February 2025 – Message from the Vice Chancellor

Griffith has been creating a brighter future for all for half a century. Since I arrived as Vice Chancellor, I have been impressed by the passion that colleagues, alumni, and students have for our university and the impact Griffith has made through education and research.

Over the past 50 years, we have grown from a single-campus institution of just 451 students to a comprehensive, multi-campus community of tens of thousands. Our alumni, whose successes span countless fields in countries around the world, are proud ambassadors for the distinctive benefits of a Griffith education. Our research has been ranked in the top hundred universities in the world in disciplines from nursing to tourism to law.

Our work is grounded in our values: respect for our natural environment, a commitment to making education accessible to those who have been excluded, dedication to social justice, and a commitment to First Nations knowledge and culture. Those values will continue to guide us in the coming decades.

To our alumni, I thank you sincerely for your belief in our vision, your trust in us, your support and your contributions. I hope you will join us, however you are able, in celebrating the University’s first 50 years throughout 2025.

Read more: 50th anniversary

The Campaign to Create A Brighter Future For All

In 2023 we publicly launched our first comprehensive campaign to partner even more deeply with our alumni, donors and supporters to help achieve that mission through life-changing scholarships, transformative research and impactful partnerships.

We set an ambitious goal of raising $125 million, and through the generosity of our donors, we are proud to have already raised $110 million to allow our research, education and engagement to have an even greater impact.

Our aspiration of a brighter future for all also includes how we best engage the talents and motivations of our alumni, the most significant part of our Griffith community. As a result, we aim to have 100,000 meaningful engagements with our alumni through opportunities for volunteering, mentoring, networking and communications. We are thrilled to say we are on track to reach 100,000 during our 50th anniversary year – thank you for your part in this and for your continued engagement with Griffith University.

We offer a range of ways for you to be involved and to benefit from the opportunities on offer. I hope you take advantage of these in 2025.

Read more: The campaign to create a brighter future for all | Griffith University

Australia Day 2025 Honours

Please join me in congratulating and celebrating our Griffith colleagues, alumni and wider community members on being recognised for their distinguished service in the Australia Day Honours this year.

  • Laurie Joseph Lawrence DUniv was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division in recognition of his distinguished service to water safety education and swimming as a high-performance coach.
  • Leesa Ann Watego, a former staff member, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for significant service to Indigenous business and media sectors, as well as to the community.
  • Ms Grace Lowden Brown, Master of Marketing alumnus, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
  • Lisa Ann Cox, a member of the Inclusive Futures Council, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for her service to people with disability.
  • Mrs Kaye de Jersey, a former staff member of the Griffith University Library, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Crown and the community of Queensland.
  • Mr Thomas James Gallagher, Bachelor of Business alumnus, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
  • Miss Shayna Louise Jack, Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice alumnus, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
  • Mr Cameron James McEvoy, Bachelor of Science (Honours) alumnus, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
  • Ms Lani Glen Pallister, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
  • Ms Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne, Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to football
  • Dr Keith Graham OAM, Bachelor of Education, Advanced and Graduate Certificate in TESOL alumnus, was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service in leading Queensland and national school sports recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Mr David John Mackie, Bachelor of Commerce alumnus, was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service to public sector administration and policy reforms in Queensland.
  • Lieutenant Commander Dean James Dvornicich, Bachelor of Engineering, was awarded Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) for meritorious achievement as the Marine Engineer Officer HMAS Supply.

Read more here: Australia Day Honours awarded  - Griffith News

Research Success in 2024

Last year was the best year ever for Griffith’s researchers with nearly $150M in funding to support work in health, quantum computing, the environment, and AI virtual influencers.  We established our new Cooperative Research Centre on Solving Plastic Waste, which will tackle one of the most challenging problems of our times. We were proud to obtain more ARC early and mid-career fellowships than any other non-G08 university, setting us up for success through the support of those developing their careers. Just over summer, Professor Norman Morris, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, and his team were awarded $1,708,993 by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for his project High and Hot: Using environmental extremes to improve oxygen transport in heart failure.

The research work being undertaken at Griffith is making a real difference to the community and there are exciting projects underway that help us to fulfil our purpose of creating a brighter future for all.

Vice President (Global)

Many of our international alumni will know Professor Sarah Todd who has been Vice President (Global) at Griffith University for over a decade. Sarah had a deep care for our international students while they studied here and loved to catch up with international alumni in her global travels. Sarah has recently decided to step down from this role and we thank her for the enormous contribution she has made over so many years.

