Macquarie University Foundation New undergraduate curriculum

Transcription

Spring 2009
Macquarie University
Foundation
Creating opportunities
for the future
New undergraduate
curriculum
2009
Macquarie
University
Innovation
Awards
People, Planet and
Participation
Iggy Pintado
A family affair
Voiceless
Animal rights campaigner Ondine Sherman talks for those who can’t
FROM THE
VC’s desk
Among the many interesting articles in this edition of Macquarie
Matters, I’d like to draw your attention to the feature on pages 10-11
about the University’s new undergraduate curriculum.
It tells how Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Provost) Professor
Judyth Sachs and her team conceptualised and devised our new
undergraduate curriculum that will operate from the beginning of
next year.
Professor Sachs calls our new curriculum the three ‘Ps’ – People,
Planet and Participation, and you can read about these elements in
more detail in the article.
One of the questions the development team asked itself was
“What sort of curriculum do we think will prepare students for the
21st century?”.
This is a key question.
Those students entering university next year will retire around
2050, and we cannot predict how knowledge will evolve in this time.
But what we do know is that the world will continue to change
rapidly, as a recent strategic trends review from Britain’s Ministry
of Defence makes clear (visit www.dcdc-strategictrends.org.uk/
viewdoc.aspx?doc=1).
It stresses the point that the quick tempo and unpredictability of
innovation – aligned with continuing globalisation and geo-political
upheavals – create enormous challenges for the people of the future.
Life will be “competitive, dynamic and fluid” and the world will
be subject to “unexpected events, startling surprises and major
discontinuities”.
Change and its challenges will be the only constants for
our graduates.
As well as professional skills, they will need the ability to think
clearly, quickly and creatively.
Crucially, they will need to know how to keep learning, on their
own, long after they leave university.
Macquarie’s new undergraduate curriculum, and the great
teachers behind it, will help our graduates to find their way in a world
of perplexity
and uncertainty.
As Professor Sachs says, a Macquarie degree is renowned for its
high-quality, academic rigour and intellectual challenge – and we will
ensure that reputation remains intact as we head into the future.
Macquarie Matters is Macquarie
University’s magazine for
Advancement. Macquarie Matters is
published twice a year by the Office
of Institutional Advancement.
Spring 2009
Executive Editor
Peter Leunig
Publications Manager
Jayne Denshire
Editor
Fiona Crawford
Designer
Anne Marleen Hissink
Contributors
Lyn Danninger, Judith Dickson,
Kathy Ford, Margaret Jakovac,
Caroline Jenkins, Pamela Kenny,
Anne Kenyon, Samantha Norris,
Christine Paul, Rachel Sullivan,
Janine van den Tillaart,
Josh Wakerman, Greg Welsh
Cover Image
Paul Wright
With thanks to Fairfield City Farm
For further information about
the Office of Institutional
Advancement, to update your
contact details or to subscribe
to Macquarie Matters, visit our
website:
www.mq.edu.au/advancement
For editorial queries, contact:
[email protected]
Phone +61 2 9850 7309
Professor Steven Schwartz
Vice-Chancellor
If you prefer to receive your copy
of the magazine in electronic
form, contact us via our website.
contents
SPRING 2009
20
17
features
10 New undergraduate curriculum
2010 marks a new era for
education at Macquarie.
regulars
18 Churchill Fellowship for 6 University News
gifted researcher
Dr Kerry Hodge investigates
giftedness in children.
31
20 New opportunities for
new department
New state-of-the-art media
facilities on campus create
boundless opportunities.
24 Building a culture
16 Research News
26 Alumni News
32 In Print
28
of philanthropy
To our generous donors,
we say thank you.
on the cover
>> 4
Macquarie graduate Ondine
Sherman talks for the animals.
Spring 2009 Macquarie Matters
1
feedback
yourwords
Praise for mentor
program
As one of the older members
of the growing number of
Macquarie alumni, I express my
special and warm admiration to
you and all other contributors
to the new Macquarie Matters,
which arrived this week!
Such a vital publication is a
welcome addition to news from
Macquarie, which we receive
each year.
In particular, I was delighted
to know there is now such a
vital mentoring program, as
announced on p13; which
invited participation, suggesting
that we ‘Get Involved as a
Macquarie Ambassador Mentor’.
Certainly, if I was now even 20
years younger, I’d be delighted
to volunteer! However,
although I will turn 80 next
March and also now work parttime in retirement, I still hope
that I might still be of some use
to a student of psychology.
With my sincere greetings,
Dr Ian J Harvey
Rejuvenated campus
By way of introduction, I am a
former student of Macquarie
University. I currently work for
PricewaterhouseCoopers in their
Corporate Advisory arm. This
is my first job after graduating
from Macquarie University.
I was studying at
Macquarie University library
on the weekend and was very
impressed to see some of the
changes that have taken place
at the University. From the new
hospital, to the swimming pool
and construction of the new
library, vast improvements are
being made to the campus.
Leaving aside major projects
though, I noticed even the
smaller items which do make a
big difference to any potential
visitor touring the campus,
eg, walkways, flags, sign posts
etc. As an alumni I would like
to thank you for bringing a
rejuvenating breath of life back
to the campus, and a sense of
progress in that Macquarie is
heading in the right direction.
Bharat Anand
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Australia
Outreach gets
thumbs-up
Thank you for hosting
the Macquarie University
postgraduate outreach dinner in
Los Angeles on May 28. I really
enjoyed talking with you (Alison
Taylor, Macquarie International)
and the other US postgrads
about our experiences. Maybe
next time we will be on the same
side of the table, but chatting
with you at the beginning was
great. A very special event for
both my girlfriend, Angela, and
I that we are both still talking
about. It is amazing to me how
enriched my life is from studying
at a great university in Australia.
Looking forward to great things
from MQ-U.
Justin Robinette
Master of Commerce in
Marketing 2005
Keeping up the
good work
Thank you for your email
regarding the Macquarie
University Alumni Annual
Parliament House Lunch on
4 November. I would have liked
to attend, but my work involves
travelling a lot and I only return
from Bangladesh three days
after the event. However, I won’t
give up hope of attending an
alumni event in the not-toodistant future and look forward
to receiving the invitations.
Please keep up the good work –
many of us appreciate it.
Judith G Hudson
University of Cambridge
ESOL Examinations
Macquarie University’s Alumni Relations welcomes your feedback.
If you have a comment about Macquarie Matters or
anything that is important to you as an alumni of
Macquarie University then let us know by emailing or
writing to us. Please mark ‘for publication’ if you’d like
us to consider publishing your views.
2 Macquarie Matters Spring 2009
Contact the Manager, Alumni Relations at
[email protected] or at
Level 2, BD Building, Macquarie University,
North Ryde, NSW 2109.
The Michael Kirby lecture
was exceptionally good and
I enjoyed it immensely – he
is so lucid, builds his ‘case’ so
logically, uses clear plain English
and not jargon. His depth of
knowledge – the history of
things – I just loved it. May we
have many more such events.
An added bonus, met up
with a fellow student from over
thirty years ago – she’s currently
doing her PhD in her retirement
– lucky lady.
Miriam Bodie
PHOTO: BRETT CORNISH
More events, please
advancement
l e a d e r s l au n c h f u n d r a i s i n g i n i t i at i v e s
PHOTO: PAUL WRIGHT
Macquarie University is rolling out a number
of key fundraising, alumni and relationshipbuilding initiatives that are critical to the
University achieving its goal of becoming one
of the world’s leading research institutions.
The initiatives are part of a broader strategy to create new revenue
streams which will help realise Macquarie University’s vision to achieve
excellence in research and teaching.
The Macquarie University Foundation will be officially launched at
a function in late November and a Bequest Society, named after two of
the University’s longstanding supporters and benefactors, Joan and John
Lincoln, was launched in October, with more than 300 in attendance. A
number of giving and bequest programs, overseen by the Patrons of the
Foundation Board, are also underway.
Led by Honorary Chair Dr Maurice Newman AC – former Chancellor
of Macquarie and Chair of the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), and
current Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – the Board
Patrons are implementing a strategy for campus fundraising built on
developing strong relationships with alumni and supporters, and effectively
communicating what Macquarie stands for and hopes to achieve.
“Our goal ultimately is to establish a substantial revenue stream for
the University, but our focus first and foremost is on laying the right
foundation and ensuring our partnerships are strong,” Newman says.
“This is about providing excellence in education and long-term
support for an outstanding university with ambitious goals that is well
on its way to becoming a world leading research institution.”
Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz
said the University was “enormously fortunate” to have access to
the expertise afforded by the Board Patrons, who bring decades
of experience running elite companies, cultural organisations and
financial institutions.
“Through their personal effort, and unparalleled understanding of
the business environment, these Patrons will lay the foundation stone
of Macquarie University’s future success,” he says.
Leading by example, both Newman and Schwartz have made
personal gifts to the University, giving valued support to Macquarie’s
students now and into the future.
Newman’s gift will establish an unrestricted fund for the University,
in honour of his father Joseph Newman.
Of his gift he says, “In supporting the University, many people like
their gift to be designated for a specific purpose that reflects their
personal interest. But encouraging people to
give to an unrestricted fund is also important.
“The advantage of an unrestricted gift is
that it provides maximum flexibility to address
the highest needs of the University. This is
extremely important given the ever-changing
education needs of the future.”
Professor and Mrs Schwartz have also
made a bequest to Macquarie University,
establishing the Steven and Claire Schwartz
International Enrichment Scholarship, which
will contribute to the travel costs of students
who study in the USA or Scotland. The
proceeds will be used to fund the scholarship
now and in perpetuity.
Speaking about his gift, Schwartz says,
“By founding this scholarship we hope
to establish a culture of philanthropy at
Macquarie and inspire staff, alumni and
friends to contribute to the University’s
future. Such endowments create enrichment
opportunities for our students, strengthen
our teaching and learning and they help to
develop our students as global citizens.” n
3
coverstory
Talking for the
animals
Macquarie graduate Ondine Sherman is a tireless animal rights campaigner,
giving a voice to those who are unable to speak for themselves.
It was a pivotal moment in Ondine
Sherman’s life when, at the age of eight,
she ate a dish of tongue set before her by
her grandmother.
“I realised that ‘tongue’ was actually
an animal’s tongue and that night I swore
I would never eat meat again. Remarkably,
against the odds, I kept that promise,”
she recalls.
This incident set Sherman on a path,
which in 2004 led her and father Brian
– a successful businessman and current
president of the Australian Museum – to
establish animal protection organisation
Voiceless, The Fund for Animals.
“My dad’s financial success has given me
the opportunity to really pursue the issues
that are important to me and that I believe
are important to our society,” she says.
“As a child I was always passionate
about animals and used to pore through
the National Geographic to see photos
of animals in far off places. Growing up I
became informed about environmental and
animal rights issues and in 2002 I achieved
my Master of Environmental Education from
Macquarie University.”
Sherman recalls her time at Macquarie
with fondness.
“I really enjoyed my degree and the level
of academic excellence,” she says. “The
lessons I learnt at Macquarie have stood
me in good stead today providing me with,
in particular, a solid set of skills in sciencebased research and writing.”
Prior to starting Voiceless, Sherman worked
for a range of non-profit organisations
including World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF), NSW Wildlife Information and
“Voiceless’
focus is on
the positive
and how
every person
can make a
difference.”
Rescue Service (WIRES) and Kids Earth Fund, as well as environmental
consultancy Molino Stewart. She also undertook a teaching stint at
the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Israel.
It was in 2002, after returning to Australia from this teaching post,
that she decided to attend an animal rights conference which was
taking place in Los Angeles – a move that would ultimately see the
creation of Voiceless.
“I decided this would be a really great opportunity for Brian and I
to really get on top of all the animal protection issues,” she says. “The
movement in the US is more advanced than it is in Australia so I felt
this would help form our ideas to start to set up Voiceless.”
In the space of five years, Voiceless has become renowned
as one of Australia’s leading, influential and cutting-edge
animal protection groups. Sherman and her family have been
profiled on ABC Television’s Australian Story, and this year Sherman
was nominated by News Limited and Microsoft as one of Australia’s
Top 10 Community Leaders.
Under its grants program Voiceless offers financial support
to non-profit organisations, councils and universities for the design
and implementation of projects, which improve the lives of animals
in Australia.
“Over the past five years, Voiceless has awarded close to
$1 million to an amazing array of projects spanning the country for a
variety of high-priority animal protection issues,” Sherman explains.
“We focus on factory farming and the welfare of kangaroos and
other priority areas including live export and transport of animals,
the replacement of animals in experimentation, the hunting
and poisoning of animals, and animals in entertainment – zoos,
circuses, racing and rodeos.”
Recognising that for many animal lovers it can prove traumatic
to see graphic representations of the suffering of animals, Voiceless’
focus is on the positive and how every person can make a difference.
“In promoting our goals we try to avoid a negative approach,”
she says. “This is not to diminish in any way the tragedy surrounding
the suffering of millions of innocent animals on an everyday basis,
rather we want to celebrate the good that is happening with the
work being done to alleviate this suffering.
