91ÊÓƵ

Hi everyone,

Last week, 91ÊÓƵhosted the Australian launch of the . This Centre sees 91ÊÓƵas part of a global partnership to transform the way materials are sourced, processed, used and recycled to make them more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. Our research capability extends beyond the sciences – it also includes how we engage with, respect and acknowledge the culture and voice of our First Nations people. Reflecting on the event, I was struck at the extraordinary generosity of our First Nations colleagues and friends to move forward with a conversation to shape a better future, with such grace whilst acknowledging Australia’s complicated history. And I think this is what makes this University special – our people who can shape and hold conversations about a better future, drawing on research, culture and lived experience. Thank you to Peter Yu, Victor Panto and Tim Senden, along with colleagues across campus who made not just the launch possible, but the possibility of this partnership and it’s potential to make a better (fairer and greener) future.

This fortnight also marks three important moments in our internal community – with academic promotion events, Graduations and the 2025 First Year Address. As an anthropologist, I deeply value and believe in rituals and rites of passage as important moments to mark together.

Academic promotions are the culmination of hard work and extraordinary dedication to research and education. And although each School and College has ways of individually recognising these moments, we haven’t brought all of our newly promoted staff together with their peers before, who are at similar stages of career, from across disciplines and campus. So moving forward, I will be hosting each academic cohort at the VC Residence to mark their promotion and celebrate this milestone. And I’ll be asking each of them to sign the new ‘91ÊÓƵAcademic Promotions’ book, which will record the name of every academic staff member who has been promoted. You can also see the . We will also need to find ways to call out and celebrate professional staff, and if you have thoughts or ideas, I would welcome them in my inbox. 

Starting today, we are in Graduations, where more than over 4000 students will be conferred with an 91ÊÓƵqualification both in person and in absentia. Education is extraordinary in its power to transform, and each of our graduates will mark this week in their own way – with friends, family, colleagues and peers. I want to thank the DVCA Portfolio for their work, energy and general humility in making sure every ceremony runs smoothly and our students are celebrated. I remember my own graduations as moments to savour hard work and the closing of one path, and the opening of others, and I wish all of our graduates good thoughts as they navigate what comes next.

Finally, next week will be Orientation Week, where thousands of new students start their journey at 91ÊÓƵ(woo hoo!). It will also be the first time we have held the (formerly called just Commencement) at Llewellyn Hall. And a big thank you to all of our staff, and ANUSA, who have been working to deliver a great O-Week experience, and start of 2,000 (!) courses for Semester 1. It’s always a happy part of the year, and I am excited to welcome many people to and back to campus. 

Good thoughts to where this finds you.

G