COFA student Kim Goodwin has big shoes to fill - she is the recipient of the inaugural Nick Waterlow Scholarship.

The 36-year-old student has been awarded the Scholarship in Art Administration, created in memory of the long-time director of the Ivan Dougherty Gallery at COFA, who died tragically in 2009.

"Being associated with both Nick Waterlow and the inaugural scholarship is a huge honour."

In addition to his role at COFA, Nick Waterlow was the artistic director of three biennales in Sydney and he served on the Biennale's board.

"People often say by introduction that I'm the Nick Waterlow scholarship recipient," she says. "Your name gets bandied around. It does provide opportunities."

The $5,000-a-year scholarship has also given Goodwin the chance to work on a new, expanded version of the Design and Art Australia Online, which will be launched mid-year.

Goodwin, a former human resources specialist, hopes ultimately to work with creative organisations in developing leadership, to attract further interest and funding in the arts.

The annual scholarship is available to COFA Master of Art Administration students.

$100,000 has been raised to support the scholarship with donations from the Darling Foundation, Gordon and Marilyn Darling, Ann Lewis AO, The Luca and Anita Belgiorno-Nettis Foundation, Laura Ainsworth, The Freedman Foundation and The Macquarie Foundation.

Another $30,000 is needed to allow this Scholarship to run in perpetuity. For more information, go to the UNSW Foundation.

In further recognition of Nick Waterlow's work, the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council has announced the Nick Waterlow Curatorial Fellowship to enable young curators to work with future directors of the Biennale of Sydney.

Media contact: Susi Hamilton, UNSW media, 9385 1583