“Unfortunately, humankind’s history is one of cruelty towards
animals yet we have come a long way in terms of social injustice
PHOTOs: PAUL WRIGHT
issues. In the time I have been with
Voiceless it has been gratifying to see some
progression, albeit slow, of increase in
awareness in this area.
“In the UK for example, several of the
biggest supermarkets don’t sell caged eggs,
nor do large corporations like McDonalds
UK use them in their product. Hopefully,
Australia will follow in this direction.”
Working in her family company –
the Sherman Group – from an office in
Paddington, which she shares with her
father and brother Emile, a filmmaker,
Sherman balances a busy domestic schedule
with her animal advocacy.
Mother to a five-year-old girl and twoand-a-half-year-old twin boys, she admits
she is kept “ridiculously busy”.
“As a mother you naturally want the
best for your children and for them to grow
up in an ideal world,” she says. “Like most
mothers we are protective of the innocent
and helpless and this includes animals. This
doesn’t necessarily mean we all have to
become vegetarians – many people choose
to become ‘conscientious omnivores’, as
Peter Singer would say.
“It’s the small things that add up like
cutting down on meat consumption in your
diet, choosing free range eggs, chicken and
pork over factory farmed ones and other
things like this.”
Sherman doesn’t just have a moral and
ethical objection to factory farming, she also
sees a correlation between the practice and
the recent epidemic of swine flu.
In a piece she wrote for the Sydney
Morning Herald on 29 April, she said: “No
one should be surprised when, at the
onset of new viruses such as H1N1 swine flu, fingers are pointed at
industrialised intensive farming practices.
“Imagine if tens of thousands of people were permanently
confined in closed sheds. No fresh air, only air-conditioning. No
sunlight. Each person would have hardly enough room to move.
They would defecate and urinate in the same spot in which they
slept and ate. Doesn’t it sound like a recipe for disaster and disease?
Yet this is exactly what more than 90 per cent of the world’s 60 billion
animals are subjected to each year in intensive farming practices.
“In Australia, as in other countries, the vast majority of pigs
and chickens are raised in factory farms. On average, more than
10 million hens and a quarter of a million female pigs are crammed
into cages so small they cannot turn around.
“Are humans now paying the price for the cruelty we have
inflicted? Perhaps, when the cost becomes too high for us to pay,
we will take action. When we do, it will not only help safeguard our
children from new diseases, it will save millions of intelligent and
feeling animals from a lifetime of pain and suffering.”
Voiceless has as its mission to “bring the institutionalised
suffering of animals to the forefront of Australia’s agenda, ensuring
that animal protection is the next great social justice movement”.
With the dedication and determination with which Sherman and
her colleagues are going about achieving this objective, one has
the strong sense that the mistreatment of animals will some day
soon, be relegated to the history books. n
For more information on animal protection and how you can help,
visit www.voiceless.org.au
5
news
universit y
Concept Plan approved: Macquarie looks
forward to the next 25 years
On 11 September, New South Wales Minister for Planning Kristina Keneally
approved a landmark document setting out Macquarie’s plans for campus
development over the next 25 years.
The approval of the Macquarie University Concept Plan coincides with
an amendment to the New South Wales State Environmental Planning
Policy, and gives the campus ‘Site of State Significance’ status.
In declaring the campus a Site of State Significance, the Government
has acknowledged the important role the University will play in helping to
meet the State’s economic, employment and sustainability objectives.
During the campus visit, Minister Keneally said the planning approval
would support up to 4000 new jobs and create a vibrant educational and
commercial hub.
“Macquarie University is a world-class education facility with a proven
record of investing in first-class projects,” she said.
“Providing more employment, educational, retail and commercial
opportunities at the University reaffirms Sydney as the premier city for
investment and education.”
The Concept Plan provides a guideline for developing the campus
sustainably for the benefit of staff and students and incorporates major
building projects already underway on the campus, including the
Macquarie University Hospital, Learning and Research Centre, Cochlear
headquarters and additional student housing.
“The Concept Plan proposes new commercial and academic buildings
that will be built close to the new Macquarie University train station,”
Minister Keneally said.
“Additional student accommodation for 3450 students is also proposed,
which will bring the total number of students living on the campus to
5000 once completed.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz said he was delighted that
the Concept Plan had now been approved.
“Macquarie is well on its way to reaching its goal of becoming one of
Australia’s top research universities,” he said. “We can now move forward
with even more confidence as we plan for the future, and with our
University Concept Plan, Macquarie will attract more industry partners.”
“This decision by the Government can only help us to provide our
students with the best opportunities to fulfil their potential.”
takes full ownership
of hospital
I
n a commercial agreement signed recently,
Macquarie University has purchased all rights
relating to the ownership and operation of
the Macquarie University Hospital from project
partner Dalcross Holdings Pty Limited.
The $180m ($250m including fit-out)
hospital will open next year, becoming the first
hospital in Australia to be built on the grounds
of a university.
It will integrate clinical care, teaching and
research and offer world-class medical facilities,
specialised patient care and outstanding teaching
and learning opportunities for staff and students
undertaking specialty training at the co-located
Australian School of Advanced Medicine.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz
opening of the new hospital, which will be
staffed by around 200 leading surgeons and
medical specialists from Australia and around
the world when fully operational.
Dalcross CEO Carl Adams says he wishes the
University future success with the hospital project,
adding that the organisations were parting on
good terms, with both having been involved with
From left: Chancellor Michael Egan, Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven
Schwartz and Minister Kristina Keneally with media.
the project for more than four years.
photoS: GEORGE DERTADIAN, mmg photography
says the University is eagerly awaiting the
Macquarie honours
renowned Australians
Nine distinguished Australians were awarded
honorary doctorates at the University’s recent
graduation ceremonies.
Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams AM, New
South Wales Chief Scientist Professor Mary O’Kane,
children’s entertainers The Wiggles, and television
presenter and Commonwealth Games medallist
Johanna Griggs, were each honoured with the
degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.
commended each recipient – Williams for his
From left: Chancellor Michael Egan with The Wiggles and former teacher
Dr Kathleen Warren.
long and distinguished involvement in the arts
and entertainment industry in Australia and
internationally, for which he was awarded a
Member of the Order of Australia in June 2006;
O’Kane for her many contributions to science,
academia and the wider community; The
Wiggles for both their outstanding contribution
to early childhood education in Australia and
internationally, and their talents as songwriters
and performers; and Griggs for her contributions
to journalism, professional swimming and for her
services to the community and cancer research.
From left: Commonwealth Games medallist Johanna Griggs, Foxtel chief executive
Kim Williams AM and New South Wales Chief Scientist Professor Mary O’Kane.
photos: PHILLIPA JANOS
Macquarie University teachers named among Australia’s best
Six of Macquarie University’s best teaching and support staff
– from areas as diverse as philosophy, linguistics and statistics –
were honoured in August with prestigious national awards.
Awarded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council
for outstanding contributions to student learning, the citations
represent part of the Australian Government’s commitment to
quality learning and teaching, with each citation worth $10,000.
Macquarie’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Provost) Professor Judyth
Sachs says the entire University is extremely proud of its excellent
academic and professional staff.
“These six colleagues are an inspiration to us all,” she says.
“They represent the very best of what Australian universities
can offer, and the results of their passion, innovation and
commitment to their students will be seen in our graduates for
years to come.”
The six award recipients are:
Dr Ayse Bilgin, Statistics – For enhancing learning and teaching
in statistics through different assessment tools, timely feedback
and learning support that encourages independent learning
•
• Dr Jennifer Cornish, Psychology – For promoting passion
•
•
•
•
for biological psychology which has increased student
understanding and interest in the field of neuroscience and the
neurobiology of mental illness
Dr Jennifer Duke-Yonge, Philosophy – For a commitment
to fostering communities of enquiry across diverse learning
contexts, through the development, implementation
and promotion of reflective, research-based student
engagement strategies
Associate Professor Antonina Harbus, English – For excellence
in fostering academic skills in first-year students from diverse
backgrounds through the provision of an engaging, equitable,
and well-structured learning environment
Dr Mira Kim, Linguistics – For motivating and inspiring students
to learn through passionate teaching and research efforts
Ms Radha Pathy, Psychology – For demonstrating a supportive,
holistic approach to nurture student development by
embracing student diversity, engaging their interest and
motivating their performance for academic success.
7
news from
news
universit y
DEVELOPMENT AND
E X T E R N A L R E L AT I O N S
As an alumnus of Macquarie University myself (MGSM 1992),
before I joined the University as a member of the Executive in
2007, I took a keen interest in how the University was progressing,
because it had a direct impact on the continuing value of my
degree. A university that is growing, that is ambitious, focussed
and has a clear vision for its future is a university of which its
graduates can be proud.
Macquarie University is all these things. Most importantly,
our share of both school leaver and non school leaver first
PHOTO: EFFY ALEXAKIS
preferences has increased by over 700 students in the past two
years. This equates to market share growth of 5320 students in
2010 compared with 4613 students in 2007. First preferences
are also converting to enrolment – in 2008 we increased our
conversion rate of offers to enrolment from 50 per cent to 62
Macquarie welcomes
AUQA audit report
per cent. Such a large increase in prospect conversion in one
Macquarie University has welcomed the recently-
universities have declined, Macquarie has grown. This growth
published report of the Australian Universities Quality
we attribute to a number of factors – our renewed student
Agency (AUQA) following the audit of two areas of
Macquarie’s operations – Research and Research
Training, and Internationalisation.
“This is a detailed and comprehensive report, with 30
commendations, affirmations and recommendations,
and we thank the Audit Panel for their considerable
time and effort,” says Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Provost)
Professor Judyth Sachs, who co-ordinated the
University’s participation in the audit.
“Overall, the University considers the findings of
the audit to be overwhelmingly positive, in particular
the endorsement of Macquarie’s strategic vision to
become a leading Australian research university, and
the acknowledgement of the significant progress,
particularly in terms of research performance, already
made towards the realisation of that goal.
“In their report the Audit Panel recognised the
significant transformation Macquarie has undergone
year is a result most enterprises would love to achieve.
In an environment where many other New South Wales
recruitment team, which now employs the services of our
current students to visit schools and talk in their language
about what studying at Macquarie is really like; our new
undergraduate curriculum which has captured the imagination
of prospective students; our clear vision for our future growth;
and finally, yes, the train station. Transport accessibility is an
important factor in choice for students,
and being able to embark on
campus is clearly very attractive,
and something no other university
in Sydney can offer.
Our ambition is to keep growing
our market share. Every increment
in that growth, every additional
student who selects Macquarie,
builds our reputation and the
value of our degree.
since its new leadership commenced in 2006. The
University’s management team is fully aware that there
is still significant work to do before that transformation
is complete, and the identification of key issues by such
an experienced panel will certainly assist the University
Caroline Trotman
to enhance the quality and standard of its operations
D e p u t y Vi c e - C h a n c e l l o r,
Development and
External Relations
over the coming years.”
advancement
Founding patrons lead
new Macquarie society
On 20 October Macquarie launched the Joan and John Lincoln
Society, heralding a new era of philanthropy at the University.
The Society has been established by the University Council
to honour the elder statesmen and women of the University,
and in particular those who have made it known they have left
a bequest. These supporters will help Macquarie contribute
in significant ways to Australia’s development and will make a
tangible difference to future generations of students.
Founding Patrons who have announced their intentions
to leave a bequest to the University in their Wills include ViceChancellor Professor Steven Schwartz and his wife Claire, Mr
Derek To and The Hon Judge John Lincoln.
Commenting on the Society, Macquarie Chancellor The Hon
Michael Egan, says, “One of the most important ways in which a
person can contribute to a community is by leaving a bequest
to their university.
“Universities play a special role in our society, and at Macquarie
we are building one of the finest universities in Australia. We
want to give students access to learning, regardless of their
backgrounds. We are committed to producing research that
contributes to social, economic and scientific development.”
The Society has been named in honour of The Hon Judge
From left: Peter Leunig, Derek To, The Hon Judge John Lincoln, Chancellor
The Hon Michael Egan and Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz.
John Lincoln AM and his late wife Joan. Judge Lincoln’s ties
to Macquarie date back to the committee that established
the University, and together with Joan, he organised many
fundraising events for the University, including several hosted
in their family home.
Judge Lincoln has been a member of the University Council
since 1964, was Deputy Chancellor from 1976 to 2000, and
Emeritus Deputy Chancellor since 2000. He was the first
Chairman of the Standing Committee of Convocation and the
Lincoln Building for student services was named after him.
He has established a scholarship for Indigenous students
with a gift this year and is leaving a bequest to Macquarie to
augment the scholarship in the future.
Specific bequests are invited and can be arranged in
consultation with Anne Peedom. Phone +61 2 9850 1392 or
email [email protected].
PHOTO: EFFY ALEXAKIS
Appealing to you
Students who might not be able to attend or
excel at university due to financial constraints
are benefiting from funds raised by alumni.
Following the success of the University’s
first fundraising appeal for MGSM in 2008, a
larger and broader appeal has been launched
for 2009. It will support students through more
scholarships and improved resources.
