Celebrating Griffith’s 50th anniversary has been incredible. I’ve learnt so much more about how our unique university came into existence and heard some incredible stories from Nathan’s very first students. But perhaps most of all, I’ve had the chance to meet so many of you, from every walk of life, through the wonderful program of engagement activities this year. And wherever I go, you share your memories. Every one of you has a unique story to tell. But it strikes me that Griffith alumni share some pretty special qualities, too.
For a start, nearly all of you talk about how getting a degree was not an end in itself, but a stepping stone – into a profession, an adventure or an industry. And for so many of you – when you talk about your lecturers, your department and your friends – that stepping stone has turned into so much more. You take everything we can give you – and run with it.
Family affair
One encounter really brought this home to me. At a recent event, I got talking to Peter, a graduate who currently works for an investment bank. One of his brothers is a street performer in London and the other is a chippie in Sydney. “So your carpenter brother is the most successful in the family, right?” I said. He laughed and said his brother is probably the only carpenter in Sydney who doesn’t make any money – but apparently the street performing is going well!
The three boys were brought up by a single mother – who has now sadly passed away. They led a peripatetic lifestyle and ended up in Queensland. Their mother was the first in family to get her degree and worked in the GUMURRII Centre as a tutor. Peter would hang out there after school: that was a big factor in his decision to attend Griffith to study international relations and economics. But he didn’t know how to get into investment banking.
Which is when Griffith arranged for him to go on an international exchange to Germany – and that was his lightbulb moment. It opened up the world for him. The experience of working in a different country made him realise that he wanted more. It was very humbling to hear that this guy had no family connections, no contacts, no experience – and Griffith stepped into that role and got him going. We were his family.
Going global
Then, I met a graduate for whom Griffith’s research and expertise have been transformational. Isabella came all the way from Bogotá in Columbia. Her mother is a leader in the Indigenous community in South America. This lady came to Griffith because of our record on supporting Indigenous people to succeed at university. She carried out research with us to help understand how we do it. It made me very proud to know that we’ve had that global effect.
Two female founders I have come across also demonstrate the grit which Griffith graduates share. Their whole MO was to get to the US. They wanted to succeed there.
Courtney was working in the music industry in LA when COVID-19 hit. The business lost all its revenue streams overnight. She was faced with a crippled business, going from 55 employees to just three – but she was not prepared to fail. Instead, Courtney saw an opportunity through the pandemic to do something different. She helped pivot the company to launch a new B2B event production software platform and to build systems that ultimately positioned the company for acquisition.
Alexandra was at WeWork in New York in 2015, right in the middle of its iconic rise. During her tenure as the Global Director of Social, WeWork was named the Number 1 brand on Instagram. She loved the startup energy, the pace, and the spirit of possibility, harnessing that magic of community and creativity. Today, she runs a social media consultancy firm, Grand Street, built around connecting brands with the world’s best creative talent. Neither she nor her collaborators ever stepped back – they leaned in. In challenging times, Griffith graduates are better placed to succeed.
Looking to the future
Of course, the 50th anniversary year isn’t over yet. We still have many more things to celebrate – and many more conversations to have. So if you see me, come and say hello. I can’t wait to hear your Griffith story. Because whether it’s a big impact or a small difference, it’s an important part of what has made this place so special for the last 50 years – and will for the next.
As we look to the next 50 years, we’d love to stay in touch. Keep your details up to date so you’ll receive invitations to Griffith events and celebrations near you.
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