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= Susan Wakil AO (1934 -2018) = Susan Wakil was a philanthropist who supported health, education and the arts in Australia.

Biography
Susan Wakil came to Sydney, having left Romania at the age of seven fleeing soviet government with her aunt. Her father had been interned in a Siberian gulag for being a landowner, her mother had died after being taken to a Soviet concentration camp.

Susan lived with her aunt and was later joined by her father. In Sydney in 1955, Susan met and married her husband, Isaac, who had fled his native Iraq .Together, they built a successful clothing business and over time they purchased many iconic properties across Pyrmont and Sydney CBD.

Since arriving in Australia as migrants, the pair have had a profound impact on their adopted home. On Australia Day in 2017, both were named Officers of the Order of Australia for their service for distinguished service to the community through a range of philanthropic endeavours, and as supporters of charitable, education and cultural organisations.

The Wakils' success in the clothing industry and in property investments allowed them to give much-needed support to various causes. As patrons of the arts, they were often seen at exhibitions and the opera. They were also regularly in the social pages in 1970s.

Many of their investments were sold in 2014. Subsequently, Susan and Isaac donated nearly $46 million to the University of Sydney and $20 million to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, towards the Sydney Modern wing, through the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation.

Susan passed away on 28 May 2018.

Philanthropy
Susan and Isaac Wakils' $35 million gift in 2016 was the largest donation received by the University of Sydney. The gift supported the development of the Susan Wakil Health Building, which will unite the University's medicine and health disciplines in one purpose-built facility. The space will facilitate collaboration between faculties to deliver better health care and health outcomes for millions of people.

Susan Wakil’s legacy will also live on in the University’s Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, where Susan and Isaac funded 12 scholarships to assist nursing students with study, tuition and accommodation.

Their $24 million gift to the Art Gallery of New South Wales planned Sydney Modern wing was the biggest cash donation in the institution’s history. Additionally, their support of Opera Australia funded an initiative to help first-time opera-goers to see performances with accessible $20 tickets at the Sydney Opera House.

Susan and Isaac Wakil are also major benefactors of the Sydney Jewish Museum, supporting the Fund for Jewish Higher Education, making a significant contribution to tertiary-level Jewish studies and teacher training at the University of Sydney.

In memory of his wife, in 2019 Isaac commissioned Chinese-Australian artist, Shen Jiawei, to paint a portrait of Susan, in which she wore a gown of one of her favoured designers, Yves St Laurent. The portrait was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

Isaac Wakil has spoken previously of the joy the pair took in making a contribution. “Australia is a great country,” he said when their gift to the University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery was announced. “It’s a good feeling to give something back.”