The 2008 MGSM appeal invited alumni to
make donations towards a range of projects,
including scholarships, a Visiting Fellows
Program and MGSM Connect, a program to
encourage new collaborations with industry.
The campaign was a positive start to the
University’s fundraising program, with $137,000
raised and in 2009 MGSM alumni will again be
invited to contribute to these programs.
The appeal aims to increase the number of
scholarships for students who need financial
assistance, in particular those from rural areas
and disadvantaged backgrounds.
“With thousands of students attending the
University each year, the more we can support
their studies the better, especially those in
financial need,” says Cassandra Parkinson,
Director of Development in the Office of
Institutional Advancement.
The University already offers many
scholarships but there is an urgent need for
more support.
“If students spend all their time working
to cover their expenses, it makes study very
difficult,” she says. “And a strong scholarship
program is an incentive to come to Macquarie.
It supports the University in its vision of being
one of the top 200 universities in the world.”
The Ancient History and Chiropractic
departments will also benefit from the appeal.
“The Ancient History appeal will support the
department, which is celebrating 40 years of
teaching at Macquarie, in its goal of increasing
post-doctoral positions for young researchers.”
The chiropractic appeal will raise funds for
Australia’s first Research Chair in Chiropractic.
“There is an urgent need for solid research
in chiropractic to help the profession
respond to developments in public policy,
preventative health care and the regulatory
framework,” she adds.
The Chair will establish a strong evidence
base in chiropractic and strengthen Australia’s
chiropractic research performance. It will
support the profession in providing highquality advice to government and other
agencies. And, importantly, it will help build
collaborations between chiropractic and
other health researchers, with better
outcomes for chiropractic and all health
care professions.
To support this year’s appeal, visit the
University’s new Supporting Macquarie
website at www.mq.edu.au/supporting or
phone +61 2 9850 1384.
9
feature
Macquarie University’s new
In 2010 Macquarie will begin teaching a new set of undergraduate degrees, every one of
In mid-2008 Macquarie embarked on an
ambitious transformation of its undergraduate
curriculum. Such an endeavour was seen as a
vital element in the University achieving its
goals for excellence in teaching and research
and for providing its students with the best
possible education.
The curriculum renewal was seen as an
opportunity to honour the University’s roots
while at the same time look to the future
and design degrees that students, and future
generations of students, require to become
successful global citizens.
The seeds of such an enormous task
were cultivated in the mind of Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Provost) Professor Judyth
Sachs. To begin with Sachs knew that some
pretty big questions needed to be asked and
then answered.
“Every university needs to have the
opportunity to renew its curriculum and it had
been some time since Macquarie had taken
the opportunity to ask some fundamental
questions,” says Sachs.
“What do we teach? How do we teach?
What will make the Macquarie experience
different from other universities? How do we
enhance the student experience? How do
we engage students? And the last question
is what sort of curriculum do we think will
prepare students for the 21st century?”
To begin answering these questions
Sachs put together a steering committee
of experienced educators who were well
respected within the University. Together
with a consultant, who collected a mountain
of evidence, they began testing the ideas on
the working group. The testing proved to
Sachs that a redirection and a simplification
of the curriculum was needed.
“We wanted to develop a curriculum
that was academically rigorous, flexible, that
was built on the academic strengths of the
University with a structure that could be
easily understood by students locally and
internationally,” says Sachs.
“After much consultation and collection
of evidence – talking to current students, to
students in schools, to teachers, talking to
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Provost) Professor Judyth Sachs
employers – we started to get a sense of what
the curriculum would be like.”
And from this came the three ‘Ps’ – People,
Planet and Participation. These three planks
would be the foundation for the future
curriculum. The People unit will allow students
to become engaged local and global citizens
through learning about the challenges of
contemporary society; the Planet unit will help
students understand the physical world and
the issues facing our planet; and Participation
will encourage students to actively contribute
to the community and to engage with issues
that face society. During the course of their
degree they will have the opportunity to
Macquarie students
volunteering in Vietnam.
undergraduate curriculum
PHOTOS: EFFY ALEXAKIS, HOLIMAGE, paul wright
which will include learning opportunities unique to a Macquarie University education.
participate in activities that offer real-world
experience relevant to their studies.
“The three Ps came from my very strong
belief that we had to provide students with
both breadth and depth in their studies,”
says Sachs. “Macquarie will give its students
a broader set of learning experiences in
their degree – whether it is a professionally
focussed qualification, such as a Bachelor of
Commerce or a Bachelor of Laws, or a generic
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.
“Every student, no matter where they are
from does a subject that asks the question:
What do we need to know to live in the
physical world? Or, what do we need to
know to live in the social world? Participation,
I think, is the most exciting of the lot. How
do we engage with community? These three
Ps really are the fundamental core of the
new curriculum.”
Another differentiator of the Macquarie
degree will be its focus on the development
of graduate capabilities – such as creativity,
critical thinking and effective communication.
Students will assess their graduate capabilities
through the undertaking a Capstone unit in
their final year.
“We were told by employers that these
are the employability factors that Macquarie
students will carry with them long after
“Another of the key
attractions of the new
curriculum is that we’re
flexible in terms of how
we organise degrees.
So if a student wants to
get a Bachelor of Arts
but perhaps major in
mathematics they’ve
got that opportunity.”
their disciplinary knowledge has become
outdated,” explains Sachs.
“The quality of the Macquarie degree is our
currency, if we give them away too cheaply, we
devalue what we do. So we want everybody
to know that a Macquarie degree is a highquality, academically rigorous, intellectually
challenging degree. Then we can say that we
have added real value to a student’s learning.
“Another of the key attractions of the
new curriculum is that we’re flexible in
terms of how we organise degrees. So if a
student wants to get a Bachelor of Arts but
perhaps major in mathematics they’ve got
that opportunity.”
Even though the new curriculum is
geared towards an innovative future
Macquarie, it was important that what
Macquarie initially stood for remained –
a focal point within the new framework,
that the University’s identity wasn’t lost along
the way.
“We made sure there was an alignment
between the major policies in the University
and honouring our past – the set of values
and principles upon which Macquarie was
established 47 years ago,” says Sachs. “We are
a highly ambitious University. Macquarie@50
is a document that has rallied people’s
imagination and so what we’ve been able to
do is give momentum to that aspiration with
the curriculum.”
The first students will enrol in the new
curriculum at the beginning of next year. n
Spring 2009 Macquarie Matters 11
Introducing the Macquarie University Alumni Web Community
Win 2
return tickets
to China
Registering as a user of Macquarie University’s
Alumni Web Community allows you to:
• Ensure you receive your Macquarie Matters magazine
• Receive news about Macquarie University,
alumni events and benefits
• Find and re-connect with classmates and
other alumni through the Alumni Directory
• View and update your profile
• Register and pay online for events
• Support Macquarie online
China Eastern Airlines is one of the three largest airline
enterprises in China. Flight operations have now been
expanded to all five continents in the world. There are over
200 Airbuses operating around 450 routes. Passengers can
fly China Eastern Airlines to most cities in China including
Hong Kong and Taipei and some major cities worldwide
via Shanghai including London, Frankfurt, Paris, and
Moscow in Europe; Los Angeles, New York, and Vancouver
in North America. In addition, China Eastern has been
operating frequent flights between China and Japan,
Korea & Southeast Asia.
For details, please visit our website.
The regular flight schedule in Australia is:
Sydney–Shanghai: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Melbourne–Shanghai: Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun
Sydney Office
Level 9/39–41 York Street Sydney
Tel:
02 92901148
Fax: 02 92901153
Email: [email protected]
Melbourne Office
Level 8/303 Collins Street
Tel:
03 86351000
Fax: 03 96148882
Email: [email protected]
www.ceair.com www.flychinaeastern.com
Go to www.mq.edu.au/alumni/awc and log on to the
new Alumni Web Community for your chance to win!
After you have registered you will be automatically entered
into the draw to win 2 return economy tickets to China.
Winners will be notified by 31 January 2010.
Terms and Conditions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
By entering this promotion you are deemed to have accepted all terms and conditions listed hereafter.
Entry is free and open to Macquarie University Graduates only. To enter you must register as a user of the
Alumni Web Community website by 5pm AEST Friday 15 January 2010: www.mq.edu.au/alumni/awc
The prize shall only be valid for travel for a period of 12 months from the date it is first issued to the promoter.
In accepting the prize, the winner(s) shall be subject to China Eastern Airline’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
Ticket(s) remain the property of China Eastern Airlines.
The prize is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed online or for cash. In the event the ticket is presented for travel by person(s)
who are not registered with the promoter as the winner, the ticket shall become void.
The winner(s) can only use the two return economy class ticket(s) to travel from Sydney or Melbourne with China Eastern Airlines flights
to a destination in China at the discretion of the Airline subject to seats availability and in non high-season periods.
The tickets are issued on a waiting list basis and the winner(s) must check with China Eastern Airlines reservations for seat availability prior to departure.
Any contact details entered incorrectly will be deemed invalid.
We will select the winner(s) of the promotion via an automated computer generated random selection process on Tuesday 19 January at 10am
AEST at Macquarie Alumni, BD Building, Macquarie University.
If you are the winner we will notify you by email.
The winner(s) of the ticket(s) must pay all taxes and fees applicable to the ticket(s) to China Eastern Airlines as a condition of and prior to
the ticket being issued, or where the ticket has been issued, a condition of its being presented for travel.
Any tax liability arising as a result of accepting the prize is the responsibility of the winner(s). Independent advice should be sought.
You agree that the promoter or China Eastern Airlines will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered, including but not limited to loss of
revenue, loss of profits and, loss of goodwill, or for any personal injury suffered or sustained as a result of the cancellation of a ticket by China Eastern Airlines
following a breach of these terms and conditions or a breach of China Eastern Airlines’ Standard Terms and Conditions of Carriage, which cannot be excluded by law.
With their permission, the winners details will be published in ‘Macquarie Matters’ and on the Alumni Web Community website.
The promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The promoter may change these terms and conditions without notice.
The promoter is Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia.
partnerships
Industry supports
Macquarie talent
PHOTO: james zhao
Telecommunications, IT and banking giants
Optus, Datacom and Deutsche Bank have each
recently established generous scholarships
which will reward exceptional engineering and
actuarial studies students at Macquarie.
By forging links with industry and
community partners, Macquarie helps build
a bridge for students looking to develop
contacts and gain work experience. The grants
support upcoming talent and give students
an incentive to work hard and be innovative.
Two talented engineering students have
already been handpicked by Optus and
Macquarie to receive $5000 every year of their
four-year degrees.
Says Daniel McGill, Director of Learning
and Teaching in Macquarie’s Faculty of
Science: “As a university we create graduates,
and we want to invest in the future and the
community. Macquarie encourages close
relationships with industry and this is a part of
our contribution to that.”
McGill worked alongside Rob Carroll,
General Manager of Human Resources
Networks and IT at Optus, to develop the
partnership and bring the scholarship
to fruition.
“The calibre of the students was absolutely
terrific,” says Carroll. “It was really, really hard
to choose the two most worthy students. I
think that actually says a lot about the student
population at Macquarie University. We are
delighted with the two that we have chosen
because we think they are terrific young
people, very passionate about engineering.”
Datacom, which is located adjacent to
Macquarie in North Ryde’s high technology
corridor, will donate a prize of $4000 for
five years, awarded to the best engineering
student in their fifth semester.
Winner of the
inaugural Deutsche
Bank scholarship,
Yeeshu Kumar.
“The calibre of the students was absolutely
terrific; it was really, really hard to choose
the two most worthy students.”
“Datacom was another company
who came to us and said they
wanted to provide a prize to a
student here,” says McGill. “At the
end, it is promoting community
involvement and engagement but
also identifying, in that co-branding
way, that the University has strong
links with industry and industry is
likewise developing strong links
with the University.”
Global investment bank
Deutsche Bank has awarded a
three-year scholarship to a first-year
actuarial studies student.
The scholarship recognises the
importance of investing in people
with strong analytical and risk
management skills – skills which
are seen as a necessity in today’s
increasingly complex investment,
banking and finance sector.
The winner of the inaugural
scholarship is Yeeshu Kumar, who is
undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce – Actuarial Studies with a Bachelor
of Economics at Macquarie.
Of the scholarship, Kumar says: “It not only allows me to attain
valuable practical experience, it also allows me to meet a range of
individuals established in the financial industry, which gives me access
to an abundance of imperative information.”
The Deutsche Bank Scholarship in Actuarial Studies is valued at
$10,000 per annum and also includes an annual job placement with
the bank within its global markets or global banking divisions.
While the job of actuary involves detailed analysis to quantify risks
as well as expertise with advanced modelling techniques to forecast
future probabilities of various outcomes, it also requires the ability to
understand and communicate effectively with all types of people.
Deutsche Bank Australia and New Zealand CEO Chum Darvall, who
is a graduate of Macquarie, credits the diversity of his educational
experience here with providing him with the foundation skills needed
to pursue a successful career in the financial sector.
“The broad education I received at Macquarie across a wide range
of disciplines including philosophy, behavioural science and law could
be described as a liberal arts approach,” Darvall says.
