The HCA Ferris Family Nonprofit Fellowship Program 2025
Founding Patrons: William D. Ferris AC and Lea Ferris
Chair: Lisa George

NONPROFIT FELLOWSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON 2025

Presentation of Fellowships

DATE: Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Time: 12 noon until 2 pm

AT: NSW Parliament, 6 Macquarie Street Sydney

$90pp, includes two-course lunch

 Dress: Business Attire 

Click here to buy tickets

In recognition of the strong social and economic significance of the non-profit sector to the
Australian community, the Harvard Club of Australia offers two Fellowships to attend the highly regarded six-day course Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management in July each year at Harvard Business School. These fellowships are generously funded by the founding Patrons Mr William D Ferris AC and Mrs Lea Ferris.

Annual Nonprofit Leadership Address with

Robin Khuda

Robin Khuda is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AirTrunk, Asia-Pacific & Japan (APJ)'s leading hyperscale data centre provider, enabling the growth of the cloud and artificial intelligence in the region.

A visionary entrepreneur, Khuda observed the emerging growth of cloud adoption in APJ and anticipated the need for a local and independent hyperscale data centre platform to support the growing capacity requirements of large technology companies.

AirTrunk was the pioneer of hyperscale data centres in APJ, focused on delivering unmatched scale, speed, efficiency and reliability for its customers. Since 2015, AirTrunk established its footprint in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, providing a connected secure and sustainable home for data across the APJ region.

Robin has led AirTrunk to be one of the fastest growing technology companies in the world.

In 2024, a consortium led by Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, and including Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), acquired AirTrunk in a A$24 billion transaction, investing alongside Khuda. At the time, it was the largest-ever data centre deal globally and largest deal in Australia in 2024.

Robin has received global recognition for his leadership, entrepreneurialism, and influence. In 2024 he took out the Australian Financial Review’s (AFR) top prize as joint ‘Business Person of the Year’ and won the ‘APAC Digital Infrastructure Leader’ Award at The Tech Capital APAC Finance Awards. In 2023 Robin was named one of the AFR’s Business People of the Year, and inducted into the CommsDay Hall of Fame for his contribution to the Australian telecommunications industry.

The Khuda Family Foundation was established to contribute to the growth and wellbeing of the APJ region, with a focus on improving STEM skills as well as increasing the number of women in technology. In 2025, Robin announced a $100 million Women in STEM program with the University of Sydney, to create a pathway for girls from Western Sydney into STEM education and careers. The program was the largest philanthropic gift the University has ever received and the largest STEM program in Australia.