Marnie Watson will commence as our Vice President (Global) on 17 March 2025. Marnie has almost thirty years of experience providing strategic leadership and driving innovation across senior roles in the global education sector.

She has spent over 20 years living and working in Southeast Asia, focusing on defining and delivering international strategy for university partnerships, transnational education development, and establishing global teams to recruit international students.

In her most recent role as Chief Commercial and Partnerships Officer at Acumen, Marnie led global operations serving 82 universities across ANZ, North America, and the UK, as well as several government clients. She was responsible for a team of over 300 professionals and drove significant organisational growth.

Marnie has also held leadership positions at UP Education and Study Group and started her career with UNSW Global. She is a Fellow of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), a current Board Member of IEAA, and was previously an Executive Board Member of the Australian and New Zealand Association (ANZA) in Singapore and AusCham Vietnam.

Best wishes for 2025

Griffith is looking forward to this 50th anniversary year as a time to reflect on our history and to set out a vision for our future. I look forward to sharing our new strategy with you later this year.

Best wishes to all our alumni for a great 2025 and I hope to see many of you at celebration events.

November 2024 - Message from the Vice Chancellor

As we approach the end of 2024, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible strides Griffith University has made this year and share our excitement for what lies ahead. This year has been marked by significant milestones that continue to affirm Griffith’s commitment to global impact, collaboration, and innovation. I’d like to share a few of them with you.

Griffith’s entry into the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a non-profit consortium of 23 leading research-intensive institutions, positions Griffith to deepen its global research collaboration, supporting our dedication to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This is a critical step toward creating even more meaningful and sustainable international partnerships that will amplify our research and educational reach across borders.

Griffith’s expansion into the heart of Brisbane was introduced to you by email recently. In 2027, our new Brisbane City campus will open its doors in the heritage-listed Treasury Building on Queen Street.

This future city campus will be a landmark centre for our Business, Information Technology, and Law disciplines, as well as postgraduate and executive education. Expected to serve around 7,000 students and 200 staff by 2035, this campus reflects our ambition to foster a thriving academic community in the dynamic Brisbane CBD, creating opportunities for innovation and engagement.

In health research, we are proud to welcome Professor Paul Clarke as the inaugural Executive Director of the new Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics. Professor Clarke, a globally recognised researcher in cancer biology, will lead efforts in developing breakthrough therapies, vaccines, and diagnostics. His appointment strengthens Griffith’s position as a leader in biomedical research and translational medicine. Additionally, our spinal cord injury research team at the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research is breaking new ground. With the commencement of Phase I human clinical trials, we are one step closer to realising Professor Emeritus Alan Mackay-Sim’s visionary work on olfactory nerve cell transplants to treat chronic spinal cord injuries.

Our partnership with PsiQuantum brings a ‘Test and Validation’ lab to Griffith’s Nathan campus, this is a bold step in advancing quantum technology in collaboration with Queensland universities.

Griffith University researchers were recognised with Australian Research Council DECRA awards for ten of our early-career researchers, who were collectively granted over $4.5 million. These funds will enable impactful projects across a range of fields including science, health, business, and law. Furthermore, nearly $3 million in National Health and Medical Research Council funding will advance key health initiatives, including Tommy’s Tool Project, a promising innovation in digital maternity care led by Professor Fabricio Da Silva Costa.

Celebrating the achievements of our alumni is always a highlight, and this year’s Outstanding Alumni Awards celebrated inspiring individuals across many fields. Leona Murphy received the top award for her outstanding contributions to corporate strategy and philanthropic work, while First Peoples, Young Alumnus, and International Alumnus awards were presented to Nicholas Williams, Dr Kathryn Woodward, and Dr Nsofwa Sukwa-Chitwa respectively.

A wrap up in an Olympic year would not be complete without reference to the incredible achievements of Griffith University students, alumni and swim squad members, who once again left an indelible mark on sports on the global stage. In the Olympics 38 athletes competed and brought home 24 medals including 10 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze. This Paris performance eclipses the number of medals won in Tokyo in 2021 when Team Griffith took home 19 medals including nine gold.  In the Paralympics twelve Griffith students and alumni competed at the Paralympic Games and won two gold medals, three silver medals and seven bronze medals

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to enter 2025, the University’s 50th anniversary year, with a program of signature activities and legacy projects to honour Griffith’s past, present, and future. From our beginnings at Nathan to the latest expansion into the Brisbane CBD, Griffith’s journey has been driven by our unique, diverse community. We look forward to celebrating all we have achieved together over the decades and are excited to explore what the next fifty years will bring.

In 2025 as well we will be launching the next Griffith University decadal strategic plan, Griffith has evolved considerably over the last 50 years and as we look forward to the next 50 years, and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane along the way, we are building a plan for a future focused University with a focus on being sustainable for decades to come.

As many of you may be aware, this year has seen restrictions on international students coming into Australia, although a proposed cap on international students from next year now looks like it will not pass Parliament. Griffith has always prided itself on being a welcoming and inclusive environment that focuses on the student experience, as you will hopefully remember from your time with us. Griffith University continues to offer international students an outstanding educational experience, either for undergraduate or postgraduate studies. We are still accepting applications for 2025 intakes for all trimesters and look forward to welcoming our international students. Please consider encouraging a friend, colleague or relative who may have an interest in studying overseas to consider Griffith. You can find more information at https://www.griffith.edu.au/international

To you, our alumni, thank you for your dedication and support. Wishing you a wonderful end to 2024 and a bright, prosperous 2025 filled with new possibilities. May you enjoy a restful holiday season, and I look forward to an exciting new year ahead.

Reconciliation - Now More Than Ever

This week we celebrate National Reconciliation Week, 27 May - 3 June, with the theme for this year being - Now More Than Ever. It reminds us all that the reconciliation journey will and must continue in this country.

The national debate leading up to and following the Referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament was at times divisive. It challenged us at Griffith, most particularly for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, staff and alumni and Griffith colleagues who are allied in our commitment to reconciliation.

Following the Referendum, the reinforcing message we received from our staff and community is that Griffith University, a university led by its values, remains committed to reconciliation and has an important role in facilitating reconciliation through truth-telling and healing.

As noted by Reconciliation Australia, Telling the truth about our history not only brings to light colonial conflict and dispossession, but also acknowledges the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

Having a better understanding of Australia with a complete and historically accurate national narrative benefits the whole nation. We learn from, rather than repeat, the wrongs of the past. Truth-telling is intended to create new relationships between First Peoples and non-Indigenous communities based on greater understanding, driving positive change and acceptance, combined with a forward moving process of responsibility, action and accountability.

As our Griffith University’s Reconciliation Statement states “We hold ourselves accountable to the belief that reconciliation is everybody’s business”. We hope that you, our alumni, will continue to support reconciliation in action. Please join us at any our reconciliation events during this important week.

Professor Cindy Shannon AM

DVC (Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion)

February 2024 - Message from the Vice Chancellor

As we step into the new year, I am thrilled to share with you some remarkable achievements from your alma mater.

2024 Australia Day Honours

It brings me immense pride to announce that several members of our Griffith community have been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours. We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of one of our alumni, Emma McKeon AM, who was named Young Australian of the Year. The most decorated Australian Olympian of all time, Emma is currently part of the Griffith Swimming Team headed by coach Michael Bohl and will compete at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Emma was part of Griffith Sports College while studying for her Bachelor of Public Health at our Gold Coast campus where she graduated in 2021.

Staff members Professor Neal Menzies AM and Professor Donna Pendergast AM have been acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to science, education, and community service. Their achievements not only reflect their individual dedication but also underscore Griffith's commitment to excellence in academia and beyond.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to them and all other recipients. You can read more about all of the recipients here.

Continued funding and ranking successes 

We remain united in our commitment to excellence and positive impact. Together, the Griffith community continues to build upon the proud legacy of Griffith University and some of our recent achievements are detailed below.

  • Our academic staff have secured over $9 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants, further solidifying Griffith's position as a health research and innovation leader.
  • A particular congratulations to Professor Michael Jennings who was awarded the highest grant offered by the NHMRC. His grant involves targeting sugar interactions to prevent and treat bacterial infections that cause disease such as pneumonia and is for $2.95 million.
  • Griffith is the lead for a new Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) on Solving Plastic Waste that will receive $40 million in federal funding. This was one of only two CRCs awarded in 2023. The Solving Plastic Waste CRC will assist in solving Australia’s plastic waste problem by enhancing end-user driven collaboration and will see Griffith work with universities, industry and government.
  • Griffith Business School has ranked number one overall in the Top 40 Corporate Knights’ 2023 Better World MBA ranking for the fourth consecutive year. Our Masters of Business Administration (MBA) also achieved Silver in the Innovation in Business Education Award in the QS Reimagine Education Awards.
  • I was also incredibly proud to hear that Griffith received its second SAGE Cygnet Award in recognition of improvements to attracting and recruiting women to academic roles in the Sciences Group. We are the only Queensland university to receive any Cygnet Awards and one of only eight Australian universities to have earned a Cygnet Award under the internationally recognised Athena Swan accreditation program for gender equity, diversity and inclusion.

Expand your own professional opportunities 

Our alumni community, spanning over 150 countries, continues to grow and thrive. I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities to connect professionally and socially with fellow alumni as we host various events and activities throughout the year. I particularly encourage you to take advantage of peer-to-peer mentoring program, consider nominating a fellow graduate for the alumni awards, and join us online for a range of professional development opportunities throughout the year.

The Campaign to Create A Brighter Future For All

Finally, I am sure that many of you have already seen the news reported in the media that the Griffith Business School will be the beneficiary of a very generous philanthropic gift from the Blackmore Family Foundation.  Their $6.3m investment will establish the Blackmore Chair and three Blackmore Leadership Summits, set to commence in 2025. This gift is a significant contribution to the $125m goal of Griffith’s first-ever philanthropic campaign, The Campaign to Create A Brighter Future For All. The Campaign will support us in our endeavours to tackle global challenges, drive innovation, and empower the next generation of leaders.

November 2023 – Message from the Vice Chancellor

As we come towards the end of 2023, it is a time to reflect back on what has been another truly outstanding year for Griffith University. You can see a few of the highlights from the year in a short video that I have put together.

As you can see from the video, Griffith has a lot to be proud of – we combined a sharp climb in the international rankings with major domestic prizes and awards and very high levels of student satisfaction.

A personal highlight of the year for me was the evening when we launched the Brighter Future for All Campaign, Griffith’s first major philanthropic campaign. We are aiming to raise $125M and engage with 100,000 alumni during the Campaign which means there is a role for everyone and I invite you to consider how you might get involved as we draw near to our 50th anniversary in 2025.

After the launch we held the inaugural Brighter Futures Oration and Dinner in October at Brisbane City Hall, which included a keynote address by the Hon Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia who reflected with pride, affection and humour on his time at Griffith. We also heard from students whose study has been made possible by the support of those who have given to our scholarship scheme.

I also enjoyed enjoying the opportunity to reconnect in person with many of our alumni in Australia and overseas. 2023 saw us engage with more alumni than ever before, reinforcing the strength and vitality of our global network. This sense of connection, bridging disciplines, generations and geographical borders, has always been a source of pride for everyone associated with Griffith. From Los Angeles in March to Shanghai in November, I was delighted to personally connect with so many of you at alumni celebrations and networking events that spanned many continents.

Many thanks to those of you who completed our alumni survey which has given us valuable insights into what you are looking for from us. One element was an interest in continuing to find educational opportunities at Griffith.  Our commitment to lifelong learning is exemplified by initiatives such as the Griffith Business School’s MBA for Life program. It was wonderful to see the MBA for Life receive well-deserved national recognition last week as the winner of the Engagement Australia Excellence Award in Student and/or Alumni Engagement. This accolade highlights the MBA team’s unwavering dedication to reshaping the higher educational lifecycle, creating a values-driven, lifelong learning and engagement pathway for our students and alumni.

The professional endeavours and social impact of our alumni never cease to inspire. The annual Outstanding Alumni Awards in September highlighted the transformative impact and leadership of our alumni, demonstrating exemplary service and impact across diverse industries. Congratulations to all our winners who are leaders in their field and who exemplify the Griffith values.

This year, Griffith continued to climb the ladder in global university rankings, improving 57 places in the QS World University Rankings (243 globally), and scoring 69th in the QS Sustainability Rankings. Nationally, the 2022 Student Experience Survey placed Griffith 5 in Australia for teaching quality from 42 Australian universities. Such strong results reflect the University’s commitment to creating a positive impact and delivering world-class education.

Our partnerships remain important to us. Our partnership with Gilmour Space, for example, not only advances Australia’s space industry but also enriches our school outreach programs to foster the next generation of science talent. In June, Griffith embarked on a historic multi-year partnership with Swimming Australia that focuses on legacy, sustainability and inclusion programs in and out of the pool. And in August, we extended our partnership with QPAC to launch the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre (QAEMT).