“This form of education has helped me immeasurably in my career
in the global environment of financial services.” n
alumnifocus
A
affair
A youthful passion for understanding how technology and
communications come together led Iggy Pintado to become one of
the first students to enrol in Macquarie University’s then fledgling mass
communications degree. It was a decision that would shape his life.
Today Pintado is an internationally recognised
connection technology expert and holds
a place in the Top 25 list of the most
connected business networkers in Australia.
He is a former marketing director at IBM and
is currently the CEO and Chief Networking
Officer at ConnectGen, a company that
advises businesses on the commercial use of
online networking.
“I was always interested in being at the
forefront of technical and marketing initiatives,”
he says. “But back in the early ’80s when I
was studying, people were not using mass
communications effectively; the information
was being sent out through various broadcast
media, but it was all about getting the message
out, not drawing people in.
“The Macquarie course was really at the
frontier of the field. Unlike now where mass
communication is a very popular field of
study, back then it was popular only among
creative, innovative thinkers who saw which
way the wind was blowing.”
Apart from offering an innovative degree,
studying at Macquarie is in Pintado’s blood:
eight family members across two generations
are Macquarie graduates, and his two children
are currently studying here.
Pintado says that while it was important to
him that his children come to Macquarie and
continue the family tradition (his wife Kerry
came here too), in the end it was their decision.
Kerry, who studied for a Bachelor of Arts
in Human Geography, says: “Education is
very important to our family, and we were
proud and delighted that they continued the
family tradition”.
Macquarie’s relaxed, natural environment
surrounded by bushland and its northern
“Preparing
a tutorial
presentation
is just like
putting
together a
presentation
to the board.”
Sydney location was certainly appealing across the generations,
especially for daughter Rachel, who is currently completing her final
semester of a Bachelor of Arts with a Bachelor of Science in Natural and
Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies and son Andrew, who is in his
second year of a Bachelor of International Studies, majoring in Spanish.
“We were also very familiar with the opportunities available both
academically and on campus because of our family’s involvement,”
comments Rachel. “It made starting and becoming involved in the life
of the University very easy.”
Andrew agrees, saying: “Our family is very proud of its relationship
with Macquarie. They’ve all had great experiences here and been very
happy with their decision to study at the University.”
For each member of the family, however, the decision to study at
Macquarie has also been about studying at a non-traditional university
that was looking to establish itself and its graduates in the new world.
“That combination of being emerging, but different in terms of
the experiences and the diversified, international outlook it continues
to offer students was a key part of the decision-making process,”
Pintado comments.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (English), majoring in Mass
Communication in 1982, Pintado applied to work in radio, and received
70 rejection letters, which he still has.
“They wanted people to know the operational side of the business
before eventually making it behind the microphone. To do this you
would have had to have started when you were about 13,” he laughs.
Undaunted, he recognised that approach made sense across
the sphere of business, and made it his mission to get to know his
businesses from the inside out, starting with his first ‘real’ job as the
assistant manager of a cinema.
“I came to understand how good movies make money for a cinema,
and how bad ones don’t, and the role that effective marketing played
in that,” he says.
Around this time he also recognised the role that technology
would play in the future and went to work for IBM in 1986, spending
the next ten years working in a variety of roles in finance, sales and
admin and finishing up as director of marketing, heavily involved in the
development of the computer giant’s Internet presence.
From there he moved across to Telstra, working in channel
development – attracting customers and distributing its products – and
Rachel Pintado.
Photos: GFP Graduations
From left: Iggy and Kerry Pintado.
finally managing the telco’s online enterprise.
“Working across these various organisations
gave me a great insight into how we’ve evolved
and transformed from using communications
as a channel to connecting better as a society
and in business,” he explains.
A couple of years ago, Pintado took a
break from working for corporations and
wanted to move into adding value to
smaller organisations because, he says, this
transformation in the way we communicate
has ramifications for business and society.
Today he consults on the concept of
connectivity and has recently written his first
book, Connection Generation, a fascinating
study of why people and businesses have
adopted connection technologies such
as Google, blogs, YouTube, MySpace
and Facebook faster than any other
communication medium.
Pintado attributes much of his business
success to his time at Macquarie, saying: “For
me, it wasn’t just the content but learning
how to learn that was so valuable.
“Putting together an assignment is good
training for putting together a corporate
proposal. Preparing a tutorial presentation is
just like putting together a presentation to the
board. These are skills that you carry with you
through the course of your professional life,”
adding that “while you’re studying, you don’t
Andrew Pintado.
“Our family is
very proud of its
relationship with
Macquarie. They’ve
all had great
experiences here
and been very happy
with their decision
to study at the
University.”
recognise the value of these abilities – that only happens later in life.”
Pintado has gone back to university himself in a manner of
speaking. He has joined the Macquarie Ambassador program and is
also committed to helping alumni get to grips with the power of online
networking and social media for the advancement of their careers.
“With 22 years in corporate life there are plenty of things to pass on,
so I became actively involved to give something back to the university
that has been so much a part of my family’s life,” he says. “I encourage
others to share the benefit of their experiences too.” n
Connection Generation
Iggy Pintado
To order a copy of this enlightening
book visit: www.amazon.com or
www.connectiongenerationbook.com
news
research
Photo: Phillipa Janos
Macquarie appoints first Indigenous Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Michelle Trudgett is the first
recipient of a new Postdoctoral
Research Fellowship created
especially for Indigenous early
career researchers. Her focus
is on developing strategies to
assist more Indigenous students
to undertake and successfully
complete postgraduate studies.
Trudgett is a descendent of the
Wiradjuri nation in central-west
NSW, although she has lived in
Sydney most of her life. She holds
a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of
Professional Studies in Aboriginal
Studies and a Doctor of Education.
Frustrated by the lack of
support available to herself
and other Indigenous students
undertaking postgraduate studies,
Trudgett’s previous doctoral
research focussed on this
theme. Her research included
26 recommendations that could
be implemented by Government
and universities.
Her postdoctoral research
at Macquarie will continue on
with this line of enquiry. Trudgett
intends to establish key factors
that contribute to the success of
Indigenous Australians obtaining
postgraduate qualifications as
well as identifying factors which
influence the low retention,
participation and completion
rates of Indigenous Australians in
postgraduate education.
Trudgett says she feels
honoured to have been
given this opportunity at
the University.
“It is absolutely fantastic
that Macquarie University has
recognised the importance of
Indigenous research. Appointing
me to a postdoctoral fellowship
does not signify a job for one
Indigenous person – it actually
signifies the beginning of a
solid foundation of Indigenous
research in the University. This
has the potential to impact many
people, both Indigenous and nonIndigenous,” she said.
Macquarie expands research partnerships
Several highly-regarded international universities in the UK and
Europe have recently signed cotutelle and joint PhD agreements
with Macquarie, boosting the University’s reputation as a
top-quality research institution and a university of choice for
talented researchers.
While a number of Australian universities participate in cotutelle
arrangements with university partners in France, Macquarie is
unique in its strategic expansion of these programs with partners
across Europe and China, and now also with leading UK institutions.
Significantly, Macquarie has identified key high-ranking
universities that have research strengths in similar areas to our own.
“Joint enrolment agreements are a key method of enhancing
Macquarie’s international research collaboration through the cosupervision of doctoral candidates,” explains Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research) Professor Jim Piper.
“They are extremely attractive to students because they
undertake research projects on two campuses, at Macquarie and
at the overseas institution, supervised by internationally leading
researchers at both institutions. Students benefit from joint
supervision, they get the advantage of international experience in
the field, they have an enriching cultural experience, and they do all
of this with the support of generous scholarships.”
The new agreements have been signed with universities in
Scotland and Germany. In Scotland, the Universities of Edinburgh,
Strathclyde, St Andrews and Glasgow have signed joint PhD
agreements with Macquarie, while in Germany, the Universities of
Hamburg, Gottingen, Frankfurt, Leipzig and Heidelberg University
have signed cotutelle agreements.
From left: Professor Jim Piper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research),
Macquarie University and Professor Steve Beaumont, VicePrincipal for Research and Enterprise, University of Glasgow.
Students undertaking joint PhDs obtain a single degree jointly
awarded by the two institutions while students entering into a
cotutelle arrangement graduate with two linked degrees, one from
each institution.
“What is especially significant about the new partnerships is
that we are the first Australian university to enter into joint PhD
agreements with a cluster of leading British universities,” says Piper.
“One student has already commenced at the University of
Strathclyde and a further 12 students are expected to begin PhDs
in Scotland within the next 6 months. We foresee that 60 students
will jointly enrol with ourselves and our Scottish and German
counterparts in the next year and that numbers will reach 200 across
all partner universities in the near future.”
The new partnerships build on Macquarie’s existing affiliations
with universities in France and Italy, China and the Americas.
$10
million
Researchers receive $10 million
funding boost in ARC grants
Marine scientist Dr Jane Williamson.
PhotoS: irena conomos, MICHELLE WILSON
Budget boost for medicine
and marine science
May’s Federal Budget provided welcome news to two key
areas of research and teaching at Macquarie University,
with millions in new funding allocated under the Education
Investment Fund.
Firstly, the Australian School of Advanced Medicine at
Macquarie will receive $16.638 million in order to provide
leadership in advanced surgical education.
This funding will transform aspects of post-specialisation
medical training in Australia as well as provide cutting-edge
facilities for Macquarie’s allied health students. It will also allow
for additional training facilities for microvascular neurosurgery,
a patient simulation centre and integrated audiovisual and
information technologies.
In addition, Macquarie’s marine scientists will benefit
from $19.5 million dedicated to turning the Sydney
Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) into a world-class marine
research facility.
SIMS is a partnership between marine scientists from
Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, the Univeristy
of New South Wales and the University of Technology, Sydney.
The SIMS scientists will now have access to state-of-the-art
equipment and facilities at their Chowder Bay site to combat
threats to marine ecosystems arising from climate change,
urbanisation, changing coastlines and marine microbes.
Macquarie’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor
Jim Piper says the two successful projects will not only
help Macquarie to realise its vision of becoming one of
Australia’s leading research universities, but will also lead to
improvements in the lives of everyday Australians.
“Whether it’s by helping to save people’s lives by
improving the training available to Australia’s best
surgeons, or by protecting our vital marine environment,
these investments will reap rewards for generations to
come,” he says.
Researchers from Macquarie University will receive more
than $10 million in Australian Research Council funding for
projects commencing in 2010.
The funding includes more than $9 million for 34 new
Discovery Projects – a significant increase from this year’s
$6.8 million for 21 projects – and a further $940,000 under
the Linkage Projects scheme.
The diverse range of projects Macquarie researchers
will undertake include investigating the emergence of
logic in children’s language; finding new technologies and
treatments to protect people and animals from increasingly
drug-resistant infections; exploring new therapies to better
treat children with anxiety disorders; evaluating the moral
impacts of drug addiction; and creating new models to
better manage risk in the financial markets.
Discovery Projects support and recognise excellent
research projects and individual researchers and teams of
researchers. They also provide opportunities for emerging
and established researchers to undertake research of
national and international significance.
Linkage Projects are partnerships between university
researchers and other organisations, businesses and
industries. Partner organisations contribute additional funds
to support ARC Linkage Projects.
Churchill
Fellowship
for gifted researcher
A prestigious fellowship that supports Australians to
pursue international study has been awarded to education
researcher Dr Kerry Hodge.
For Dr Kerry Hodge, a Postdoctoral Research
Fellow in the Children and Families Research
Centre (Institute of Early Childhood), working
as a preschool teacher with children who
had a range of abilities gave her a unique
insight into how the learning needs of gifted
children differed – an interest that became
the basis of her later PhD thesis.
Hodge has recently been awarded a
prestigious Churchill Fellowship, an award
that funds international study trips for
Australians who are striving for excellence, are
passionate about their profession and have a
strong community focus. It will allow her to
travel to the United States and the United
Kingdom to investigate leading programs
for gifted preschoolers and teacher training
in gifted child early education, and share
that knowledge with Australian parents
and early childhood professionals and
academics on her return.
“When I was working as a preschool
teacher there was not a lot of knowledge of
what to do with gifted children,” comments
Hodge. “Although not all gifted children
exhibit the same characteristics, they do
have certain characteristics in common,
such as the ability to pick up new things very
quickly, retain what they learn, and apply
that knowledge.
“They may also have very intense interests,
such as space or history, and are often verbally
advanced. Giftedness in some children is more
spatially-based – these are the children who
are very good with puzzles, Lego and
building, for example.”
“Gifted children
are often intense,
perfectionist, have
strong ideas about
what’s fair and are very
sensitive to criticism.”
Often with these gifts come certain
temperamental traits, she says. “Gifted
children are often intense, perfectionist, have
strong ideas about what’s fair and are very
sensitive to criticism – traits that combined
with their intellectual abilities can make
teaching them a challenge.”
Hodge is currently investigating the
beliefs that teachers in preschools and
childcare centres hold about giftedness
and their experiences with young gifted
children and their parents. Gifted education
rarely features in the pre-service and
in-service training of early childhood
teachers, and findings from her survey and
from the follow-up interviews with teachers
who have had very positive or problematic
experiences will guide training in this
neglected area.
