, scholarships and research opportunities at UWA will help to create a centre of excellence for the resources industry and shape an education legacy for future generations."

The Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics will receive $12 million which will go towards the creation of a world-class Engineering Zone, a BHP Billiton Fellow in Engineering for Remote Operations and BHP Billiton Scholarships.

The Engineering Zone will provide the physical, technological and resource infrastructure to enable an innovative, cross-functional approach to real-world problem solving.  Engineers will work with the best minds from other disciplines, including the UWA Business School, to tackle issues of sustainability, living standards and resource management.

BHP Billiton's support will help UWA to revolutionise resource-related research, teaching and learning, according to Winthrop Professor John Dell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics.

"This investment in our knowledge economy will help UWA maintain its place at the top of the engineering echelon. UWA and BHP Billiton's collective focus on engineering for remote operations will provide creative solutions to complex problems and support Australia's ongoing economic success," he said.

The BHP Billiton investment includes $5 million to support the UWA Business School, with funds dedicated to increasing the numbers of high-achieving female engineers.

BHP Billiton's support of the Business School also provides for scholarships, a research fellowship, engagement opportunities with scholarship recipients and alumni, and a high-profile visiting professors' program.

Around $1 million in funding will also encourage the highest calibre domestic and international candidates to undertake a Master of Business Administration degree.

Dean of the Business School, Winthrop Professor Phillip Dolan, said the investment strengthened the relationship between BHP Billiton and UWA.

"As one of the Business School's original supporters, BHP Billiton's additional investment progresses our work towards the shared goal of developing leaders with the skills and talent to ensure continued economic growth at state and national levels," he said.

UWA's longstanding association with BHP Billiton has supported many university-wide collaborative projects and activities, including scholarships, infrastructure and the 2013 UWA Gives Back Pilbara Tour outreach program.

BHP Billiton's $17 million contribution was made as part of its Community Development Program, which invested more than $200 million over the past five years to health, education, Indigenous development and community infrastructure initiatives in WA.

Media references

Leanne Franco (Corporate Affairs, BHP Billiton Iron Ore)  (+61 4) 77 761 136
David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716