Scentre Group announces Rihanna Zayed as recipient of Brian Schwartz AM Scentre Group Scholarship for Excellence Western Sydney University

Scentre Group, owner of Westfield destinations in Australia and New Zealand, and Western Sydney University are pleased to announce Rihanna Zayed as the second recipient of the Brian Schwartz AM Scentre Group Scholarship for Excellence.

The scholarship was established in 2024 in recognition of the extraordinary leadership and longstanding career of Mr Brian Schwartz AM. It was first announced to coincide with Brian’s retirement as Scentre Group Chair in 2023.

The 2025 recipient, Rihanna Zayed, will use the fully funded scholarship to assist in the completion of a Bachelor of Nursing at Western Sydney University.

On being awarded the scholarship, Rihanna said she is excited to begin her academic journey and says this opportunity will enable her to focus on her studies.

“I’m determined to excel in nursing, not just in theory but in practice, so I can provide the best care possible,” Rihanna said.

“My long-term goal is to become a confident, compassionate nurse who makes a real difference in people’s lives. I want to keep growing, learning, and building skills that will help me support my community and inspire others.”

Former Scentre Group Chair, Mr Brian Schwartz AM said: “It is a pleasure to recognise Rihanna as the recipient of the 2025 scholarship to support her in completing a Bachelor of Nursing.

“A university education prepares individuals to lead with purpose and contribute meaningfully to society. Nurses are essential to community well-being and the profession fulfills a critical function in our health system.

“I am delighted to see Rihanna awarded this scholarship opportunity to pursue her academic, professional and community aspirations with the support of this scholarship. I look forward to following her studies and future success.”

Christian Burden, Executive Director of Advancement at Western Sydney University said: “Greater Western Sydney is home to some of Australia’s most diverse local health districts to which Western Sydney University is proud to contribute. We deeply appreciate Scentre Group’s generous support of scholarships, and we are especially thrilled that Bachelor of Nursing student Rihanna Zayed has been selected as the newest Brian Schwartz AM Scentre Group scholar.

“Scholarships can change lives, and we are grateful that Scentre Group’s scholarship program continues to facilitate the academic journeys of our students here at Western.”

The scholarship will be awarded to a third student ahead of the 2026 academic year.

Western Sydney University has been ranked number one in the world for its social, ecological, and economic impact for the fourth consecutive year by the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings.

Biography - Mr Brian Schwartz AM

Former Scentre Group Chair

Brian Schwartz was the non-executive Chair of Scentre Group from 2016 to 2023.

Brian’s 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, Brian 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. Brian 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.

About Western Sydney University

Western Sydney University prides itself on challenging the traditional notion of what a university should be. We put students at the heart of everything we do.

Embedded in the communities and region we serve, our University is fundamental to the economic, cultural and social life of Western Sydney – one of the fastest-growing, most economically important and most culturally-diverse regions within Australia. We have a network of sites and teaching campuses across Western Sydney and beyond. Western Sydney University has 50,000 students, 3,000 staff, and a strong cohort – both locally and globally – of more than 200,000 alumni.

The University has a long and proud history of increasing higher education participation and opening up educational opportunities to students who have the drive, ambition and dedication to succeed, particularly for individuals from diverse and lower socio-economic backgrounds. At the forefront of education innovation, our programs are designed to help address Australia’s current and future workforce needs, with our expanding short courses and microcredential offerings helping people rapidly upskill or reskill in their careers and stay competitive in a fast-changing workplace.