Hodge notes that there are some exciting
programs being developed overseas which
could be replicated in Australia, and thanks
to the Churchill Fellowship she will begin
a six-week study of these programs in April
next year.
“This award will provide an opportunity
to investigate how gifted children are
identified and taught in the US and the UK,
and to compare the US model which tends
to segregate gifted children into special
programs with the inclusive UK model,
which offers them extension and enrichment
activities in mainstream early childhood
services,” she says.
“While there is a great deal in the literature
about what could be possible in early
childhood settings, the Churchill Fellowship
will allow me to see what happens first-hand,
as well as to make connections with others
working in the field.
“This will really bring those programs to
life, and provide us with concrete examples
to try here.”
Hodge is also involved with a charitable
organisation, the STaR Association, which
will soon offer programs for gifted
preschoolers and their parents in Sydney.
These programs will provide the opportunity
to implement and further evaluate what she
learns overseas.
She will also be looking at how early
childhood teachers are trained in gifted
education so that student teachers can
be well prepared to work with young
gifted children and existing teachers can
gain appropriate professional development.
The results of her investigation will be
freely available to anyone interested via
a report that will be placed on the Churchill
Memorial Trust website following her return. n
Photo: IRENA CONOMOS
researchprofile
researchawards
Eureka Prizes announced…
congratulations to our winners!
Dr Paul Beggs
Photos: Steve Lunam
Ron Oldfield
Charles Vaughan
Science Education Program were nominated as finalists
Macquarie University congratulates environmental
in the Promoting Understanding in Science category for
health expert Dr Paul Beggs and scientist Ron Oldfield,
their Engaging Indigenous Students in Science Project.
who were presented with prestigious Australian
Museum Eureka Prizes for medical research and science
photography, at the awards ceremony held in August.
Macquarie supports young scientists
Beggs won the $10,000 prize in the medical research
As well as encouraging its scientists to enter the Eureka
category for his work exploring the relationship between
Prizes each year, Macquarie is also a long-time sponsor
climate change, asthma and allergies.
of the awards, this year funding the Action Against
His work is the first in the world to link increased
Climate Change prize.
worldwide asthma with climate change. He was also
The winners were Year 10 Melbourne Grammar
nominated for the popular People’s Choice Award.
School students Tom Rogerson and Charles Vaughan
Beggs, from the Department of Environment and
for their project Going Solar: Location, location, location!
Geography, began looking at allergens such as pollen,
The project looked at the financial and environmental
house dust, mites and mould spores and discovered that
implications of installing solar panels at their school.
climate change may make asthma and food allergies to
For a web-based video of their project, the students
nuts more severe and more common.
took home the first prize of $4000 plus a
His interest in food allergies was initially
$1000 Abbey’s bookshop voucher.
“Winning such
sparked by research into poison ivy and
Their presentation explained the
a
prestigious
how climate change may make the plant
science behind solar panels and
more toxic to humans.
calculated that the school’s current
science award
Of the award Beggs say: “Winning
electricity use created 1200 tonnes of
such a prestigious science award is
CO2 emissions – equivalent to half a
is wonderful
wonderful recognition of the research
million candles burning continuously –
recognition of
on climate change and human health
for one year.
that I have been doing since the early
Speaking of the boys’ submission,
the research on
1990s, and particularly my research over
Australian Museum Director Frank
climate change.” Howarth said, “This generation has
the last five years. Winning the prize has
been very exciting for me, my family,
been galvanised into action on
my friends and my colleagues, both at Macquarie and
global warming and knows that it’s science which
elsewhere in Australia and abroad.”
will provide the answers. The boys costed out the
The photographic skill of long-time Department of
financial savings to the school of installing solar
Biological Sciences Senior Research Fellow Ron Oldfield
panels and determined it would take 40 years to pay
was also recognised with a Eureka Prize.
for itself. Even so, they concluded there is a moral
Oldfield shared the $4000 prize for science photography
imperative to act.”
for a photograph of a collection of Dictyostelium cells,
The Eureka Prizes are the premier science prizes in
clumped together to form a single slug-like organism.
Australia presented annually by the Australian Museum.
“Turning ‘snaps’ into works of art is of itself highly
The prizes recognise excellence in the fields of scientific
rewarding,” he says. “Professionally, recognition of the
research and innovation, science leadership, science
quality of the work by the judges does give a kick to
journalism and communication, and school science.
the ego. Personally, it is only through the cooperation
This year in particular, the Eureka finalists’ work
and encouragement of my colleagues in the University,
reflected the important role of science in tackling
especially Biology, that this and other pictures have
the big issues that face Australia and the world, with
been possible.”
research into climate change featuring prominently.
Additionally, Associate Professor Joanne Jamie, Dr
The 2009 winners were announced at a black-tie dinner,
Ian Jamie, David Harrington and Associate Professor
where they were joined by more than 900 leaders of
Subramanyam Vemulpad from Macquarie’s Indigenous
government, science, industry, academia and the media. n
feature
new opportunities for
New state-of-the-art media facilities have brought a new physical – and philosophical
– togetherness to the Department of Media, Music and Cultural Studies.
Previously dispersed across the campus, the department’s studios
and laboratories are now under the one roof and contributing to a new
era of innovation and collaboration.
Senior Lecturer Dr Sherman Young, who has been involved in
the project through its seven-month construction to moving in, says
the facilities – along with a review of the current curriculum – will
result in new opportunities emerging for both undergraduate and
postgraduate students.
“Expect to hear a lot more about new programs and exciting new
ventures from the department over the next six to 12 months,” he
says. “These facilities mean great things for collegiality and the student
experience, and being able to work together across the various
disciplines in the department in this age of convergent media.”
The reconstruction of what was previously the Australian Film,
Television and Radio School (AFTRS) building has given the department
three large studios for screen production, drama and dance/music; a
radio studio; two music studios; video editing suites; five computer labs
and music practice rooms.
“These are purpose-built studio spaces,” says Young. “The actual
studio spaces that we have remain from the old film and television
school, and are great studios spaces – some great productions have
been shot there in the past. These are professional production spaces
that we now have access to.”
The department now also has ample
access to computer laboratories and a dance
studio with specialised dance floors.
“All of a sudden any constraints on our
degrees have lifted,” says Young.
The 10,500m2 building was vacated by
AFTRS in July 2008 following negotiations with
the University to purchase the property. The
total cost of the project is about $50 million.
The move coincides with the creation
of the Department of Media, Music and
Cultural Studies earlier this year, which
brought together the Department of Media,
the Department of Music, the Department
of Cultural Studies and the Department of
International Communication.
The union is building on, and combining,
the research and teaching strengths of each
discipline to create a coherent, collaborative
and progressive unit at the cutting-edge of
the creative industries.
Research and the implementation of
programs are easier for students and staff,
Photos: effy alexakis, FILM GRAPHICS: ISTOCK-MARSBARS, MMG PHOTOGRAPHY,
MUSIC notes: Linkware graphics, PAUL WRIGHT
new department
particularly in the practical fields offered by the department, which
include screen production, film, music, radio, music technology,
multimedia, studio production, print media, vocal performance,
contemporary dance and performance studies.
The University’s cultural studies experts, for example, are setting the
pace in global research in areas including somatechnics; critical race,
ethnicity and diaspora studies; and Derridean studies.
The media discipline’s film area is also at the forefront of its industry.
In 2007 PhD candidate Anna Broinowski won two Australian Film
Industry (AFI) Awards for Forbidden Lie$, her documentary on author
Norma Khouri. She picked up Best Documentary and Best Editing
in a Documentary. In 2006, lecturer Alec Morgan’s film Hunt Angels,
developed as part of his Masters degree, won three AFI Awards: Best
Documentary, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.
Media at Macquarie is one of the oldest schools of media in Australia
and has always been a leader in education, bringing together the
traditional attributes of a university degree and a focus on production
(screen, multimedia, writing, radio and public relations).
“The new facilities provide a realisation of that,” says Young. “We can
now do the production side justice, as well as continue to emphasise
the strong theoretical focus that we’ve always had.”
The department’s international communication programs are
launching careers in global business, media and policy, and the
contemporary music discipline (vocal; guitar; music production
technology; dance; and theoretical, critical, and cultural perspectives
on contemporary music forms) is relishing its new home.
“The amalgamation means we are finally a singular entity –
physically and philosophically,” he says. “It’s really exciting to be able to
pull projects together in a way that previously
has been quite difficult.”
For the 90-odd Higher Degree Research
students completing projects from the purely
theoretical to combined production-exegesis
theses, the new facilities are opening new
worlds of possibility.
“We can now package up a whole range
of new programs, short courses and nontraditional postgraduate offerings – there’s
a lot of discussion to happen, but the
possibilities are now there,” says Young.
“These facilities mean great things for
collegiality and the student experience.”
No longer limited by issues of space with its
state-of-the-art facilities, the department now
hopes to attract more students to its programs.
One final bonus to come out of the new
hub at the Epping Road end of the campus, is
the café, jokes Young.
“Hopefully it will become the beating heart
of everything that happens in the department.
“You really need to walk through the facility
to get a sense of the enormity of the building.
It’s really going to be a fantastic facility for
students and staff.” n
studentfocus
observe a society where men and women have equal rights.
Macquarie boasts a vibrant and exciting campus life due in part to
“While in Australia I have been able to meet other people,
our diverse mix of students. International students, who account for
exchange ideas, and learn from the experiences of those who are
over a third of Macquarie’s student population, help to enrich the
working with similar issues from different corners of the world,” she
educational, social and cultural experience of all students.
says. “My future plans for my people are to help women and girls who
Afghani sisters Zohra and Haseena Akseer are two international
have no access to their essential rights and find
students who have chosen Macquarie to further
an end to the difficulties and limitations due to
their studies, after they were each awarded a
illiteracy, informal justice mechanisms and the
United Nations Development Fund for Women
role of tribal customs.”
Peace Scholarship.
Haseena Akseer is as passionate as her
The Peace Scholarship Program provides
sister about providing opportunities for the
opportunities for high-achieving students
women of Afghanistan. While a student at
whose financial means preclude them from
the University of Kabul she was the project
studying abroad, to undertake one or two
manager for the first Girls Internet Cafe on
semesters in Australia. In doing so it seeks to
campus, which was funded by the World Bank.
develop cross-cultural understanding through
Her thesis was on domestic violence against
education and cultural exchange.
women in Afghanistan and her plan once she
Both sisters are undertaking a Masters in
From left: Zohra and Haseena Akseer.
returns to her home country is to work in an
International Trade and Commerce Law and
organisation that will enable her to identifiy
they plan to use their degrees to help the
and assist women at risk. Backed by the Peace Scholarship, she
underprivileged and oppressed in Afghanistan.
chose to study at Macquarie “because it is one of the best Australian
When she graduated from the University of Kabul, Zohra Akseer
universities for international trade and business law,” she says. “The
volunteered for the Afghan Women Law Council and Afghanistan
University has many advantages in terms of academic style, education
Independent Human Rights Commission, where she ran awarenessand institutional method as well as a wide range of facilities. I believe
raising seminars and workshops for women about their legal rights.
Macquarie University is the best option for international students.”
Since arriving in Australia she has been relishing the opportunity to
Four months after achieving the greatest
win of her sporting career to date,
Macquarie University Sports Scholar, and
now sailing world champion, Amanda
Scrivenor is still basking in the glory.
Back in July, Scrivenor and her Australian
team mates overcame the world’s best teams
to win the 2009 Women’s Match Racing World
Championship in Lysekil, Sweden.
Scrivenor had never competed at a world
championship before and said the quality
of the competition was “overwhelming”
at first. However, once she and her team
mates overcame their nerves they surprised
everybody with how well they performed.
“We were one of the lower-ranked teams
and were the youngest crew by far, but we
were able to beat the number one-ranked
team in the world – the French – with a fourlength lead to progress to the final,” says the
Bachelor of Marine Science student.
“Our plan was to finish in the top six, but
no-one expected us to win. None of the
journalists who interviewed us after the win
had any idea who we were!”
Scrivenor has been sailing for 12 years
and inherited her love of the sport from her
parents. Her win in Sweden followed twoand-a-half months of training, competitions
and Olympic-class regattas in various
locations across Europe, and she is likely
to return there again next year for more
training and elite competition in preparation
for the biggest challenge of all – the London
2012 Olympics.
She was among 12 sailing competitors
to be selected for an Olympic training
squad last November. Their performances at
international competitions in the lead-up to
the Games will determine who is selected to
represent Australia in London.
“Australia is now a known force in
women’s match racing and our goal is to
stay on top of the world,” she says.
PHOTO: dan ljungsvik/lwm
Sports scholar wins gold at sailing world championship
Amanda Scrivenor, centre,
helps her teamates win gold.
PHOTO: PHILLIPA JANOS
International peace scholars choose Macquarie
alumnifocus
Macquarie-bred
barristers of
the future
Two friends who shared much during
their time at Macquarie – competition
victories, membership of the University’s
Law Society, and even the University
Medal – are continuing down their dual
path to success with associate positions
at the High Court of Australia.
