Dear staff
As we approach the Semester 2 mid-semester break and a couple of shorter weeks due to the public holidays, I wanted to update you on some recent news from across our community.
2022 UQ Alumni Awards announced
I am delighted to announce the outstanding recipients of this year’s Alumni Awards. I encourage you to read through their stories. Each is inspiring and shares a deep commitment to social justice and innovation – from rehabilitating threatened ecosystems to developing sustainable battery technologies and improving health care for people living in regional and rural Australia.
The 2022 UQ Alumnus of the Year is Dr Graham Colditz, a US-based internationally recognised chronic disease epidemiologist and expert in cancer prevention. Other award recipients include ABC News journalist Isabella Higgins; social justice advocate Debbie Kilroy OAM; Indigenous community leader Will Davis OAM; John ‘Safari’ Ziro, who has transformed agricultural practices in Kenya; and esteemed business leader Brett Clark.
My congratulations to all our 2022 Alumni Award winners. We are incredibly proud to recognise their enormous contribution to our community as role models both here in Australia and across the 190 countries where our UQ alumni network reaches.
UQ research in the spotlight
Last week was Research and Innovation Week at UQ. Thank you to everyone who participated or helped to organise events and activities. Last week’s events were a wonderful reflection of UQ’s research capability and profile. My congratulations to our staff, HDR students and partners who were recognised with richly deserved awards through the week.
Continuing UQ’s research success stories, I would like to warmly congratulate the many researchers whose work has been recognised in the recent round of National Health and Medical Research Council grants. Read about the seven UQ projects that have received funding this month, including two Centres of Research Excellence led by Professor James Ward and Professor Ruth Hubbard.
In addition, I was delighted to hear the recent Australian Research Council outcomes, including the award of 10 Future Fellowships to our talented mid-career researchers, and 16 projects through the Discovery Early Career Researcher Award scheme. I congratulate the successful applicants to these very competitive ARC funding schemes.
Pulse survey
As you will be aware, our second annual Pulse survey was undertaken this month, and I would like to thank staff for taking the time to provide their feedback. We had high participation, with 67 per cent of staff completing the survey. The survey outcomes will provide a better understanding of the focus areas for improvement and what action is needed. I look forward to sharing the outcomes with staff as soon as possible.
Flexible Working Arrangements policy
Thanks to everyone who contributed very helpful ideas and feedback during consultation on the revised Flexible Working Arrangements policy. Following consideration of the feedback, the University Senior Executive Team will review the policy, and an update will be provided to everyone once the approved policy is published.
Public holiday reminder, Thursday 22 September
Finally, a reminder of the arrangements for the public holiday tomorrow, Thursday 22 September: all teaching is cancelled, and only critical operational staff will be scheduled to work. Libraries and study spaces will remain open and access to all buildings will be via swipe cards only.
With best wishes
Debbie
