By james art New sustainability-focused scholarships will be created and student entrepreneurship boosted thanks to a $4.15 million donation from tech pioneer, former Netflix executive and Durham alumnus Dr. Neil Hunt.
Facilitating access to technology
The new one an endowment made with Dr. Hunt’s partner Julie Raymond will fund PhD scholarships aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Hunt-Raymond Innovation Program, which will support student entrepreneurship.
It will also support science students to gain industry experience, set up a Futures in STEM initiative to help young people on low incomes study computer science in Durham and support its alma mater, Collingwood.
PRESENTATION: I am passionate about using technology to achieve good for society and to expand access to technology for women and disadvantaged people. It is a privilege to be able to support Durham University’s outstanding work in these areas. I look forward to seeing the great results to come in the coming years. (Dr Neil Hunt)
An upgrade to the first generous gift
The new endowment will build on the work of the Hunt program, created five years ago to inspire the next generation of tech leaders, to help more women access leadership roles in the tech sector, and to create new scholarships for low-income students.
Previous initiatives have included the Anne-Marie Imafidon (AMI) Women in Technology programme, computer science scholarships, global internships through Collingwood College and a pioneering careers and internship program for computer science students.
Netflix CEO and tech pioneer
Dr Hunt was an undergraduate and then postgraduate student at Durham University until 1985. After graduating, he became Netflix’s first Chief Product Officer in 1999 and helped make the streaming service one of the most recognizable brands in the world .
Since leaving Netflix in 2018, he has been involved in founding, financing and consulting several start-ups with a strong social purpose. We were very pleased to present an honorary degree to Dr. Hunt in 2019.
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