Macquarie University law graduates Sebastian Hartford Davis and
Thomas O’Brien were behind the scenes in the High Court earlier this
year during the controversial case challenging the Federal Government’s
economic stimulus package.
Hartford Davis (right) a Canberra-based associate to Chief Justice
French, said he was “enormously grateful” to be a witness to the seminal
case on executive power under the Constitution, the subject of his honours
thesis. These days he helps prepare the Chief Justice for court – sourcing
documents and researching – and sits behind him during the hearings.
Outside court, the associate spends much time proofing judgments.
Hartford Davis says he has “benefited hugely from the critical legal thinking
skills” and comparative analysis encouraged by Macquarie’s law program.
He tested those in mooting
competitions throughout Europe
and Australia, with funding from
“My experience is
Macquarie’s law school.
that a firm like Piper
He graduated in April of this
year with a Bachelor of Laws
Alderman on balance
(Hons 1), and has since qualified
provides a young
for a Bachelor of Arts majoring
in history.
graduate with a vastly
When his High Court role
better exposure to
finishes next February, he’ll
commence a graduate position
legal practice.”
in Sydney with national law firm
Piper Alderman. From there it’s off
to the University of Oxford for two years where he will take up a Sir Robert
Menzies Memorial Scholarship in law. He is the first graduate from Macquarie
to be awarded this fellowship, which commences in September. Upon his
return to Australia he will rejoin Piper Alderman and later plans to practise as
a barrister in Sydney.
He describes his career path as “not uncommon”, despite declining a
graduate offer at one of Sydney’s top-tier firms.
“My experience is that a firm like Piper Alderman on balance provides
a young graduate with a vastly better exposure to legal practice,” he says.
“There is more client and partner contact and far more responsibility.”
His fellow law graduate, who’s been a good friend since their first week
of university in 2004, is Thomas O’Brien (left). Both distinguished themselves
at their graduation earlier this year by scooping the Dean’s Award for
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Law and the University Medal.
O’Brien also gained a High Court associate position – as Justice
Gummow’s travelling associate. He spends most of his time in Sydney with
the Judge and in Canberra when the court sits there.
O’Brien says that Macquarie gave him a “great foundation but only
touched the tip of the iceberg”. The 25-year-old says “it’s quite humbling”
how much more he has to learn about law.
“Working for Justice Gummow is giving me a great opportunity to
get access to his incredible knowledge of the law,” he says. “I enjoy legal
reasoning. There’s a lot of intellectual work in law and it can have a positive
effect on society.”
Next February he begins work for international law firm Mallesons
Stephen Jaques in Sydney, will enrol in a Masters in law focussing
on commercial law and plans to eventually carve out a career as a
commercial barrister.
support
thank you
On behalf of the Macquarie University community we would like to thank all our
generous donors this year. You have established important new programs and
extended financial assistance to students. And importantly, you are true pioneers
in helping us to build a culture of philanthropy at Macquarie.
Mr Steve Addison
Ms Sarah Ailwood
Mr Ian H Aldersea
Ms Sue Alexander
Mr Tom Allen
Mr Bob Allen-Ankins
Mr Tim Allison
Mr Mike Andersch
Mr John M Anet
Dr David J Antonjuk
Mr Tim Armstrong
Dr Karen Arnold
Estate of the late Nicholas
Anthony Arroney
Dr Robert M Arthurson
Ms Helen K Ash
Mrs Jo-Anne Ashton
Mr Richard J Ashton
Mr Tony Ashton
Mr Ram Balakrishnan
Ms Jacqueline N Barker
Mr Steve Barnes
Mr Steven I Bartlett
Mr Felix Bastajian
Mr Paul S Bedford
Mrs Olga Beliak
Mrs Elizabeth Bell
Mr Laurie Bennett
Mr Jonathan B Bent
Mr Peter W Berriman
Mr Stephen Biggers
Ms Maria E Boros
Mr Murray D Boyd
Mr Siva Brabaakaran
Mr Paul Braico
Mr Clifford J Brake
Mr Robert B Brayshaw
Miss Leanne Bridgman
Mr Ian A Brierley
Mr Paul R Brierley
Dr Desmond F Bright
Dr Ruth Bright
Ms Maxine Brodie
Mrs Julie Brown
Ms Kylie S Bryden-Smith
Ms Rowena Burnside
Mr Brad Burrows
Mr Matthew J Burrows
Mr Ian Burton
Mr Trevor W Buttenshaw
Mrs Louise Byrne
Ms Mary M Cahill
Mr Phil Cairns
Dr Dianne Campbell
Mr Doug Campbell
Ms Kathy Campbell
Ms Mireille Campbell
Mr Andres Campillo
Dr Jon A Carrano
Mr John T Carroll
Ms Trish Carroll
Ms Kate Carruthers
Miss Michelle M Caruana
Ms Leigh Casley
Professor Bettina Cass
Ms Sue Cassanego
Ms Lucy Catanzaro
Miss Carmen Chan
Mr Edmund P Chan
Mr Victor Chan
Ms Penny Chen
Mr Kim H Chew
Mr Kam W Chong
Mr Jeff Chopping
Mrs Laureen Chopping
Ms Cecilia Y Chow
Miss Sophie M
Christodoulos
Mr Tony Cichonski
Dr Peter A Cistulli
Ms Georgina S Clare
Mr Neville Clemens
Mrs Tanya M Cochran
Ms Carlene M Colahan
Mr Tony Coleman
Mr Dean A Comer
Mr Alain J Corne
Mr Bob Cowley
Mrs Norma Cowper
Mr Ross Cross
Dr Geoff Cumming
Mr Win Cung
Mr Bill Danaher
Mr Stewart C Danswan
Mr Steven G David
Ms Jennifer S Davis
Ms Meaghan Davis
Mr Anthony Davison
Ms Melissa J Davison
Mr Ronald C De Haan
Ms Deirdre de Souza
Mr Daryn Deiley
Mr David R Denison
Mr Dipen Dhruv
Mr Gerard A Dignan
Mr Yousif A Dikha
Mr Roy P Do Rosario
Mr John Dobies
Ms Louise Dobson
Mr Roberto Donat
Mr John Dooley
Mr Terry Downing
Ms Leanne R Elliott
Ms Cathy Ellis
Mr Darryl J Ellis
Mrs Karen Elzerman
Mrs Jillian R Emery
Mrs Sheri Evans
Dr Leif A Evensen
Mr John Faulds
Mr Cecil Fernandes
Mrs Janet Gale
Dr W L Gale (deceased)
Mr Anthony J Gallagher
Mr Grant C Gargano
Miss Nicole A Gaunt
Mr Jordan G Gibbons
Mr John Gilfillian
Mrs Margaret Gilfillian
Mr Phil Ginges
Mr Richard A Glass
Mr Stuart D Glover
Mr Nicholas C Goddard
Mr Errol L Goiack
Mr Horacio Golding
Mrs Libby Gole
Mrs Leanne Goodall
Miss Cindy E Goode
Mr Vijay Gopal
Mr Saul J Gordon
Mr Steve Graham
Mr Andrew G Green
Mr Alan R Gregory
Ms Irene Gryllis
“My contribution was driven by two
key factors – first, the belief that
philanthropy is important within our
society and second, having had a very
satisfying career, a desire to return
something to the institution that
helped me along the way.”
Sandra Ollington
Mr Ross I Ferrier
Mr Malcolm A Finlayson
Dr Nicholas Fletcher
Ms Elsie F Foong
Ms Pauline J Forrester
Ms Mandy S Franklin
Ms Susan Freeman
Mr Brett D Freer
Mr G Freney
Ms M Freney
Mr Richard C Fricke
Mrs Elizabeth Fuller
Mr Tejas Gadhia
Mr Ron Guthrie
Mr Bruce A Haddon
Mr Julian Hailes
Mr Indranil Halder
Mr Ross Halgren
Mr Kenneth J Hammond
Mr Stephen J Hampson
Mr Peter Hanna
Mr Ron Hansen
Ms Elizabeth A Harrison
Mr Graham J Harrison
Mr Herman Hattingh
Ms Karin V Hawkins
Mr Robert P Hawthorne
Ms Susan Hayden
Mrs Lois C Haywood
Dr Drew Heffernan
Mr Kym Heffernan
Mr David W Henderson
Mr Brett F Higgins
Ms Lynne J Hill
Professor Roger Hiller
Mr Warren A Hillier
Mrs Jean Himmelhoch
Ms Anne Hindmarsh
Mr Chris Ho
Mr Lapman Ho
Mrs Rosemary Hobbs
Ms Kaia Hodge
Mr Tyrone S Hodge
Mrs Irene M Hodgson
Mr Jim Hook
Mrs Jenni Hopkins
Mr Syd Hopkins
Ms Meryl I Horne
Mr Bill Hovey
Mr Peter Howe
Mr John Howells
Mr Gregory J Hughes
Ms Janice Hui
Ms Joanne T Humphries
Mr Bernard Hungerford
Mr Anthony Hunt
Ms Silvia Hunziker
Mr Scott R Hutchinson
Mr Anthony Hutton
Ms Lilian Huynh
Mr Joe Ivisic
Dr Mark J Jackson
Mr Ian J Jacobs
Mrs Jan James
Mrs Gail Janssen
Mr Reid E Johnson
Mrs Julie E Johnston
Ms Caroline Jones
Mr Colin F Jones
Mrs Debbie Jones
Ms Kay L Jones
Mr Rob Jude
Emeritus Professor
Edwin A Judge
Mr Prasad Karve
Mr Geoffrey J Kavanagh
Mr Ralph D Kelly
Mr Dale Kenny
Mrs Pamela V Kenny
Mr Jeremy S Kinross
Ms Elizabeth A Kirov
Mr Andrew Kloster
Mr Peter N Knock
Mr David S Knox
Mr Hemant V Kogekar
Mr CY Kou
Ms Bernadette McKay
Mr Kieran P McKenna
Mrs Bernadette
McNamara
Ms Helen M Meler
Ms Anne M Meredith
Mr George Messaris
Mr Phil Mickan
Mr Peter Milic
Mr Dev Mookerjee
Ms Margaret M Moore
“Making a gift gave me a way to honour
my family and to help Australia retain
its intellectual talents. I am very pleased
that my gift will have a lasting impact
on Macquarie’s future and make a real
difference to future students.”
Derek To
Mr Sujeet Kumar
Miss Stefani T Kurta
Mr Peter J Kurtz
Mr James S Kuswadi
Mr Ban-Keat Kwa
Mr Kurni Kwok
Mr Andrew K Kwong
Miss Frances C Kwong
Mr Hank C Laan
Mr Teddy W Lai
Mr David J Lamond
Mrs Faye M Lawrence
Mr Lionel Layden
Mr Matthew K Lee
Mr Teik W Lee
Mr Warren Lee
Mr David W Lees
Mr Jerry Lesser
Mr Daniel Leung
Mr Peter Leunig
Hon Dr John F Lincoln
Mr Edmond Liu
Mr Lancy Lobo
Mr Wayne V Longbottom
Mr Ee K Low
Ms Jackie Low
Mr Johnny C Lui
Mr Yieng Ly
Mr Craig Lynch
Mr George Macovaz
Mr Jim Malafouris
Mr Atul Malhotra
Mr Gavin G Marchio
Mrs Toni G Martin
Mr Philip C May
Mr Brad McCusker
Mr Greg McDonald
Mr Hamish McDonald
Mr Brendan W McEntee
Mr Glenn McGrath
Ms Liane L McGrath
Mr Daniel Moran
Dr M Frank Morgan
Mr Matt Morgan
Mr Piers B Morgan
Mr David Morgante
Mr Tom Mulligan
Mr Greg Newling
Dr Maurice L Newman
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Miss Eugenia Ng
Miss Kobi Ng
Mrs Joan Nicholson
Mr John Nicholson
Mr Andrew G Nicolson
Mr Mark V Niumataiwalu
Ms Melanie J O’Connor
Mr Matthew J O’Donnell
Ms Sandra Ollington
Mrs Melinda J O’Rourke
Mr Alex Ortega
Professor John Overton
Mrs Kathi Owen
Mr Norman Owens
Mr David A Oxnam
Mr Andrew Paddon
Mr Jim Pang
Ms Veronica Pardey
Mr Andrew R Parken
Mr Subhash C Parui
Mr Ken Pattemore
Mr John G Pearson
Mr David G Pettit
Mrs Michelle A Phillips
Mr Neville R Piper
Ms Rosalie J Portus
Ms Bronwyn Pott
Mr Michael J Powell
Mr Bala Prakash
Mr Anil Puri
Mr Vito Radice
Ms Angela Raguz
Dr Pooli Rajasekariah
Mr Evan J Rawstron
Mr Hassan Razavian
Ms Monica J Reed
Dr Keith Rewell
Mr Michael I Riley
Mr Nick Riley
Adjunct Professor
Michael Roberts
Mr Ian J Robertson
Mr Jason K Rogers
Mr Peter J Rolfe
Mrs Jillian A Rolls
Mr Peter F Rolls
Ms Lyn Roseby
Mr George A Rosier
Mr Alex Rosser
Mr Shane Rosskelly
Dr Valmae L Rundle
Mrs Christine M Rupp
Mr Rob Russell
Mr Michael J Russell
Professor Judyth Sachs
Mr Geoff Sadler
Mr Gareth D Samuel
Mr Wayne Samuels
Mr Mark C Sangkuhl
Mr Richard Sargent
Ms Catherine Savage
Mr Peter G Schembri
Mr Gordon H Scholes
Mrs Zena Schroder
Mrs Claire M Schwartz
Professor Steven
Schwartz
Ms Sandra L See
Mr Andrew F Sekel
Mrs Phyllis Seman
Mr Bhupesh K Sharma
Mr Rex M Shaw
Mr Lachlan D Sheldon
Mr Mark Sheldon
Mr Chris Shuttleworth
Mr Duco G Sickinghe
Mr Barry Silverton
Mrs Jane Silverton
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Mr Vince Simpson
Mr Paramjit Singh
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Mr Joseph Skrzynski
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Mr Stuart J Smith
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Mr Ron Sookee
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Miss Cathy Sparkes
Mr Craig P Spencer
Ms Marie E Spencer
Mr Keeva Speyer
Ms Susanne Spring
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Mr Christopher J Stanley
Mr Grant Steele
Mr Stratos Stefanidis
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Mr Andrew Stevens
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Dr Peter M Stewart
Mr Richard D Stock
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Mr Craig L Stuckey
Ms Helen Styles
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Mr Hani Tadros
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Miss Daina S Timermanis
Mrs Lesley Tomasulo
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Mr Minh Tran
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Mrs Paula Trigg
Mr Tim Trigg
Ms Caroline Trotman
Mrs Janine Twigg
Mr Stephen Twigg
Mr Gerard J Uminski
Mrs Kim S Ussher
Mr Michael F Whitham
Mr Jason H WhithamTaudien
Ms Jane A Wilkins
Mrs Sue Williams
Mr Roger J Willis
Mrs Kerri-Ann Wilson
Mr Richard B Wilson
Mr Steven Wilson
Mr Jackson D Wong
Mr John G Wood
Mr Paul G Wright
Ms Melody Wu
Ms Pooi M Yeow
Miss Lyn York
Mrs Lynette M Young
Mr Manuel Yrure
Mr Sergei V Zablotskii
Mr Frank P Zipfinger
Dr Shahab Zowghi
ACCA Australia & New
Zealand
Australian Federation of
University Women - NSW
California Community
Foundation
Chifley Operation
Services P/L
China Eastern Airlines
Freehills
Gelhaven Pty Limited
Harvard Foundation Chifley Financial
Morgan Phoa Family
Foundation
NSW Bar Association
“I’m delighted to be a continuing
contributor to the MGSM planned
giving program because this provides a
platform for MGSM to extend to others
the opportunities it has provided to
me, and which I’m still enjoying in my
current PhD program.”
