UTS alumnus to become prestigious Schwarzman Scholar

UTS Business School alumnus Alexander Cheng has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, a prestigious global leadership program comparable to a Rhodes Scholarship.

Alex is the first UTS graduate and the sole Australian in the 2026–27 cohort of 150 scholars from 40 countries, and one of just 26 Australians to ever receive the award.

He was selected from a record competitive global pool of over 5,800 applicants to attend a one-year, fully funded master’s in global affairs program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

“Our eleventh cohort is a truly impressive group that fills me with optimism,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Founding Trustee of Schwarzman Scholars.

“I am hopeful that their interest in China and global affairs, coupled with their leadership potential, will create opportunities for collaboration and dialogue at Schwarzman College and beyond,” he said.

Alex has worked across Australia’s social impact ecosystem, advising non-profits, philanthropies, and governments on strategies to alleviate disadvantage, including at Social Ventures Australia.

He began his career at L.E.K. Consulting, where he co-developed the inaugural First Nations Strategy for SBS, Australia’s national multicultural broadcaster.

Alex is increasingly focused on combining design, creativity, and technology to build solutions that address global social challenges.

He is a recipient of the Asian Australian Leadership Award for advancing culturally diverse leadership, and has spoken at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos.