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.
Stay connected
Keep in touch with your alumni community.