Bill Hovey
Mr Lode Van Grootel
Mr Tony Vandyke
Mr Socrates Vasiliadis
Mr Andrew N Veitch
Mr John S Velik
Mr Ian J Walker
Ms Joann S Wallace
Mr Scott A Wallace
Mr Steven B Waller
Ms Elizabeth Walter
Mr Nicholas F Waring
Ms Elizabeth Watts
Mr Cameron Webb
Mr Phil White
Mr Tim White
Rhapsody Solutions
Pty Ltd
Skellern Family
Foundation
The Association of
Chartered Certified
Accountants
Westpac Banking
Corporation
Woodend Pty Ltd
If your name has been
omitted please accept our
apologies and let us know
so we can include it in our
next acknowledgements.
news
A L U M N I
Five students from Mexico can now claim membership of the Macquarie alumni
community, having just graduated from the University with a Professional
Doctorate in Applied Linguistics. A further eight students are currently enrolled
in the program. They were supported in their studies by scholarships from the
Mexican Government.
Through the professional doctorate, which consists of both coursework and
research, students are taught online by internationally-regarded scholars and
have access to cutting-edge research.
“Macquarie was the first university to offer a Professional Doctorate in
Applied Linguistics and since its inception we have had students from all over
the world enrol,” explains Professor of Linguistics Anne Burns. “We have had a
large number from Japan, but students are also located in Dubai, China, Hong
Kong, the UK, Thailand, New Zealand and of course Mexico.”
“Myself and my colleagues Professor Christopher Candlin and Associate
Professor David Hall are told constantly by other universities, and by potential and
current students, that Macquarie has one of the strongest, if not the strongest,
reputations internationally for applied linguistics, and is known particularly for
pioneering quality distance learning courses.”
The Mexican students, who are all university staff members, completed their
study via distance education but were also offered some onshore teaching at a
location provided by the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP).
“We used various strategies to keep in touch with these students, particularly
during the research supervision stage, including meeting them at overseas
conferences if there was the opportunity, emailing, telephoning and using
blackboard lists,” says Burns.
“One of the most successful methods for us and also for our students was
using Skype. We could make regular appointments, taking time differences
into consideration, and our students and their tutors were able to have the
sort of discussions that occur during regular supervision meetings on campus
– and all for free!”
With their doctorates now securely under their belts, the students are
expected to continue contributing intellectually to the field of language
education through their publications, conference presentations and their own
teaching and, says Burns, their opportunity for more senior work and continuing
research has been improved.
Professor Ann Burns, centre, with students undertaking the Professional Doctorate
in Applied Linguistics.
Teach for Australia
An education revolution is taking place in
Australia and one of Macquarie’s brightest
graduates is at the forefront.
Michael Cao, who graduated earlier this
year with a Bachelor of Applied Finance with
Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting, is among
the first cohort selected to take part in the
pioneering Teach for Australia program.
The program, which recruits elite
university graduates from non-teaching
fields, is designed to lift the standard of
school education
in Australia by
addressing the
poor performance
of some of
Australia’s most
disadvantaged
schools.
Inspired by the
British Teach First
and US Teach for
America programs,
pioneered its establishment in Australia, and
alongside Noel Pearson’s Cape York Institute
and the Boston Consulting Group, secured
considerable funding for its implementation
and its future administration.
After graduating from university, Cao says
he naturally found himself going down the
banking route, but all of that changed when
he heard about Teach for Australia.
“I’ve always been someone who has taken
the alternative path, because I believe you learn
so much more by doing this, so this program
just seemed like the perfect fit,” he says.
“And, when you find something that speaks
to you as strongly as this did to me, you just
have to grab the opportunity. Being able to
contribute back to the community and address
issues of educational inequality has really
ignited my passion.”
Cao will begin an intensive training
program in November which will equip him
with core classroom skills, before taking up a
two-year teaching placement at the beginning
of 2010’s school year.
The program is initially being rolled out in
metro and rural Victorian schools.
PHOTO: PHILLIPA JANOS
Professional doctorates for Mexican students
s
International alumni events
Singapore graduate and cocktail event
In July, 71 students graduated from Macquarie at a ceremony
held at the Raffles Conference Centre. Guest speaker Wolfgang
Beckmann, who graduated from the Master of Applied
Finance program in 2001 and is now the Global Head of Loan
Management for ANZ Bank, spoke passionately about the
University and his own memories of study. He also spoke about
the importance of networking and maintaining connections with
other graduates.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz, centre,
with graduating students.
s
MGSM student and alumni cocktail reception
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the MUAA HK Chapter
and a gala dinner was held in July to celebrate the milestone. The
100 guests who attended feasted on delicious
food, enjoyed rousing speeches and mingled with
Macquarie’s senior university officials including
Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz.
Associate Professor and Interim Dean of MGSM Bill McGaw, centre,
with guests of the MUAA HK Chapter 10th anniversary dinner.
End of an era for the standing committee of convocation
This year marks a changing of the guard for convocation of
orientation evenings for new students and their families. An annual
Macquarie, with a new bequest society (see page 9) taking the
luncheon held at Parliament House with noted guest speakers has
place of the Standing Committee, who faithfully served the alumni
proved extremely popular each year. An alumni magazine Sirius,
community for 35 years.
begun in 1984, was produced until the mid-2000s.
In universities, the word ‘convocation’ is understood to
Perhaps the greatest legacy the Standing Committee can
mean an assembly of graduates and friends, and that is how the
proudly claim for convocation are the awards, prizes and
first convocation of Macquarie was formed. Early convocation
scholarships it established. By 2004 these awards were extended
comprised mainly invited members of the professions, the
to include recognition of the University’s alumni who have made
community and academic staff of the University until the first
a significant achievement within their chosen profession or
graduates in 1970. Over the next three decades the graduate body
contributed to the community by distinguished service.
grew considerably and today they number over 110,000.
In 1974 a Standing Committee of Convocation was established
In April of this year the University Council made the decision to
absorb the duties of the Standing Committee within the University.
with John Lincoln as Chair. In its 35 year history there have been
The Council also resolved that a new society be formed and that
five chairs: His Honour Dr John Lincoln AM, the late Ms V (Tedi)
the members of the 2008 Standing Committee be invited to
Paul, Dr Ruth Duckett, Mrs Pamela Kenny and Dr Judith Dickson.
become founding members of the new society.
Committee members voluntarily contributed their time to
The members were honoured for their service to the University
establish a range of activities designed to reach out to graduates
at the Alumni Awards for Distinguished Service Dinner in August.
and encourage their participation in the life of the University.
Dr Judith Dickson Chair SCC 2006–2009
These have included lectures, reunion events, dinners and
Mrs Pamela Kenny Chair SCC 2001–2006
2009 Macquarie University
Innovation
The 5th Macquarie University Innovation Awards were held
in May, coinciding with the Australian Innovation Festival.
The awards recognise new developments in research and
scholarship that have demonstrated a major impact on,
or benefit to, the community. This year the awards were
sponsored by Panasonic Australia, Spruson & Ferguson
Intellectual Property and Access MQ.
Awards
Innovation in Research
The Innovation in Research award
encourages and rewards innovation involved
in the creation and application of research
outcomes, the discovery of new knowledge,
a new product or new service.
Winner:
Quantum informatics on a chip
Dr Graham Marshall, Dr Martin Ams,
Dr Peter Dekker and Associate Professor
Michael Withford
Partner Institution: University of Bristol,
UK – Professor Jeremy O’Brien, Alberto Politi
and Jonathan Matthews
Unparalleled computing power and ultrasensitive measurement are just two of the
capabilities offered by photonic quantum
information science. Using cutting-edge
fabrication techniques the researchers have
created a platform on which these frontier
technologies will be able to realise their full
potential. The team has developed a 3D
photonics platform and has demonstrated
that its quantum ‘circuits’ are superior for
sophisticated quantum experiments. The
platform opens new avenues in quantum
information experimentation that have until
now been impossible.
Research Students’
Innovation
The Research Students’ Innovation award
rewards Higher Degree Research innovation
in the following areas: learning and
teaching, research, innovative partnership or
commercial innovation.
Winner:
Highly functional and robust,
monolithic fibre laser systems
Nemanja Jovanovic, Dr Graham Marshall,
Dr Alexander Fuerbach, Dr Michael Steel
and Associate Professor Michael Withford
From left: Jonathan Matthews, Dr Martin Ams, Dr Graham
Marshall, Dr Peter Dekker and Associate Professor
Mick Withford.
Partner Institution: Friedrich-Schiller
Universitat – Jens Thomas, Stefan Nolte
and Andreas Tunnermann
This innovation involves the realisation of
highly simplified and robust lasers with
maximum functionality for applications
ranging from airborne environments to
medical procedures. The fibre laser consists
of a laser operating within an optical fibre.
The innovation comes when these lasers
are combined with internal mirrors, known
as fibre Bragg gratings. By using fibre Bragg
gratings written via the point-by-point
method which have properties favourable
for lasers, it is possible to realise enhanced
functionality from the lasers and therefore
new applications.
Invention Disclosure
The Invention Disclosure award recognises
and rewards the effort required to identify
and disclose innovative ideas or concepts,
through the use of formal invention
disclosure documents and the invention
disclosure process.
Winner:
Diamond laser system for precision ultra
low collateral damage ablative surgery
Dr Richard Mildren
Practical and powerful lasers that
specifically target protein have been a
long-standing challenge in laser medicine.
From left: Dr Graham Marshall, Nemanja
Jovanovic and Dr Michael Steel.
Dr Richard Mildren.
Awards
Preferential and strong absorption in
protein has promise for enabling laser
ablative surgery with the precision and
specificity needed to address challenges
in neurosurgery and oncology. To date
such surgery has only been carried out
using large and expensive international
laser facilities. This disclosure details an
alternative for generating the required
power and wavelength characteristics
by utilising the outstanding optical laser
properties of single-crystal diamond. The
invention aims to create infrared lasers that
are compact, lower cost and transportable,
and compatible for use in research
laboratories and hospitals.
Innovation Toward
Sustainability
The Innovation Toward Sustainability award
is designed to encourage and reward
innovation involved in the creation and
application of sustainability outcomes,
which may include the discovery of new
knowledge, a new product or new service.
