"Heart, generosity and openness": Brian Sherman’s legacy

In 1976, Brian Sherman emigrated from South Africa to Australia with his wife Gene, children Ondine and Emile and just $5,000 in his bank account. From those humble beginnings grew a giant in the world of business and philanthropy.

After a successful finance career, Brian established a legacy of giving through his incredibly generous philanthropic initiatives, many of which grew from the interests and passions of his beloved family. UTS was an important recipient of this support, and the impact of his giving will continue to make an enormous difference for years to come.

Giving a voice – and support – to the voiceless

Inspired by the passion of his daughter Ondine, Brian put a generous amount of resources toward animal protection. The two co-founded animal protection agency Voiceless, which supports people and projects aimed at making systemic social, legal, political and institutional change. 

Over many years, Voiceless has provided significant support for UTS animal law courses, advocacy, and the Centre for Compassionate Conservation. Formerly known as THINKK, Brian helped found the UTS Centre, the first-of-its-kind with Ondine’s husband, renowned ecologist Dr Dror Ben-Ami.

Thanks in large part to the support of Voiceless, the Centre conducts ground-breaking research across several continents, with the aims of slowing extinction, resolving human-wildlife conflict, eliminating wildlife trade and enhancing coexistence. 

Brian distinguished himself as someone of great heart, generosity and openness to all. For him, the unwritten return on investment was that you would strive to be a better person, to make a difference.

Associate Professor Daniel Ramp, Director, UTS Centre for Compassionate Conservation.

But the Centre is only one aspect of the phenomenal impact Brian and Voiceless have made, and continue to make, at UTS.

“We owe Brian a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid,” says Dr Sophie Riley, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law at UTS. Voiceless helped introduce the Animal Law undergraduate subject in 2012, and the post-graduate version in 2018. Voiceless also established the annual Honourable Michael Kirby Voiceless Prize for Animal Law, awarded to the student who achieves the highest marks in the subject.

“These efforts have significantly raised the profile of animal law, not only at UTS but also in education generally.” 

Jumpstarting vital medical research

When Brian’s twin grandchildren were born with the rare and devastating Allen Herndon Dudley Syndrome (AHDS), Brian was a major catalyst for UTS’ study of the disease via the MCT8 International Research Initiative. Through the Sherman Foundation, Brian donated millions to UTS’s global AHDS research and hosted workshops for parents of children dealing with the disease.

“I first met Brian at a lunch engagement in 2011 to discuss stem cell therapies,” recalls Emeritus Professor Bruce Milthorpe. “He was very interested in the people at the meeting and their own stories. Brian was always a gentle and intelligent conversant, even as his own health was starting to deteriorate.”

“It’s in large part thanks to him that the UTS Faculty of Science MCT8 Research Committee was created in 2012. The project is still growing at UTS, all thanks to Brian’s initiative and interest.”

This research has the potential to not only make a difference here in Australia, but also help families around the world living with AHDS.

Enabling the arts and remembering his roots

Brian’s wife Dr Gene Sherman AM, established the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas (formally the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation and Sherman Galleries). The two shared a love of art, expressed through their foundation’s significant donations to the Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery of WA, the Australian Museum, National Gallery of Victoria and National Gallery of Australia.

“Brian and Gene were a constant presence in the arts scene,” Emeritus Professor Ross Milbourne AO, Vice-Chancellor Emeritus UTS, says. “He loaned several works to UTS, and he and Gene believed in sharing their collection with the wider community. His friendship, quiet calm demeanour and generosity will be greatly missed.”

Born into a small Jewish community while Apartheid reigned, Brian also contributed to organisations such as the Australia-Israel & Jewish Affairs Council through the Sherman Foundation and was Chairman of the Rambam Israel Fellowships program.

An icon of finance and philanthropy

Before his invaluable contributions to UTS and other charitable efforts, Brian became a pillar of Australian finance over a decorated 50-year career. As Co-Founder of Equitilink Group, he helped expand what was possible in the industry. 

He also held a range of other leadership positions in iconic Australian organisations, including Chair of Finance and board member of the 2000 Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) and President of the Australian Museum Trust from 2001-09.

But Brian always made time for philanthropy, putting his success to work for the betterment of society. In 2004 he was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia in honour of his service to the community as a philanthropist and benefactor. In 2010 he received an honorary Doctor of Letters from UTS for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of society in Australia and overseas. He’ll also forever be a notable UTS Friend of Distinction.

Brian’s impact on the UTS community and his support are permanently woven into our culture of philanthropy. The trust and respect he showed UTS are incredibly humbling, and his giving has helped lay an inspiring platform for an entire generation of philanthropic partners We are forever indebted to him and his interest and belief in the power of collaboration.

Emeritus Professor William (Bill) Purcell AM, Head, Transdisciplinary Innovation School UTS; former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International and Advancement

Brian’s memoirs The Lives of Brian (2018) and Walking through Honey: My Journey with Parkinson’s Disease (2022), both written with A.M. Johnson, provide an enduring insight into the kind of man Brian was. Luckily for millions of others, the fruits of his generosity will also endure. 

Brian Sherman died at home in September 2022, after a long, brave battle with Parkinson’s disease.