BA 1967, DipEd 1968
Born in Sydney in 1946 and raised in Coonamble, NSW, Robyn Christine Orton (née Horwood) was a pioneering UNSW alumna and highly respected university leader whose association with UNSW spanned more than 50 years. Awarded a scholarship to UNSW in 1963, she became the first woman admitted to Women’s Hall at Goldstein College in 1964.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1967 and a Diploma of Education in 1968, Robyn built an extraordinary career at UNSW, culminating in her appointment as General Manager of the Faculty of Engineering in 1991. She played a major role in developing the Faculty into the largest engineering faculty in Australia and championed transformative initiatives including the UNSW ACCESS Scheme, Women in Engineering Research Awards, rural student scholarships, the Indigenous Australian Engineering School and the early Sunswift solar car projects.
Following her retirement in 2013, Robyn continued her lifelong commitment to education and community service as a volunteer English tutor for migrants and refugees. Robyn passed away on 15 August 2024 and is remembered for her leadership, generosity and lasting contribution to UNSW and its students.