PHOTOs: EFFY ALEXAKIS
Winner:
Environmental risk and sustainability in
the energy and resource industries
Professor Peter Nelson
Environmental risk management in the
energy and resource industries is essential
in order to minimise impacts of emissions
Professor Peter Nelson.
and waste on sustainability, and human
and ecosystem health. This application will
address a range of projects, including the
assessment of power station contributions
to photochemical smog and fine particle
formation in urban regions; improved
techniques for the reporting of emissions
to the national pollutant inventory; human
health assessments of gas and particulate
emissions from motor vehicles; and a
comprehensive study of mercury sources,
transport and fate.
Innovation in Learning
and Teaching
The Innovation in Learning and Teaching
award recognises innovative practices,
policies, or procedures which have
delivered outstanding benefit to learning
and teaching outcomes either within the
University or external organisations.
Winner:
Termfinder: jargon-busting and
concept building, an online learning
tool for beginners in science and
social science
Professor Pam Peters, Dr Claudia Oliveira,
Dr Theresa Winchester-Seeto, Adam Smith,
Yasmin Funk, Dr Alan Jones, Associate
Professor Peter Petocz, Jenny Middledorp,
Kehui Loui, Fred Wang, Dae Raftos,
Alan Kilgore and Chris Searchfield
From left: Professor Pam Peters
and Mark Deere-Jones from
Panasonic Australia.
Chas Christodoulides.
Partner Institutions: RMIT/UQ –
Professor Philip Poronnik; National Institute
of Accountants – Greg Tangey;
King Mongkuts University, Bangkok –
Associate Professor Jirapa Vitayanpirak;
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid –
Dr Trinidad Fernandez
TermFinder is a new multimodal
online learning tool, designed to help
beginning and international students with
academically challenging technical concepts
and terminology. For each discipline a unitspecific termbank is built collaboratively by
specialist academic staff and expert linguistlexicographers. TermFinder users benefit by
intelligent software which can respond to
their queries both directly and laterally with
related terms, and display them graphically
in conceptual sets. For each headword
the software supports audiofiles of its
pronunciation, and a translation to assist
those whose first language is not English.
Innovation in Services
The Innovation in Services award rewards
a service innovation activity involving
Macquarie University staff and individuals,
or groups external to the University which
have delivered outstanding benefits to the
University, and/or external organisations.
Winner:
Distributor – a paperless document
distribution system
Chas Christodoulides
Distributor is an innovative secure online
solution used for the review of applications
and the distribution of documents to
committees. Resource-friendly and
environmentally sustainable, it has time,
cost and environmental benefits. An initial
roll-out in the Faculty of Human Sciences
saw application turn-around times halved.
The system will be rolled out to other
Faculties later in the year.
2009 Macquarie University
Innovation Awards
Innovation in Partnership
The Innovation in Partnership award
recognises an innovative partnership, or
outreach activity, between Macquarie
University staff and individuals or groups
external to the University which has
delivered outstanding benefits to the
external community.
From left: Gordon Boyce and
Dr Cindy Davids.
conflict in all Victorian government
departments. This required that the
researchers be sworn in as Officers of
the Victorian Ombudsman. Among the
key outcomes of the project was a Special
Report presented by the Ombudsman
to the Parliament of Victoria. This report
was produced by the Ombudsman
on the (acknowledged) basis of the
Macquarie research.
Innovators’ Hall of Fame
The Innovators’ Hall of Fame recognises Macquarie
innovators who have a strong track record in
innovating and whose innovations have a positive
impact on the community and Macquarie University.
Professor Kevin Wheldall
Wheldall joined the Macquarie University
Special Education Centre as Director and
Professor of Education in 1990.
An expert in ‘Positive Teaching’ and
tutoring for low-progress readers, he has
developed highly successful programs
of instruction for students with learning
difficulties, the most notable being
the Making Up Lost Time In Literacy
(MULTILIT) initiative, a highly successful
intervention program for teaching
low-progress readers. In collaboration
with Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson of
From left: Dr Junior Teo, Professor Helena
Nevalainen and Dr Moreland Gibbs.
Cape York Partnerships, MULTILIT is now
utilised in Indigenous communities in
Cape York following a federally funded
roll out. MULTILIT Pty Ltd was launched as
a Macquarie University spin-off company
in 2006.
Wheldall is an elected Fellow of the
Academy of Social Sciences in Australia
and a Fellow of the International
Academy for Research in Learning
Disabilities. In 2008 he received the
Mona Tobias Award of Learning
Difficulties Australia in recognition of his
outstanding contribution to the field.
Commercial Innovation
The Commercial Innovation award recognises
and rewards successful commercialisation
of an innovation, such as licensable
technologies, internal commercially operated
units or spin-off companies.
Winner:
Commercialising innovations in enzyme
development and production through
applimex systems
Dr Moreland Gibbs, Dr Junior Teo, Professor
Peter Bergquist, Professor Helena Nevalainen
and Dr Georgina Learmonth
This team is recognised internationally as a
leader in the development and production
of enzymes for industrial applications. It has
developed intellectual property (including
three granted patents and two patent
applications) covering libraries of enzymes,
methods for enhancing enzymatic
performance and methods for significantly
improving the yields of difficult-to-produce
enzymes. This intellectual property is
being commercialised through Applimex
Systems Pty Ltd of which Macquarie is a
46 per cent shareholder. Applimex Systems
is currently working with customers and
strategic partners in Australia, the US,
Europe and India across a wide variety of
industries including oil and gas, biofuels,
food, biotechnology applications and
scientific research. Formed in 2005,
Applimex currently employs eight people
and has been operating profitably for
the past two years.
PHOTOS: EFFY ALEXAKIS
Winner:
Understanding conflict of interest in the
public sector
Dr Cindy Davids and Gordon Boyce
Partner Institution: Ombudsman Victoria –
John Taylor
This collaborative research project
analysed the dimensions of conflict of
interest in the Victorian public service
which have been identified as a particular
concern of the Victorian Ombudsman.
This study utilised confidential public
complaint files about various forms of
alumnifocus
Alan Merten is Vice
President, Employee
Benefits for Manulife –
one of the largest life
insurance companies
in the world. He holds
a Master of Business
Administration
from the Macquarie
Graduate School
of Management.
At home in
Alan Merten is a financial industry veteran with more than
20 years experience. After establishing himself on home soil,
Merten’s career has since taken him across Europe and Asia, and he
now calls Hong Kong home.
Like so many successful business people, Merten is a brilliant
networker – a talent he called upon when, after a stint back in Australia,
he and his wife felt international shores calling once again.
Finding himself in the enviable position of choosing between a
number of job opportunities in various countries, he hooked up with
his networks, including contacts he’d made whilst studying for his MBA,
to help him cement his decision.
“My wife and I wanted to have some fun stretching ourselves and
to give our kids the chance to see a different side of life,” he explains.
They decided on Hong Kong, a city he says, which held
many attractions.
“While Australia is multicultural, it’s not as international as Hong
Kong which has a large and dynamic financial
services industry and is very easy to live in,” he
explains. “It’s also close enough to Australia
in distance and timezone as a destination or
stopover for lots of our friends, family and
business network.”
As Vice President of Employee Benefits for
Manulife, Merten is responsible for services and
products, including the pension fund, group
life and group medical products, that Manulife
provides to employers and their employees in
Hong Kong. He oversees the overall marketing,
channel relationships, product development
and administration management of a business
with over 800,000 customers with retirement
savings in excess of A$8 billion.
Merten’s history with Macquarie is a fairly
long one – he undertook actuarial studies
as an undergraduate before completing his
MBA more recently. While his first degree
had paved the way for his career, it was while
working in management roles that he began
looking to build even stronger foundations.
An MBA seemed the logical next step.
“Having trained as an actuary I found that
I enjoyed my move into management roles
but required quite different additional skills,”
he says. “Some I picked up through executive
development programs and learning on the job
but I wanted to put some stronger foundations
under it that would come with an MBA.
“The appeal of MGSM’s core target of people
with real industry experience and its emphasis
on group project work suited me well. Also, the
flexibility of weekend and weeknight courses
worked with my business travel.”
Since finishing his MBA, Merten has
continued his relationship with the MGSM,
organising and attending events as well
as speaking to prospective students at
information days.
“For me continuing to have an involvement
with MGSM is just continuing to learn,” he says.
“It’s not just fun but also helpful for my career.”
But it’s not only his career that he is helping.
Merten is a passionate leader who strives to
bring out the best of those around him.
“I’ve enjoyed giving some great people
a bit of a nudge and an opportunity and
seeing their careers flourish,” he explains.
“Leadership is about taking people to a place
they wouldn’t otherwise go themselves” –
a creed that Merten proudly continues to
follow himself. n
books
inprint
The Everyday Resilience of the City:
How Cities Respond to Terrorism and Disaster
Jon Coaffee, David Murakami Wood and Peter Rogers
This book examines the practice of urban resilience, drawing on
global historical sources and detailed case-studies of contemporary
Britain. It will make fascinating reading for all those concerned with
the future of nations in which arguments for liberty appear to be
losing out to the demands of security and surveillance.
A selection of recently
published books by
Macquarie staff and alumni
Peter Rogers is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology
Palgrave Macmillan
Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders and
Microfinance in Burma
Sean Turnell
This book tells the story of Burma’s financial system – of its banks,
moneylenders and ‘microfinanciers’ – from colonial times to the
present day. It argues that Burma’s financial system matters, and that
the careful study of this system can tell us something about Burma
– not least about how the richest country in Southeast Asia at the
dawn of the twentieth century, became the poorest at the dawn of
the twenty-first.
The Riverina Story –
Water, Wine & Wealth
Sean Turnell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics
Barry Gray
Barry Gray graduated from Macquarie
University with a PhD in modern history.
His first book, The Riverina Story,
has just been published. Until now,
the Riverina was the only major wineproducing district of Australia which has
not been written about in depth.
Based on his doctoral thesis, the
book is a meticulously researched
comprehensive history of the wine
industry in the Riverina district of inland
New South Wales. It tells how a oncedesolate area of the state became a
thriving agricultural region.
The book is structured around
the themes of cultural history, wine
history, multiculturalism, rural/regional
development, and water conservation
and salinity. It covers the settlement of
the region by soldier settlers and both
world wars, the oral history of the Italian
and other pioneers of the district, and
the early history of winemaking.
Gray writes with knowledge and
passion and has produced a definitive
account of a colourful era and
fascinating personalities.
Rosenburg Publishing Pty Ltd
NIAS Press
Jemina napier
EDITOR
International
Perspectives on
Sign Language
Interpreter
Education
International Perspectives on Sign Language
Interpreter Education
Jemina Napier (Editor)
This collection provides a global overview of interpreter training from
31 international experts. The contributors provide insights on how
sign language interpreter training has developed in each nation and
offer a deeper understanding and comparison of interpreter training
issues that could benefit the programs in every nation.
Jemina Napier is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics.
Gallaudet University Press
Business Management and Environmental
Stewardship
Robert Staib
This book integrates environmental and associated ethical issues
with business management philosophies and practices. It is about
thinking: environmental thinking as both a prelude and a response to
management action. Its emphasis is on environmental outcomes not
only of the individual business, but of its contribution to its business
sector, and its natural environment.
Robert Staib is a Visiting Fellow in the Graduate School of the Environment
Palgrave Macmillan
Have you been published recently? Macquarie Matters invites alumni to let us
know about any recently authored books for upcoming InPrint.
Contact us at: [email protected]
Advance with us
The launch of the Macquarie University
Foundation in November at Government
House represents another important milestone
for the advancement of the University and its
wider communities.
As we develop new pathways for our
alumni and friends to connect with each other
and the University, I am confident that we will
build even more enthusiasm and dedication
for our unique institution.
Stay connected and involved in the life of
the University and please don’t hesitate to talk
to us about how we can support you.
Peter Leunig
Executive Director
Office of Institutional Advancement
PS: Remember to update your details and
interests on our new Alumni Web
Community (AWC) to enter the China
Eastern Airlines competition, and join us
on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter at
www.mq.edu.au/alumni/awc
PHOTO: HOLIMAGE
The Macquarie alumni community has much
to celebrate since the publication of the first
edition of Macquarie Matters earlier this year.
I hope you enjoy reading this latest edition.
There is so much happening and so much
to share, we have difficulty in limiting each
edition to a reasonable size. You can see that
Macquarie University is in excellent shape and
that our plans for the future are well on the
way to being realised.
This year, many alumni and friends have
shown keen interest in strengthening their
relationships with the University. Many of you
have made time to attend special events in
Australia and overseas, contributed at faculty
level through advisory committees, financially
supported scholarships to help students in
need, made provision for the University in your
Wills, and volunteered your valuable time and
mentoring skills as Macquarie Ambassadors.
The launch of the Joan and John Lincoln
Society in October was very well attended,
with some alumni travelling considerable
distances to be at this important event. The
Founding Patrons of the Society confirmed
significant bequests and lead the way in
giving back to our University.
Balaclava Road, North Ryde, Sydney, Australia
Telephone (02) 9850 7111, Facsimile (02) 9850 7433
Macquarie University CRICOS Provider Number 00002J
www.mq.edu.au/advancement

Macquarie University Foundation New undergraduate curriculum

Transcription

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