We remain profoundly grateful to our donors whose ongoing generosity plays a transformative role in the lives of our students and significantly advances our groundbreaking research endeavours. This year, the combined support from the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation and the Clem Jones Foundation has been instrumental in advancing the Spinal Injury Project team towards human clinical trials, with the ambitious aim of restoring function to individuals affected by spinal cord injuries.

As we look forward to 2024, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to engage with more of you in person and to share the continued achievements of our remarkable Griffith community. Until we meet again, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyous festive season and all the best for the New Year.

March 2023—Message from the Vice President, Advancement

Thank you for taking the time to open this edition of your Alumni Newsletter. We value your continued interest and engagement in the life of your university.

2023 has provided much colour and excitement so far,  whether that is the buzz of students and staff across our campuses or when I have the chance to meet Griffith alumni locally here in Queensland or beyond. There is much more to come not just for the remainder of this year but already we are starting to think what might appeal to you as Griffith celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025.

One of the highlights of my first year as Vice President Advancement at Griffith was the 2022 Outstanding Alumni Awards, an opportunity for Griffith to recognise exceptional individuals doing very special things, most often characterised by their generosity in intention and desire to make a lasting impact.

Nominations for this year’s awards close on 2 April, so please take the time to nominate someone who you feel is worthy of this year's recognition please.

Just last month, the Vice Chancellor and I had the opportunity to host several alumni receptions, as well as one-to-one meetings with Griffith graduates now living and working in LA, Vancouver, Toronto and New York.  It was wonderful to hear your stories about your time at Griffith, what that meant to you and the incredible things you are doing now.  Since then, we hosted a number of alumni and university partners at CEDA’s Brisbane lunch, as we listened to Griffith alumnus, the Federal Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers provide an Economic Address. In coming months we will be travelling to India, Singapore, the UK and around Australia – it’s wonderful to be able to visit you again, so look out for the invitations as they come up.

In this newsletter, you will find profiles of fellow alumni, more on our ‘Met at Griffith’ stories, and some fascinating medical research, as well as invitations to coming events.

Please enjoy reading this edition, and if you want to find out more about how you can be involved further with your University, please reach out to our alumni team on alumni@griffith.edu.au.

February 2023—Message from the Vice Chancellor

In 2023, for the first time in years, we can start the year with confidence about our ability to teach our students from Australia and overseas face to face. Even before the start of T1 it is lovely to see our cafes, libraries and social spaces start to come to life with staff, students and visitors to our beautiful campuses. I acknowledge that we are particularly lucky here in South East Queensland and extend my best wishes to those who have family or friends who have been affected by the floods in Australia and New Zealand, the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and all the many other crises impacting on people around the world.

Having just returned from the Griffith Senior Leadership Conference, I am more energised than ever and I have great confidence that we will make significant strides this year in delivering on our ambitions to secure our future as a university of influence. Academic and professional staff across all areas of the university came together to take stock of our achievements and renew our strategic priorities recognising we are halfway through our Strategic Plan and two years away from our 50th anniversary.

As we strive to make a positive impact on the local, national and global communities of which we are part, I am reminded of Ovid’s famous proverb, ‘Fortune favours the bold.’ Indeed, to deliver our ambitious strategy to create a ‘better future for all’ by 2025, we must act boldly and with focused ambition and drive to create impact and a more just and equitable future.

In celebrating the great, I am proud that we have delivered on many of our strategic ambitions in 2022, including:

  • A record number of 180 indigenous graduates in 2022
  • Top 100 ranking in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals
  • Two new interdisciplinary Research Beacons have been launched that are dedicated to providing research solutions to humankind’s greatest challenges—Disrupting Violence, and Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
  • We implemented carbon reduction strategies and have committed to a new target to be carbon neutral by 2029
  • We launched our Reconciliation Action Plan

In challenging ourselves for 2023, and by asking the question of what a better future looks like for our students, alumni, colleagues, and community partners, both near and far, Griffith senior leadership reaffirmed our commitment to:

  • Expanding our engagement with industry and community partners to drive impact across our programs
  • Supercharging research and innovation to ensure our researchers fulfil their potential and contribute solutions to the big questions of our time
  • Embedding the United National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in everything we do as a future-focused, global institution, recognising that SDGs are a powerful articulation of our values as a University

Our students, both past and present, are at the heart of all we do. As a values-led university, we are committed to reducing inequalities and providing world-class tertiary education for our domestic and international students. Upon graduating, our students leave not only with a qualification but with a strong sense of their capabilities to make a real impact in the communities in which they serve.

Indeed, these were the qualities that our first alumnus Chancellor, Mr Andrew Fraser, reflected on in his installation ceremony at the end of 2022. Mr Fraser looked back on his formative years as a Griffith Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce student as shaping the arc of his life and influencing his commitment to our vision of creating a better future for all.

“Griffith gave me permission to think. It gave me the ability to question, the tools to analyse and the insight to dare…It was the chrysalis.”

—The Honourable Andrew Fraser, Sixth Griffith University Chancellor, Installation Ceremony, 13 December 2022

It was wonderful to see so many of our inspirational alumni recognised in the 2023 Australia Day Honours. I very much look forward to learning more about the diverse achievements of our alumni across their fields of endeavour and in their communities in this year’s Outstanding Alumni Awards. With nominations now open, the Awards are an exciting opportunity to nominate a worthy Griffith alumnus for the recognition they deserve.

As we embark on what promises to be a pivotal year for Griffith, I am delighted to announce the appointment of our new Deputy Vice Chancellor (Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion), Professor Cindy Shannon AM, who is promoted from PVC . This new executive role at Griffith reaffirms our commitment to social justice through advancing Indigenous futures, diversity and inclusion. Professor Shannon is a descendant of the Ngugi people and one of Australia’s foremost higher education Indigenous leaders.

I am also delighted to introduce you to our two new Deans.

In late 2022, Associate Professor Jennifer Boddy was appointed the University’s Dean of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Performance, affirming the University’s commitment to this globally recognised framework; and, in January 2023, Professor Caroline Rueckert PFHEA joined Griffith as Dean (Career Readiness) with a focus on improving outcomes for our students.

Vale

Sadly, the University was deeply saddened by the passing of several highly distinguished colleagues.

Allan Cripps AO (1950–⁠2022)

Emeritus Professor Allan Cripps AO was Griffith’s founding Pro Vice Chancellor (Health 2005-2016), who led a distinguished career as a leading scientist in both clinical practice and academia. As Pro Vice Chancellor (Health), Allan established the Griffith University School of Medicine for the Gold Coast and the University’s first rural health program.

Alan Mackay-Sim AM (1951-2023)

Professor Emeritus Alan Mackay-Sim AM was known to many as a pioneering, internationally renowned stem-cell research scientist and former recipient of the Australian of the Year Award. Alan played a significant role in establishing the reputation of Griffith through his ground-breaking research into spinal cord injury rehabilitation and drug discovery, which continues to benefit the community.

Welcome to the 2023 program

Our 2023 calendar provides many opportunities for reconnecting with our alumni communities across the globe. I am committed to meeting as many of you as possible over the course of the year, with trips already planned to the USA, Canada, Asia, Europe and the UK, in addition to our local events. I am very much looking forward to my first international alumni event for the year in Los Angeles on 4 March. No matter where our paths cross, I look forward to sharing news of the vital work of your University to create a brighter future for all through the transformative power of education and research.

Vale

Sadly, the University was deeply saddened by the passing of several highly distinguished colleagues.

Allan Cripps AO (1950–⁠2022)

Emeritus Professor Allan Cripps AO was Griffith’s founding Pro Vice Chancellor (Health 2005-2016), who led a distinguished career as a leading scientist in both clinical practice and academia. As Pro Vice Chancellor (Health), Allan established the Griffith University School of Medicine for the Gold Coast and the University’s first rural health program.

Alan Mackay-Sim AM (1951-2023)

Professor Emeritus Alan Mackay-Sim AM was known to many as a pioneering, internationally renowned stem-cell research scientist and former recipient of the Australian of the Year Award. Alan played a significant role in establishing the reputation of Griffith through his ground-breaking research into spinal cord injury rehabilitation and drug discovery, which continues to benefit the community.

Welcome to the 2023 program

Our 2023 calendar provides many opportunities for reconnecting with our alumni communities across the globe. I am committed to meeting as many of you as possible over the course of the year, with trips already planned to the USA, Canada, Asia, Europe and the UK, in addition to our local events. I am very much looking forward to my first international alumni event for the year in Los Angeles on 4 March. No matter where our paths cross, I look forward to sharing news of the vital work of your University to create a brighter future for all through the transformative power of education and research.

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